Busy Beavers and Foothills Dreams

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

There’s something magical about living near a river in the Alberta foothills. Each season paints a different story along its winding banks, but one of my favourite chapters involves a certain hardworking, paddle-tailed engineer: the beaver.

I still remember the first time I realized I had beavers living practically in my backyard. It was a crisp evening, the sun slipping low behind the foothills, and...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

Have you ever wondered what title insurance is? Do you need it? What are the benefits? 

You might ask about an RPR (Real Property Report) and whether it covers everything. In this article, we will provide you with all the details you need, and perhaps even more information than you anticipated.

The simple answer to your questions is that you need at least one of these for your protection moving forward. If possible, I recommend...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

During my morning walk with my dogs, I noticed a large shape in the distance coming from the river. At first, I wondered if the neighbours’ cows had wandered into the wrong pasture. Then I saw another shape, which had antlers and appeared skinny and somewhat funny-looking.

Those were elk! In the Fallen Timber area, or at least in my valley, I don't often see elk, so this was a special treat. It was particularly exciting to see two...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

Let me start by saying, wolves, bears, and cougars are apex predators.  They can make life hard on ranchers and farmers, but they are a part of our ecosystem. This post is not meant to insight a debate, more to point out that we have a diverse wilderness and are lucky to have it. Please be respectful of that.

The mist rolling off the river after a hard rain just starting to lift off the valley floor, when a sound cuts through...

What Every Rural Buyer Should Know — By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

If you live on an acreage in Alberta, chances are you've either got a chainsaw or three, or maybe you borrow one from your neighbour who really wishes you would go buy one. Whether you're clearing a trail, cutting up storm-downed trees, or bucking firewood for the winter, having a solid saw makes life easier—and safer.

Let’s dig into two of the big dogs in the chainsaw world: STIHL vs. Husqvarna....

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

One of the greatest joys of rural living is having your own private water source — your well.
It’s a beautiful thing: fresh, clean water pulled right from the earth beneath your feet. When you live on an acreage, your well isn’t just a utility — it’s your lifeline to independence, self-sufficiency, and peace of mind.

That’s why it's so important to truly understand how your well works and how to care for it properly. A little attention...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages in the foothills of Alberta

The Evening Grosbeak of Alberta’s Foothills

In the hush of an early spring morning, when the mist clings to the evergreens and even the chickadees are still rubbing sleep from their feathers, there’s a sudden bolt of yellow—so bright it seems to carry the sun in its wings. That’s your first hint that an Evening Grosbeak is near.

These birds don’t sing like robins or flit like finches. No, the Evening Grosbeak is the...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages in the foothills of Alberta

Our Clever Neighbor: Red Foxes

One cool autumn morning, while walking the fence line of my property, I noticed a small, freshly dug hole near the top of the hill. At first, I thought it might be a skunk or even a badger’s doing. But then, from behind a patch of wild roses, a fluffy, copper-colored tail poked out. The culprit emerged, ears twitching and nose to the ground — a red fox, clearly unimpressed by my presence....

What Every Rural Buyer Should Know — By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

Out here in the Alberta foothills, rural life is full of surprises. Maybe it's the herd of deer that treats your backyard like a buffet. Maybe it's the neighbour's rooster who thinks 3 a.m. is a reasonable wake-up call. But sometimes, it's something less feathery and more industrial: an oil or gas well.

That’s right — many acreages in Alberta come with a little extra under the soil. And depending...

Goldeneye Ducks: The Alberta Foothills’ Golden Gliders

You’re out by the pond on your rural acreage, watching the sun shimmer on the water, when a sudden splash interrupts the quiet morning. You look over, and there they are — a small flock of Common Goldeneye ducks, diving and resurfacing like little feathered submarines. Their glossy green heads catch the light, and their piercing yellow eyes seem to size you up before they vanish beneath the surface again.

As a rural realtor, I’ve seen plenty of...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

There’s something magical about the first crackle of a wood stove on a frosty morning. Out here in the Alberta foothills, where the stars shine brighter and winter hangs on a bit longer, heating with wood isn’t just about comfort—it’s a way of life.

At our home, we heat with wood most of the time. We're lucky enough to have access to standing dead trees, which we responsibly harvest and season. Not only does this save us a lot in...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages in the foothills of Alberta

The Skunk: Alberta Foothills’ Striped Survivalist

So you're walking through the forest near your favourite pond, enjoying the crisp evening air, when suddenly you spot it — a flash of black and white weaving through the tall grass. You freeze, heart pounding, where is your dog? You quickly grab his collar as a skunk wanders up the hill beside you, blissfully unaware of the minor heart attack it just caused. You hold...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

You’re driving down a dusty Alberta backroad, your truck bouncing along as golden fields stretch out on either side. Maybe there’s a distant mountain range on the horizon or a cluster of aspen trees swaying gently in the breeze. You spot a “For Sale” sign and think, “Could this be it? My own slice of country paradise?”

But here’s the thing: No two rural properties are the same. They’re as unique as the people who built them – from...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

I remember when I first bought my property and struggled with spotty cell service and no internet. Thankfully, technology has come a long way since then!

Not too long ago, while showing a property, my clients were ready to walk away because they couldn’t get a cell signal. But once I mentioned that internet access can easily solve that problem, I realized that many people don't know about the great solutions for improving phone service...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

"Woody Woodpecker’s Real-Life Cousin: The Pileated Woodpeckers of the Alberta Foothills"

Living rural can mean starting your day with the rhythmic thwack-thwack-thwack of a feathered carpenter hard at work, carving out his masterpiece on an old aspen tree. Out here in the Alberta foothills, that sound isn’t coming from a construction site — it’s the signature call of the Pileated Woodpecker, nature’s own lumberjack.

As a rural realtor,...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

Buying raw land in rural Alberta presents an exciting opportunity to create your dream property from the ground up. Whether you envision building a cozy family homestead, a hobby farm, or a getaway cabin, one of the first questions to consider is: Where will your water come from?

When I purchased my property, I didn’t have a well, but the area was surrounded by water, so I thought drilling a well would be straightforward. However,...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

In the quiet shadows of the Alberta foothills, where snow still clings to the north side of the pines and the willows are just beginning to bud, something stirs beneath the earth.

A great brown snout emerges from a den tucked beneath a rocky outcrop. It's crusted in soil and framed with sleep. Behind her, a deep-chested yawn echoes, followed by the soft, clumsy scuffle of four wobbly paws.

Mama Bear is awake. And so are her cubs.

They’re...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

"The Love Song of the Wood Frog: Rural Life's Serenade"

Spring has arrived in Alberta’s foothills, and with it comes one of nature’s most underappreciated rom-coms: wood frog mating season. If you live rural like I do, you might already be hearing it — that charming quack-quack-quack chorus from ditches, ponds, and puddles that were snowbanks just a week ago.

These tiny amphibians, about the size of a toonie, are the first to wake...

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

Sable and Stratus:

In the foothills of Alberta, where the grasslands ripple like green oceans and ancient cliffs stand watch over quiet valleys, a pair of Golden Eagles carves their domain into the endless sky.
Their names, bestowed by the locals who have come to know their soaring silhouettes, are Sable and Stratus — two extraordinary eagles bound not only by instinct but by a resilience and grandeur that sets them apart.

What Makes...

Moose in Spring: Alberta’s Gentle Giants and the Magic of Rural Acreage Living

By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

A Spring Morning Surprise in the Foothills

Spring in Alberta’s foothills is a season of quiet magic. Snowmelt trickles into swollen creeks, the scent of damp spruce lingers in the morning air, and the land feels like it’s slowly exhaling after a long winter.

It was on one such morning—coffee in hand and frost still clinging to the grass—that I saw him. A...

Living on an acreage in the foothills of Alberta means waking up to the sound of wind through spruce trees, watching deer wander through the meadow at dusk—and if you’re especially lucky, sharing your coffee with one of the forest’s most charming troublemakers: the Whiskey Jack.

Out here, nature isn’t something you drive to on the weekend—it’s right outside your door. And few creatures embody the wild, whimsical spirit of this place quite like the gray-feathered bandit known as the Whiskey Jack.

You...

Living in the foothills of Alberta offers a front-row seat to one of nature's most elegant performances—the seasonal presence of the sandhill crane. These statuesque birds, with their graceful movements and resonant calls, add a touch of the prehistoric to our modern landscapes.

The first time I heard them and saw their size, I immediately thought of Terradactyls. Their prehistoric calls echoed throughout the valley. Now, they are a sign of spring and one of my favorite sounds in the morning. I special...

Congratulations on buying your acreage, your own piece of paradise nestled in the Alberta foothills! There's truly nothing quite like the serene beauty and tranquility of country living. However, while your friendly neighborhood cows may require little of your attention, the management of your wastewater is a different story. Welcome to the often-overlooked yet crucial world of septic systems, where understanding the options available can save you headaches down the road.

If you’re not quite sure what...

There’s a kind of magic that only happens when you live in the quiet stretches of Alberta’s foothills. I’m lucky enough to live nestled in the forest, just a stone’s throw from Fallen Timber Creek and a short drive from Calgary, where the wildlife is part of my daily life. Every morning, coffee in hand, I look out my window and never know who might show up — a mule deer nibbling the willow, a moose wading through the pond, or, if I’m truly blessed, the silent arrival of a Great Grey Owl. This isn’t...

I want to start this post with my perspective and experience living with predators in the Alberta foothills. Every year we have been here, we have seen the big three: grizzlies, cougars, and wolves. It can be amazing, scary, and eye-opening to realize how much wildlife there is in Alberta.

We have been very aware of wildlife and ensuring we are not doing things to encourage interaction and draw any wildlife near our home. We know people have had issues; we are happy that we have not.

An essential part...

Living the Rural Life - Internet Service If you’re considering making the move to the beautiful Alberta foothills, one of the first questions on your mind might be, “Who do we use for Internet service?” This is a great question, especially if you're selling your home in Calgary or another urban area. The truth is, internet options can vary quite a bit depending on where you are in the rural landscape, so it's definitely worth taking some time to figure out what works best for you.

As a former IT ...

The rural life on an acreage in Alberta foothills gives us all sorts of stories to watch unfold. Buying a property near Water Valley has made me realize how much life there is in our forests, a short distance from Calgary to the west but giving a very different experience living on an Alberta farm

A Story of the Snowshoe Hare

The foothills blanketed in deep winter snow, their rolling slopes softened by drifts and shadowed by towering spruce and aspen. Among the quiet trees, a lone snowshoe hare sat...

In the vast, rolling prairies and foothills of Alberta, where the land stretches far beyond the eye can see, there lies an unseen but essential resource that has sustained families, farms, and entire communities for generations—water wells. These wells are not just a convenience; they are the very foundation of rural life, allowing thousands of Albertans to thrive in landscapes where municipal water systems do not reach.

When purchasing an acreage or rural real estate near Calgary or anywhere in Alberta,...

Everyone loves seeing deer, except perhaps when they are eating your feed or birdseed. White-tailed deer are commonly found throughout Alberta and are best recognized by their distinctive white flags as they run across fields. We are fortunate in Alberta to have an abundance of wildlife. Living in rural areas, it’s easy to forget just how lucky we are to be surrounded by nature. Take a moment to appreciate what we have.

White-tailed deer should not be confused with their cousins, the mule deer, which...

Springtime is right around the corner, bringing out some of our best local neighbours. The Black Bear spend the majority of winter in a den, dug out of a hillside or under a rocky overhang.

While hibernating, Black bears slow their metabolism to around 25% of normal, slowing their heartbeat considerably.

Over the next month or so, in Alberta, we will start to see them emerging from their dens. The food search will be on. All rural residents need to be good neighbours to these bears and not leave attractants...

 You should always consult a mortgage professional to get access to accurate and current information

You have always wanted to own an acreage, live outside of the city and have a quiet place of your own. It is a great life for sure.

When you decide to go down that country road, before you fall in love with that little farm, It is a good idea to talk with your Realtor, broker or banker, ensuring you know the differences in purchasing and what your financing options are.

If moving to an acreage or...

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Rural Alberta has a lot going on. Whether you live on an acreage full time or have a cabin in one of the small communities like Bergan, Burnstick Lake or James River, there is always something new to enjoy.

Often, you’ll see a seasonal visitor pass through, this week I had a flock of Snow Buntings.
These little black and white birds only come around these parts in the winter and move like a wave through the air.

They visit our farm annually in the winter. In...

The Pine Marten thrives in the majestic mature coniferous and mixed forests of Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest and extends into the beautiful landscapes of Northern New England, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada. With a high metabolism driving its relentless spirit, this remarkable creature is always on the hunt. Its diet, rich in small mammals like squirrels and rodents, showcases its adaptability as an opportunistic feeder, also embracing birds, fruits, nuts, insects, and carrion....

With the recent weather, more than a few people have posted about frozen septic systems.

If you are unsure about your system or if it’s your first winter on the property, it’s always a good idea to have a licensed professional check your systems and make sure you are winter-ready. I was lucky enough to have a great contractor explaining a few simple things to do to prepare your septic for winter.

A few things to consider,

Always keep your system full; the volume of water helps prevent freezing....

Winter preparation is a big part of Rural life. Linkedin 

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Do you think you have enough firewood?

So, the answer I gave was right. It’s never enough. Cold snaps burn through wood rapidly.

Here is what’s left; we have burnt through a lot of our wood.

Did you know that CIR stands for Canadian Independent Realty?

Founded in 1983 in Calgary, CIR REALTY is Alberta’s largest independent real estate brokerage, boasting over 900 REALTORS® and staff members. As a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, CIR is proud to be one of more than 550 affiliate firms within a global network that holds the top position in sales volume across numerous key markets, surpassing any other national association.

CIR has a strong presence in Rural Southern Alberta...