Calgary Real Estate

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Confession Time About This Blog

Blogging has not been my strength and so this is officially a work in progress.  I have some big plans for the blogging page in the foreseeable future so I ask for your patience as I venture into this side.

Market Updates

CREB Quarterly Stats - Q3 2023
Market Knowledge

CREB Quarterly Stats - Q3 2023

CREB® unveils Q3 housing market report with special 2024 forecast preview City of Calgary, Nov. 17, 2023 — The Calgary Real Estate ...

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OCTOBER 2023 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE
Market Knowledge

OCTOBER 2023 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

November 1, 2023 Price gains continue in Calgary's real estate market as inventory remains low October sales activity slowed over the ...

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SEPTEMBER 2023 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE
Market Knowledge

SEPTEMBER 2023 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

Calgary home sales at record highs in September, yet supply remains a challenge Sales reached another record high in September with ...

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AUGUST 2023 | August Housing Market Update
Market Knowledge

AUGUST 2023 | August Housing Market Update

August sees record-high sales amidst historic low inventory, pushing prices higher City of Calgary | September 1, 2023 Thanks to a ...

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Style & Design

10 Halloween Safety Tips For Your Home

Posted by Steven Hill on Oct 03, 2023

Home safety for trick or treaters As a responsible homeowner, making your property safe for young trick-or-treaters ...

Six Fall Tips To Prep Your Garden For Spring

Posted by Steven Hill on Oct 01, 2023

Pruning for winter without cutting corners As the shorter days signal the coming of winter, there is ...

RSS

Do good schools increase property values?

Do good schools increase property values?

In many real estate advertisements you see the claim “close to good schools”, but does the proximity to education centers really affect a property's value?

The adage “location, location, location” is well known and refers to how a property's value benefits or suffers from the surrounding neighborhood.

Families looking to buy often prioritize the proximity to schools and the ease of access to transport systems. 

Naturally, sellers want to put a premium on such benefits.

Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research has recently linked property value to schools in a study: Using Market Valuation to Assess Public School Spending.

It claims that for every dollar spent on a local public school, the value of a home goes up $20. 

If you assume that funding is the determining factor of a good school, then property prices benefit from having well-financed education facilities nearby.

A 2016 study by property site realtor.com claimed property values were on average higher in top-performing school districts than the median real estate price. It used Duke University as an example, noting homes achieved an average of 52c per square foot more than homes outside the area. 

While there is no dispute about the impact of location on value, quantifying that benefit is not a perfect science. Each buyer will see different benefits to the location of a home.

These are some of the essential local amenities that today's buyers want nearby. When you decide to sell, ensure you maximize every location benefit you offer.

Essentials

Folks want to be near some of the most fundamental public services such as schools, universities, hospitals, transport systems and shopping centers.

Lifestyle

Sellers can place a premium on their property for amenities that make life fun, such as parks, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and theaters. 

Safety

Low crime rates, well-maintained neighborhoods and a strong community are seen as highly desirable by buyers, especially families and senior buyers. 

Nature

If you have great views, either of surf crashing onto the beach or rolling hills, you'll be able to demand a premium.

Jobs

Being close to centers of employment, or a CBD, is a significant tick-in-the-box for buyers who dread wasting hours every day on a long commute. Areas with strong employment growth play well, too.

History

Many folks love living in areas of cultural significance because these areas are so unique. Where you can, emphasize this benefit of “unique living”.

Future

Savvy sellers will also investigate the future plans for their neighborhood and emphasize these benefits. Additional infrastructure, such as a new hospital or train station, will bolster local prices.

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August sees record-high sales amidst historic low inventory, pushing prices higher
 
City of Calgary | September 1, 2023

Thanks to a surge in the condominium market, August sales reached a record high with 2,729 sales. Despite the record levels reported over the past several months, year-to-date sales are still down by 15 per cent compared to last year.

While new listings did improve compared to levels seen this time last year, the sales-to-new-listings ratio remained elevated at 87 per cent, preventing any significant shift from the low inventory situation. Inventory levels in August dropped to 3,254 units, not only a record low for the month but well below the 6,000 units that are typically available. Low inventory combined with high sales this month ensured the months of supply remained low at just over one month.

Higher lending rates have caused many buyers to either hold off on purchase decisions or shift toward more affordable products on the market,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie. “The challenge has been the availability of supply, especially in the detached market. Inventory levels hit record lows in August, and while new listings are higher than last year, conditions continue to favour the seller, driving further price gains.

The unadjusted benchmark price reached $570,700 in August, representing the eighth consecutive monthly gain. Prices have trended up across all property types, with row-style properties reporting the largest increase.

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached
Record low inventory levels this month were primarily driven by pullbacks for homes priced under $700,000. While new listings did improve compared to last year, most of the growth was driven by homes priced over $700,000. August sales did improve over last year’s levels. However, limited supply in the lower price ranges has likely prevented stronger detached home sales.

Persistently tight conditions drove further price gains this month. As of August, the unadjusted benchmark price reached $696,700. Nearly one per cent higher than last month and over 10 per cent higher than last year's levels. The highest year-over-year price gains occurred in the most affordable regions of the city's North East and East districts.

Semi-Detached
The 236 new listings and 197 sales did little to change the low inventory situation. While inventory levels did remain comparable to last month, they are still 35 per cent below last year’s levels and at record lows for the month. Relatively strong sales combined with low inventory levels have given sellers the advantage.

With months of supply remaining exceptionally low throughout 2023, we continue to see upward pressure on home prices. As of August, the semi-detached unadjusted benchmark price reached $623,200, a monthly gain of one per cent and 10 per cent higher than last year. Price growth did range across each of the Calgary districts, but the strongest year-over-year gains were reported in the most affordable districts of the North East and East.
 
 
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Latest Blog Posts

CREB Quarterly Stats - Q3 2023

Posted by Steven Hill on Nov 17, 2023

CREB® unveils Q3 housing market report with special 2024 forecast preview City of Calgary, Nov. 17, 2023 ...

OCTOBER 2023 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

Posted by Steven Hill on Nov 01, 2023

November 1, 2023 Price gains continue in Calgary's real estate market as inventory remains low October ...

Data is supplied by Pillar 9™ MLS® System. Pillar 9™ is the owner of the copyright in its MLS®System. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Pillar 9™.
The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.