Prices exhibit resilience, record biggest gain since 2006

National home sales declined for a third consecutive month in July, according to statistics released today by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

The number of homes trading hands via Canadian MLS® Systems fell by 1.3 per cent month-over-month in July 2016. With similar monthly declines having been posted in May and June, national sales activity in July came in 3.9 per cent below the record set in April 2016. (Chart A)

Sales activity was down from the previous month in slightly more than half of all markets in July, led by Greater Vancouver and B.C.'s Fraser Valley. Transactions in these two markets peaked in February of this year, and have since then dropped by 21.5 and 28.8 percent respectively.

Sellers' conditions in B.C., buyers' in Saskatchewan

A new report from the Conference Board of Canada says balanced conditions in Calgary's resale housing market are expected to create price gains in the coming months.

In its June Metro Resale Snapshot, the organization anticipates the city's MLS® price will increase between zero and 2.9 per cent over the short term. In May, the house price in Calgary was $465,840, up 1.1 per cent from April and 2.3 per cent from a year ago.

Study author Robin Wiebe classified Calgary's housing market as balanced, noting sales volumes in May increased by 1.6 per cent on a month-over-month basis, while listings declined by 1.9 per cent.