Diane Richardson

Cell: 403-397-3706 |

RSS

Calgary leads country in year-over-year MLS sales growth

Increase of 30.3%

CALGARY — Calgary led the country in April with the highest year-over-year growth in MLS sales, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

In a report released Tuesday of housing market activity in Canada’s major centres, CREA said MLS sales of 2,720 in Calgary were up 30.3 per cent from a year ago.

In Canada, sales of 49,480 for the month increased by 11.5 per cent from April 2011.

The average MLS sale price in Calgary rose by 0.7 per cent to $414,932 while it was up 0.9 per cent in Canada to $375,810.

“Calgary is quietly becoming a market to watch,” said Robert Kavcic, economist with BMO Capital Markets, adding sales are back above the 10-year average for the first time in about three years.

“Prices have yet to gain much momentum but supply conditions are tightening rapidly across Alberta. The months’ supply was down to 4.6 from a post-recession high of more than eight, and sales have far outpaced new listings in recent months. If oil prices remain high enough to continue supporting strong economic growth and migration flows, Calgary could again become Canada’s real estate hot spot in short order.”

Robert Hogue, senior economist with RBC Economics, said April was the third consecutive “outsized” increase in Calgary which is a “clear indication that this market is finally taking flight.”

New listings in Calgary of 4,370 increased by 4.4 per cent from last year. Throughout Canada, new listings rose by 4.9 per cent to 89,739.

In Alberta, sales rose by 23.5 per cent to 6,191, new listings increased by 2.4 per cent to 10,718 units and the average sale price was up 1.9 per cent to $365,830.

“A number of Canadian housing market trends in April remained intact from the previous month,” said Wayne Moen, president of CREA. “Trends in Vancouver and Toronto continue to diverge. These two housing markets have an obvious influence on national statistics . . .”

In Toronto, sales of 10,350 in April were up 14.5 per cent from last year and the average sale price rose by 8.4 per cent to $517,556. But in Vancouver sales fell by 13.2 per cent to 2,837 and the average price dropped by 9.8 per cent to $735,315.

 

“It bears repeating that the national average price was skewed higher last spring by record level high-end home sales in Vancouver’s priciest neighbourhoods, and that a replay of this phenomenon was not expected this year,” said Gregory Klump, chief economist of CREA. “Sales data confirm that high-end activity in Vancouver is well off the peak levels reached at this time last year, which is exerting a gravitational pull on the national average price.

“By contrast, activity in Toronto is stronger this spring than it was last spring. Higher-priced sales activity there is on the rise and buoying average prices. As the most active housing market in Canada, Toronto is the biggest factor supporting national average price.

 

“Netting Vancouver out of the national average price calculation yields a 4.9 per cent year-on-year gain. Netting Toronto out of the national average price calculation, while leaving Vancouver in, produces a 2.2 per cent year-on-year decline. Netting out both Vancouver and Toronto results in a 3.1 per cent increase in average price. On balance, this points to modest price growth amid balanced market conditions in much of the rest of Canada.”

Diana Petramala, economist with TD Economics, said absent of an external negative economic shock, Canadian housing demand should remain supported by a continued low interest rate environment through 2012.

“Still, growth in home prices and sales will likely be limited as the overvaluation has led to a deterioration in affordability,” said Petramala. “Overall, we anticipate the Canadian housing market to remain relatively flat in the coming year with home prices to rise just another two per cent this year, following gains of seven per cent in each of the last two years.”

 

mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com


Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+leads+country+year+over+year+sales+growth/6623311/story.html#ixzz1v0cDk1YW

 

Canadian home sales edge higher in April

''Activity was either up or held steady in half of all local markets in April, with Toronto and Calgary posting the biggest monthly increases for the second month in a row. Activity gains in Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, as well as London and St. Thomas also made significant contributions to the national sales increase in April. Increased activity in these markets offset monthly declines in Ottawa, Windsor-Essex, Quebec City, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver.''  Quote from crea.ca article May 15-2012

crea.ca article

Read

Airdrie housing market booming

New home construction and resale homes see increased activity

 
 

 

CALGARY — The City of Airdrie, just north of Calgary, is experiencing a housing market boom these days.

From new home construction to resales, activity has taken an upward swing this year.

“The housing market in Airdrie is hot,” said Curt Woodhall, vice-president of sales and marketing for Vesta Properties, the developer and builder of the new Williamstown project in northwest Airdrie. “Vesta builds in a number of communities in Alberta and British Columbia and the Airdrie market in particular is very robust.”

Year-to-date, there have been 107 housing starts in Williamstown. Sales so far this year have included 60 for about $17 million with the average selling price of about $310,000.

The development on 66 hectares will have a total of 1,013 homes — 600 multi-family and 413 single-family — and over 60 per cent have already been sold.

“Vesta Properties is experiencing tremendous success in Williamstown in Airdrie,” said Woodhall, adding there will be 12 show home openings at the project’s grand opening celebration Saturday. “With low interest rates and good value for your dollar, we are seeing demand on every housing type from starter condominiums to luxury homes.”

According to the 2011 census, Airdrie’s population was 43,155, up 8.37 per cent from the year before. In the past decade, the population has more than doubled. In 2001, it was 20,382.

Kent Rupert, Airdrie’s economic development team leader, said the building permit numbers for Airdrie are good this year.

“I say that every year but it just seems like we keep growing and growing. We had a bit of a blip in 2009 and 2010 but last year we did over 1,000 doors. That’s houses, duplex, multi-family. This year we’re ahead of where we were last year.”

Commercial and industrial development in the north part of Calgary is a factor.

“The good news is yes we’re seeing lots of new development but with it being in Rocky View and Airdrie where are the people going to live ... Our residential is growing,” said Rupert.

He said about 40 to 50 per cent of people living in Airdrie work outside the community.

“It really depends on people’s lifestyles but certainly when we were a lot smaller 19,000-20,000 people came out here for that small town and everything else. Now we’re growing up into a young, dynamic city and there’s lots of excitement going on with new restaurants, new retail and big, larger industrial projects. There’s a real excitement throughout the city,” said Rupert.

Year-to-date until the end of March, residential building permits of 342 are up from 268 in 2011, 191 in 2010 and 81 in 2009.

A similar boom is taking place in the resale housing market.

“Sales activity in Airdrie soared in the first quarter of 2012, with a 44-per-cent increase over the previous year, marking the best quarter (one) sales performance since 2007,” said the Calgary Real Estate Board in a report.

“The significant rise in sales, combined with lower listings, pushed the market into balanced conditions.”

CREB said the MLS Home Price Index for single-family homes was up three per cent over the previous year with the benchmark price at $354,933 in the first quarter.

It said the single-family benchmark price in Airdrie was $354,300 in March, a two per cent increase over the previous year and roughly $79,000 less than the single-family price in Calgary.

 

http://www.calgaryherald.com/story_print.html?id=6607844&sponsor=curriebarracks

mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com

Read
Categories:   #CalgaryHomesforSale | #yycrealestate | 10 Lake Communities Calgary | 10 Reasons to Live in Seton Calgary | A Valuable Guide in Buying a New Home from a Builder | About Diane Richardson | Acreages for sale near Calgary | Acreages for sale Wheatland County | Acreages near Calgary | Acreages Southern Alberta | Affordable Calgary Real Estate | Airdire Homes for Sale | Airdrie Alberta Homes for Sale Under $500,000 | Airdrie Communities | Airdrie Homes for Sale | Airdrie Homes for Sale Under $500k | Airdrie Neighbourhoods | Airdrie top 10 | Alberta economy | Altadore_River Park, Calgary Real Estate | Apartment Condos | Arbour Lake, Calgary Real Estate | Auburn Bay Calgary | Auburn Bay Homes for Sale Calgary: Enjoy Lakeside Living | Auburn Bay, Calgary Real Estate | Bankview, Calgary Real Estate | Bearspaw Acreages for Sale | Bearspaw Real Estate | Bowness, Calgary Real Estate | Brookfield | Browse MLS® Listings | Bungalows for Sale in Calgary | Buy Townhouse Calgary | Buying a home, Calgary | Buying a house in Calgary | Buying a house in Seton | Buying Property in Foothills County | Calgary | Calgary 3 Car Garage homes | Calgary Acreages | Calgary Bungalows | Calgary Communities | Calgary Condominiums | Calgary Condos | Calgary Detached Homes | Calgary First-Time Buyer's Guide | Calgary Half Duplex | Calgary Home | Calgary Home for Sale Cranston | Calgary Home Prices | Calgary Homeowner | Calgary Homeowner,Calgary Homes for sale | Calgary Homes | Calgary Homes for Sale | Calgary Homes for Sale SE | Calgary Homes for Sale Search by price | Calgary Homes Under $500K | Calgary House Prices | Calgary Houses | Calgary Houses for Sale | Calgary Housing market | calgary housing market forecast 2024 | Calgary Just Listed | Calgary Just Listed Homes | Calgary Lake Communities | Calgary Listings, | Calgary local housing market | Calgary Luxury Neighbourhoods | Calgary MLS Listings | Calgary neighborhoods | Calgary neighbourhoods | calgary new homes | Calgary New Listings | Calgary New Townhomes for sale | Calgary Newly Listed Real Estate | Calgary Open House | Calgary Property for Sale | Calgary property market | Calgary Real Estate | Calgary real estate guide | Calgary Real Estate Listings, | Calgary Real Estate Outlook | Calgary Realestate | Calgary Realtor | Calgary Rental Demand. | Calgary row houses | Calgary Schools | Calgary SE Homes for Sale | Calgary semi detached homes | Calgary Spring Real Estate Market | Calgary Stampede | Calgary Townhomes | Calgary Townhouses | Calgary Villas | Calgary Walkout Homes | Calgary Walkout houses for sale | Calgary's Finest Condos | Calgary's housing market | Calgary's Luxury Real Estate Market | Cedarbrae, Calgary Real Estate | Charming Towns Within Commuting Distance of Calgary | Chestermere | Choosing the right neighborhood in Calgary | Clearwater County | Comparing Rocky View and Foothills Municipal Districts | Comprehensive Guide to Buying a Condo | Contact me Diane Richardson | Copperfield, Calgary Real Estate | Cranston 3 bedroom homes | Cranston Bungalows for Sale | Cranston Calgary | Cranston Homes for Sale | Cranston Real Estate Info | Deer Ridge, Calgary Real Estate | Detached Houses for sale Calgary | Dianerichardson.ca | Discover Your Perfect Home in Southeast Calgary | Doorbell Wireless | downsizing | Evanston, Calgary Real Estate | Exploring Acreages near Calgary | Exploring Foothills County | Exploring the Charm of Bungalows for Sale in Calgary | Exploring the Charm of Rural Foothills MD Acreages | Finding a home in Calgary | Finding Affordable Homes in Calgary | First-Time Home Buyer in Calgary | Foothills | Foothills County | Foothills County, Alberta | Foothills: Where Rustic Charm Meets Community Spirit | four new public schools opening this fall | General | Getting your home ready for sale' | Glamorgan, Calgary Real Estate | Guide to Buying a House in Calgary | guide to Calgary MLS® listing | Harvest Hills, Calgary Real Estate | Haysboro | Haysboro, Calgary Real Estate | Heritage Pointe | Hillhurst, Calgary Real Estate | Home Equity Through Downsizing | Home Gadgets | Home Improvements | Home Renovations | Homes for Sale Calgary | Homes for sale in Auburn Bay | Homes for Sale in Bearspaw | Homes for Sale in Calgary | Homes for Sale in Okotoks | Houses for sale in Legacy Calgary | Inglewood, Calgary Real Estate | Kincora, Calgary Real Estate | Kneehill County | Lake Communities Calgary | Lake Homes Calgary | Legacy Calgary Homes for sale | Legacy Homes for sale | Light bulbs Led | Living in Calgary | Living in Foothills County | Maple Ridge, Calgary Real Estate | McKenzie Lake, Calgary Real Estate | McKenzie Towne Homes for Sale | McKenzie Towne, Calgary Real Estate | Midnapore Community Information | Midnapore For Sale | Midnapore Homes for Sale | MLS® active listings for Calgary | Mountain View County | Mountain View County Homes | Mountain View County Real Estate | Moving to Calgary | MypadCalgary | Nest thermostat | New Brighton Homes for Sale | new calgary homes for sale | New Homes | New Homes in Cranston | New Mortgage Changes effective July 9th 2012 | New Townhomes Calgary | NW Calgary Overview | NW Calgary real estate | NW CALGARY: CONDOS, TOWNHOMES, AND HOUSES FOR SALE | Okotoks | Okotoks Homes for sale | Okotoks Living | Okotoks Population | Okotoks Real Estate | Okotoks, Okotoks Real Estate | purchasing a new Calgary home | Richmond Hill, Calgary Real Estate | Rocky Ridge Ranch, Calgary Real Estate | Rocky View County | Rocky View: Where Urban and Rural Converge | Royal Oak, Calgary Real Estate | Rural Foothills County | Rural Rocky View MD, Rural Rocky View County Real Estate | SE Calgary Homes for Sale | SE Calgary Real Estate | Search by Neighbourhood | Selling my Calgary Home | Selling Your Calgary Home | Selling Your Calgary Home with Realtor Diane Richardson | Seton | Seton Homes for sale | Seton SE Calgary | Single Level Homes | South Calgary | South Calgary, Calgary Real Estate | south health campus | Southeast Calgary | Southeast Calgary real estate | Spring Clean | Springbank Hill | Strathmore homes for sale | Strathmore real estate | Strathmore, Strathmore Real Estate | Sundance, Calgary Real Estate | The Community of Walden Calgary | Thorncliffe, Calgary Real Estate | Top 10 Neighbourhoods in Chestermere | Top 10 Neighbourhoods in Okotoks | Top Calgary Realtor | Townhomes for sale in Calgary | Triple Car Garage Homes for Sale in Calgary | Tuscany, Calgary Real Estate | Upcoming Open Houses in Calgary this weekend | Valley Ridge, Calgary Real Estate | Victoria Park, Calgary Real Estate | Walden | Walkout Basement Homes Calgary | West Hillhurst, Calgary Real Estate | Whats my home worth? | Wheatland County | Wheatland County Homes for sale | Your Ultimate Guide to Buying a Home in Calgary
Data is supplied by Pillar 9™ MLS® System. Pillar 9™ is the owner of the copyright in its MLS®System. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Pillar 9™.
The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.