Improving inventories help ease price growth pressure

Calgary's residential resale housing market posted relatively strong November activity reaching 1,782 units, a three per cent increase over the previous year, and nearly 13 per cent above long term averages.

"Relative to other major centres, economic growth in Calgary remains one of the strongest in the country," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie. "Employment opportunities and relatively higher wages have encouraged people to move here, supporting the demand growth in our housing sector."

Meanwhile, new listings growth continues to outpace the gains in sales, supporting a 22 per cent year-over-year rise in November inventories to 3,849 units. While inventories have recorded significant gains, they remain below long-term averages for the month.

Calgary's condo sectors continue to set the pace for the city's residential resale housing market, which recorded 2,148 sales in September, nearly 12 per cent higher than the same period last year.

"September's sales growth was stronger than expected, due largely to a surge in condominium apartment and townhouse sales," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie, who credits Calgary's strong economy and fewer options in the lower-priced single-family market behind the continued demand.

Strong gains in Calgary's condominium apartment and townhouse sectors sparked a 3.4 per cent year-over-year growth in residential resale housing sales activity for August.

A total of 2,267 units exchanged hands in the city during the month, compared to 2,192 during the same period in 2013. The condominium apartment and townhouse sectors saw the biggest gains, increasing by nearly 14 and 20 per cent, respectively, for total monthly sales of 790 units.

Growth in new listings outpace sales growth in July, supporting double-digit inventory gains

Residential sales in Calgary this month totaled 2,336 units, a record level for July activity, according to CREB®'s latest stats.

However, year-over-year sales growth in the city slowed to 3.18 per cent.

June brings rise in number of homes sold and listed

Normally associated with a rise in the mercury, the arrival of summer also provided a boost to Calgary's housing market this June.

Driven by continued strong demand amongst buyers, residential sales totaled 2,670 units in June, a 16 per cent increase over last year and 18 per cent above the 10-year average.

Residential sales for last month, highest ever recorded in Calgary

Calgary's residential housing market continued its upward surge last month with a record-setting May that saw a 16 per cent increase in sales.

A combined 2,948 single- and multi-family homes switched hands last month, compared with 2,535 in May 2013. This year's total represents the most sales in May in Calgary's history.

New listings up; Calgarians making the choice to buy in tight rental market

Not even a snowy spring kept sales and listings this April from increasing over last years' numbers.

CREB®'s monthly stats reported new residential listings for April at 3,754 units, an eight per cent increase compared to the same time last year.

"[Buying] made the most sense," said Sarah Hammond, a previous homeowner who purchased a home in the
southeast with her boyfriend, a firsttime buyer. "I already owned a condo so was not interested in trying to fight
the rental market to pay. Basically mortgage payments are the same or less than rental fees right now."

New listings improve for all product types in the city

Following a slow start to the year, improved weather and price gains supported new listings growth.

New residential listings in April totaled 3,754 units, an eight per cent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile sales activity totaled 2,545 units for the month, a seven per cent increase over April 2013.