DetachedSales in September slowed to 859 units, nine per cent lower than last year and below long-term trends for September. At the same time, new listings rose to 1,905 units, causing the sales to new listings ratio to fall to 45 per cent, levels not seen since 2018. While there has been an unexpected shift in September, it is too early to tell if this trend will continue as prior to this month the detached market has remained relatively balanced. Improved supply choice is causing prices to decline relative to the record highs reported during the spring. As of September, the unadjusted benchmark price was $749,900, down nearly one per cent from both last month and last year. While prices have eased from peak levels across all districts, the largest decline occurred in the North East and East district at over six per cent. Despite recent adjustments on a year-to date basis, prices remain nearly two per cent higher than last year’s levels, with the City Centre reporting the highest gain at over four per cent. Semi-DetachedNew listings rose to 361 units in September, while sales fell to 156 units, causing the sales to new listings ratio to drop to 43 per cent. This also caused a rise in inventory levels and the months of supply pushed up to nearly four months. This is a significant shift compared to last month, where there was less than three months of supply. Like the detached sector, it is too early to say if this trend will continue, but so far it has had minimal impact on home prices. As of September, semi-detached price was $684,800, slightly lower than last month and nearly one per cent higher than last year. Year-to-date price growth has been the highest for semi-detached homes at over three per cent, as this segment took longer to shift from a seller's market to one that was more balanced. Most of the price growth was driven by gains reported in the City Centre. RowFollowing a pullback last month, new listings posted modest monthly gains. The 592 new listings were met with 304 sales, causing the sales to new listings ratio to fall to 51 per cent. This is not as low as the other property types and at these levels it was enough to prevent any further monthly gain in the already elevated inventory levels. September inventory levels were 1,099 units, the highest September level reported since 2018, and 30 per cent higher than longer-term trends for the month. The largest gains in inventory occurred in the North East district, which also reported the highest months of supply and price decline compared to last year. More supply choice has impacted resale prices, with the unadjusted benchmark price being $437,100. This is down less than one per cent over last month and nearly five per cent lower than last year’s prices. Year-to-date price adjustments have been much smaller at one per cent, as declines in the North East, North and South East districts offset the gains reported in other parts of the city.
Apartment Condominium
The most significant adjustment in the market occurred in the apartment condominium sector as improving rental supply, delayed adjustments in interest rates and improved selection for other property types has slowed apartment style demand from both first-time buyers and investors. September reported 401 sales and 924 new listings, dropping the sales to new listings ratio to 43 per cent and causing inventory to rise to 1,999 units. The rise in supply caused the months of supply to push up to five months, the first time it has done that since 2021. As elevated levels of supply have persisted since June, prices have been trending down. As of September, the benchmark price was $322,900, down over one per cent compared to last month and over six per cent compared to last year. The year-to-date price adjustment has been just over one per cent. Condo prices have slid across all districts compared to last September. The largest decline occurred in the North East district at over ten per cent, while the smallest decline occurred in the City Centre at five per cent.
REGIONAL MARKET FACTS
Airdrie
New listings reached a September record high with 295 units. The gains in new listings were met with a pullback in sales causing the sales to new listings ratio to fall to 45 per cent and inventory rose to 571 units. While inventories have been generally trending up throughout this year, this is the first time that the months of supply pushed above four months since 2020. The improved options weighed on home prices, which continued to trend down this month. In September, the unadjusted benchmark price was $526,000, down one per cent compared to last month and nearly five per cent lower than last year's levels. Despite recent adjustments year-to-date prices declined by just over one per cent, not enough to offset last year's annual growth of eight per cent.
CochraneNew listings in Cochrane also hit a September record high with 148 units. While sales are similar to last year's levels at 62 units, the boost in new listings did cause the sales to new listings ratio to drop to 42 per cent this month. This led to further inventory gains and the months of supply pushed above five months. Improved supply levels also took more pressure off home prices this month. In September, the unadjusted benchmark price was $584,300, down by nearly one per cent compared to last month, but still one per cent higher than last year's levels. Much of the supply adjustment has only recently occurred in the Cochrane market and the year-to-date benchmark price remains nearly four per cent higher than last year.
OkotoksOkotoks was one of the few larger areas that did not see a lift in new listings in September. The 69 new listings were down compared to levels reported last year, and with 51 sales this month, the sales to new listings ratio remained elevated at 74 per cent. While inventory levels were only slightly higher than last month, the months of supply has remained relatively low at two and a half months. Despite the relatively tight conditions, prices continued to adjust in the market. This in part can be related to the competition from new properties, impacting resale prices. As of September, the total residential benchmark price was $613,900, down by over one per cent compared to last month and nearly three per cent lower than last September. Despite the adjustment, on a year-to-date basis, prices were still one and a half per cent higher than last year. |
