going organic
Special Pullout Section Inside
Cycle City
Don’t just stand there, garden donna balzer A9
A three-part series exploring biking in and around Calgary C6
Communities FREE may 15 to may 21 2015 issue 05-18 editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
real estate news from industry experts
the shift is on
‘‘
There’s no question that demographics play into buying patterns, but the ultimate decision is much more about lifestyle choice.” corinne lyall creb ® president
Calgary demographics influence housing
kelsey hipkin
“Every buyer makes a decision based eclipse the 98,000 seniors that currently have the highest employment levels of any on their own unique needs and wants. live in Calgary,” said the report. “Their age cohort at 84 per cent. The report suggests demographic It’s a generalization, but for families with needs, interests, attitudes and demands trends are already influencing the local young children, an important neighbor- will be different than previous generations algarians, characterized in a recent housing market. From 2013 to 2014, hood feature might be nearby parks or of seniors. Housing availability, along with report as among the youngest in rental apartment construction in the city playgrounds. For a single person who health-care provision and other support Canada, are altering the city’s increased by 45 per cent, the products commutes, the priority might be proxim- services, will be strained.” housing landscape through a unique set of of which should help ease Calgary’s low ity to transit or having major road access.” According to the City, the number of And while Calgary may be part of Calgarians between the ages of 65 and needs and wants, including a more diverse vacancy rate. rental market, work/live spaces, home Multi-family housing also saw record Canada’s youngest province, it still has an 74 increased by 30 per cent from 2009 to offices and multi-generational housing. construction with 10,647 units started ageing demographic that has their own set 2014 to 70,687. In its recently released The in 2014 – including units in the master- of housing needs. Many of the city’s seniors population The UDI/CHBA housing report notes will want to “age in place,” said the UDI/ Changing Face of Calgary report, Urban planned community of East Village, comthe number of seniors in Calgary will CHBA study – a position supported by Development Institute – Calgary and the prised entirely of multi-family homes. While the report identifies Calgarians’ double from 2010 to 2025. By 2036, for the the 2015 Ageing in Place report conCanadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary note the median age in Alberta appetite for more diverse housing options, first time in the city’s history, the number ducted by the Organisation for Economic (major urban centres) is a nation-low 36.5 buyers of any age are ultimately driven by of adults over the age of 65 will surpass Co-operation and Development (OECD), which used Calgary as one of nine case years, and as the “population bulge trends personal preference, said CREB® presi- the number of children under 14. dent Corinne Lyall. A City of Calgary report said 2011 studies along with cities such as Toyama, toward youth, housing needs shift.” “There’s no question that demograph- marked the first wave of Calgary’s 268,000 Japan and Helsinki, Finland. It also notes Alberta leads the country in proportion of working-age population. ics play into buying patterns, but the ulti- baby boomers (born between 1945 and According to the Alberta Labour Market mate decision is much more about lifestyle 1965) turning 65. demographics A3 “This cohort of ageing adults will soon review, 25- to 44-year-olds in the province choice,” she said. reporter/photographer
C
CITY OF CALGARY
MLS® BENCHMARK PRICE* APR ‘13 – APR ‘15
contents Notley news briefs cancels PCs real estate fees five things
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A3
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A4
$451,600
$454,300
$456,300
$459,100
$459,500
$459,900
$458,400
$457,300
$456,700
$456,100
$454,800
$449,800
$443,400
$437,600
$431,400
$426,300
$422,800
$421,500
$419,000
$415,100
$414,700
$411,700
$409,300
$407,000
APR13 MAY13 JUN13 JUL13 AUG13 SEP13 OCT13 NOV13 DEC13 JAN14 FEB14 MAR14 APR14 MAY14 JUN14 JUL14 AUG14 SEP14 OCT14 NOV14 DEC14 JAN15 FEB15 MAR15 APR15
$403,500
Hosting on airbnb
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity. Includes detached, attached and apartment.
LAKE LIVING FOR UNDER $1,000,000?
CREB® STAFF
I
n one of her first changes as Alberta’s premier designate, NDP Leader Rachel Notley is cancelling the outgoing Progressive Conservative government’s mortgage tax increase. “Families are worried about their jobs and paying for their mortgage,” said Notley. “But (former premier) Jim Prentice is barging ahead with his plan to hike the mortgage tax by 600 per cent, putting a new hurdle in the path to homeownership.”
government A3
transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 My Travel Log
secondary suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 The debate continues
weekly feed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 event listing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 mortgage rates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 commercial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9 map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 open houses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B23 @crebnow
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Priced at $999,950
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Wendy Langton 403.990.6683
Signature Properties