For a seller's market, Calgary is certainly seeing it's fair share of new buyers.

Following a month that saw MLS® sales in the city increase by 17 per cent from the previous year, August saw 2,196 sales in the city, an increase of 27.5 per cent in comparison to the same month in 2012.

Seller's market conditions persist, pushing up prices

Calgary, Sept. 3, 2013 – Residential sales within city limits totaled 2,196 units, an 27.5 per cent increase over 2012 and 8.7 per cent on a year-to-date basis.

The level of transactions was well above long-term trends for the month, mostly due to improved activity in the single-family sector. However, on a year-to-date basis, activity is only slightly higher than expectations.

Much like most of Calgary's real estate scene, condos in the city are finding themselves in high demand.

Through the first seven months of 2013, combined (apartment and townhome) condominium sales in the city have increased by 16 per cent over the previous year. In July, combined condo sales shot up 26 per cent over the same month in 2012, a clear indicator momentum in the market is rising.

As Canada's major banks make moves to increase mortgage rates, real estate experts are saying pre-approvals are the way to go for consumers.

On Aug. 20, the Bank of Montreal announced it was increasing the interest on most new mortgages by 20 basis points, a move soon echoed by TD, RBC and other banks.