Calgary housing market expected to remain strong this year after record-breaking 2021

CREB® has released its 2022 housing market forecast for Calgary and surrounding areas.

According to the report, 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.  Lurie says economic improvements are also expected to support both job and population growth, adding new sources of demand for housing.

“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.” - CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie. 

During the pandemic, supply has been a struggle for many industries, including the housing market. New listings have improved, but Lurie says 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, Lurie says 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, according to the report. However, conditions are expected to remain relatively tight throughout the spring market, supporting further price gains. 

As the market balance gradually improves, Lurie says upward price pressure in the housing market should ease. Overall, price growth is expected to ease to four percent 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.

Courtesy Calgary Real Estate Board.

The year finished with nearly 10% more home sales than the previous record year of 2020

The data is in and strong December home sales crowned 2021 as the busiest year for homebuying in the 14-year history of the RE/MAX National Housing Report. According to the latest report, which measured 51 metro areas, December 2021 home sales were the second-highest for the month in report history, trailing only December 2020. In fact, there’s evidence to suggest December home transactions could have been even stronger had it not been for record-low inventory.

Contributing to the craze, the year 2021 ended with the smallest number of homes for sale in the 14-year history of the report. The 10 months with the lowest inventory in report history all occurred in 2021. Based on the rate of home sales in December 2021, the Months Supply of Inventory decreased to 1.2 compared to 1.4 in November 2021, and decreased compared to 2.0 in December 2020. For context, a six months supply indicates a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers.

The ups and downs of the housing market since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020 have proven one thing: homebuyers are resilient – and those who are able to get in the game have wasted no time. Nick Bailey, President and Chief Executive Officer of RE/MAX, LLC, thinks the hot streak is likely to continue into 2022 but is hopeful more sellers come off the fence to alleviate some of the challenges buyers have been facing for years.

“December capped a fantastic year for home sales. After a busy 2020, we expected 2021 to be even better – and it was. Buyers shrugged off all sorts of potential obstacles – high prices, record-low inventory, stiff competition for available listings – and kept things rolling the entire year.”

Adds Bailey, “The story of housing in 2021 was centred around high demand that led to a substantial increase in sales despite ultra-low supply. What’s promising for 2022 is that many of the factors which drove record sales in 2021 remain in place. Interest rates are still attractive, workplace flexibility continues, and many homeowners are sitting on a mountain of equity. If more of them become sellers, there’s ample reason to think the hot streak will continue. The past two years have proven that buyers are out there and ready to go.”

Courtesy RE/MAX Canada

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.

Confidence continues in the Canadian real estate market, with the inter-provincial relocation trend likely to remain strong in 2022

- Migration between provinces is expected to continue in 2022, potentially impacting local Canadian real estate conditions, according to 53 percent of RE/MAX brokers (20 out of 38)
- 49 percent of Canadians believe the housing market will remain steady in 2022 and view real estate as one of the best investment options over the next year
- Some of the highest outlooks are anticipated for Atlantic Canada, with Moncton and Halifax projecting average residential sales prices to increase by 20 percent and 16 percent respectively in 2022
- 97 percent of regions (37 out of 38) surveyed are likely to remain seller’s markets in 2022

Toronto, ON and Kelowna, BC, December 1, 2021 – RE/MAX is anticipating steady price growth across the Canadian real estate market in 2022, with inter-provincial migration continuing to be a key driver of housing activity in many regions, based on surveys of RE/MAX brokers and agents, as reflected in the 2022 Canadian Housing Market Outlook Report. The ongoing housing supply shortage is likely to continue, putting upward pressure on prices. As a result of these factors, RE/MAX Canada estimates a 9.2-per-cent increase in average residential sales prices across the country*.

“Based on feedback from our brokers and agents, the inter-provincial relocation trend that we began to see in the summer of 2020 still remains very strong and is expected to continue into 2022,” says Christopher Alexander, President, RE/MAX Canada. “Less-dense cities and neighbourhoods offer buyers the prospect of greater affordability, along with liveability factors such as more space. In order for these regions to retain these appealing qualities and their relative market balance, housing supply needs to be added. Without more homes and in the face of rising demand, there’s potential for conditions in these regions to shift further.”

Despite the global pandemic, many Canadians still feel confident in the real estate market. According to a Leger survey conducted on behalf of RE/MAX Canada, 49 percent of respondents believe Canadian real estate will remain one of their best investment options in 2022 (59 percent of homeowners vs. 34 percent non-homeowners which included renters, those not looking to buy, and those currently looking to purchase). Additionally, 49 percent of respondents are confident the Canadian real estate market will remain steady next year.

“Canadians recognize the value and investment potential in their homes. However, market challenges such as rising prices and limited supply have impacted local markets from coast-to-coast, causing angst this past year among those looking to get into the market and those hoping to move up in it,” says Elton Ash, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Canada. “Despite this, it’s encouraging to see that many are feeling confident in the housing market in 2022 and view Canadian real estate as a solid investment.”

2022 REGIONAL CANADIAN REAL ESTATE INSIGHTS

RE/MAX brokers and agents in Canada were asked to provide an analysis of their local market in 2021 and share their estimated outlook for 2022. Based on their insights, 97 percent of Canadian real estate markets are expected to favour sellers, impacted by limited housing supply and high demand.

WESTERN CANADA

The Calgary and Edmonton markets shifted from balanced conditions in 2020 to seller’s markets in 2021, which brokers and agents in the region expect to continue into 2022. This is attributed to heightened demand prompted by the inter-provincial migration trend that took place throughout 2021, which saw many homebuyers from Ontario and British Columbia driving demand high, while supply remained low.

In addition to an increase in out-of-province buyers flocking to Edmonton, the region has also welcomed investors who found themselves priced out of other markets. RBC’s provincial outlook for Alberta puts this province ahead of all others in terms of economic growth in 2022, which should bode well for homebuyers and investors alike 2022.

Regions such as Victoria, Nanaimo, Regina and Kelowna also experienced an influx of buyers in search of larger properties and greater affordability, which is likely to continue pushing demand and prices up in 2022. This trend has notably increased demand for single-family detached homes and in some regions, condos as well, which may continue in 2022.

Despite some buyers choosing to move away from urban centres such as Vancouver/Greater Vancouver in favour of suburban areas within British Columbia, or leaving the province entirely, Vancouver/Greater Vancouver has remained a quality place to live. The region continues to draw interest from Canadian and international buyers, a trend that is likely to grow next year, in tandem with rising immigration. Vancouver/Greater Vancouver is expected to remain a seller’s market in 2022, providing inventory stays tight and current demand continues, according to a RE/MAX broker in Greater Vancouver Area.

Winnipeg is anticipated to continue to be a seller’s market in 2022. Young couples enjoying the freedom to work from home have been driving much of the demand in the region, especially for one- and two-story detached homes. The appeal of Winnipeg has had less to do with affordability, and more with lifestyle shifts such as hybrid working environments.

ONTARIO

According to the RE/MAX broker network in Ontario, market activity across the province is anticipated to remain steady in 2022, with continued average price growth, although at widely varying degrees. RE/MAX brokers anticipate average sale price increases in smaller markets such as North Bay (four percent); Sudbury (five percent); Thunder Bay (10 percent); Collingwood/Georgian Bay (10 percent); and Muskoka (20 pecent), where the move-over trend has remained strong. Meanwhile, in larger markets within the province, there’s a possibility that more immigration could weigh on supply levels and prices, including Ottawa (five percent); Durham (seven percent); Brampton (eight percent); Toronto (10 percent); Mississauga (14 percent).

When it comes to price appreciation year-over-year, there are a few regions that stood out in 2021 for their exponential increases across all property types, including Brampton, which rose from $869,107 in 2020 to $1,085,417 in 2021 (25 per cent); Durham from $706,818 in 2020 to $914,48 in 2021 (29 per cent); and London from $487,500 in 2020 to $633,700 in 2021 (30 per cent). In comparison, Toronto experienced a modest seven-per-cent increase year-over-year ($986,085 in 2020 to $1,054,922 in 2021).

ATLANTIC CANADA

All of Atlantic Canada’s regions analyzed are currently seller’s markets, with the potential for average sale prices to increase between five to 20 percent in 2022, according to RE/MAX brokers and agents. Larger urban centres including Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Halifax, Charlottetown and St. John’s have all experienced an influx of out-of-province buyers, especially from Ontario, moving to the region in search of greater affordability agnd liveability.

Due to this spike in demand, much of the region has experienced increasing competition, especially among single-family detached homes and condos in some cities. There’s a possibility that this may further be amplified as immigration continues to grow in the region.

According to RE/MAX brokers and agents in the region, new construction is anticipated to remain strong into 2022, although construction activity may be dampened by ongoing supply shortages and delays in permits related to the pandemic backlog.

Seller’s market conditions are expected to prevail across the region in 2022, with the exception of Charlottetown and Southern Nova Scotia, which may return more to a balanced state as activity gradually begins to decrease.

These factors have led to some of the highest price outlooks in the country, with Halifax and Moncton projecting estimated average residential sales price to increase by 16, and 20 percent respectively.

Additional findings from the 2022 Canadian Housing Market Outlook Report

- Two-in-five Canadians trust their agent to advise them during the current real estate landscape (43 percent)
- 23 percent of Canadians now have a greater desire to build their own home or buy pre-construction
- 26 percent of Canadians have the desire to purchase a home while mortgage rates remain low
- 62 percent of Canadians currently own a home. This is higher among those ages 35+ (70 percent) compared with Millennials, ages 18-34 (42 percent)

- The majority of Canadians (72 percent) said rising home prices did not impact their purchasing decisions in 2021.

About the 2022 Housing Market Outlook Report

 

The 2022 RE/MAX Housing Market Outlook Report includes data and insights from RE/MAX brokerages. RE/MAX brokers and agents are surveyed on market activity and local developments. Regional summaries with additional broker insights can be found at REMAX.ca. The overall outlook is based on the average of all regions surveyed, weighted by the number of transactions in each region.

*2020 average residential sale price numbers were full-year, 2021 were from January 2021 – October 31, 2022.

Download the Full Report Here

Download the Table Data Here

Courtesy RE/MAX Canada

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.

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.   Row Thanks to improvements across most districts, row sales remained relatively strong in October, contributing to the year-to-date record high. However, unlike other sectors, the row sector did see a significant increase in new listings compared with last year’s levels, preventing a large decline in inventory. This helped push the months of supply back above three months. The market is not as tight as it was last month, but conditions are still far tighter than levels typically seen during this time of year and vary significantly by district. The months of supply remained below three months in the North, South, South East and East districts in October. Row prices have not recovered from previous highs, but prices did trend up this month. So far this year, the largest gains have been for row homes in both the East and North East districts, where benchmark prices have averaged less than $200,000 in 2021.   Apartment Condominium Thanks to improvements across the city, October condominium sales were strong relative to both last year’s levels and long-term averages. Nearly half of the condo sales occurred in the City Centre, which was the only district to see monthly sales trend up significantly relative to last month. Some of the sales gains could be related to price adjustments in the district, as October benchmark prices were over three per cent lower than last year’s levels and trended down from last month. The decline in the City Centre prices offset the gains recorded in other parts of the city, causing citywide figures to remain relatively unchanged from levels recorded last October. Despite some of the monthly shifts on a year-to-date basis, condominium prices have improved by over two per cent compared with last year, with gains ranging from less than one per cent in the City Centre to over six per cent in the West district. Price gains for apartments are far lower than other property types, as the same supply challenges have not existed in this sector.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie October was another record-high month for sales. This contributed to year-to-date sales of 2,039, nearly 81 per cent higher than average activity from the past five years. Lifestyle choices, low interest rates and Airdrie’s relatively affordable detached homes compared with Calgary have supported the strong sales. While new-home starts are ramping up, it has done little to ease the supply shortages facing the resale market. In October, sales outpaced new listings, causing further declines in inventory levels and a months of supply that eased to one month. Benchmark prices in October were over one per cent higher than last month and over 14 per cent higher than levels reported last year. Gains have been exceptionally strong in the detached segment of the market, where prices are nearly 16 per cent higher than last October.   Cochrane Thanks to a jump in sales for higher-density product, sales this month rose to new record highs. Year-to-date sales have pushed to 1,081 units, which is nearly 95 per cent higher than average activity from the past five years. There was also a turnaround in new listings, which improved in October after several months of easing. This helped improve some of the supply-demand balances, but the Cochrane housing market continues to struggle with sellers’ market conditions. While conditions remain tight, there was no additional upward pressure on monthly prices in October compared with previous months. As of October, year-to-date total residential benchmark prices have improved by nearly seven per cent across the entire resale market.     Okotoks For the second time this year, sales outpaced new listings this month, dropping inventory levels to 74 units. This is nearly 60 per cent lower than traditional levels and resulted in the lowest months of supply ever recorded in October. Conditions remain exceptionally tight, but prices trended down slightly compared to previous months. However, it is important to note that on a year-to-date basis, total residential prices have improved by over 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.

According to Canadian consumers, RE/MAX is the brand with the #1 Most Trusted Real Estate Agents in Canada*. The results of the 2022 BrandSpark® Canadian Trust Study are based on a survey of 7,857 Canadians – one of the largest studies of its kind – to gauge their honest opinions of what brands they trust most and why. BrandSpark analyzed brands in 64 different categories, spanning Finance & Insurance, Health & Fitness, Retail & Restaurants, Telecom & Home, Travel, and Apps & Websites.

“We’re honoured to be the real estate brand that is most trusted by Canadians,” says Christopher Alexander, Senior Vice President at RE/MAX Canada. “Behind every successful real estate transaction is a foundation built on trust.”

Adds Elton Ash, Executive Vice President at RE/MAX Canada, “The RE/MAX network prides itself on providing expertise and advice that’s in the best interests of the homebuyers and sellers we serve. It’s truly rewarding to know that RE/MAX is more trusted than any other brand of real estate in Canada, and we look forward to continuing to help buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals.”

Why Trust Matters, for Consumers and Brands Alike

According to BrandSpark, when consumers trust brands, they buy them more often and are willing to pay a premium. Brands can build trust by focusing on eight key trust drivers:

• quality
• fair prices
• recommendation
• innovation
• customer support
• values
• transparency, and
• heritage

“Trust is important because it builds loyalty and engagement between consumers and brands; everyone benefits when building trust is prioritized,” said Philip Scrutton, Vice-President of Shopper Insights at BrandSpark International. “The BrandSpark Canadian Shopper Study showed that 75 percent of shoppers trust consumer-voted awards. Since the BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards are completely determined by consumers, they provide a consensus of trust, which allows consumers to shop smarter and encourages purchasing those brands that are most trusted.”

About RE/MAX

RE/MAX is a global network of independently owned and operated offices, with more than 140,000 sales associates in over 110 countries and territories. RE/MAX agents sell more real estate than any other Canadian brand** (Source: CREA/RE/MAX) and more buyers and sellers would recommend RE/MAX than any other real estate brand.***

The RE/MAX track record, built over nearly 50 years, is proof that a focus on the customer’s needs, backed by the ability to deliver, remains as important as ever.

Courtesy RE/MAX LLC

Canadian housing market expected to remain strong this fall, despite Delta variant, say RE/MAX brokers and realtors

Young families driving demand for single-detached homes in cities across the country

1. Canadian housing market prices are anticipated to increase by 5% in the remaining months of 2021, according to RE/MAX brokers and agents.
   
   

2. 26/29 major Canadian housing markets analyzed are seller’s markets, driven by lack of supply and high demand.

Early indicators from RE/MAX brokers and agents across the Canadian housing market suggest steady activity for the remainder of 2021. According to the RE/MAX Canada 2021 Fall Housing Market Outlook Report, RE/MAX brokers and agents expect the average residential sale price for all home types could increase by five percent from now until the end of the year.

Single-detached homes experienced the biggest price gains when comparing 2021* to 2020 data, rising between 6.8 and 27.3 percent across 26 markets surveyed in the report. RE/MAX brokers and agents expect this trend to continue into the fall, driven by strong demand by young families.

“As our brokers and agents predict, the fall market activity is expected to remain steady, which is promising, despite the ongoing challenges presented by the Delta variant,” says Christopher Alexander, Senior Vice President, RE/MAX Canada. “This is particularly relevant given the Canadian housing markets is often a good indicator of economic activity in the country, and with the Bank of Canada forecasting economic growth of 4.5 percent in 2022, a strong fall housing market is a good sign that things may be starting to return to a more natural rhythm.”

Regional Canadian Housing Market Overview

Western Canada

High housing prices, driven up by low supply and high demand, have created challenging conditions for many homebuyers across Canada, especially in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. However, affordable options still exist for homebuyers who are considering alternative markets, thanks to their continued ability to work remotely. RE/MAX brokers have reported this trend in Edmonton and Calgary, where buyers are leveraging increased purchasing power thanks to local housing affordability coupled with lower interest rates. RE/MAX brokers and agents anticipate this trend to continue through the remainder of 2021.

When comparing activity year-over-year (YoY) average sale prices across single-detached homes, condos and townhomes, British Columbia’s Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver experienced significant price growth, at 23 percent, 19.1 percent and 16.4 percent, respectively. Nanaimo also saw one of the largest price surges in its condo and townhome segments when compared to other Western Canada regions, with average condo prices currently sitting at $343,713 (a 17.6-per-cent increase YoY), and townhomes at $511,549 (a 65.8-per-cent increase YoY). In Calgary and Regina, the fall outlooks are relatively status quo, with prices expected to remain flat in Calgary and up one percent in Regina. Meanwhile, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg and Nanaimo are expected to see price gains ranging between four and nine percent through the remainder of the year, according to RE/MAX brokers and agents.

Ontario

Unsurprisingly, Ontario has seen some of the highest average residential price increases across single-detached homes in the country, with the majority of regions (13 out of 16), experiencing increases between 20 and 35.5 percent YoY. The outlier markets that experienced price increases below 20 percent include Toronto (+14.6 percent), Thunder Bay (+17.1 percent) and Mississauga (+19.7 percent).

The condo and townhome segment in all of these regions has also performed well, with smaller and more suburban markets such as Kitchener, North Bay, London, Peterborough, and Southern Georgian Bay seeing a higher surge YoY. The estimated price outlook for the remainder of the year ranges from a two-per-cent price decrease in North Bay to increases across the other regions ranging between two and 15 percent.

Atlantic Canada

Much unlike some regions in the West, housing market activity in Atlantic Canada remained persistent YoY, with Halifax and Moncton seeing significant price increases across all property types. This trend is expected to continue for the remainder of 2021. The price of single-detached homes in Halifax increased 24.3 percent YoY, from $402,484 to $500,147. Meanwhile, Moncton prices rose from $233,676 to $282,886 – up 21.2 percent YoY.

According to RE/MAX brokers and agents, the condo and townhome markets in Halifax, Saint John and Moncton condo saw prices surge between 12.5 percent and 48.9 percent YoY. Moncton in particular is expected to continue strong, with one of the highest price outlooks for the remainder of 2021, between 12 and 15 per cent. Saint John is expected to see more-tempered price growth, ranging between one- to three-per-cent across all property types, while Halifax could see a six-per-cent increase in average sale price for the remainder of the year.

“Housing activity throughout the pandemic has remained strong, so it comes as no surprise that the outlook for the remainder of the year continues on an upward trajectory, which is great for homeowners and their equity, but challenging for first-time buyers who have been priced out of the market,” says Elton Ash, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Canada. “We must continue to educate Canadians from a practical, real-world, point of view. What is affecting the Canadian housing market right now? Low-Interest rates, economic stimulus, higher home-buying budgets, a higher savings rate, homeowners too scared to sell, and not enough new construction. These factors have created current market conditions.”

Adds Alexander, “The Canadian housing market has historically given homeowners great long-term returns and solid financial security, but there’s no doubt that the rapid price growth we’ve experienced recently is cause for concern. However, it’s not cause for panic. The data shows single-detached home price acceleration may be starting to level off in some urban centres, but prices continue to rise in many smaller cities and communities that were once havens for affordability. Real estate has been a boon to the Canadian economy, during the pandemic and before it. We believe in the long-term health of Canada’s housing market, but in order to protect it, we need to acknowledge and address the housing supply shortage. Our current government needs to stop applying band-aids and cure the problem at its root.”

About the 2021 RE/MAX Fall Housing Market Outlook Report

The 2021 RE/MAX Fall Housing Market Outlook Report includes data and insights from RE/MAX brokerages. RE/MAX brokers and agents are surveyed on market activity and local developments. Regional summaries with additional broker insights can be found at REMAX.ca. The fall outlook is based on predictions of RE/MAX brokers and agents. The overall outlook is based on the average of all regions surveyed, weighted by the number of transactions in each region.

*2020 average residential sale price numbers were full-year, 2021 were from January 2021-August 31, 2021.

Courtesy RE/MAX Western Canada

Residential sales totalled 2,162 in September, nearing the record high for the month recorded in 2005. Further gains in new listings likely supported some of the sales growth that occurred this month.

“While sales activity in the fall tends to be slower than in the spring months, the continued strong sales are likely being driven by consumers who were unable to transact earlier in the year when supply levels had not yet adjusted to demand,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie. “The market continues to favour the seller, but conditions are not as tight as they were earlier this year.”

Inventory levels in September eased to 5,607 units, keeping the months of supply below three months. However, there is significant variation depending on property type and the tightest conditions continue to be in the detached market, with under two months of supply. At the same time, the apartment condominium sector is not facing the same level of supply challenges, with nearly five months of inventory available based on current demand levels.

Supply adjustments have helped ease the upward pressure on home prices. Prices have eased slightly relative to a few months ago, but they remain well above levels recorded earlier in the year. As of September, the total residential benchmark price in Calgary was $457,900, over eight per cent higher than levels recorded last year.   

 

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

Calgary recorded 1,268 sales this month, a significant gain relative to last year and 30 per cent higher than longer-term trends. Sales this month improved across all price ranges except homes priced under $400,000. However, the decline in sales in the lower price range is likely related to limited supply choice.

On a year-to-date basis, prices have improved across all districts, with gains that range from a low of five per cent in the City Centre to nearly twelve per cent in the South East. The City Centre is the only district where prices remain below previous highs. The September detached benchmark price of $537,500 has trended down slightly from the record high set in July, but this has not erased earlier gains, as it remains nearly 10 per cent higher than last year.

Semi-Detached

With less supply choice in the lower price ranges of the detached market, many consumers have turned to the semi-detached sector. With 2,005 sales so far this year, year-to-date sales are over 45 per cent higher than long-term trends and have reached new record highs. The improvement in sales was, in part, related to the improvements in new listings. The sales-to-new-listings ratio in this sector has averaged below 70 per cent over the past several months. This is nowhere near as tight as the detached sector, which has averaged 80 per cent.

While conditions have not been as tight in the semi-detached sector, there have still been substantial price gains this year. As of September, the benchmark price was $424,900, slightly lower than last month, but over eight per cent higher than last year’s levels. Like the detached sector, the semi-detached sector’s slowest price growth has occurred in the City Centre. On a year-to-date basis, prices remained below previous highs in the City Centre, North East and South districts.

Row

With 318 sales this month, year-to-date sales pushed up to 3,057 units, which is 62 per cent above long-term trends and on pace to hit record levels this year. Sales have risen across every district, with the largest growth recorded in the South East district.

While new listings did improve this month, it was not enough to prevent further declines in Inventory levels. The months of supply remained relatively low at less than three months, which is well below traditional levels for this time of year. Tighter conditions have supported price growth across all districts so far in 2021. However, unlike the detached and semi-detached sectors, row prices remain below previous highs across all districts in the city.

Apartment Condominium

A boost in new listings this month translated into some gains in sales activity. However, with a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 58 per cent, inventories still trended up relative to the previous month and last year’s levels.

The months of supply remained just below five months in September, far lower than levels recorded last year and over the past five years. Conditions have generally been more balanced for this property type compared with other sectors, preventing strong price gains. On a year-to-date basis, citywide benchmark prices improved by nearly three per cent, but they remain over 14 per cent lower than previous highs.

 

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

The Airdrie market has faced extremely tight conditions throughout 2021 and supply constraints continued to place some limits on sales this month. New listings slowed in September to 179 units and there were 166 sales. As a result, the sales-to-new-listings ratio remained above 90 per cent and inventories trended down.

The months of supply has remained under two months since February, translating into steady price gains throughout most of this year. As of September, the benchmark price reached $389,700, which is similar to last month, but over 13 per cent higher than levels recorded last year. Much of the growth has been driven by detached homes.

Cochrane

For the second month in a row, sales outpaced new listings coming onto the market, causing inventories to fall to the lowest levels recorded in over a decade.

While conditions have remained exceptionally tight, with just over one month of supply, detached home prices have dipped slightly relative to a few months ago. This could be related to added competition coming from the new-home market. However, as of September, detached prices have increased by more than nine per cent compared to last year.

Okotoks

Sales in Okotoks this month slowed relative to last year. Despite the decline this month, year-to-date sales remain at record-high levels. Inventory levels remain exceptionally low, and the months of supply stayed below two months in September.    

The pace of price growth this month has slowed, but the year-to-date detached benchmark price in the town has improved by nearly 11 per cent compared to last year.

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Fall is the season of change, from the color of leaves to daylight hours to temperature. During this time, your homes face the effects of drastic fluctuations in weather as summer slowly fades away. Before snow creeps its way into the forecast, take the time to prepare your home in advance for colder days ahead.

Assess drainage

Foliage is beautiful, but those fallen leaves can be pesky. Take time to unclog gutters and downspouts to ensure snowmelt efficiently drains off of your home without causing damage to its exterior. While you’re at it, have a professional address any leaks in the roof now before wetter weather identifies them for you.

Don’t forget to drain outdoor hoses and faucets and shut them off from the inside to prevent them from freezing, breaking or bursting before the temperature drops to far below zero.

Get the HVAC system in order

Don’t wait until the first frost to test out your heating system. Schedule a maintenance appointment with an HVAC professional this fall to guarantee you can be toasty at a moment’s notice, they can also do a carbon monoxide check to ensure air safety. Do a check-up on the filtration system while you’re at it – experts suggest replacing the filter in your heating system every two to three months to prevent buildup.

Don’t forget your humidifier, winters on the prairies can be dry ensure you have changed the filter and ensured the humidistat is set for the desired amount of humidity.

Put your Air conditioning unit to rest for the season and do not forget to place the cover on it.

Invest in outdoor furniture covers

Once days grow cold, using patio furniture will be on pause until spring. To keep furniture in good condition – and to preserve your grill – look for heavy-duty, waterproof covers. Purchasing these for preservation can help prevent having to replace items down the road, potentially saving you big bucks.

Autumn also marks the time to store away other lawn ornaments, like ceramic flowerpots, to prevent cracking.

Fix driveway cracks

Existing cracks in pavement will only expand and even crumble when water – or snow – seeps in. Concrete sealer is readily available at hardware stores and can ultimately save you from needing to repave the whole driveway once those frost heaves start creeping up.  

Stock up on snow supplies

Ensure to have a snow shovel and sand or snow melter for the driveway or sidewalks and a sturdy scraper for the car windshield. For those without a garage or covered parking, check out windshield covers that line the windshield end-to-end preventing snow and ice buildup and get that extra-long extension cord out for nights when you need to plug your vehicle in. 

Clean your fireplace

Deep clean the base of your wood-burning fireplace before it gets to work this coming winter. Schedule an appointment with a chimney sweeper to ensure all apparatus – including the flue – are safe and functioning accordingly. 

Control airflow

Assess your home, especially windows and doors, for drafts, heat loss through windows can be responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use. With weather-stripping, film wrap, physical blockers and other DIY methods, you can prevent the cold draftiness that often results from having older windows. While keeping you more comfortable, doing so can also help save money on heating costs.

A lesser-known tip for controlling airflow within the home is to reverse the direction of your ceiling fan. In the summer months, the ceiling fan should spin counterclockwise pushing down cold air. In the fall, reverse its direction using the button on the fan’s base to counterclockwise, which will pull cold air up and keep the lower half of the room warm.

Fertilize your lawn

You know what they say: The best offence is a good defence. If you want to keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Roots are still active when the grass isn't growing, so applying fertilizer will prevent winter damage. Doing this will also help your lawn turn green faster in the spring.

Just as with your lawnmower in the Spring ensure your snowblower is accessible, tuned up and ready to battle the impending snow.

Change your batteries

Once a year you should be checking to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices are working. Since you're already testing everything else out, you might as well add this on.

Don't forget the Garage

Service summer power equipment. Empty fuel and clean lawnmower and trimmer. Have lawnmower blades sharpened and oil changed. Have any necessary repairs done now, so that you’re ready come Spring.

Store summer vehicles. If you have a motorcycle, summer car, ATV or other type of seasonal vehicle, now’s a good time to have that serviced as well.

Ensure the garage is organized and ready to keep your vehicle protected on those snowy winter days and nights.

The first six months of 2021 seemed to go by in a minute, the Viani Real Estate Group is honoured to be recognized as the 16th most productive RE/MAX real estate team worldwide, amongst over 100000 associates, for the first six months of 2021.

Led by our commercial specialist Rob Campbell along with Joe Viani the group was successful in brokering the sale of the iconic Ranchman's dance hall and cookhouse, multiple building trades, sales of land parcels, leases along with representing small business owners buy and sell. 

As the commercial real estate market remains strong we are excited to see what the latter half of 2021 brings.

We look forward to assisting you in the purchase, sale or lease of your property, discussing your investment opportunities or brokering the trade of your small business. 

Contact us today to find out how we can out or experience to work for you.