Calgary's Single-Family Home Market: A Tale of Two Forces

October 24, 2024

The latest market snapshot of Calgary's detached home segment reveals an intriguing battle between buyers and sellers, with some clear patterns emerging across different price points.

Supply Overview:

Currently, Calgary has 1,978 active listings of single-family homes, with an additional 356 properties under contract. The sweet spot for inventory lies in the $600K-$800K range, where we see the highest concentration of listings (425 homes in the $700K-$800K bracket alone).

Demand Signals:

The past 30 days have seen 999 sales, representing a robust 50.51% sales-to-listing ratio. This means roughly half of the available inventory is turning over monthly – a remarkably healthy absorption rate.

Price Point Analysis:

• The entry-level market ($400K-$500K) is showing extraordinary strength with a 134.29% sales-to-listing ratio, indicating more homes sold than were listed

• Mid-range homes ($500K-$700K) maintain strong performance with 70-80% sales ratios

• Luxury segment (Over $1.5M) shows more balanced conditions with a 22.64% sales ratio

Who's Winning the Battle?

Currently, sellers have the upper hand, particularly in the entry-level market under $500K. This is evidenced by:

• Strong sales ratios across most price points

• High number of pending sales (356 properties under contract)

• Particularly competitive conditions in the sub-$500K segment

However, buyers maintain some leverage in the luxury market above $1M, where sales ratios drop below 35%, suggesting more room for negotiation.

Market Insights:

The most active price range for both listings and sales is $600K-$700K, with 395 active listings and 279 sales in the past month. This price point appears to be Calgary's "sweet spot" where both buyers and sellers are finding common ground.

Looking Forward:

With 356 pending sales subject to conditions like financing and home inspections, the market maintains strong momentum. The overall 50.51% sales ratio suggests a balanced but slightly seller-favoring market, particularly in the mid-range segments where most activity occurs.

For buyers, the best opportunities might lie in the luxury segment, while sellers in the entry to mid-range market continue to hold the stronger negotiating position.