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In 2021, Merit Kitchens is officially half a century old, and the company is helping its customers join in the 50^th anniversary festivities.

Anyone who receives a cabinet quote before Nov. 30 will be entered into a draw for a beautiful gift basket containing gift cards, kitchen gadgets, wine and more, currently valued at over $500 and growing. There's also a draw for a Banff getaway for two in 2022. Contact the Merit Kitchens showroom for more details.

The company's theme for the year is "strength and beauty" and they are determined to let the world know just how much that truly means to them.

To celebrate this important milestone, Merit invited Lynda Reeves, founder of House & Home magazine and one of the world's top interior designers, to select an exclusive colour collection for the anniversary.

Recent changes to the mortgage stress test designed to cool down hot housing markets across the country may make it more difficult for some Albertans to purchase a home.

The Beltline is a community experiencing a period of major transition – from the reconstruction of 17th Avenue S.W. to the reimagining of Victoria Park.

Through it all, the beauty and vibrancy of this inner-city neighbourhood just seems to be getting stronger and stronger.

As Calgarians continue to navigate the challenges of an intense economic downturn and a global pandemic – in addition to the standard curveballs life tends to throw one's way – many are re-evaluating their priorities in hopes of a brighter future.

As people tire of self-isolation and its negative health impacts, the idea of cohousing is becoming more attractive than ever. Imagine neighbourly, small-town friendliness meets convenient city living; the privacy and independence of single-family living, but with added space and social amenities available in the form of shared common areas; and a diverse mix of residents, from retirees to young families.

When it comes to homeownership these days, one of the biggest and most talked about issues is affordability. This issue is particularly relevant when it comes to a generation of young Canadians that many people say is struggling to enter the marketplace due to the high costs of owning a home.

However, like anything else in this country, affordability is relative and truly dependent on context. If you're a millennial or a potential first-time homebuyer of any stripe, you're much better off entering the market in Calgary than other major centres like Vancouver or Toronto.

Seven years ago, Vancouver-based interior designer Jamie Banfield wasn't really thinking about buying a new home. That all changed, however, when he and his partner were introduced to a two-bedroom-plus-den apartment for sale in South Surrey that they couldn't pass up.

Whether it's creating a gorgeous new kitchen, rejigging a floor plan or creating a home from scratch, Vancouver-based interior designer Jamie Banfield is all about getting to know what makes his clients tick and translating that into a tangible design.

When custom-home designer Kathy Yuen purchased her first home 13 years ago, she quickly realized it wasn't the perfect fit.

"I think your first home really teaches you what you like and what you don't like," she said.

It seems that every few months, a new story emerges from hot real estate markets like Toronto about a condo project being cancelled, leaving those who bought presale units scrambling to recovery their money and find another place to call home.

But what's the situation in Calgary, and what recourse do buyers here have if a project they've purchased in is cancelled?

During the 1990s and early 2000s, a wave of new golf course development swept across Canada, with many of these courses serving as centrepieces for residential communities. Since then, that growth has slowed as golf's popularity has waned. Some of those courses are now closing, opening prime real estate that, in many cases, is being redeveloped into new subdivisions.

The result has been a boon for builders and homebuyers, as land becomes available for new residential development within desirable, well-established communities. However, it has also created resentment among long-time residents of these neighbourhoods, who originally purchased their homes with the golf course as a major selling point.