Over the last year, nearly everyone across the world has become familiar with gathering online. Whether it's working from home or online school, learning via laptop or smartphone has become commonplace.

The City of Calgary has embraced this trend by posting a series of home improvement webinars on its website. The sessions available online aim to reach the many Calgarians who have been unable to gather this type of information in person during the pandemic.

By the end of this year, Calgary's full secondary suite policies will put into play a "gentle density" housing market.
After consulting with community associations and collecting online public feedback, city administrators will send design guidelines for backyard suites to committee and city council for approval.

Lisa Kahn, the City of Calgary's legislation and land-use bylaws co-ordinator, says the new rules will govern how backyard suites look and interact with their communities.

Solar panels, smart-home technology, quartz countertops, luxury vinyl flooring, lots of storage, and secondary suites above the garage or in the basement are all valuable upgrades that provide a lot of bang for your buck when building a new home.

Regulations that took effect Feb. 1 require Calgary property owners who provide short-term rental accommodation to obtain a business licence and follow new rules.

The changes to the City of Calgary's Business Licence Bylaw cover owners using popular host platforms like Airbnb or VRBO, as well as any other method of renting out space in a residential dwelling for 30 days or less.

Recent changes to a provincial regulation could boost residential development and diversity in the communities of Mayland Heights, Vista Heights and Inglewood.

Despite the Edmonton-Calgary rivalry, there's at least one import from our northern neighbour that appears to be a welcome addition to the local real estate market: backyard suites.

Calgarians have many options when helping an aging parent find suitable housing, but for some people the solution is right where they live.

So-called "mother-in-law" suites provide a separate space for an elderly parent to live with the assistance of family members just a door away.

New city zoning, reduced permit fees and a still-faltering economy have increased the attractiveness of adding a secondary suite for Calgary homeowners.

Steve Francis, owner of Aspire Renovations, has done about six or seven secondary suites each year for almost a decade, but throughout last year and this January, that part of his business has been busier than ever.

Homes with secondary suites have been a hot topic in Calgary for years, but their appeal for homebuyers looking to generate extra revenue is only growing amid adverse economic conditions.

Mortgage broker Chris Richards and his wife added a secondary suite to their home when their adult children moved out.

His intent was not only to make use of the extra space, but also to follow the advice he gives, particularly to first-time homebuyers, that secondary suites can expand both income and buying power.