March 2022 Calgary Housing Market Update

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Steven Hill

Record high sales seen again in March

City of Calgary, April 1, 2022 – For the second month in a row, sales activity not only reached a monthly high but also hit new record highs for any given month. Gains occurred across every property type as they all hit new record highs.

An increase in new listings this month helped support the growth in sales activity. However, inventories have remained relatively low, ensuring the market continues to favour the seller.

“While supply levels have improved from levels seen over the past four months, inventory levels are still well below what we traditionally see in March, thanks to stronger than expected sales activity,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie. “With just over one month of supply in the market, the persistently tight market conditions continue to place significant upward pressure on prices.”

With an unadjusted benchmark price of $518,600 this month, the monthly gain increased by another four per cent. After three consecutive gains, prices have risen by nearly $55,000 since December and currently sit nearly 18 per cent higher than last year’s levels.

Despite the strong start to the year, price gains and rising lending rates are expected to weigh on demand in the second half of this year. Nonetheless, persistently tight conditions will likely continue to impact the market over the next several months.

Detached

Sales continued to surge in March reaching record highs, thanks to a boost in new listings. Year-over-year sales growth occurred in every district of the city except the City Centre. The pullback in the City Centre is likely related to the significant drop in new listings, providing less choice for potential buyers.

The months of supply for detached homes has been below one month since December. The exceptionally tight conditions have had a significant impact on home prices. The benchmark price for detached properties rose to $620,500 in March, which is over $73,000 higher than December levels and 20 per cent higher than levels recorded last year. Gains in prices have also caused a significant shift in the distribution of homes, where over 57 per cent of the available supply is priced over $600,000.

Semi-Detached

Semi-detached sales posted another record month of sales and year-to-date sales are over 43 per cent higher than last year. Improvements in new listings helped support some of the growth in sales but did little to improve the inventory situation.

Inventory levels remain relatively low, causing the months of supply to remain nearly 70 per cent lower than long term trends for this time of year. Tight conditions caused prices to trend up again this month, for an unadjusted monthly gain of nearly four per cent. Prices trended up across all districts and are 16 per cent higher than last March. Year-over-year price gains have ranged from a low of nine per cent in the City Centre to a high of nearly 22 per cent in the North district.

Row

Row sales reached an all-time record high this month, contributing to year-to-date sales of 1,550 units, which is a 96 per cent increase over last year. An increase in new listings helped support the strong sales. However, inventory levels have been steadily declining compared to the previous year and are at the lowest March levels seen compared to the past seven years. Strong sales this month combined with the lower inventory levels saw the months of supply push below one month.

The persistently tight conditions have placed significant upward pressure on prices. In March, the benchmark price reached $335,400, which is over four per cent higher than last month and nearly 17 per cent higher than last year. While strong gains have occurred across all districts of the city, the North East, North West, South and East districts have not yet recorded full price recovery from their previous highs.

Apartment Condominium

Apartment sales continued to surge in March, contributing to the best start of the year on record. The sudden shift in demand could be related to less supply choice in lower price ranges for other property types, causing many to turn to the condominium market. The rise in sales has outpaced the growth in new listings, causing inventories to ease compared to last year and the months of supply to drop to the lowest recorded since 2007.

After several months of tight conditions, we are seeing upward pressure on prices. In March, the benchmark price rose to $265,900 – nearly three per cent higher than last month and six per cent higher than last year. The recent gain in price has helped support some price recovery in this sector, but prices remain over 11 per cent below previous highs.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

For the second month in row, new listings in Airdrie reached a record high for the month. This helped support further sales growth in the city. The sales to new listings ratio has eased to 75 per cent, providing some opportunity to see inventory levels improve relative to figures recorded over the previous five months. However, inventory levels remain exceptionally low relative to sales, keeping the months of supply below one month.

There has been less than one month of supply in this market since November of last year. The exceptionally tight conditions have caused significant gains in prices. In March, the benchmark price rose to $473,400, nearly 10 per cent higher than last month and 30 per cent higher than last year. The highest gains occurred for both detached and semi-detached homes.

Cochrane

Sales this month reached new record highs and are more than double the levels traditionally seen in March. Like most markets, Cochrane has struggled with strong demand relative to the supply. Inventory levels did edge up over last month but with only 86 units available, it is still among the lowest levels of March inventory recorded for the town. It was also the fifth consecutive month that the months of supply remained below one month.

The persistently tight market conditions resulted in further price gains. In March, the benchmark price reached $520,000, which is nearly six per cent higher than last month and 23 per cent higher than last year’s levels.

Okotoks

Like Airdrie and Calgary, sales in Okotoks reached a new all-time record high this March. Improving sales were possible thanks to a gain in new listings. The increase in new listings this month also helped support some modest gains in inventory levels compared to what has been available in the market over the past seven months. However, with only 99 units available and 113 sales, the months of supply still remains exceptionally tight at under one month.

Persistently tight market conditions have caused persistent upward pressure on prices. After five months of consecutive gains, the benchmark price in March reached $534,200, nearly 13 per cent higher than last year.

Click here to view the full City of Calgary monthly stats package.

Click here to view the full Calgary region monthly stats package.

Read

February 2022 Calgary Housing Market Update

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Steven Hill

Sales continue to surge as listings rise

City of Calgary, March 1, 2022 – Thanks to a surge in new listings, sales activity reached a record high for the month of February with 3,305 sales. The rise in new listings caused adjusted inventories to rise above last months levels. However, with only one month of supply, the market continues to favour the seller.

“Sales have been somewhat restricted by the lack of supply choice in the market. While sellers did respond with a record level of new listings this month, the demand has been so strong that the housing market continues to remain undersupplied causing further price gains,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

The total residential benchmark price for the city rose by nearly six per cent over January levels and was over 16 per cent higher than levels recorded last February. Much of the growth has been driven by the detached segment of the market which has not seen conditions this tight in over 15 years.

This is the fourth consecutive month that the market has dealt with conditions that are far tighter than what the city experienced last spring. While the gains in new listings will help provide choice to purchasers and eventually support more balanced conditions, it will take some time to work through the demand in the market.

Detached

For the third consecutive month, the months of supply in the detached sector has remained below one month. The limited supply and persistently strong demand has placed significant upward pressure on prices. As of February, the benchmark price reached $596,400, which is nearly $50,000 higher than prices seen at the end of 2021 and over $90,000 higher than February 2021 prices. Price gains have occurred in every district of the city with year-over-year gains pushing above 20 per cent in the North, South and South East districts.

After the first two months of the year, sales growth has been the strongest in the $600,000 to $1,000,000 price range, as this is where there was the largest gain in new listings. Overall, conditions remain exceptionally tight across all price ranges, with less than one month of supply occurring for all homes priced under $1,000,000 over the first two months of the year.

Semi-Detached

The record number of new listings for February were met with record high February sales, doing little to ease the pressure in this segment of the market. The months of supply dropped to one month, something that has not happened in February since 2006.

The persistent and exceptionally tight conditions caused further upward pressure on prices. Thanks to gains across every district, the semi-detached unadjusted benchmark price reached $461,400 in February, which is nearly five per cent higher than last month and 16 per cent higher than levels recorded in February 2021.

Row

Lack of supply choice in competing property types drove many consumers to consider row style properties. However, following several months of strong sales relative to new listings, inventory levels have also trended down relative to what we traditionally see at this time of year. With 537 sales in February and 535 units in inventory, the months of supply dropped to one month for the first time since early 2007.

The persistent sellers’ market conditions caused steep monthly price gains across most districts of the city. The largest month gains occurred in the North East, North and West end of the city. Despite recent gains, prices remain shy of previous highs in all districts except the West.

Apartment Condominium

After falling behind other property types, the apartment condominium sector recorded a surge in sales this month, reaching record highs for February. New listings also improved but did little to cause any significant change to inventory levels. The months of supply dipped below two months and was the tightest seen in the apartment condo sector since 2007.

The recent tightness has supported some upward pressure in prices this month. However, price gains are significantly lower than the other property types and prices continue to remain over 14 per cent below previous highs. While this segment of the market has not experienced the same supply constraints as other property types, if conditions remain this tight, we could see more substantial shifts toward price recovery.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

Record high new listings in February enabled sales to reach a record high. With 385 new listings and 289 sales, the sales to new listings ratio fell to 75 per cent, which is the first time it dropped below 80 per cent since spring of last year. While the recent gains provided some monthly uplift in inventory levels, supply remains exceptionally low, and the months of supply has remained below one month for the fourth consecutive month.

Persistently tight market conditions especially in the detached and semi-detached sector has driven significant price growth in the market. In February, the unadjusted detached price reached $490,800, nearly six per cent over last month and 22 per cent higher than last year’s levels.

Cochrane

New listings reached a record monthly high in February. However, sales nearly matched the levels of new listings causing inventories to face further declines and the months of supply to fall to the lowest levels ever recorded at less than half of month of supply. This is the fourth consecutive month with the months of supply has been below one month and the sellers’ market conditions are placing significant upward pressure on prices especially for detached and semi-detached properties.

In February, the unadjusted detached benchmark price reached $548,400, nearly seven per cent higher than last month and over 21 per cent higher than levels recorded last February. Price gains have occurred across all property types; however, apartment style properties continue to record prices below previous highs seen back in 2007.

Okotoks

Like other markets, gains in new listings helped support record levels of sales for February. However, the gains in new listings were not enough to support any substantial change in the low inventory situation. With only 56 units in inventory at the end of the month, this is the lowest February inventory seen since 2006. Strong sales combined with low inventory caused the months of supply to ease further and remain below one month for the third consecutive month.

The persistent tight market conditions caused a surge in prices. In February, the benchmark price for a detached home reached $554,900, nearly eight per cent higher than last month and over 15 per cent higher than last February.

Click here to view the full City of Calgary monthly stats package.

Click here to view the full Calgary region monthly stats package.

Read

January 2022 Calgary Housing Market Update

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Steven Hill

Sellers’ market conditions continue to impact prices

City of Calgary, Feb. 1, 2022 – Thanks to persistently strong sales, inventory levels in the city eased to 2,620 units, the lowest levels seen since 2006. This caused the months of supply to remain exceptionally low for this time of year at 1.3 months.

The tight market conditions contributed to further upward pressure on prices. The unadjusted benchmark price in January reached $472,300, a monthly gain of nearly two per cent and a year-over-year gain of 12 per cent.

“Expected gains in lending rates are contributing to persistently strong demand in the housing market, as purchasers are eager to get ahead of any increases,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

“We did see more listings this month, but it did little to change the market balance or take any pressure off prices. This was expected, as these conditions should persist for several more months.”

There were 2,009 sales in January, well below record levels, but over 98 per cent higher than long-term trends. At the same time, 2,476 new listings came onto the market, resulting in a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 81 per cent. This is far higher than levels traditionally recorded in January.

Detached

New listings improved in January, reaching 1,295 units. However, with 1,148 sales in the month, inventory levels continued to fall. Limited levels of supply are likely preventing stronger sales growth for this property type. Detached inventory levels fell to a new record low at 895 units and for the second month in a row the months of supply remained below one month.

The exceptionally tight conditions caused prices to rise. In January, the unadjusted benchmark price rose by $12,000 compared with December, a monthly gain of over two per cent and a year-over-year gain of 14 per cent. While the gains compared with January 2021 are significant, much of last year’s price growth did not occur until the spring.

Semi-Detached

January saw a boost in new listings compared to the low levels seen at the end of 2021. This helped support further gains in sales. Despite the increase in new listings, inventory levels remained relatively low. With only 242 units in inventory, levels are 46 per cent lower than longer-term trends. Low inventories and strong sales resulted in a months of supply of just over one month, far lower than both last year and longer-term averages.

The tight market conditions caused prices to trend up compared with last month, resulting in a January benchmark price of $439,900. Prices trended up in every district, but the monthly gains were not as high in the North West and City Centre as they were in the rest of the city.

Row

January row sales rose to 305 units, more than double the levels traditionally seen at this time of year. The improvement in sales was related to the level of new listings this month. New listings are still lower than traditional levels, but they did rise from figures seen over the last few months of 2021. Inventories eased slightly compared to last month, but with only 422 units in inventory, supply levels remain well below long term-trends. As a result, the market continues to favour the seller.

Persistently tight market conditions caused prices to increase for row-style properties. However, the pace of growth was not as high as what we’ve seen in the detached segment of the market. January’s benchmark price reached $305,600, nearly two per cent higher than last month and nine per cent higher than last year.

Apartment Condominium

With 357 sales in January, levels were the highest they have been for the month since 2007. The improvement in sales was supported by the number of new listings that came onto the market. In January, there were 551 new listings added to the market. With just over 1,000 units in inventory, there is more supply available in the apartment condominium sector than in any other sector. Despite the improvement in sales, the months of supply has remained at three months, reflecting relatively balanced conditions.

With fewer supply challenges in this market, prices have remained relatively unchanged compared to last month. The unadjusted benchmark price of $251,200 in this sector is over two per cent higher than last year.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

Despite persistently low inventory levels, sales activity rose to near-record highs for January. The gains in sales were possible due to the boost in new listings in January compared with levels recorded over the past few months. However, given the persistently low inventory levels, the market remains in strong sellers’ market conditions with less than one month of supply.

Persistently tight market conditions continue to place upward pressure on prices. In January, the total residential benchmark price rose by nearly three per cent over last month to $408,900. Most of the increase was due to significant gains recorded for both detached and semi-detached homes.

Cochrane

Sales in Cochrane hit record high levels for January. The growth was supported by gains in new listings relative to what was available over the last few months of 2021. The monthly gains in new listings helped keep inventory levels relatively stable, but with only 62 units available in inventory, levels are over 70 per cent lower than what we traditionally see in the market. The strong sales and low inventory levels kept the months of supply below one month, the lowest ever recorded for January in Cochrane.

The tight market conditions continue to place upward pressure on prices. In January, the benchmark price for a detached home rose to $512,900. Due to strong monthly gains occurring at the end of last year, the monthly growth was not as high as what was seen in some other regional markets.

Okotoks

Sales activity remained relatively strong in Okotoks, despite persistently low inventory levels. In January, there were 38 units in inventory, the lowest levels ever seen for the month and 76 per cent lower than long-term averages. With 43 sales this month and 38 units in inventory, the months of supply remained exceptionally tight at under one month.

Okotoks has not faced conditions this tight since 2006 and it is causing upward pressure on prices. In January, the detached benchmark price rose to $515,100, a significant increase compared with last month and over eight per cent higher than last year.

Click here to view the full City of Calgary monthly stats package.

Click here to view the full Calgary region monthly stats package.

For More Information, please contact

Steven Hill

Associate Broker with

Sotheby's International Realty Canada Calgary

Read

Media Release: Calgary housing market expected to remain strong in 2022 after record-breaking 2021

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Steven Hill

Media Release: Calgary housing market expected to remain strong in 2022 after record-breaking 2021

City of Calgary, Jan. 25, 2022 – Housing market activity in 2022 is expected to moderate relative to record levels of activity in 2021, while remaining stronger than historical levels.

“Despite challenges with COVID-19, we are starting to see a turnaround in our job and migration numbers, and while interest rates are expected to rise, they remain relatively low. All these factors are expected to support strong housing demand into 2022,” said CREB^® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

“The biggest question will be whether supply can meet that demand. It will take time for housing to move out of sellers’ market conditions, so we do anticipate prices will continue to rise this year.”

Rising lending rates are expected to cool some of the demand later this year, but rates are still exceptionally low, supporting strong housing sales, especially from those who experienced increased savings and equity gains throughout the pandemic. Economic improvements are also expected to support both job and population growth, adding new sources of demand for housing.

During the pandemic, supply has been a struggle for many industries, including the housing market. New listings have improved, but it has not been enough to offset high sales levels, keeping inventories relatively low and likely limiting sales growth in the market.

As we move through 2022, new listings in the resale market should remain relatively strong thanks to higher home prices. At the same time, the new-home sector recorded a surge in starts last year, and the completion of those starts should help add to overall supply choice in the market.

Supply levels are expected to improve relative to demand this year. However, conditions are expected to remain relatively tight throughout the spring market, supporting further price gains.

As the market balance gradually improves, upward price pressure in the housing market should ease. Overall, price growth is expected to ease to four per cent in 2022.

“While conditions in the housing market are expected to remain strong, there is a significant amount of uncertainty that could impact housing,” said Lurie.

“If supply levels remain low relative to demand, we could see stronger-than-expected price growth. On the other hand, if rates rise much faster and higher than expected, it could cause a more significant pullback in sales.”

Click here for the full CREB^® 2022 Forecast Calgary and Region Yearly Outlook Report.

Read

January 2022 Housing Market Update

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Steven Hill

2021 record year for home sales

City of Calgary, Jan. 4, 2022 – Thanks to exceptionally high sales in December, 2021 was a record year for home sales. Calgary sales reached 27,686 units this year, nearly 72 per cent higher than last year and over 44 per cent higher than the 10-year average.

“Concerns over inflation and rising lending rates likely created more urgency with buyers over the past few months. However, as is the case in many other cities, the supply has not kept pace with the demand, causing strong price growth,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

As of December, the unadjusted benchmark price rose by nearly one per cent over last month and was sitting over 10 per cent higher than last year’s figures. Overall, the 2021 benchmark price rose by more than eight per cent compared to last year for a total of $451,567, just shy of the annual record high set back in 2015.

We are entering 2022 with some of the tightest conditions seen in over a decade. As of December, inventory levels are nearly 25 per cent lower than long-term averages for the month. This will have an impact on our housing market as we move through 2022. More details on the housing market forecast for 2022 will be released on Jan. 25.

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

With 17,038 sales in 2021, home sales remained slightly lower than the record high set in 2005. While a new record was not set, sales are still over 40 per cent higher than long-term averages and supply challenges likely prevented stronger sales this year. New listings rose, but it was not enough to offset sales, causing inventories to ease. In the detached sector, average inventory levels were over 23 per cent lower than long-term trends. With only 898 units in inventory in December, we are entering 2022 with the lowest detached inventory on record.

Strong sales relative to inventory levels caused the months of supply to dip below one month, which is tighter than levels recorded in the spring market. Tightening conditions over the past several months once again weighed on prices. The detached benchmark price rose by nearly one per cent compared with last month and is nearly 12 per cent higher than last year’s levels. Overall, the detached sector has recorded the largest annual price gain at nearly 10 per cent, not only recovering from the 2015 annual high, but exceeding it by nearly three per cent.

Semi-Detached

In 2021, there were 2,571 semi-detached sales, an annual gain of 55 per cent and over 47 per cent higher than longer-term trends. Relative affordability and less supply choice in the detached sector caused many to consider semi-detached properties. However, like other property types, semi-detached sales growth outpaced new-listings growth, especially at the end of the year, causing significant declines in inventory levels and the months of supply, which has remained below two for the past three months.

Tight conditions have caused further price growth, as December prices were nearly 10 per cent higher than last year. Overall, on an annual basis, semi-detached home prices improved by eight per cent, reaching a new record high. However, prices have not recovered across all districts, as the City Centre, North East and South districts have not seen full price recovery,

Row

Over the past few months, row properties have increased in popularity, reporting strong sales growth that has outpaced the growth in new listings. This has created much tighter conditions and is supporting stronger price growth.

Inventories were not as much of a challenge earlier in the year, so the pace of price growth was not as high as the growth seen among some of the other property types during that time. However, benchmark prices rose by six per cent on an annual basis, supporting some price recovery. Despite the gains, prices remain nearly nine per cent lower than the previous high.

Apartment Condominium

Record sales in December were not enough to support annual record-high sales for this property type. Unlike the other property types, the apartment condominium sector has not experienced many supply challenges, as inventories this year generally remained above historical levels. However, the growth in sales was enough to help shift the market from one that favoured the buyer to one that was relatively balanced.

The balanced conditions did support modest annual price growth of just over two per cent. Each district saw some improvement in price this year, varying from less than one per cent growth in the City Centre to over six per cent growth in the West district. Despite these price gains, prices are still recovering across all districts and citywide prices remain 14 per cent lower than previous highs recorded in 2014.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

December sales reached record levels despite further reduction in new listings. The strong sales have caused inventory levels to drop to a mere 82 units, which is the lowest they’ve been since 2005. Overall, Airdrie recorded a record 2,299 sales this year. This is 78 per cent higher than activity recorded over the past 10 years and is 36 per cent higher than the previous record set in 2014.

Airdrie’s strong growth in housing demand could be related to the relative affordability of detached homes there compared to Calgary and less concern among consumers over commute times, as some companies shift toward hybrid work options. Bringing on new supply has been a challenge in Airdrie, and this has driven some significant price gains in the city. Overall, annual benchmark prices hit a new record at $380,867 in 2021, nearly 12 per cent higher than last year’s levels and two per cent higher than the previous annual record.

Cochrane

Despite persistently low levels of new listings relative to sales, Cochrane’s sales reached record levels in 2021. However, the sales-to-new-listings ratio has exceeded 100 per cent for four of the past six months, causing inventories to drop to the lowest levels seen in over a decade.

This has caused further tightening in the market, as the months of supply has remained below one month over the past two months. The exceptionally tight conditions, especially over the past few months, have caused further price gains. As of December, the benchmark price was nearly 10 per cent higher than levels reported last year. Overall, on an annual basis, the benchmark price has increased by seven per cent, reflecting a new record high for the town.

Okotoks

Despite persistent challenges with supply levels, sales in Okotoks reached record levels in 2021. However, the strong sales weighed on inventory levels, which on average eased by 41 per cent this year and remain over 50 per cent lower than what the market typically has available.

Easing inventory and strong sales left the months of supply at record-low levels in December with less than one month of supply. With sellers’ market conditions throughout the year, there have been some significant gains in prices. On an annual basis, the benchmark price hit a new record high at $474,842, which is an annual gain of nearly nine per cent.

Click here to view the full City of Calgary monthly stats package.

Click here to view the full Calgary region monthly stats package.

Read

November 2021 Calgary Real Estate Market

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Steven Hill

Persistent sellers’ market conditions drive up prices

City of Calgary, Dec. 1, 2021 - Driven by growth in demand for all property types, there were 2,110 sales in November, just shy of the record for the month set in 2005.

“Lending rates are expected to increase next year, which has created a sense of urgency among purchasers who want to get into the housing market before rates rise,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

“At the same time, supply levels have struggled to keep pace, causing tight conditions and additional price gains.”

New listings in November totalled 1,989 units, which was fewer than the number of sales this month. With a sales-to-new-listings ratio of over 100 per cent, inventory levels dropped to 3,922 units and the months of supply dipped below two months.

It is not unusual to see new listings and inventories trend down at this time of year, but slower sales are also typical. Instead, sales have remained at roughly the same levels seen since August.

Persistent demand and slow supply reaction caused the benchmark price to trend up this month to $461,000, an increase compared with last month and nearly nine per cent higher than levels recorded last year.

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

Conditions in the detached home sector continued to tighten in November, with a sales-to-new-listings ratio that pushed up to 118 per cent and the months of supply dropping to 1.2 months. These are levels not seen since the spring.

More than half of sales occurred in the $400,000 – $600,000 price range, but the largest sales gains occurred for properties price above $600,000. This is, in part, related to more supply choice in the upper end of the market compared with the lower end. On a year-to-date basis, homes priced above $600,000 now reflect nearly 31 per cent of all sales, far higher than the 23 per cent recorded last year.

Benchmark prices rose to $542,600, a new monthly record and nearly 11 per cent higher than last year’s levels. Year-over-year price gains have occurred in every district, with the strongest growth occurring in the West, where gains exceeded 13 per cent. The City Centre remains the only district where prices remain below 2014 highs.

Semi-Detached

Another record-high month of sales pushed year-to-date sales to 2,436 units. This is not only a year-to-date record, but also 13 per cent higher than the annual record set in 2014.

With less supply choice in the detached sector, many buyers have shifted their focus to semi-detached homes. However, like the detached sector, semi-detached supply levels have been struggling to keep up, as the months of supply dipped below two months in November.

So far this year, most sales have occurred in the $300,000 – $400,000 range, but activity has increased at the upper end of the market, where semi-detached homes priced above $700,000 now reflect more than 20 per cent of all sales. This is a significant shift compared to last year, where this segment represented only 15 per cent of semi-detached sales.

Thanks to gains in all districts, the semi-detached benchmark price rose to $429,800, which is nearly nine per cent higher than last year. On a year-to-date basis, prices have recovered in all districts except the City Centre, North East and South.

Row

Row properties have not faced the same supply challenges as semi-detached properties so far this year. As a result, the row sector has seen the largest growth in sales, which have already surpassed the annual record high.

Row properties often offer a more affordable alternative to detached homes for consumers who are looking for more space than an apartment condominium. Nearly 83 per cent of all sales that occurred in this sector were priced below $400,000.

While row supply levels have not been as tight as in the detached or semi-detached sectors, strong demand has caused inventories to fall. This is contributing to tighter market conditions in this segment as well.

With less supply/demand pressures for this property type, prices have not experienced the same gains seen among detached or semi-detached homes. On a year-to-date basis, the benchmark price was six per cent higher than last year, but it remains lower than previous highs set in 2015.

Apartment Condominium

The apartment condominium sector recorded another month of strong growth, contributing to year-to-date sales of 3,834. Sales remain far from record highs, but this is still the highest level of activity seen since 2014.

Improving sales led to slightly tighter conditions in this market, but inventory levels were high relative to historical levels, making this segment an outlier compared with the other property types.

Supply challenges have not been as prevalent for apartment condominiums, so prices growth and recovery in the sector have remained far lower than the other property types. However, on a year-to-date basis, prices have improved by more than two per cent in a reversal of the steady annual decline recorded since 2015.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

November sales reached record levels despite limited inventory in the market. There were only 106 new listings this month compared with 144 sales, driving the sales-to-new-listings ratio up to 136 per cent. This caused inventories to fall to 137 units and the months of supply to drop below one month.

Airdrie has faced sellers’ market conditions since the middle of last year and this has had a significant impact on prices. On a year-to-date basis, benchmark prices have risen by nearly 12 per cent, with the strongest gains occurring in the detached sector.

Cochrane

Like Airdrie, Cochrane experienced another record month of sales in November. Year-to-date sales reached 1,163 units, which is double the long-term average for the town.

Like many other areas, Cochrane’s housing supply is struggling to keep up with demand. New listings eased this month, pushing the sales-to-new-listings ratio above 146 per cent, and inventories fell to 77 units. This caused the month of supply to drop below one month, the lowest ever recorded for November.

Persistently tight conditions continue to impact prices. On a year-to-date basis, prices have risen by nearly seven per cent, with gains recorded for every property type.

Okotoks

New listings were higher this month than last year’s levels, but they could not keep pace with sales. The sales-to-new-listings ratio remained above 100 per cent for the second month in a row, causing further declines in inventory levels and the months of supply.

Persistently strong demand and easing supply levels have ensured the market continues to favour the seller. This has resulted in upward pressure on prices. Driven by strong gains in the detached sector, prices have improved by nearly nine per cent on a year-to-date basis.

Click here to view the full City of Calgary monthly stats package.

Click here to view the full Calgary region monthly stats package.

Read

Winter Prep For Your Calgary Home

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Steven Hill

Winter is coming and so it makes perfect sense to start today on your winter home maintenance list.

Using a simple checklist to get all the tasks organized is easy so here are the essentials to look out for:

Clean Out The Gutters and Downspouts

With the leaves now off the trees in Calgary, it's safe to say that they have either landed on your lawn or in your gutters. Clearing out your gutters prevents any debris from clogging up your eavestroughs and allows for proper drainage. *safety is key in this task so call a professional if you unable to use a ladder or access your eavestroughs safely.

Have Your Furnace Checked and Ready

Temperatures are dropping quickly and now is the time to get your furnace in tip-top shape for the long winter. Call a furnace technician or hire a professional to have your furnace checked and given a proper tune-up. As a bonus, having your ducts cleaned increases efficiency and reduces the amount of dust that will accumulate in the next few months.

Hibernate Your Air-Conditioner

Admit it, you won't be using your A/C for a good six months so now is the time to focus on tucking it away properly for the winter. Most A/C units come with an easy disconnect to prevent it from accidently being turned on. Purchase a cover to protect it from the elements and if it's a window type, you should remove it so it doesn't cause a draft.

Chimney & Fireplace Check

Before you dream of roasting marshmallows or cuddling by the fireplace, it's important to have your chimney and fireplace in good working condition. Dangerous gasses can build up inside a chimney so be sure to have a professional inspect your chimney to prevent fires and keep you and your family safe.

Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide

It's always good practice to check both your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors a few times in the year. Before cozy evening by the fireplace happen and the furnace gets set for the winter, be sure to check ever detector on all levels of your home. If you don’t have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on each level, now is the time to go shopping for them.

Windows and Doors

Higher heating bills are imminent in the winter months but see if you can help keep them lower by following a few easy steps. Replace worn weather stripping and fill any gaps your feel near your windows and doors, pipes and faucets. This not only prevents heat from escaping but can also stop cute little critters from calling your place home for the winter.

Lawn Care

An easy, fool proof way to care for your lawn before snow arrives is this: rake up all your leaves, mulch them and spread on flower and garden beds for good nutrients or compost them in your green bin. Putting a fall/winter fertilizer on the lawn before the snow hits is a good idea and can help give you a head start in the spring time to a lush, green lawn.

Bring out the machines

It's inevitable: shovels are the new fashion accessory. At our home, we each have one, even the kids. I suggest for easy clearing to purchase ones with the metal edger to help clear right down to the sidewalk. Getting an ice chipper is also a good investment since the City of Calgary bylaw requires ice to be cleared down to bare cement. Having a bag of sand or kitty litter and salt to help melt the icy patches is always a good idea too.

Don't forget your vehicle

Now is the time to throw that snow brush and windshield scraper in the trunk and top up with antifreeze washer fluid. We have a golden rule in our house as well that no matter what, the gas tank must always stay above half in the winter. You never know in Calgary when you will be stuck in traffic and having your tank filled is a good habit in the colder months.

Last but not least, enjoy it while it lasts. Sure, it can be a bit of a nuisance to head out to shovel or feel bundled up for six months of the year, but that being said, winters are beautiful in Calgary. Wear proper clothing, plan some day trips to the mountains and smile when ol' Jack Frost appears in the early mornings. Most of all, stay warm!

Cheers,

Steven

Read

Real Estate Magazine: How To Deal With Career Stress

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Steven Hill

Did you know that a career in real estate is one of the most stressful careers there is?! Well, I sure do!

And recently, Toby Welch of Real Estate Magazine asked my thoughts on how to perform at a high level and manage all the stress that comes along with it.

Remember, this is a commission based career, so I see the way the great Billy Jean King said it, "Pressure is a privilege" .

Take a look and let me know your thoughts....

Advice for Agents

How to deal with career stress

By Toby Welch

Nov 15, 2021

Working in real estate is not for the faint of heart. Every day brings something new and challenging. It can also bring a load of stress. The unpredictable income, demanding people and wonky hours can be tough. Add in the competitiveness of the industry and it’s a minefield. CareerCast, a job-listing website that maintains a database of job listings from Canada and the U.S., says real estate agents have one of the most stressful jobs (compared to over 200 other professions). Let’s tackle how to deal with all that stress.

Read The Full Article Here

Read

October 2021 Calgary Housing Market Update

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Steven Hill

Market continues to favour the seller in October

City of Calgary, November 1, 2021 –

There were 2,186 sales in October, a record high for the month and over 35 per cent higher than longer-term averages. Year-to-date sales are on pace to hit new record highs and are currently 61 per cent higher than average activity recorded over the past five years and 42 per cent higher than 10-year averages.

“Moving into the fourth quarter, the pace of housing demand continues to exceed expectations in the city,” said CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

“Much of the persistent strength is likely related to improving confidence in future economic prospects, as well as a sense of urgency among consumers to take advantage of the low-lending-rate environment.”

New listings have improved relative to last year, but stronger sales caused further easing in inventory levels, which remain 16 per cent lower than last year and longer-term averages for the month. Supply levels have struggled to keep pace with demand, but much of the decline in the months of supply has been related to the strong sales levels. As of October, the months of supply dipped to just over two months.

Persistently tight market conditions did cause some benchmark price gains this month. The benchmark price in October reached $460,100, slightly higher than last month and nearly nine per cent higher than the $422,600 recorded last October.

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

Thanks to gains in most districts, detached home sales improved by 17 per cent compared to last year. The strongest sales growth this month occurred in the North East and East districts, which are the most affordable districts in the city.

New listings improved relative to last year’s levels, but with 1,350 new listings in October and 1,333 sales, the sales-to-new-listings ratio for detached homes rose to 99 per cent, inventories fell to 2,063 units and the moths of supply dipped below two months.

Further tightening in the detached market resulted in upward pressure on home prices. In October, the detached price reached $540,900, up nearly one per cent compared with last month and over 10 per cent higher than levels reported last October. On a year-to-date basis, price growth has been the strongest in the North and South East districts, where prices have increased by over 11 per cent.

Semi-Detached

Sales continued to improve this month, contributing to the year-to-date record high. However, new listings eased and the sales-to-new-listings ratio rose to 98 per cent as inventories fell. The months of supply, which has trended down over the past several months, once again placed upward pressure on prices in the sector.

The semi-detached benchmark price rose to $427,800 this month, nearly nine per cent higher than last year’s levels. So far this year, sales have improved across every district, but the tightest conditions have been in the South East and North districts. These two districts have also seen the highest year-to-date price gains, which have exceeded 10 per cent.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE REPORT

Read

Calgary, Alberta - A Top City to Live in Globally

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Steven Hill

WORLD'S BEST CITIES

A new report published in 2021 by Resonance Consultancy shows our beautiful city of Calgary in the Top 50 out of 100 best cities in the world.

Is anyone not surprised by this????

Calgary is a fabulous city to live and thrive in and one of the many reason that I have never left!

Back to the report that was featured in this Calgary Herald news article in September, our Calgary placed 49th out of 100 for best cities, beating out Edmonton, Lisbon, Osaka, and Denver.

The Consulting organization looks at 6 categories when making the list: including prosperity where Calgary placed 31st and people where Calgary placed 13th (no surprise there as we Calgarians are a diverse and educated bunch).

It clearly shows how resilient we are, despite a struggling economy and an increase in unemployment rates, there is still plenty or reasons to love and enjoy living in this wonderful city.

My favorite part of the article was this quote:

"People here walk with the velocity of New Yorkers and cut to the chase like Texans."

If that doesn't perfectly describe this diverse community, filled with entrepreneurialism then my guess is, you aren't from around here.

READ HERE for the report

Read

The Bonus Room

Confession Time About This Blog

Market Updates

FEBRUARY 2025 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

JANUARY 2025 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

DECEMBER 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

NOVEMBER 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

Style & Design

Things To Do This Month FOR FREE in Calgary

10 Halloween Safety Tips For Your Home

Record high sales seen again in March

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Sales continue to surge as listings rise

Detached

Semi-Detached

Row

Apartment Condominium

Airdrie

Cochrane

Okotoks

2021 record year for home sales

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

Semi-Detached

Row

Apartment Condominium

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

Cochrane

Okotoks

Persistent sellers’ market conditions drive up prices

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

Semi-Detached

Row

Apartment Condominium

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

Cochrane

Okotoks

Winter is coming and so it makes perfect sense to start today on your winter home maintenance list.

Clean Out The Gutters and Downspouts

Have Your Furnace Checked and Ready

Hibernate Your Air-Conditioner

Chimney & Fireplace Check

Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide

Windows and Doors

Lawn Care

Bring out the machines

Don't forget your vehicle

Cheers,

Steven

Did you know that a career in real estate is one of the most stressful careers there is?! Well, I sure do!

How to deal with career stress

Market continues to favour the seller in October

WORLD'S BEST CITIES

"People here walk with the velocity of New Yorkers and cut to the chase like Texans."

Latest Blog Posts

FEBRUARY 2025 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

JANUARY 2025 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE

Newsletter