APRIL 2025 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

May 1, 2025
Balanced conditions take pressure off prices
A boost in new listings this month relative to sales caused April inventories to rise to 5,876 units. Although this is more than double the number reported last year, last year’s supply was exceptionally low, and current inventory levels are consistent with what we typically see in April. April sales reached 2,236 units—22 per cent below last year’s levels but in line with long-term trends.

“Economic uncertainty has weighed on home sales in our market, but levels are still outpacing activity reported during the challenging economic climate experienced prior to the pandemic,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “This, in part, is related to our market’s situation before the recent shocks. Previous gains in migration, relatively stable employment levels, lower lending rates, and better supply choice compared to last year’s ultra-low levels have likely prevented a more significant pullback in sales and have kept home prices relatively stable.”

The rise in inventory levels helped the market shift to balanced conditions with nearly three months of supply. However, conditions vary depending on price range and property type. Lower-priced detached and semi-detached properties continue to struggle with insufficient supply, while row and apartment-style homes are seeing more broad-based shifts to balanced conditions.

The additional supply has helped relieve the pressure on home prices following the steep gains reported over the past several years. Benchmark prices for each property type have remained relatively stable compared to last month. However, compared to last year, detached and semi-detached prices are over two per cent higher than last year’s levels, while apartment and row-style home prices have remained relatively unchanged.


Detached
Detached sales were 1,102 units in April, a year-over-year decline of 16 per cent. While sales eased across most areas of the city, the South East district has seen sales rise over last year’s levels. April saw 1,907 new listings come onto the market, and the sales-to-new-listings ratio remained balanced at 58 per cent. Inventories rose to 2,511 units, and the months of supply rose to 2.3 months. While this is a significant gain over the less than one month of supply reported last year at this time, conditions remain relatively tight, especially in the lower price ranges.

In April, the unadjusted benchmark price reached $769,300, similar to last month but over two per cent higher than last April. The added supply choice, combined with uncertainty, has slowed the pace of price growth. However, with a year-over-year gain of nearly five per cent, the City Centre has exhibited stronger price growth than any other district.


Semi-Detached
Easing sales in April contributed to the year-to-date decline of nearly 16 per cent. The 190 sales in April were met with 350 new listings, and the sales-to-new-listings ratio fell to 54 per cent. This also caused further gains in inventory levels, which reached 484 units. The rise in inventory did help push the market toward balanced conditions with 2.6 months of supply, a significant improvement over the less than one month reported at this time last year.

The shift toward more balanced conditions has slowed the pace of price growth. In April, the unadjusted benchmark price was $691,700, similar to last month and over three per cent higher than last year. The City Centre reported the largest gain, at over five per cent, while prices in the North remained stable compared to last year.


Row
April sales slowed for row homes, contributing to the year-to-date decline of 16 per cent. Meanwhile, new listings continued to rise compared to last year, driving the sales-to-new-listings down to 51 per cent. In April, inventories reached 1,005 units, the highest level reported since 2021, and the months of supply rose to nearly three months. Improved supply has taken some of the pressure off prices,

In April, the unadjusted row price was $457,400, a slight gain over last month, but relatively unchanged compared to April of last year and still below last year’s peak price reported in June. The pullbacks reported in the North and North East districts offset year-over-year gains in most districts.

Apartment Condominium
April sales eased by nearly 30 per cent over last year’s record high but were far stronger than long-term trends. While sales have remained relatively strong, new listings in April reached a record high for the month, supporting further gains in inventory levels. With three months of supply in the city, conditions are considered relatively balanced. However, activity does range significantly based on location, impacting price movements.

The North East district reported the highest months of supply at seven months, resulting in a year-over-year price decline of two per cent and a spread of over seven per cent from last year’s high. Overall, the April benchmark price in the city was $336,000, similar to last year but still three per cent lower than last year’s record high.

MARCH 2025 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

April 1, 2025
Uncertainty weighing on housing market
Ongoing economic uncertainty, driven by tariff threats, has weighed on consumer confidence and impacted housing activity in March. Sales declined by 19 per cent year-over-year, totaling 2,159 units. Sales slowed across all property types, with the steepest declines seen in higher-density segments.

“It is not a surprise to see a pullback in sales given the uncertainty,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “However, it is important to note that sales still remain stronger than anything reported throughout 2015 to 2020, where our economy faced significant economic challenges and job loss. Nonetheless, easing demand has been met with gains in new listings and rising inventories, helping our market shift back toward balanced conditions, following four consecutive years where the market favoured the seller.”

March reported over 4,000 new listings, causing the sales-to-new-listing ratio to drop to 54 per cent, low enough to support further inventory gains. Total residential inventory levels reached 5,154 units, and the months of supply pushed up to 2.4 months. While this is a significant change from last year, with limited supply options across all property types and price ranges, conditions reflect a better balance between a seller and a buyer today. However, the market significantly varies depending on location, price point, and property type.

Improving supply has taken the pressure off home prices following the steep gains reported over the previous four years. In March, the unadjusted residential benchmark price reached $592,500, relatively stable compared to both last month and prices reported last March. Both detached and semi-detached prices remain consistent with peak prices and continue to rise, while apartment and row-style homes continue to report prices slightly lower than last year’s peak.


Detached
Detached sales totalled 1,035 units in March, a year-over-year decline of 10 per cent. The decline in sales was met with improving new listings, supporting inventory gains over last year’s extremely low levels. The improving supply compared to sales has caused the months of supply to rise to just over two months, a significant improvement over the less than one month reported last spring. However, the months of supply continue to remain tight with less than two months of supply for homes priced below $700,000. We are seeing a shift toward more balanced conditions for homes priced above $800,000.

The unadjusted detached benchmark price reached $769,800 in March, a gain over last month and over four per cent higher than last year’s levels. Limited supply options continue to support price gains for detached homes, although the pace of growth has slowed from the double-digit gains reported last year. Some of the largest gains occurred in the City Centre.


Semi-Detached
March sales slowed over last year’s levels, contributing to the first quarter decline of 11 per cent. The decline in sales has also been met with a gain in new listings. While conditions still remained relatively tight over the first two months of the year, the boost in new listings in March relative to sales did support further gains in inventory levels, causing the months of supply to push up to 2.2 months, the highest monthly level reported since the end of 2022.

The shift to more balanced conditions is slowing the pace of price growth compared to last year. However, with an unadjusted benchmark price of $691,900 in March, prices are still over five per cent higher than last year and above the unadjusted peak reached in July last year. Year-over-year gains ranged across the city, with the largest gains occurring in the City Centre and West districts.


Row
March reported a surge in new listings with 697 units. The growth in new listings was met with 400 sales, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to ease, and inventories to rise from the lower levels reported last year. There were 826 units in inventory in March, pushing above long-term trends, but remaining shy of some of the highs reported prior to the pandemic. Supply levels improved across all price ranges, with much of the gains occurring in the North East, North and South East districts. Like other property types, improving inventory relative to sales has shifted the market toward more balanced conditions, especially for row homes priced above $500,000. This has also slowed the upward pressure on home prices. In March, the unadjusted benchmark price was $454,000, two per cent higher than last March, but nearly four per cent below peak levels reported in June of last year.

Apartment Condominium
After the first quarter, condo sales reported the largest decline over last year compared to other property types. However, we achieved record highs last year, and the 1,383 sales remain well above long-term trends for the first quarter. Relatively strong demand has also been met with significant gains in new listings, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to fall below 50 per cent and driving inventory gains. As of March, there were 1,710 units in inventory, causing the months of supply to push up to just over three months. While the months of supply have risen compared to the exceptionally low levels seen over the previous three years, levels remain well below the over six-month average seen throughout 2015 – 2020.

Nonetheless, more supply has slowed the pace of price growth. The unadjusted benchmark price in March was $336,100, similar to last month and nearly three per cent higher than last March. Despite the year-over-year gain, prices remain below the peak reported last August. Prices are below peak across all districts, but the largest declines have occurred in the North and North East areas.

FEBRUARY 2025 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

March 3, 2025
Sales remain above long-term trends despite declines
Inventory levels saw substantial year-over-year growth for the second month in a row, rising by 76 per cent to 4,145 units in February. While inventory increases were seen across all price ranges, the largest increases were in homes priced under $500,000.

The increase was driven by substantial growth in the more affordable apartment and row/townhouse sectors. The overall months of supply was 2.4 in February, similar to last month but more than double this time last year. Apartment-style units remained the most well-supplied at 3.1 months.

There were 1,721 sales in February, which was above historical averages for the month but 19 per cent lower than levels seen last year and significantly lower than the record levels seen in the post-pandemic period. New Listings in February reached 2,830, roughly in line with historical averages for the month. The sales-to-new listings ratio for the month was 61 per cent, higher than historical averages but below levels seen in each of the last three years.

“Even though more people listed their homes for sale, there were actually fewer sales than in February 2024. So, we’re seeing the seller’s market of the past two or three years ease off,” said Alan Tennant, President and CEO of CREB®. “In turn, that’s caused the pace at which prices are increasing to slow down a bit, which should come as welcome news for buyers.”

The total residential unadjusted benchmark price in February was $587,600, relatively stable compared to late-2024 and roughly one per cent higher year-over-year. Price changes varied across the city, with the City Centre and North districts seeing declines, while the East district saw the largest price growth at over three per cent.


Detached
Sales in February slowed to 765 units, nearly 20 per cent lower than last year. New Listings increased by nearly six per cent year-over-year to 1,265 units. The decline in sales, coupled with the gain in new listings, drove inventory levels higher, reaching 1,698 and a 61 per cent increase in levels compared to 2024.

Months of supply improved across all districts compared to the levels seen last year, although the recovery is uneven across the city. The City Centre and North East districts continue to trend towards more balanced conditions, while the South and North West districts remain supply-constrained at approximately 1.6 months.

The unadjusted benchmark price rose to $760,500, roughly five per cent higher than last February. Prices rose across all districts, with the largest increase occurring in the City Centre district at nearly eight per cent growth.


Semi-Detached
There were 240 new listings in February, a gain of seven per cent from 2024. Sales fell by nearly 14 per cent compared to 2024, slowing to 165 units. This gap between sales and new listings drove inventories up by 46 per cent, though they remain below long-term averages for the sector in February. There was a large variation in months of supply across the city, with a low of just one month in the North West district compared to a high of eight months in the East district.

The unadjusted benchmark price pushed above levels seen in the late summer and early fall, rising by nearly seven per cent year-over-year to $683,500. This increase was supported by price grains across all districts, with the largest growth occurring in the City Centre and South districts of approximately eight per cent.


Row
As with other property types, year-over-year sales fell by over nine per cent while new listings increased by almost four per cent. Despite the sales decline, both sales and new listings remain above long-term averages for the month. This drop in sales pushed inventories to 655 units, more than double the levels seen last year, though still lower than the historical average levels for February. Months of supply improved across the city; the South and East districts have the tightest conditions at under 1.5 months, while the North East district has almost three months.

Unadjusted benchmark prices remain below levels seen in the fall but are up almost three per cent year-over-year at $446,880. Prices increased across all districts, with marginal increases in the South East and North districts, while the East district experienced a significant 12 per cent increase compared to 2024.

Apartment Condominium
Sales reached 473 units in February, 26 per cent lower than last year but still well above long-term averages for the apartment sector in February. New listings were relatively flat year-over-year, but at 852 units, it was the highest amount on record for the month. Driven by the record new listings, inventory increased by 90 per cent year-over-year and also pushed to near-record levels. Months of supply reached 3.1 months in February, a substantial 155 per cent increase over 2024 but still well below record levels seen in the period between the 2014 oil crash and the pandemic.

The unadjusted benchmark price for February was $334,200, comparable to levels seen in the fall and almost four per cent above the prices seen this time last year. The largest price growth occurred in the West district at over eight per cent.

DECEMBER 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

January 2, 2025
2024 marks another strong year for sales and price growth
The year ended with 1,322 sales in December, a three per cent decline over last year, but nearly 20 per cent higher than long-term trends. Overall sales in 2024 were just shy of last year’s levels, as gains for higher-priced homes offset pullbacks in the lower price ranges caused by supply challenges.

“Population gains over the past several years have supported sales activity that has outperformed long-term trends. In 2024, sales would likely have been higher if there was more supply choice, especially in the lower price ranges,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “That being said, we did start to see shifts occurring in the market in the second half of the year as supply levels started to improve for higher priced homes.”

As of December, there were 2,989 units available in inventory, still below long-term trends for the month but a significant improvement over the lower levels reported last December and levels reported early this year. Improved rental choice and significant gains in new home activity helped boost new listings in the resale market, driving higher inventories in the year’s second half.

While conditions vary depending on price range and property type, more housing options have helped to take some of the pressure off home prices, which stabilized in the second half of the year following steep gains in the spring. Overall, on an annual basis, total residential benchmark prices improved by over seven per cent.

As we move into 2025, supply will continue to be a dominant theme. However, how they impact prices will ultimately depend on the type of supply being added and how demand holds up in the face of a changing economic climate. On January 21, CREB® will release its forecast report, highlighting the expectations and risks facing the market in the coming year.


Detached
Easing lending rates have likely supported some recent year-over-year gains in detached home sales over the past three months. Improving sales were driven by gains for homes over $600,000, which also reported improvements in new listings. Inventory levels did improve within city limits for detached homes; however, conditions varied across districts. The City Centre, North East and North District all reported relatively balanced conditions over the last quarter of the year, while all other districts continued to struggle with seller market conditions.

The relatively tight market conditions throughout the year caused prices to rise by nearly eleven per cent in 2024, a faster pace than what was reported in 2023. Much of that growth occurred during spring when supply levels were exceptionally low. Prices grew across all districts, with the strongest growth occurring in the most affordable districts of the North East and East.


Semi-Detached
Limited supply choice for lower-priced detached homes drove many purchasers toward the semi-detached sector. In 2024, there were 2,355 sales, with an annual gain of five per cent. Thanks to gains in new listings relative to sales, inventory levels started to improve, supporting a shift toward more balanced conditions by the fourth quarter. However, much of this shift occurred in the higher-priced City Centre district, where the months of supply averaged three months in the last quarter.

The annual average benchmark price increased by nearly 11 per cent to $669,042 in 2024. Like detached homes, exceptionally tight conditions throughout the spring caused the pace of price growth to rise over the seven per cent annual gain reported in 2023. Prices improved across all districts, ranging from an annual gain of under 10 per cent in the City Centre and West to gains exceeding 15 per cent in the North East and East districts.


Row
In 2024, there were 4,647 row home sales, a gain of over two per cent compared to last year and the second-highest total on record. The growth in sales was possible thanks to the 18 per cent gain in new listings, most of which occurred for homes priced above $400,000—the gains in new listings relative to sales supported inventory growth in 2024.

By the year’s end, supply improvements helped take the pressure off home prices. However, the annual benchmark price rose by 14 per cent as conditions favoured the seller throughout the year. Prices rose across all districts in the city, with the gains ranging from a low of 12 per cent in the city centre to over 20 per cent in the most affordable districts in the North East and East.

Apartment Condominium
Easing sales in the second half of the year offset earlier gains, causing apartment sales to slow by four per cent compared to last year. However, last year was a record high for sales, and the 7,568 transactions this year reflect the second-highest year on record. At the same time, new listings have been on the rise, supporting inventory gains and a shift toward more balanced conditions by the end of the year.

As more supply became available, we did see some price adjustments in the last quarter of the year. However, the quarterly decline did not offset the strong gains that occurred earlier in the year, and the annual benchmark price rose by 15 per cent. Price growth ranged from a low of 11 per cent in the city centre to over twenty per cent in the North East, East and South districts.

NOVEMBER 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

December 2, 2024
Supply on the rise, but not across all price ranges
As we transition into winter, Calgary’s housing market is following typical seasonal trends, with activity slowing compared to the fall. However, year-over-year demand remains relatively strong. In November, increased sales in detached, semi-detached, and row homes offset a decline in apartment condominium sales. The 1,797 sales for November mirrored last year’s levels and remained 20 per cent above long-term trends for the month.

The significant shift lies in supply. Inventory levels rose to 4,352 units in November, a notable increase from the 3,000 units reported last year. Despite the recent gains, inventory levels remain below long-term trends for the month.

“Housing supply has been a challenge over the past several years due to the sudden rise in population,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “Rising new home construction has bolstered supply in rental, new home and resales ownership markets. However, supply improvements vary significantly by location, price range, and property type.”

The months of supply have increased to over two months, representing a shift away from the extremely low levels seen earlier this year and in the past three Novembers, which reported under two months of supply. While these more balanced conditions are promising for potential buyers, many market segments still favour sellers.

Improved supply options have tempered the pace of price growth. Year-over-year gains range from nearly seven per cent for row homes to nine per cent for apartment-style units. The total residential benchmark price reached $587,900, reflecting a year-over-year increase of just under four per cent. This slower growth reflects a shift toward more affordable row and apartment-style units. Seasonally adjusted prices have remained stable over the past four months despite unadjusted prices trending down in line with seasonal patterns.


Detached
Rising sales for homes above $600,000 offset the declines in the lower price ranges caused by limited supply choice. While inventory levels did improve, 85 per cent of the supply was priced above $600,000. Improving supply caused the months of supply to push above two months in November, with higher months of supply reported for homes priced above $700,000 and less than two months of supply for homes priced below that level. This variation within the market is likely to result in different price pressures.

The unadjusted detached benchmark price was $750,100, slightly lower than last month but over seven per cent higher than prices reported last year at this time. Year-over-year gains have ranged across the city, with slower growth reported in areas with the most competition from newer homes.

Semi-Detached
There were 173 sales in November, an improvement over last year and contributing to the year-to-date growth of nearly five per cent. This was possible thanks to gains in new listings and higher supply levels. With two months of supply, conditions are not as tight as earlier in the year but still favour the seller, especially for properties priced below $700,000.

As of November, the unadjusted benchmark price was $675,100, nearly eight per cent higher than last November. The pace of price growth has eased over the past several months, primarily due to seasonal factors. Benchmark prices ranged from $926,800 in the City Centre district to $409,300 in the East district of the city.

Row
Row home sales improved in November compared to last year, contributing to nearly three per cent of year-to-date gains. Sales have remained exceptionally strong over the past three years as purchasers seek more affordable options. At the same time, new listings have also improved relative to sales, supporting year-over-year gains in inventory levels. Despite inventory improvements, conditions remained relatively tight with nearly two months of supply.

Following steep gains earlier in the year, the pace of price growth has eased. As of November, the unadjusted benchmark price was $454,200, nearly seven per cent higher than last year. Year-to-date average benchmark prices have improved by nearly 15 per cent. Row prices in the City Centre were the highest at $620,000, while the North East and East districts were the only areas to report benchmark prices below $400,000.

Apartment Condominium
Sales in November slowed over last year’s record high. However, the 429 sales were still 47 per cent higher than long-term trends. New listings for apartment-style units have been on the rise. With 1,482 units available in November, more supply is available now than during the spring, and it is the only sector to see levels rise above long-term trends for the month.

The additional supply caused the months of supply to push above three months and is taking some of the pressure off home prices. As of November, the unadjusted benchmark price was $337,800, down over last month, but still nine per cent higher than last year. Supply has improved for units priced above $200,000, but most gains have been in the $300,000 to $500,000 range.

OCTOBER 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

November 1, 2024
Supply levels improving for higher-priced homes
Sales gains for homes priced above $600,000 offset declines at the lower end of the market, resulting in October sales that were similar to last year. The 2,174 sales in October increased over September and stood 24 per cent above long-term trends for the month.

“Housing demand has stayed relatively strong in our market as we move into the fourth quarter, with October sales rising over last month,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “However, activity would likely have been stronger if more supply choices existed for lower-priced homes. Supply levels in our market are improving relative to the ultra-low levels experienced last year, but much of the gains have been driven by higher-priced units for each property type. This results in conditions far more balanced in the upper end of the market versus the seller’s market conditions in the lower to mid-price ranges of each property type.”

The gains in new listings relative to sales over the past six months have supported inventory gains in the city. As of October, 4,966 units were available, a significant improvement over the near-record low of 3,205 units reported last October. While inventories are starting to reach levels more consistent with long-term trends, the inventory composition has changed as nearly half of all the residential inventory is now priced above $600,000.

Adjustments in supply are helping move the market away from the tight market conditions experienced in the spring. However, conditions remain relatively tight, with 2.3 months of supply and a 67 per cent sales-to-new listings ratio, and the months of supply does vary significantly by price range and property type. For example, detached homes priced below $700,000 are reporting less than two months of supply, while homes priced over $1,000,000 are reporting over three months of supply. This is likely resulting in different price pressures depending on price range and property type.

Overall, the total residential benchmark price was $592,500 in October, over four per cent higher than last October and on a year-to-date basis, averaging over eight per cent higher than last year’s levels. The unadjusted benchmark prices did ease slightly over last month due to seasonal factors, as seasonally adjusted prices remained relatively stable in October compared to September.


Detached
Home sales rose to 1,071 in October, a gain over last month and nearly 10 per cent higher than last year. While new listings were higher than last year, they slowed over last month, causing the sales to new listings ratio to rise to 69 per cent and preventing any further monthly gain in inventory levels. With 2,199 units available, the months of supply remained near two months, a gain over the under two months reported last year at this time, but slightly lower than last month.
The unadjusted detached benchmark price was $753,900 in October, slightly lower than last month but still eight per cent higher than levels reported last October. Additional supply choices in the higher price ranges have taken some of the pressure off home prices. However, the recent monthly pullbacks are more related to seasonal conditions, as seasonally adjusted prices have remained relatively stable over the past three months.


Semi-Detached
Sales in October rose over last month and were over six per cent higher than levels reported last year at this time, contributing to the year-to-date growth of over three per cent. New listings for semi-detached homes have also been on the rise, supporting some steady gains in inventory levels. The shift in supply compared to demand has helped push the market toward more balanced conditions, especially for higher-priced properties. However, with only two months of supply, the overall conditions still favour the seller.
The unadjusted benchmark price was $677,000 in October, similar to last month and over eight per cent higher than last year. Year-to-date prices have averaged an over 11 per cent gain.


Row
Following a strong start to the year, sales activity has slowed since June. However, the pullback in sales is not due to a shift in demand but related to supply constraints. The declines in sales have been driven by homes priced under $400,000, the same segment of the market which reported a 35 per cent decline in new listings. Year-to-date sales have remained relatively stable compared to last year, as pullbacks in the lower range offset the gains in the upper price ranges. Over 70 per cent of the sales have occurred over $400,000, a significant shift from last year, where the upper end accounted for 47 per cent of all the sales.
Improvements in supply did cause the months of supply to push above two months in October, the first time that has happened since the end of 2021. Supply growth, especially in the upper price ranges, has helped take some pressure off prices. However, with an unadjusted benchmark price of $456,600, prices are still over eight per cent higher than last October and year-to-date, which have averaged an increase of nearly 16 per cent.


Apartment Condominium
While sales in October improved over last month, October marks the fifth consecutive month with a year-over-year decline. However, it is important to note that the 6,782 sales so far this year are only down slightly over last year’s record high and nearly double the number of sales we have averaged over the previous decade. Higher lending rates, rising rents, and limited supply choices for lower-priced properties have fuelled demand for apartment condominiums. However, like other property types, sales declines were driven by pullbacks for lower-priced units due to a significant drop in supply. Inventory levels in October did rise over the previous year, with most of the gains occurring in the $300,000 – $500,000 range, supporting more balanced conditions in those price ranges. Meanwhile, conditions remained relatively tight for lower-priced condominiums.
The additional supply choices, especially in the higher ranges of the condominium market, are taking some of the pressure off prices. In October, the unadjusted benchmark price was $341,700, down over last month but still 11 per cent higher than last year’s levels. While much of the monthly decline can be attributed to seasonal factors, areas with a relatively high number of newly constructed and completed projects are impacting resale activity, resulting in a slightly higher monthly decline. Nonetheless, on average, year-to-date prices are nearly 17 per cent higher than levels reported last year.

AUGUST 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

September 3, 2024
Calgary housing market sees shifts
Housing activity continues to move away from the extreme sellers’ market conditions experienced throughout the spring. Easing sales, combined with gains in supply, pushed the months of supply above two months in August, a level not seen since the end of 2022.

“As expected, rising new home construction and gains in new listings are starting to support a better-supplied housing market,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “This trend is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year, but it’s important to note that supply levels remain low, especially for lower-priced properties. It will take time for supply levels to return to those that support more balanced conditions.”

Inventory levels in August reached 4,487 units, 37 per cent higher than last August but nearly 25 per cent lower than long-term trends for the month. Higher-priced properties mostly drove the supply gains, as the most affordable homes in each property type continued to report supply declines.

The supply gains were made possible by both an increase in new listings in August and a pullback in sales activity. There were 2,186 sales in August, representing a 20 per cent decline from last year’s record high but still 17 per cent higher than long-term averages for the month. The sales declines were driven by homes priced below $600,000.

Following stronger-than-expected gains earlier in the year, the pace of price growth is starting to slow. In August, the total unadjusted residential benchmark price was $601,800, six per cent higher than last year and just slightly lower than last month. Year-to-date, the average benchmark price rose by nine per cent.

Detached
Detached home sales fell by 14 per cent compared to last year, as gains in homes priced above $600,000 were not enough to offset declines in the lower price ranges, which continue to struggle with low supply levels. In August, there were 2,011 detached homes available in inventory, with over 85 per cent priced above $600,000.

The improving higher-end supply compared to sales helped push the months of supply up to nearly two months. While market conditions are still tight, this is a significant improvement from the under-one-month supply experienced in the spring. Shifting conditions are relieving some pressure on home prices. In August, the unadjusted detached benchmark price was $762,600, slightly lower than last month but still over nine per cent higher than last year.

Semi-Detached
With 297 new listings and 172 sales, the sales-to-new-listings ratio in August dropped to 58 per cent, which is more consistent with pre-pandemic levels. This shift supported a rise in inventory levels, and the months of supply rose to nearly two months.

While conditions remain relatively tight, the boost in new listings has helped ease some of the pressure on prices. In August, the unadjusted benchmark price was $681,200, a decline from last month but nearly 10 per cent higher than last year.

Row
New listings row for homes priced above $400,000, contributing to year-to-date growth of nearly 16 per cent. At the same time, slower sales over the past three months have contributed to inventory gains. In August, there were 660 units available, a 75 per cent increase over the exceptionally low levels reported last year. While inventories are still low by historical standards, as with other property types, this shift is helping ease pressure on home prices.

The unadjusted benchmark price in August was $461,700, slightly lower than last month but over 12 per cent higher than last August. Monthly adjustments were not consistent across districts, with adjustments in the City Centre, North West, North, and West districts mostly driving monthly declines. Despite the monthly adjustments, year-over-year prices remain higher than last year across all districts and range from a low of 10 per cent in the City Centre to a high of 26 per cent in the East district.

Apartment Condominium
New listings in August reached 1,001 units, a record high for the month. The gains in new listings were met with a pullback in sales, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to drop to 60 per cent and inventories to rise to 1,476 units. Unlike other property types, overall condominium inventory levels were relatively consistent with longer-term trends for the month.

Rising inventory and easing sales caused the months of supply to increase to nearly two and a half months, not as high as levels seen before the pandemic but an improvement over the extremely tight conditions seen over the past 18 months. In August, the unadjusted benchmark price was $346,500, similar to last month and nearly 16 per cent higher than last year’s prices.

JULY 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

August 1, 2024
Supply levels improve, taking some pressure off prices
With the busy spring market behind us, we are starting to see some shifts in supply levels. With 2,380 sales and 3,604 new listings, the sales-to-new listings ratio fell to 66 per cent, supporting a gain in inventory. Inventories rose to 4,158 units, still 33 per cent below what we typically see in July, but the first time they have pushed above 4,000 units in nearly two years.

Although the majority of supply growth occurred for homes priced above $600,000, the rise has helped shift the market away from the extreme sellers’ market conditions experienced throughout the spring.

“While we are still dealing with supply challenges, especially for lower-priced homes, more options in both the new home and resale market have helped take some of the upward pressure off home prices this month,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “This is in line with our expectations for the second half of the year, and should inventories continue to rise, we should start to see more balanced conditions and stability in home prices.”

July sales eased by 10 per cent over last year’s record high but were still higher than long-term trends for the month. Like last month, the pullback in sales has been driven by homes priced below $600,000.

Nonetheless, the gain in inventory combined with slower sales caused the months of supply to rise to 1.8 months, still low enough to favour the seller but a significant improvement from the under one month reported earlier this year.

Improved supply helped slow the pace of monthly price growth for each property type. In July, the total residential benchmark price was $606,700, similar to last month and nearly eight per cent higher than last year’s levels.

Detached
Detached home sales in July fell by eight per cent, as the 15 per cent rise for homes priced above $600,000 was not enough to offset the 50 per cent decline occurring in the lower price ranges.

The decline in the lower price ranges reflects limited availability as inventories and new listings continue to fall for lower-priced homes. Year-to-date detached sales have eased by just over one per cent compared to last year.

With 1,098 sales and 1,721 new listings this month, inventories rose to 1,950 units. Inventories are still low based on historical levels, but the gain did help push the months of supply up to nearly two months and supports some stability in prices. The unadjusted benchmark price in July was $767,800, similar to last month but 11 per cent higher than last July.

Semi-Detached
Relative affordability continues to attract purchasers to the semi-detached sector. While sales did slow slightly compared to last year, year-to-date sales reached 1,518 units, six per cent higher than last year.

The growth in sales was possible thanks to gains in new listings. However, conditions remain relatively tight, with a 76 per cent sales-to-new listings ratio and months of supply of 1.5 months.

While the pace of monthly price growth has slowed, at an unadjusted benchmark price of $687,900, prices are nearly 12 per cent higher than last year. The highest price growth continues to occur in the city’s most affordable North East and East districts.

Row
Gains in row new listings relative to a pullback in sales caused the sales-to-new listings ratio to fall to 73 per cent this month. This supported gains in inventory levels, and the months of supply rose to 1.3 months.

While conditions continue favouring the seller, the shift prevented further monthly price gains this month. Nonetheless, at a benchmark price of $464,200, levels are still nearly 15 per cent higher than last year. Year-over-year price gains have ranged from a low of 13 per cent in the City Centre and North districts to over 20 per cent in the North East and East districts.

Apartment Condominium
Sales in July slowed to 659 units, as a significant drop in sales occurred for properties priced below $300,000. Like the other property types, limited supply choices for the lower-priced units prevented stronger sales activity.

New listings in July were 1,043 units, high enough to cause the sales-to-new listings ratio to fall to 63 per cent. This supported inventory gains and months of supply of over two months. Improved supply relative to sales helped slow the pace of monthly price growth.

However, the unadjusted benchmark price of $346,300 is still 17 per cent higher than levels reported last year at this time.

June 03, 2024 | CREB

Calgary home sales remain robust despite supply shortages in lower price ranges
In a market that continues to show resilience, May saw a total of 3,092 resale home sales. While this figure is nearly one per cent below last year’s record high, it is 34 per cent higher than long-term trends for the month. The pullback in sales was primarily driven by declines in lower-priced detached and semi-detached homes, where there was limited supply choice compared to last year.

“Although new listings have increased, much of this growth is in higher price ranges for each property type,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “Our strong economic situation has supported sales growth in these higher price ranges. However, this month’s sales could not offset the declines in the lower price ranges due to a lack of supply choice.”

New listings in May reached 4,333 units, almost 19 per cent higher than last year. This increase in new listings compared to sales caused the sales-to-new listings ratio to drop to 71 per cent, supporting a modest year-over-year inventory gain. Despite this, inventory levels remained nearly half what we typically see in May, with most gains driven by homes priced above $700,000.

While inventories did improve this month, conditions continue to favour sellers with one month of supply. Several districts continue to report less than one month of supply, while the City Centre reported the highest supply-to-sales ratio at one and a half months. Seller market conditions drove price growth across all districts in the city. The unadjusted total residential benchmark price in May reached $605,300, nearly one per cent higher than last month and 10 per cent higher than last May.

Detached
The gain in detached sales for homes priced over $700,000 was not enough to offset pullbacks across the lower price ranges, as year-over-year sales declined by seven per cent. At the same time, new listings rose enough to cause the sales-to-new-listings ratio to drop to 68 per cent, supporting inventory growth. However, inventory levels for homes priced below $600,000 continued to fall, accounting for only 13 per cent of the detached market.

With just over one month of supply, the detached market continues to favour the seller, and prices continue to rise. As of May, the unadjusted benchmark price reached $761,800, over one per cent higher than last month and 13 per cent higher than prices reported last year. Prices improved across all districts, with the most significant year-over-year gains occurring in the most affordable districts.

Semi-Detached
The year-over-year decline in sales did not offset earlier gains, as year-to-date sales rose by nearly 11 per cent. Like the detached sector, we have also seen improved levels of new listings come onto the market, causing the sales-to-new listings ratio to drop to 72 per cent and driving some gains in inventory levels.

Nonetheless, the market continues to favour the seller with one month of supply. The persistently tight market conditions continue to drive up prices. The benchmark price reached $678,000 in May, over one per cent higher than last month and 13 per cent higher than last May.

Row
May reported 540 sales, a gain over last year that has contributed to the 16 per cent year-to-date rise. At the same time, new listings also rose, supporting a gain in inventory levels. Inventory levels have declined for properties below $400,000, but the gains reported for higher-priced row properties were enough to support overall inventory gains.

With a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 78 per cent and a months of supply below one month, conditions continue to favour the seller, driving further price growth. In May, the benchmark price reached $462,500, nearly two per cent higher than last month and over 19 per cent higher than last year’s levels.

Apartment Condominium
Demand for affordable homes continues to drive growth for apartment condominium-style homes. May sales continued to rise, contributing to the year-to-date record high with a 19 per cent gain. This was partly possible thanks to gains in new listings preventing a further drop in inventory levels. While inventory levels are similar to last year, the gains for products over $300,000 offset the steep declines for lower-priced homes.

With a months of supply of just over one month, conditions still favour the seller, and prices continued to increase compared to last month’s and last year’s levels. Year-over-year price gains exceeded 30 per cent in the North East and East districts, with the lowest price growth occurring in the City Centre at 13 per cent.

April 01, 2024 | CREB

March reflects strong seller’s market and price increases
March sales rose to 2,664 units, a 10 per cent year-over-year gain and much higher than long-term trends. While new listings did pick up over last month, the 3,172 units were still below what we typically see in March and not enough relative to sales to drive any change in the supply situation. In March, the sales-to-new listings ratio rose to 84 per cent, and the months of supply fell below one month.

“We have not seen March conditions this tight since 2006, which is also the last time we reported high levels of interprovincial migration and a months-of-supply below one month,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB®. “Moreover, we are entering the third consecutive year of a market favouring the seller as the two-year spike in migration has driven up demand and contributed to the drop in re-sale and rental supply. Given supply adjustments take time, it is not a surprise that we continue to see upward pressure on home prices.”

Inventory levels have declined across properties priced below $1,000,000, with the steepest declines occurring for homes priced below $500,000. In March, there were 2,532 units in inventory, 22 per cent lower than last year and half the levels we traditionally see in March.

In March, the unadjusted total residential benchmark price rose to $597,600, a two per cent gain over last month and nearly 11 per cent higher than last year. Prices have increased across all property types, with the most significant year-over-year gains occurring for the relatively more affordable row and apartment-style homes.

Detached

Detached home sales rose in March but were likely limited by the level of new listings coming onto the market. New listings in March were 1,386 units, compared to the 1,151 sales, causing the sales-to-new listings ratio to rise to 83 per cent. Inventories also remained relatively stable compared to last month but were 24 per cent lower than last year’s levels and nearly 60 per cent lower than long-term trends for March. Inventory levels dropped across all price ranges, but the most significant fall was in the lower price point. Overall, 71 per cent of the available inventory in March was priced above $700,000.

Low inventories compared to sales caused the months of supply to drop below one month, driving further price gains. The unadjusted detached benchmark price rose to $739,700, a monthly gain of nearly three per cent and a year-over-year gain of 14 per cent. The largest year-over-year gains occurred in the most affordable North East and East districts.

Semi-Detached

Supply availability continues to weigh on the semi-detached sector of the market. In March, 260 new listings were met with 250 sales, causing the sale-to-new listings ratio to rise to 96 per cent. This prevented inventories from improving, and the months of supply dropped below one month. Inventory declines have been driven mainly by properties priced below $600,000.

Limited supply and growing demand drove further price gains in March. The unadjusted benchmark price reached $658,000, nearly three per cent higher than last month and a 14 per cent gain over last March. Prices rose across all districts in the city, with year-over-year gains ranging from a low of 11 per cent in the highest-priced area of the City Centre to 25 per cent in the lowest-priced market in the East district.

Row
Both sales and new listings rose in March. However, with 536 new listings and 449 sales, the sales-to-new listings ratio rose to 84 per cent, preventing any significant monthly change in inventory levels. With 355 units available, inventory levels were 12 per cent below last year’s and 53 per cent below long-term trends for March. The decline in inventory levels was driven by properties priced below $400,000, as inventory levels rose 35 per cent for units priced above $400,000.

The unadjusted benchmark price trended up in March, reaching $448,700, a monthly gain of nearly three per cent and over 20 per cent higher than levels reported at this time last year. The higher-priced City Centre reported the slowest growth in benchmark prices, with the highest growth reported in the city’s most affordable districts.

Apartment Condominium
Sales in March reached 814 units, contributing to the first quarter’s record-high sales of 1,940 units, nearly 31 per cent higher than last year. New listings also improved throughout the first three months of the year, but with a March sales-to-new-listings ratio of 82 per cent and a months-of-supply of one month, conditions favoured apartment condominium sellers.

Demand for lower-priced homes has supported the growth of apartment-style properties, but the tight conditions have also contributed to further price gains. In March, the benchmark prices reached $337,700, over two per cent higher than last month and 17 per cent higher than levels reported last March.