One of the fastest growing towns in Canada, Okotoks deals with 'surge' BY KATHY MCCORMICK, CALGARY HERALD It's all about compromise and trying to maintain the quality of life of one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. Okotoks, the town 18 kilometres south of Calgary, was one of the first communities in Canada to recognize its environmental limits to growth were restricted by the carrying capacity of its local water supply. In 1998, it capped its population at 30,000 people -- a ... Full Article...

The bank expects the private sector to become the sole driver of domestic demand in Canada by 2011, making this year a "turning point" as monetary and fiscal stimulus, which kick-started the recovery, are withdrawn. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, already in Washington for the Group of 20 talks, said he was "relatively comfortable" with the Bank of Canada's projections, saying they show Canada is emerging from the recession stronger than any other G7 country. The central bank said the housing se ... Full Article...

Just sold this listing: "UNBEATABLE VALUE in this gorgeous second floor unit in Gateway Garrison Green. This spacious one bedroom plus den features modern and trendy dark cabinets, stainless appliances, granite countertops, 9 ft ceilings and much more. An immaculate condo larger than most one bedrooms in the complex and listed at an UNBELIEVABLE PRICE! Quiet CONCRETE BUILDING in an upscale neighborhood close to parks, Mount Royal College, transit and a host of other amenities. Building offers u ... Full Article...

Sales growth slows as pent-up demand peaks BY GARRY MARR, FINANCIAL POST APRIL 19, 2010 1:13 PM The spring homebuying season has reached a fever pitch with a record number of "for sale" signs being placed on Canadian lawns for the month of March. But there are indications the market has reached the peak with nowhere to go but down. The Canadian Real Estate Association said yesterday that 97,663 properties were put on the market last month, a 25% increase from the number of new listings in Mar ... Full Article...

April 15, 2010 – Reuters.com TORONTO (Reuters) - Sales of existing homes in Canada climbed 1.4 percent in March from the month before, while a rise in new listings pointed to a more balanced housing market, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Thursday. The industry group said a total of 43,621 homes changed hands on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, boosted by strong activity in the Toronto and Ottawa markets, which more than offset a decline in activity in Vancouver that was ... Full Article...

Tue Apr 13, 5:48 PMThe Canadian Press TORONTO - Royal Bank is boosting its mortgage rates by a quarter of a point effective Wednesday, marking the second time rates on home loans have risen in the last month. Canada's largest bank (TSX: RY.TO) said Tuesday all of its fixed-rate closed mortgages will move higher, from a six-month convertible to 10 years. The new rates are effective Wednesday. The announcement marks the second mortgage rate increase from the banking industry in recent weeks, as t ... Full Article...

Financial Post Published: Monday, April 12, 2010 OTTAWA - Canadian home construction fell unexpectedly in March after revised figures showed more housing starts in February than previously reported. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts decreased to 197,300 units during the month from an upwardly revised annual rate of 200,400 units in February, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation said Monday. February starts were previously reported as an annual rate of 196,700 units. "Th ... Full Article...

Julie Fortier , Financial PostPublished: Thursday, April 08, 2010 OTTAWA - With the Canadian economy doing surprisingly well over the past six months, many see higher interest rates from the Bank of Canada in the not so distant future, but according to a report released Thursday from CIBC's chief economist Avery Shenfeld, rates are likely to remain at a very low 2.5 per cent through to 2011 - not the seven to eight per cent forecast by some. With the Canadian economy doing surprisingly well ove ... Full Article...

By Louise Egan – Reuters.com OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian economic recovery remains on track as purchasing activity jumped more than expected in March and building intentions were near a 2007 peak despite cooling slightly in February, according to reports on Wednesday. Statistics Canada said the overall value of building permits slid 0.5 percent in February versus market expectations of a 2 percent gain, due to a sharp decline in construction plans for apartment buildings. But analysts ... Full Article...

Just added this listing: "To follow"

High values make homes key targetMarty Hope, Calgary Herald Home ownership remains the dream of the vast majority of Canadians, but there are those out there hovering like vultures, waiting to swoop down and turn that dream into a financial nightmare. Toronto real estate lawyer Ray Leclair says, because of the high value attached to homes, they are also a key target for fraud -- and Canadians have the potential to lose "big time" if they don't know how to protect themselves. For most of us, hom ... Full Article...