Calgary Real Estate News Blog

Space Maximization Tips for a 500 Sq. Ft. Apartment Space

If you're staying in the big city and you want to stay in an apartment all on your own, there's a good chance you'll end up with a 500-square foot space or something similar. This may sound daunting at first, but if you know how to maximize what little space you have, it might actually be just enough.

The key is to find the focal points in the apartment and making them your main rooms or hangout spaces.  Also take note of the permanent features and fixtures because you may need to decorate or remodel around them. You may be able to have them removed, but that's only if your lease contract allows you to. 

So, assuming that you do have that privilege, you can do the following to maximize…

Slap on a pair of Vulcan ears and head on down to the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, happening April 26th, 27th and 28th, 2013 at BMO Centre, Stampede Park. This annual exhibition has been celebrating all things pop culture since 2006. Get your sci-fi, fantasy and horror fix while visiting over 600 exhibitors and guests from film, TV, comic books, gaming and animation. They’ll be plenty of opportunities to meet with your favourite stars, along with other industry leaders including movie studios, writers, make-up artists, cosplay specialists and magazine and comic publishers.

Guests and exhibitors from a variety of different industries will be at the expo, from classic favourites such as Richard Dean Anderson, also known as MacGyver, and Carrie…

“A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.” –Gustavo Petro, Mayor of Bogota

A recent study by Real Estate Investment Network found that one of the key factors when determining the value of residential property is the proximity and ease of access to amenities. Homebuyers are placing more and more value on a community’s “walkability”, opting for a lifestyle that is not car dependent.

With potential homebuyers being more attracted to a car-light lifestyle, the price of homes has grown tremendously in the city’s core neighbourhoods, such as Victoria Park and Connaught, in Calgary’s Beltline region. Home values in these inner-city communities increased anywhere from 205%…

What seemed to be a never ending “work-in-progress” is finally nearing completion: Calgary’s Poppy Plaza is scheduled to open within a month. The park, originally budgeted to cost $11 million, is currently undergoing the finishing touches before opening. Poppy Plaza is part of the larger Landscape of Memory project, and is found at 10th St and Memorial Drive, along the Bow River.

A plethora of delays including weather and labour issues and even a contract dispute that is now being settled in court kept pushing the project back from its original completion date of 2011.

But now, despite the delays, everyone is looking forward to next month’s grand opening of Poppy Plaza, created to honour Canada’s veterans and remind the citizens of one…

If you're buying, selling, or otherwise generally interested in Calgary real estate, you've no doubt heard that Calgary's market is "hot, hot, hot". But what does that really mean? Let us help you walk through these terms, so you're not thinking of Goldilocks' porridge every time you hear them!

You can also describe a hot market as a seller's market. Lots of buyers are out looking for a home, but there are not very many on the market. This allows sellers to drive up prices, and forces buyers to spend more than they bargain for. This is the prime climate for bidding wars, which often happen when more than one buyer is seriously interested in a property. This drives the final purchase price above the listed price and can also give a seller particularly…

Ever heard of rainwater harvesting? A well-known practice in coastal areas known for abundant rain, rainwater harvesting is also becoming popular amongst Calgary homeowners. Saving rain and snow run off can save you money, because you'll have stored up water for our dry and sunny summer weather. Rainwater collection is a great idea for those with large lawns or gardens, even in Calgary. Some people even manage to collect enough rainwater that they can divert it for household use, although this usage isn't currently approved in Alberta. Another benefit of this is that, theoretically, the more people collect rainwater for their own use, the lower the cost will be when they do use city water.

Environmentally, collecting rainwater is a great idea,…

In the mood for a little something to help you warm up on a chilly February day in Calgary? You're in luck! The second annual Calgary's Best Hot Chocolate competition is still going strong. With tons of competitors vying for the honour of winning, you're sure to find a fantastic cup of hot chocolate near you.

A portion of the proceeds generated by the purchase of hot chocolates created by Calgary's best chefs, baristas, and chocolatiers go to support Calgary Meals on Wheels. Talk about a sweet treat. To seek out a vendor near you, check out YYCHotChocolate.com and let the sugar rush begin, but hurry, the competition is over at the end of February!

Easter's coming in a month or so; is your rabbit laying eggs? That might make the overpopulation problems in Calgary and surrounding areas easier to control! Unfortunately, many Calgarians are having to contend with cute bunnies destroying their gardens, landscaping, and in some extreme cases, even the foundations of their homes! Rabbit problems in residential areas are common across Canada and they're usually caused by irresponsible pet owners releasing their un-spayed/un-neutred domesticated bunnies into the wild when they no longer want to take care of them.

Given how quickly bunnies multiply, it doesn't look like it will be very easy to bring down the rabbit population. So, in the meantime, how do those of us who enjoy gardening (and want to…

The CBC recently reported on the increase in demand for Calgary cleaning companies in offices and other public places. Yes, it's flu season again in our city and everyone seems to be affected somehow, whether or not they've caught the bug. But do you really have the flu, and what does this have to do with a real estate blog? More than you might think, actually.

Sometimes it's hard to tell if you have the flu, or if your symptoms are being triggered by issues in the building(s) you spend a lot of time in, especially since issues arising from air quality at home or at work can be very seasonal. Sick building syndrome (or SBS) is a range of disorders triggered by various elements in one's work or home environment. Symptoms stem from environmental hazards…

With the economy picking up in so many areas of the country currently, more and more people are looking into buying their first home. It’s understandable that this is a great exciting endeavor, but it’s a good idea to not get so overwhelmed by the idea of home buying that you jump into the experience without planning ahead.

There are some pretty basic steps to home buying that’ll let you maintain some great excitement while hopefully helping you to avoid making some pretty disappointing mistakes.

First, before you do anything else, talk to a mortgage expert. Whether you choose to go through your bank or decide to use a mortgage broker instead, you will need to know exactly what you can afford to buy before you go looking at…