As more homes are equipped with "smart" technologies for everything from surveillance to home automation, the real estate purchase process is changing.

Home sellers are increasingly using video and/or audio surveillance to eavesdrop on potential buyers, using the information gleaned as leverage. This places the buyer at an obvious disadvantage during negotiations.

Are you a prospective homebuyer? Onto your second or "forever" home? Whatever your situation, preparing for homeownership requires you to arrange your finances so you can put your best foot forward dealing with your mortgage, taxes and home maintenance.

Before you start the process of looking for a home, consider the following:

Whether you own a home or you're looking to buy, the kitchen is the lifeblood of the house. Not only do we cook, prepare food and eat in our kitchens, but we also spend quality time in them. Ever notice where the group congregates at a party or where people go first when they enter the house?

If you're wondering whether it's the right time to say goodbye to your family home and downsize to a home more suitable for your lifestyle and needs, consider these scenarios:

Finding a home you know you can live with can be difficult.

Whether it's a brand-new house from a builder or a resale home, there are a number of things you should look for.

Calgary's real estate market has been sitting in buyers' conditions for the past five years or so. As we move into 2019, these conditions will more than likely continue. However, if you're trying to sell a home in this buyers' market, here are some simple tricks that can help.

The financing, the finagling, the legwork and the looking – buying your first home is one of the most exciting times of your life, but it can also be one of the most intimidating and stressful things you'll ever do.

An experienced REALTOR® can help guide you through every step, negotiate on your behalf and streamline the entire purchase process.

Abundance of options underlines the importance of setting priorities

A million dollars used to buy a lot of home for your money.

But what will $750,000 – $1 million get a homebuyer in Calgary today?

Stephanie Campbell, a REALTOR® with Kirby Cox & Associates, says the answer depends entirely on the home's location and your lifestyle priorities.