StonePoint Real Estate Team

Feeling stressed by the tumultuous world out there? Here's a fun read for this month's update that you'll definitely find interesting - and cause you to ponder "why"...

Top 10: Happiest Countries in the World... Guess where Canada and the US Rank?!?

Based on the World Happiness Report 2025, countries are ranked based on life satisfaction surveys, using the following factors: income (GDP per capita), social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and corruption levels.

The Happiest Countries Top 10 are... (drum roll please):

1. Finland: The citizens of Finland have strong feelings of communal support and mutual trust that not only helped secure the #1 ranking but also helped the country as a whole navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. During that trying time, Finlanders felt strongly that they were free to make their own choices and showed minimal suspicion of government corruption. Both of these factors are strong contributors to overall happiness.

2. Iceland: Edging past Denmark into second place for the first time since 2014, this island nation of just 400,000 people ranks first for social support – the degree to which residents feel they have someone to count on in times of trouble. It also places in the top 10 for GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy and generosity, making it one of the most well-rounded performers in the rankings.

3. Denmark: A perennial top performer, Denmark has never dropped below fourth in the report's history and has frequently taken the top spot. Ranking third overall this year, the country also places third globally for social support and low corruption, and seventh for GDP per capita.

4. Costa Rica: Amazing, this marks the highest ranks ever for a Latin American country and the first for one of these countries to make the top five. This country’s freedom score and social support measures nearly doubling since 2021. Costa Rica doesn't rank as highly for GDP or governmental support as the Nordic nations, but residents still report strong freedom to make their own life choices. Attributed to the peoples “pura vida” lifestyle, Costa Rican prioritize social connection and nature over material wealth.

5. Sweden: High trust in the government and police fosters a sense of security; citizens believe public systems and institutions will effectively deliver what they promise. The Swedish “cradle to grave” welfare state provides universal healthcare, free education (up to college), and generous parental leave (up to 480 days between parents). These safeguards significantly reduce financial anxiety and provide a strong social safety net. Regarding work life balance, the Swedes work fewer hours on average than the global standard and enjoy a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation.

6. Norway: Norwegians feel they are being well cared for by their government thanks to universal healthcare and free college tuition. Norwegians also enjoy a healthy work-life balance, working an average of 27 hours per week versus 36 hours per week in the United States. Additionally, Norway has a low crime rate and citizens tend to have a high average income while benefiting from strong investment in public well being and eco-innovation.

7. Netherlands: The Dutch have a healthy work-life balance and high levels of personal freedom. The Netherlands has the highest rate of part time work in the world, it’s acceptable to work 3 or 4 day per week to spend time with family or hobbies. The education system emphasizes well being over high stakes testing, and the “cycling culture” gives teenagers independent mobility from an early age. Thus, Dutch children are ranked as some of the happiest in the world. As well, there is a long history of social tolerance, creating a society where people feel free to be themselves, boosting freedom to make life choices scores.

8. Israel: The people of Israel showed emotional resilience in the wake of the October 7th attack. Deep familial bonds and community resilience remained high despite regional conflict. Note, since this survey, we anticipate that Israel’s ranking in 2026 may likely be lower due to Israel’s current war with Iran or at least, the populace’s resilience will be tested more than ever.

9. Luxembourg: Blessed with extremely high GDP per capita and quality public services have made this nation shine on the happiness survey. High incomes relieve financial stress. Luxembourg was the first country in the world to make all public transportation free, leading to reduced commuting stress and increases in perceived freedom of its residents.

10. Switzerland: The Swiss responded favourably to their nation’s political stability, high income levels, and low perceived corruption.

Where do Canada and our neighbours to the South measure up on the World Happiness Report? Why?

Not the best news for Canada. We ranked 25th, our lowest measure ever. Canada dropped quite dramatically in 2026, from 18th in 2025. Furthermore, a very sharp plummet from 5th in 2015. For the US, they came in at 23rd for 2026 with a minimal recovery from 24th in 2025, which happened to be the US's worse showing ever.

Factors for the above mentioned results are as follows:
1. Youth Happiness Gap: In both countries, the youth (under 25) revealed extreme unhappiness scores.
2. Social Media Impact: For instance, Algorithmic Feeds, which researchers identified as culprits as they encourage toxic social comparisons and loneliness.
3. Cost of Living: Home ownership, rent and day to day expenses (groceries, insurance, gas, tuition, etc) have all risen in cost, making it a greater challenge to meet all of the financial obligations especially for the youth. As a result, financial stressors have increased amongst this age group.

General Trends
1. Decline of English-Speaking Nations: For the second year in a row, no English-speaking countries appeared in the top 10.
2. Youth Well Being: The 2026 report focused heavily on the impact of social media on youth, noting a significant decline in well being among young people in North America and Western Europe.
3. Central and Eastern Europe Rise: Several countries in this region, including Serbia, Bulgaria, and Latvia, showed the largest gains in happiness over the last decade.

The latest and greatest real estate snapshot! It seems that the world keeps on making things feel uncertain - but we have the scoop!

Happy Springtime!! See the latest statistics on the Calgary real estate market below!

City of Calgary figures reveal on a cumulative basis, in January to March 2026 versus January to March 2025, available detached housing inventory increased 9.8%, attached (row, semi-attached) increased 26.6%, and apartment increased by 7.1%. For the same period, the months of supply increased for the detached market by 14.3% to 2.5 months, for attached it was up by 44.6% to 3.1 months, and apartment up by 47.6% to 4.8 months. In the same timeframe, the number of sales decreased for detached homes by 3.9%, attached down by 11.9%, and apartment was down by 27.4%. In turn, average prices were down 1.4% for detached, down by 3.8% for attached, and down by 2.6% for the apartment segment.

What are Calgary Real Estate Board officials saying about the Calgary real estate market?

The CREB summary states, “Supply conditions in March varied significantly depending on property type. Inventory levels saw a typical monthly rise, but compared with long term trends, inventory remained well above the 10 year average for both row and apartment style units and well below trend for detached homes. This is not a surprise given the pullback in detached housing starts last year despite record high apartment style starts.

There were 1,881 sales in March, up from the previous month, but still 13 per cent lower than levels reported last year and slightly below long term trends for March. The decline in sales is mostly due to pullbacks in apartment style properties, where increased supply choice and slower migration is spreading demand across a wider range of supply. Meanwhile, detached sales have also showed some decreases compared to long term trends, likely due to limited supply choice in some city districts.” But what does that mean?

"When considering total residential housing statistics, conditions appear to be relatively balanced as sales, new listings, inventories and prices all trended up over the previous month as we start to move into the spring market," said Ann-Marie Curie, CREB's Chief Economist. "However, when we look deeper, we are seeing a market that ranges from tighter conditions for detached homes to the apartment sector, where conditions tend to favour the buyer. As expected, this is supporting upward momentum in detached prices and downward pressure in the apartment condominium sector."

The CREB summary continues, “The total unadjusted benchmark price in the city was $565,600, up nearly one per cent compared to February but down by more than four per cent compared to last year. After the first quarter, benchmark prices posted modest to stable conditions for lower density homes. However, apartment condominium prices continued to slide, dropping another three per cent in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of last year."

Regardless of the market, call us for some clarity on how the current environment affects you. Because whether you are looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate, we can help ensure you are on the right side of the equation for a great purchase - or alternatively maximize your return on the selling side!

Call now to connect with business.

The latest market statistics in the Calgary region:

We hope you had a Pleasant and Happy Family Day!! See the latest statistics on the Calgary real estate market below!

City of Calgary figures reveal on a cumulative basis, in January 2026 versus January 2025, available detached housing inventory increased 20.7%, attached (row, semi-attached) increased 35.5%, and apartment increased by 10.9%. For the same period, the months of supply increased for the detached market by 23.5% to 2.7 months, for attached it was up by 81.9% to 3.9 months, and apartment up by 50.3% to 5.3 months. In the same timeframe, the number of sales decreased for detached homes by 2.2%, attached down by 12.2%, and apartment was down by 25.5%. In turn, average prices were up 0.1% for detached, down by 3.5% for attached, and down by 5.9% for the apartment segment.

What are Calgary Real Estate Board officials saying about the Calgary real estate market?

The CREB summary states, “Calgary reported 1,234 sales in January, a year-over-year
decline of 15 per cent, but in line with typical levels of activity for the month. While sales
declined across all property types, the steepest declines occurred in higher-density homes.”

“Following the typical December slowdown, potential buyers for high-density homes were
more hesitant to return to the market in January, as increased supply choice across all
aspects of the market has reduced the sense of urgency,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB’s
Chief Economist. “At the same time, sellers were quick to bring their listings onto the
market, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to drop to 44 per cent, mostly due to shifts in
apartment and row-style homes. Overall, this is not entirely uncommon for January, as both
buyers and sellers weigh their options ahead of the spring market.”

The CREB summary continues, “The rise in new listings compared to sales caused inventory levels to increase to 4,391 units, the highest January level since 2020. However, as with sales, conditions vary by property type, with row and apartment homes facing higher levels of inventory compared to long-term trends. The result is months of supply that ranges from under three months in the detached sector to five months for apartment-style homes.

Due to declines in the later part of 2025, benchmark prices are lower than levels reported at the start of last year. However, seasonally adjusted figures point to stable levels in January compared to the end of 2025. Nonetheless, year-over-year total residential benchmark prices have declined by nearly five per cent, as steep declines reported in the oversupplied row- and apartment-style homes weighed on total residential prices compared to last year.”

What does that mean for you?? Well there's opportunity in the air!! Give us a call or email and we'll look at your specific property, area, or interests for buying or selling and we'll help you purchase to your advantage or maximize your selling potential!

Call now to connect with business.

This month's feature read:

Milano / Cortina Winter Olympics: 10 Controversial, Weird and Wild Occurrences...

NL 107 - Milano / Cortina Winter Olympics: 10 Controversial, Weird and Wild Occurrences

1. A Dog Runs an Event: Nazgul, a 65 pound Czechoslovakian wolf dog, ran the finishing stretch of the women’s cross-country team sprint and did it like he belonged there. Nazgul’s owners are Enrico and Alice Varesco, who live close by, Nazgul somehow escaped his kennel at home. The Varesco’s were watching the race and Nazgul was searching for them. Great showing Nazgul!!

2. Biathlete Admits to Infidelity: In a post-race interview shortly after winning a bronze medal, Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid said that he had a message for someone “who might not be watching today”: his ex-girlfriend. He explained that they dated for six months, but that three months ago he cheated on “the love of [his] life, the most beautiful and kindest person.”

3. Athlete Disqualified for Disallowed Helmet: A Ukrainian skeleton racer was disqualified from the Winter Olympics after insisting on wearing a “helmet of remembrance” featuring images of 24 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia. He was “not allowed to participate at Milano Cortina 2026 after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement, referring to rules prohibiting any kind of political statement by competitors.his helmet because, he said, there are things that are “more important than medals.”

4. Athletes Like Their S*x: Since 1988, sexually active athletes have enjoyed a seemingly unlimited supply of free condoms available in the Olympic Village. But there must be something in the air in Milan because this year’s 2,800 Olympians blew through roughly 10,000 condoms in three days, Italian outlet La Stampa reported.

5. Pen*sgate???: The World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) is investigating claims that male ski jumpers inject their p***ses with hyaluronic acid in a scandal dubbed “Pen*sgate” by the German outlet Bild. So what do p***s shots have to do with ski jumping? Believe it or not, there’s a scientific explanation. The hyaluronic acid plumps up the p***s, so that when 3D scanners measure them for their ski suits, they should, at least in theory, be issued a larger, looser suit. This, in turn, could help them jump longer distances, with the suit’s baggy crotch acting like a sail catching wind.The concept isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds: A study published in the journal Frontiers found that a 2 cm change in the size of a ski jumping suit could mean gaining an extra 5.8 meters in jump length.

6. Quad God Doesn’t Make the Podium (Except in Team Event): American figure skater Ilia Malinin, nicknamed the “Quad God”, arrived at the Olympics as the overwhelming favourite to win gold in the men’s competition. While he came out of the short program with a 5.09-point lead, he fell multiple times during free skate and came in eighth overall. Not only that, but he failed to land any of the quadruple jumps that he’s known for, leading to one of the most shocking upsets in U.S. figure skating history.

7. Trump Calls U.S. Olympian, ‘A Real Loser’: At a news conference on the first day of the Games, when asked what it means to represent the United States in the current climate domestically and internationally, U.S. free skier Hunter Hess said it “brings up mixed emotions” and was “a little hard.” He continued, “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and think a lot of people aren’t. But just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean that I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” Hess went on to clarify that he was proud to represent his “friends and family back home, and all the things that I believe are good about the United States.”Naturally, President Donald Trump couldn’t resist weighing in, writing on his Truth Social platform: “U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this.”

8. French Biathlete Wins Gold After Fraud Conviction:French biathlete Julia Simon won gold in the women's 15km individual and the biathlon mixed relay, less than four months after she was convicted of theft and credit card fraud for racking up more than $2,300 dollars in online purchases on her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet's credit card. Simon admitted to the crime in court and was slapped with a six-month ban by the French Ski Federation, which includes a five-month probation period that allows her to compete at the 2026 Winter Games. Simon was also fined $34,600, with $17,799 suspended.

9. Defective Medals: It happened at Paris 2024 and it's happened again at Milan-Cortina 2026. Breaking medals. Early in the Games, two of the USA's gold medallists, Breezy Johnson and Alysa Liu, revealed the ribbon had come away from their medals soon after they received their prize.

10. Curling Cheating Accusations: Accusations of cheating. Swear words being hurled across the ice. Counter-claims of a sting operation with illicit filming. In curling?!The drama started when Canada's Marc Kennedy became involved in a heated verbal exchange with Sweden's Oskar Eriksson towards the end of his side's 8-6 win.The Swedes believed Kennedy was repeatedly double-touching some of his stones, an illegal move.But the cards were signed by both teams at the end, meaning the result would stand in a sport that is proudly self-governed by the players.And then video footage found its way into circulation post-match. Was it premeditated?The following day, Switzerland reported Kennedy for the same offence. World Curling then announced they would deploy extra officials for the remainder of the Games to check for double-touching.Canadian women's skip Rachel Holman was pinged for a double-touch, as was Team GB's Bobby Lammie - both incidents not deliberate and the case of a lingering figure falling on to the granite. World Curling changed its protocol again and teams could now request to have the stone delivery monitored if they had suspicions, and for a minimum of three ends.

Well, there's your random read for the month! Have a great weekend!

January.2026 Real Estate Update - PLUS - We Dig Into the Probable impact of Venezuelan Oil on Alberta’s Energy Sector - https://mailchi.mp/dbe08b84f55b/january2026-real-estate-update-plus-we-dig-into-the-probable-impact-of-venezuelan-oil-on-albertas-energy-sector

January 2026 – Calgary Real Estate Market Snapshot

We hope you all are a having a wonderful start to the year! See the latest statistics on the Calgary real estate market below!

City of Calgary figures reveal on a cumulative basis, in January - December 2025 versus January - December 2024, available detached housing inventory increased 56.5%, attached (row, semi-attached) increased 79%, and apartment increased by 51.4%. For the same period, the months of supply increased for the detached market by 71.4% to 2.7 months, for attached it was up by 106.4% to 2.9 months, and apartment up by 111.1% to 4 months. In the same timeframe, the number of sales decreased for detached homes by 8.7%, attached down by 12.9%, and apartment was down by 28.3%. In turn, average prices were down 0.3% for detached, down by 0.3% for attached, and no change for the apartment segment.

What are Calgary Real Estate Board officials saying about the Calgary real estate market?

The CREB summary states, “Following several years of strong price growth, 2025 marked a year of transition thanks to strong demand and limited supply. Due to record high starts, supply levels improved across all aspects of the housing market, just as demand pressure eased due to a reduction in migration levels and heightened uncertainty that persisted throughout the spring market. This
helped shift the resale market from one that favoured the seller to one that was more balanced. In 2025, sales reached 22,751 units, down 16 per cent over last year, but in-line with long-term trends. Much of the shift came from the growth in supply. 2025 saw over 40,000 new listings come onto the market, nine per cent higher than last year, causing inventories to rise and driving more balanced
conditions.”

“Supply levels were expected to rise in 2025. However, the growth was higher than expected especially for apartment condominium and row homes. This weighed on prices in those sectors enough to offset the annual gains reported for both detached and semi-detached homes,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB®’s Chief Economist. "Adjustments in both supply and demand varied across the city, with pockets of the market continuing to experience seller’s market conditions versus some areas where the conditions favoured the buyer. This resulted in different price trends based on location, price range and property type.”

The CREB summary continues, “Overall, the annual average total residential benchmark price in 2025 was $577,492, two per cent lower than last year’s annual average. However, annual detached and semi-detached prices rose by a respective one and three per cent, while apartment and row homes saw prices fall by a respective three and two per cent.

Compared to other districts, the North East reported the largest decline in prices this year. While some of this is related to improved supply across all areas of the city, it is also important to note that the North East district also reported the strongest price growth over the past two years. For the first time in three years, we are heading into the New Year with better inventory levels."

Regardless of the market, we're here to help. Give either of us a call, text or email to find out how we can help you to maximize your purchase - or make the most out of your property's selling potential!

January's Feature article:

Our Deep Dive into the Probable Impact of Venezuelan Oil on the Alberta Energy Sector:

Venezuela possesses roughly 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, much of it extra-heavy crude. In the early 2000s, national production exceeded three million barrels per day. Today, output is closer to one million barrels per day, reflecting years of underinvestment, infrastructure decay, loss of skilled labor, and the effects of international sanctions.

Oil facilities across the country — including wells, pipelines, upgraders, and export terminals — are aging and poorly maintained. Industry estimates suggest that merely stabilizing current production levels would require tens of billions of dollars in capital. Returning output to even two million barrels per day could take a decade or more and would likely require total investments above $100 billion.

Venezuela’s oil closely resembles Alberta’s production in one key respect: both are heavy, high-sulfur crudes that require complex refining. The primary market for these barrels is the U.S. Gulf Coast, where specialized refineries are designed to process such grades and which in previous decades was centred around Venezuelan oil. While the overlap raises the prospect of direct competition, Venezuela faces significant logistical constraints. Many of its upgrading and blending facilities are offline, forcing the country to import diluents to move its oil. Export infrastructure is also unreliable, with frequent disruptions at ports and storage facilities.
These limitations restrict Venezuela’s ability to supply consistent volumes, reducing its competitiveness against Canadian producers, who benefit from stable operations and expanding pipeline access.

The recent U.S. removal of Nicolás Maduro has potentially opened the oil sector to greater private and foreign participation. Investor confidence in the country remains fragile. Venezuela’s history of expropriation, weak institutions, corruption, and unresolved disputes with previously nationalized companies continues to weigh heavily on international corporations. In addition, U.S. sanctions — while partially eased — remain conditional and subject to political shifts from future administrations, limiting long-term planning for energy companies. Foreign firms have taken a cautious approach, focusing on limited production recovery rather than large-scale expansion.

Short-Term Impact:
Over the next one to five years, most analysts expect Venezuelan production to increase only modestly, if at all. Even optimistic projections suggest gains of only a few hundred thousand barrels per day, constrained by infrastructure bottlenecks and slow capital inflows.

For Alberta’s oil industry, this implies minimal short-term price disruption. Canadian oil sands production is supported by long-life reserves, established supply chains, and improving market access through projects such as the Trans Mountain expansion. Global oil demand remains resilient, and spare capacity is relatively tight, meaning additional Venezuelan supply is unlikely to significantly depress prices in a sustained way.

Medium-Term Impact:
In the medium term (5-9 years), the impact is also likely to be relatively modest. Even if political reform takes hold, Venezuela’s institutions (judiciary, electoral bodies, security forces) remain weak or compromised by decades of politicization. Strengthening them is essential for stability and foreign investment but typically takes many years — not just a few — especially in contexts marked by entrenched factions and skepticism among the populace. Officials and organizations accustomed to wealth generated through corruption are going to be highly resistant to supporting change, and will undermine processes to protect their personal interests.

Venezuela also has a complex landscape of armed groups, including foreign guerrillas, domestic criminal gangs, and pro-government paramilitary forces known as “Colectivos” that are loyal to Nicolás Maduro. These groups operate with significant autonomy, often controlling illicit markets, border regions, and enforcing social control, particularly in western border states. If political transitions threaten established criminal networks, they may use violence or sabotage to further disrupt the industry. This risk reduces investment appetite.

That said, if a stable government is realized, Venezuelan oil production could rise to 1.3–1.5 million bpd by 2030. Reaching these levels requires an estimated $3.2 billion in annual investment to repair aging infrastructure and decayed equipment.

Long-Term Impact:
The long-term implications are less clear as it depends heavily on Venezuela’s political trajectory. Major U.S. oil firms are currently in a "wait-and-see" mode and are not making plans for heavy investment any time soon. Plus the question is whether the math really makes sense given other potential oil accessibility vs investment requirements elsewhere in the world.

Venezuela is a very large country, the 32nd largest in the world and political reform is a difficult process. Poor transportation infrastructure, diverse terrain and regional corruption significantly hinders its ability to achieve political stability. Colombian guerrillas (ELN), dissident FARC rebels, and criminal gangs to control vast tracts of land. Key natural resources and mining operations are often located far from the capital in regions where criminal organizations, rather than the state, hold sway.

The Venezuelan military also faces significant challenges in policing the vast, treacherous border regions, particularly the border with Colombia, which has become a hotspot for smuggling and trafficking. Conversely, the population is heavily concentrated (85%) in the northern coastal-mountain region. While this makes the core urban areas easier to manage, the vast, ungoverned, or under-governed territories in the south and along the borders create a "staircase" of instability that renders national, long-term stabilization difficult.

But IF ultimate political stability is reached, then the potential for more foreign investment does increase. Is it worthwhile financially? That's yet to be determined. But if large-scale foreign investment materializes, Venezuelan production could eventually approach two to three million bpd in the next 15 to 20 years. That would require a massive investment — estimated at $100 billion to as much as $180 billion U.S. over the next 15 years. This need for massive upfront capital in an era of constrained oil investment and the country's potential for instability in the future may ultimately limit how far and how fast its production can or will recover or grow.

BUT - with three million bpd being produced by Venezuela’s oil industry, it would reintroduce a major heavy crude supplier into global markets that in the long term that would almost certainly impact overall oil prices, and would absolutely intensify competition for refinery demand at U.S. gulf refineries hurting Alberta. That would be a big problem if nothing is done to get our heavy oil to other markets. It would still create some downward pressure on heavy crude price differentials, affecting margins for Canadian producers, but most critically if we remain landlocked.

This impact potential highlights the vital importance of continued diversification for Alberta’s oil industry. Expanding access to Asian markets, investing in upgrading and refining capacity, and continuing to lower production costs would help mitigate future competitive pressures. Alberta’s investments in emissions-reduction technologies, including carbon capture and storage would also strengthen its competitiveness relative to Venezuelan oil, which currently has higher emissions intensity and weak regulatory oversight.

What's the Result??
Through our research, it seems real concern for Alberta isn't immediate or likely severe. There is ample time to protect the energy sector if action is taken immediately to diversify our market access. This would ensure we have options beyond US gulf refineries. Investment into new pipelines to tide water can be completed before major Venezuelan oil investment projects would be finished. Plus if investment into Venezuelan production never materializes, Alberta and Canada would be significantly less reliant on our unpredictable partners to the south.

We’d love your feedback - AND any input if you have insight that would to add, change or improve our understanding of things!!