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

"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

"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...

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,...

 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...

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....