This And That

Stelmach unveils green plan - Stelmach announced that if re-elected March 3, the provincial Tories will spend $50 million turning the river valley into the world's largest continuous park, running from Devon to Fort Saskatchewan.

Beneath university's land there lies a mystery - and possible oil riches - Nobody knows quite how it happened, but the University of Calgary and its students are about to get some first-hand experience in the energy business.

By chance, a staff member uncovered information last summer that showed the school owned the mineral rights to two sections of land south of Lethbridge near the U.S. border - an area rich with both oil and gas reserves.

Tight market fuels winter retreat boom - "Supply in most regions of the country is expected to balance demand in regular housing, but in the recreational property markets, demand should still be quite a bit greater than what is available," Phil Soper, chief executive officer of Royal LePage Real Estate Services.

Real estate affordability to improve, experts say -Housing affordability is likely to improve this year as house-price growth eases and falling interest rates make mortgages cheaper, economists say.

Real estate values returning to normal - After two years of sky-rocketing prices, numbers in the residential real estate market are beginning to return to normal, according to real estate agent Mike Gouchie.

"I think we're going to see a stable, healthy market in Central Alberta, heading into 2008," said Gouchie. "There will still be increases to the value of homes, but in the seven to eight per cent range, which is closer to normal than increases have been."