August was the best month the housing market has seen in a while. Despite what is happening in Alberta and the rest of the world at the moment, it seems the real estate market is continuing to rally, particularly in the central part of the province. Home sales were up 22% this past August from the previous year with 493 homes sold as opposed to 407 sold in Aug. 2019. The Central Alberta Realtors Association (CARA) said August was a banner month and attributes much of the heightened activity to increased optimism and pent-up demand. March, April and May are typically the banner months for sales ..read more

A number of people have filed a class action suit involving an incident that took the lives of three people. The pending litigation in Alberta involves the tour bus operators of a fatal rollover at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park this past July in which three people died and 14 suffered life-threatening injuries. An all-terrain vehicle lost control while carrying 27 passengers to the glacier. The claim, filed in Calgary, names Brewster Travel Canada Inc., Glacier Park Inc., Viad Corp., Brewster Tours, Brewster Inc., Banff-Jasper Collection Holding Corp. and the uni ..read more

One of the most well-known and whimsical properties in the province is now on the market. Known as the Hobbit House, this little piece of real estate tucked away in the foothills of Alberta is for sale. The home was built into a hillside near Millarville in 1971 and has never been on the market before, but the owners are selling to be closer to family elsewhere. The architect who designed the Calgary Tower also designed the dwelling in the Shire-like area. The home has rounded walls and windows, and its partially bermed construction makes it all but hidden. The decision to build ..read more

Successful business owners have worked hard to get their businesses started and operating in the black. Alberta entrepreneurs want to safeguard their businesses and part of that entails proper estate planning and administration. Having an estate plan in place is a major safeguard for a business -- whether that business is small, medium or large. Most business owners will get peace of mind knowing their businesses will continue to flourish when they're no longer around to oversee them. Most businesses these days are incorporated and there are certain estate planning and tax considerations that ..read more

No one could have predicted all of the unexpected events that have transpired this year. The global health crisis has impacted virtually every facet of our lives. Employment has become less secure and harder to obtain. Stay-at-home orders have put strain on interpersonal relationships. With the world in a seemingly exacerbated state of flux, are you doing everything you should to adapt to the change? Anytime you experience a major life change, you should amend your estate plan to reflect it. Here are some changes that many of us may need to factor into our estate plans this year: Change in fam ..read more

There's something to be said for living in the country. And it seems many Alberta residents are gravitating to more rural settings by the recent surge in real estate sales in those areas. Realtors believe that more people want to get back to basics in light of what has been happening in the world and a rural setting is the place where they can grow their own gardens, raise some chickens for fresh eggs and generally experience a more laid-back existence. In fact, many real estate salespeople from larger urban areas like Calgary have clients who are asking to be shown properties in rural areas a ..read more

Organizations are built on the strength of their contracts. From a small family business to a large organization with international clients, contracts form the foundation upon which the company is built. Likewise, franchise agreements are in place to ensure the franchisee follows the guidelines established by the mature organization. Various clauses, however, might be deemed too restrictive. A common clause in any franchise agreement is the non-competition covenant. These are often broad measures taken to prohibit the franchisee from engaging in competitive business activities against the fran ..read more

Individuals with a strong entrepreneurial spirit will often seek new and exciting business opportunities. Many will explore the strategy of buying into a franchise. There are proven benefits to this action such as immediate access to an established brand, buying power and an existing customer base. However, there are certain disadvantages that franchisees should also remember. Franchise agreements are specifically written to favor the franchisor. Much of the decision-making power rests with the existing company. That said, a franchisee will likely face certain other challenges, including: All ..read more

Parents always want what is best for the children even when their kids become adults. Most Alberta parents have their children in mind when they begin estate planning. One of the issues they may ponder is how to leave the most to their kids in their wills and they might consider avoiding probate as a way of doing that. As parents age, they may choose to make their bank accounts joint with their children. It's a way their children can help administer the account. But people should know the same can be accomplished with an enduring power of attorney in Alberta. This document allows som ..read more

Franchising is like getting a jumpstart into entrepreneurship. Food, fitness, pets and countless other retail and service industries offer franchise opportunities for those who wish to be business owners but want the support and name recognition of an already established company. Thousands of companies are franchised in Alberta and across Canada, and there are many options that go beyond the fast food model. If you are thinking about starting or expanding your own business by buying into a franchise, you should know that you will experience both advantages and disadvantages. It ..read more