Calgary has much to offer. Recent data shows we have a comparatively low crime severity, We are the highest raked Canadian city on the EIU Livability Index, we are the 3rd best city in the world to find a job according to Movinga and we are the gateway to the Rockies with world class recreational opportunities.
According to the latest data from the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB), the average price of a home in Calgary increased by over 9% between April 2020 and April 2021, 17% between April 2021 and April 2022 and an additional 1.2% between April 2022 and April 2023.
Calgary has been experiencing steady population growth over the past few years. This growth can be attributed to the city's robust economy, excellent quality of life, and diverse range of cultural and recreational amenities. As more people continue to move to the city, growth will continue have an impact on the real estate market and housing prices will increase for the foreseeable future. Although that growth will have its highs and lows and values may fluctuate slightly, over time, we will see continued growth and long term property value appreciation.
According to the latest census data, Calgary's population increased by over 14% between 2011 and 2016, bringing the total population to over 1.2 million people. This trend has continued in recent years, with a projected increase of over 16% by 2026. To put that in real numbers to digest, that is approximately 70 people per day. The city's growth rate is well above the national average, and this trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
A major factor driving this population growth is the city's strong economy. Calgary has a robust energy sector, with several multinational oil and gas companies having offices in the city. Although this sector has highs and lows that affect the economy, there is long term average growth. The city also has a thriving tech sector, with several startups and established companies choosing to base their operations in Calgary due to the favorable business environment and access to a skilled workforce. Add the growing supply chain infrastructure with procurement, logistics, and supply chain management are some of the fastest growing opportunities in the city. Calgary sits in the CANAMEX corridor from north to south and is a gateway on rail and highway corridors east and west
A large part of my business, in the past few years, has been moving families to Calgary from out of province. They chose Calgary over their last home because they feel their quality of life for their family will be better here. As an aside, they often need work-from-home spaces.
As more people continue to move to Calgary, there is a significant impact on the real estate market. We are experiencing that impact right now. The demand for housing has increased and the supply of homes has remained well below the 10 year average. This is resulting in higher prices for both rentals and purchases. Although we may not see this rate of growth consistently, from year to year, it is inevitable that property values in Calgary will continue to experience long term growth.

The federal government is offering a new tax credit to help make it easier for Canadians to care for adult relatives in their own homes. The multi-generational home renovation tax credit took effect Jan. 1 for expenses related to building a secondary suite for a family member who is a senior or an adult with a disability. The credit will provide a 15 per cent tax refund on expenses of up to $50,000 to a maximum of $7,500.
The secondary suite must be for a related adult over the age of 65 or living with a disability, including a grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew. The secondary suite must be a self-contained housing unit that includes a separate entrance, bathroom, kitchen and sleeping area. 
Additionally, the home being renovated must be inhabited or reasonably expected to be inhabited within 12 months after the end of the renovations. 
Certain things cannot be claimed, such as:

• furniture;
• household appliances and devices;
• costs associated with landscaping, housekeeping, or security—in other words, anything not integral to the unit itself;
• costs of financing a renovation, such as mortgage interest costs; and
• construction equipment, tools, mortgage interest costs, and any costs associated with routine repair or maintenance.

In addition, claims are subject to reduction pending other forms of government assistance. 
To find out more on the Government of Canada website  CLICK HERE

​Whether to rent or to buy is an age-old question and the answer is not simple. Put rent vs buy in any search engine and you will find a myriad of arguments for both sides. Although there are positive points on both side of the argument, what is not true is that one solution, to buy or to rent, is right for everyone.  This blog is not about arguing about renting vs buying, but rather a look at why I believe buying a home is the right choice for families with children who can afford to buy and for people who do not have a pension plan that will allow them to live at the same standard of living when they retire. I don’t claim to know all, but I do have experience helping many families move and an understanding of their needs.
Not everyone is in a position, nor can everyone afford to buy a home so buying is not always an option. Affordability is changing, but if you are fortunate enough to be able to purchase a home and you have children, home ownership can make a difference for your family. Most families want to know their children will be able to stay in the same school throughout their primary school years. Owning a home can provide that stability. Children get to know other children in the neighbourhood and establish lifelong friendships. According to CDC and their study on Essentials for Children, children thrive both physically and emotionally in a stable environment.
A renter with a growing family typically wants to live in a single-family home where they have a back yard and space for all family members. One of the down sides to renting a house is that the renter can get into a situation where they can be forced out of their rental property. It could be that their landlord decides to sell the home or it’s the end of a lease and they have a better tenant. There is a myriad of other reasons as the landlord is in control of who, how and why they rent a property. What ever the reason, a renter can be forced to move and if they want to remain in the same community, they need to find similar accommodations at a similar rental rate near by to keep their children in the same school.  This is rarely an easy feat.  If the renter is OK with the transiency that renting can cause and the children don’t care if they stay in the same school or neighbourhood, renting may be the right choice, but when children stay in the same school and live, play and establish longer friendships with ties to a community it creates a healthier emotional environment .
Whether someone chooses to rent or buy will also have a substantial affect on the big “R”… Retirement.  Yes, money can be saved through renting vs paying a mortgage in Calgary at this moment in time, but this may not be true in the future nor is it true in many other cities across Canada. If the difference between buying and renting is invested, it will create a larger nest egg to retire. This is often an argument on the pro side to renting.
So, what about retirement?  How will a renter finance monthly rental payments once they retire? Most home owners have their mortgage paid by retirement and many have it paid long before that. Retirees who are home owners with a fixed income can support themselves comfortably on a pension and or RIF funds. If you are renting when you retire, the rent money will have come from your pension or the interest earned on the funds you put away for your retirement. 
Let’s look at a likely scenario for the finances of a renter who wishes to retire. Instead of making a purchase, the renter takes the initial investment of $50,000.00 that would be used as the down payment on a home and adds a monthly investment of $1,000.00 saved by not carrying a mortgage and invests that at an annualized interest rate of 3% compounded monthly. According to Waki Saeed, mortgage specialist at BMO,  that investment will be worth $705,579.00 after 30 years.
Buy the time our subject has $50,000 in ready cash they would, most likely, be in their early thirties and have about 30 years of employment left until they wish to retire. Based on groupbenefits.ca pension plan calculations, if our subject has a $100,000 /yr income the annual pension benefit in an “excellent” retirement plan would be around $60,000.  Thus, the monthly retirement plan income would be $5000 and after tax it would be closer to $4000.
The total retirement income for our subject becomes the sum of investment income combined with pension funds. The investment will continue to earn 3% compounded monthly at an annual return of $21,460.86, or $1,788.40 per month before tax and @$1200 - $1300 after tax.  The combined income upon retirement will be @$5300. The question becomes, how much rent will this individual have to continue to pay after retirement.  Will the $1300 per month from the investment be enough to cover the rent so they would be on equal footing with a home owner in the same situation. According to CMHC, average rent increases vary from province to province, but a safe estimate on rental increases over time would be 1.5% annually.  If our subject renter was paying just $1000 in rent when they started saving, their rent would be at least $1500 per month in 30 years. Given that a home owner has other monthly expenses, a retired renter would, at best, be on equal footing with the retired home owner because they must continue paying rent throughout their lifetime, where the homeowner would not. The home owner would also have the benefit of their home appreciating in value over time, while the renter would have to use the earning from the investment to maintain the rent.
Is it better to be a renter or a property owner?  Can either be in a better situation at retirement by renting or buying?  Financially, I think the outcome in the two scenarios are similar, but the emotional benefits of ownership outweigh those of rental for most families with children and in the renter’s  retirement scenarios there must be consideration for how the rent will be paid. The real question comes down to quality of life in both of these situations.

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Jim Perks is a REALTOR in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He uses his expertise in Internet marketing and real estate experience to service both his buyers and sellers throughout the city of Calgary. He can be reached at RE/MAX Real Estate (Mountain View) 403-247-5178 or by email at [email protected]. His website is www.calgaryrealestateagent.ca