The Board of Governors of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation approved $929,470 in Investment Grants to 6 projects at our October board meeting.

The Alberta Real Estate Foundation makes strategic investments, forms partnerships, and supports initiatives that benefit Albertans through the real estate industry in all its forms. We do this by funding research, education, law and policy reform, and activities that advance and improve the real estate industry.

The Foundation’s funds are generated through real estate transactions. Whenever a consumer places money in trust through a real estate transaction, the small amount of interest earned is accumulated and forwarded to the Foundation for reinvestment across the province. You play a role you are likely unaware of in the impact we are all privileged to make. Thank you!

Our decision-making framework is rooted in our legislated mandate, and brought to life through our vision, mission and stakeholder-informed funding priorities and desired impacts. Through our Grant Programs, we have the opportunity and responsibility to respond to the changing real estate landscape and grantmaking best practices.

Since 1991, the Foundation has invested over $28 million in grants to over 700 initiatives across Alberta.

Please join us in celebrating the projects that will contribute to a stronger real estate industry, and a stronger Alberta:

Return-On-Investment Urban Modelling Pilot Project
from the City of Airdrie and University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (Center for Civilization)
The Return-On-Investment Urban Modelling Project Pilot will empower communities, starting with the City of Airdrie, to promote development patterns that secure fiscal condition and create a strong sense of place. The project aims to bridge the gaps between economic analysis, public policy, and urban design.

Battling Inflation & Its Ripple Effects: The Impact of High Interest Rates on Alberta’s Real Estate Market
from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
This project will have two research components, designed to run concurrently with the goal of filling a critical research gap to help provide clarity and chart direction in our present market conditions. The first component will analyze inflation, interest rates and their effect on property values and consumers’ willingness to pay, and the second will assess home buyers and renters’ perspectives on inflation, rates, and housing affordability in Alberta.

Prototyping an Inclusive Design Process for the Creation of Accessible Housing in Alberta
from the University of Alberta Affordable Housing Solutions Lab
The built environment is intrinsically related to social inclusion and wellbeing. While our built environments represent connectivity, they are not barrier free. This project will research and develop tools to support the policy and planning required to ensure that our built environments, especially housing, is inclusive of and accessible for all Albertans.

REET Institute App
from the REET Institute
The REET Institute has successfully operated in urban areas but recognizes the need to extend their reach to rural and remote communities. By doing so, they can ensure that diverse, racialized youth, regardless of their geographical location, have equal access to their program and the opportunities it offers. The app will address this critical education gap by providing a comprehensive platform that brings their program directly to these communities, enabling them to access the same resources and opportunities as their urban counterparts.

Canada’s Changing Building & Energy Codes: Implications for Alberta’s Residential Real Estate Sector
from SAIT Green Building Technologies
This project builds on the research funded through the Foundation in 2022 to include the creation and dissemination of tools and resources for the real estate sector. As gatekeepers of the built environment, the real estate industry will bear the most significant impact and will hold the highest responsibility as new building codes are adopted and enforced. Despite its important perspective and role, the needs of the real estate sector – and real estate professionals in particular – have been overlooked when it comes to raising awareness, providing educational opportunities, and building capacity around energy literacy, changing policies, building code compliance and decarbonization. Now is the time – as the new codes are being developed and before they are mandatory – to support and future-proof the industry.

Enhancing Rural Alberta’s Real Estate through Accessible & Universal Design
from the Athabasca University RAIC Centre for Architecture in collaboration with Sundre Hospital Futures
Current rural built environments are not suited to accommodate the needs of a growing demographic of people with health challenges, including seniors, persons living with chronic diseases, and persons with disabilities. There is a dire need and demand for accessible and universal design within residential and public spaces to accommodate aging-in-community, community health and the network of medical and healthcare services required. This project will conduct research, and develop policy and planning strategies, and learning modules to revitalize residential and commercial real estate in Sundre.

Explore our Projects page for more Foundation-funded initiatives.