MARKET STATS

July

Central Alberta entered July with 1,522 homes on the market — the most inventory we have seen in over a year and up about 8 per cent from last July. Listings have climbed steadily since a January low of 848, so buyers now have noticeably more selection than at any point since last summer. Importantly, buyer activity has kept pace with that added supply: 560 homes sold across the region in June, virtually identical to the 559 sold in June of last year.

Conditions still vary from one community to the next. Red Deer, Lacombe, Penhold and Innisfail continue to favor sellers, with half or more of the homes on the market in June finding a buyer. Sylvan Lake, Blackfalds, Ponoka and Rocky Mountain House are balanced, while Three Hills and Clearwater County, where acreages and recreational properties make up much of the inventory, favor buyers. Year-to-date sales are modestly behind last year in most communities, but well-priced homes are still selling quickly.

The bigger story may be Alberta's economic outlook. On July 2, the Prime Minister and the Premier jointly announced Alberta's formal proposal for a new million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline to the B.C. coast, along with an agreement to launch the Pathways carbon capture project — initiatives estimated to create roughly 175,000 jobs. The same day, a $4.6-billion power plant was approved to supply one of the many large AI data centers planned across Alberta, including one announced for Olds here in Central Alberta. These projects still face approvals and years of construction, but they signal major investment, employment and population growth ahead —all of which supports long-term housing demand in our region.

June

Central Alberta’s housing market continued to gain momentum in May, with residential sales increasing to 456 transactions across the region, up from 410 in April and significantly stronger than the winter months. At the same time, active listings climbed to 1,336 at the beginning of June, providing buyers with more choice while still maintaining generally balanced market conditions. Most communities remain in either balanced or seller-favoured territory, with particularly strong demand in Red Deer, Blackfalds, and Penhold.

While sales activity remains healthy, year-to-date sales are generally running below the exceptional pace experienced in 2025. Across most Central Alberta municipalities, sales are modestly lower than last year, although inventory levels have improved and continue to move closer to long-term norms. Entry-level and mid-priced homes remain the most active segments of the market, while higher-priced properties are also seeing steady demand, particularly in Sylvan Lake and rural areas.

From an economic perspective, Alberta continues to benefit from strong population growth, ongoing interprovincial migration, and a relatively stable employment environment. Lower interest rates compared with a year ago have improved affordability and buyer confidence, helping support housing demand across the province. While economic uncertainty and trade concerns continue to create some caution among consumers, Alberta's economy remains one of the strongest in Canada, and those fundamentals are expected to provide continued support for the Central Alberta real estate market through the remainder of 2026.

May

Spring is here and so is activity in the Central Alberta real estate market. The number of homes for sale has been growing steadily
since January, and buyers have plenty of options heading into the busy season. Red Deer and Blackfalds are moving quickly right
now —homes are selling fast and sellers are in a strong position. Sylvan Lake is also having a great spring, with more sales this year
than at the same time in 2025, a sales-to-listing ratio approaching 40%, and some impressive sale prices, including a top sale of
$2,060,000.
For most communities —including Lacombe, Ponoka, Innisfail, Penhold, Three Hills, and Rocky Mountain House —conditions are
balanced, meaning buyers and sellers are on fairly even footing. This is actually good news for everyone. Buyers have more time to
make thoughtful decisions without the pressure of a frenzied market, while sellers are still seeing solid interest and reasonable
timelines. Whether you are upsizing, downsizing, or making your first purchase, the current market offers a comfortable
environment to make your move.
The Alberta economy is in good shape and continues to outperform the rest of Canada, which is good news for the housing market.
Jobs are up, unemployment is at its lowest in two years, and people continue to move to Alberta from other provinces. While there
is some uncertainty around trade with the United States, Alberta is actually less affected than most other provinces. The overall
outlook is stable, and for most Central Albertans, now remains a good time to make a move in real estate.

April

Residential inventory in central Alberta is building meaningfully as we move into the spring market. Active listings are up 15%

compared to last month, and are now also higher than April 2025, indicating more choice for buyers. At the same time, sales

activity strengthened month-over-month, up 34% in March compared to February, which is typical seasonal acceleration. However,

compared to March 2025, activity is essentially flat year-over-year, suggesting demand is steady but not expanding at the same

pace as supply. The net effect is a modest loosening of market conditions, though not a fundamental shift. This remains a relatively

balanced-to-seller-leaning market overall.

At the municipal level, conditions vary significantly, reinforcing the importance of micro-market positioning. Red Deer, Blackfalds,

Rocky Mountain House, and Penhold continue to show strong sales-to-listing ratios, clearly favouring sellers, while Sylvan Lake,

Ponoka, and Three Hills are more balanced. While momentum improved in March, overall absorption remains somewhat uneven

across the region .

For Central Alberta specifically, the story remains compelling: relative affordability, steady employment tied to energy, agriculture,

and regional services, and continued inflow from higher-priced markets. The increase in inventory suggests the market is

normalizing from the tighter conditions of the past couple of years. The likely trajectory through 2026 is a more balanced market

with stable pricing and moderate sales volumes.

March

Inventory levels in Central Alberta have increased compared with last year, with 897 active listings at the beginning of February compared to 782 a year ago. While supply has improved, buyer demand has remained steady, with February sales rising slightly year-over-year from 313 to 322 transactions. With roughly 2.8 months of inventory based on current sales activity, the market continues to favour sellers, although conditions are gradually becoming more balanced as listings increase. Prices continue to trend upward across the region. The average residential sale price reached $472,500 in February 2026 compared with $401,430 a year earlier, while the median price increased to $415,000 from $369,900. At the same time, homes are taking somewhat longer to sell, with average days on market increasing from 50 to 62 days. This suggests that while demand remains healthy, buyers are becoming slightly more deliberate as inventory improves. The Alberta economy continues to support housing demand through strong population growth and interprovincial migration, along with housing prices that remain relatively affordable compared with many Canadian markets. These factors are helping maintain steady buyer activity in Central Alberta even as interest rates and broader economic uncertainty encourage a more measured pace in the market.

February

Central Alberta’s real-estate activity over the past several years shows a consistent seasonal cycle. Listings and sales both rise sharply in spring, with sales peaking in May and listings continuing upward into summer before both metrics taper through fall and slump in winter. Listings grew from around 729 in January 2025 to a high of nearly 1,470 in August, while sales climbed from the high-200s in winter to over 640 by May, then decreased steadily toward year-end. The relationship between supply and demand suggests a healthy, balanced market. Spring 2025 saw particularly strong demand with a high sales-to-listings ratio, but as more inventory came online in summer and into early 2026, that ratio moved back toward balanced conditions. Early 2026 figures show higher inventory than the previous year’s winter but slightly lower sales, indicating more choices for buyers and less upward pressure on prices relative to last spring.Looking at the broader Alberta economy, multiple sectors have influenced housing dynamics. Oil and gas activity still a cornerstone of the provincial economy—remains sensitive to global price shifts, affecting employment and regional population flows. Agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure investment also contribute to economic resilience, helping sustain consumer confidence. Together, these factors support steady housing demand in Central Alberta, even as seasonal and broader economic swings temper the market.