Calgary Real Estate Blog

What a year 2013 has been for Calgary’s real estate market. We saw a return to a sellers’ market, with multiple offers on hot properties (i.e. anything under $500,000), and well-appointed two-storeys selling in days. Prices hit record highs as inventories dropped, and predictions for 2014 are to see these trends continue, with more people looking to move up while interest rates remain low.

All of this has led to me having one of my busiest years ever, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of my clients who trusted me to help them find their prized new home. As I enjoy a bit of respite during the holidays, sharing meals and gifts with family and friends, I find I am looking forward to all of the new clients I’ll get to meet and work with in the coming months. Next year’s going to be a good one, I can feel it.

Take some time, amongst all of the season’s hustle and bustle, to reflect on your past year, the successes and learning opportunities, and to appreciate all that we have in this great province. I know I certainly have much to be thankful for, starting with my supportive, adorable family.

All the best to you and yours throughout this holiday season, and I wish nothing but good fortune for you in the New Year. Stay safe, take care, and I’ll hope to see you in 2014.

It’s nice to see that, notwithstanding the record-high prices and country-leading growth Calgary’s real estate market has been enjoying, it remains among the most affordable markets in the country.

“Well, that’s weird,” you say. “How could a highly-valued market also be an affordable one?” Easy: despite some revenue dips, Alberta’s still rocking and rolling on the economy front. Our version of a ‘tough times’ budget would be welcomed with open arms in many other provinces, especially Ontario and BC, which are the two other biggest provinces for real estate sales. In the article cited above, RBC’s Affordability Index listed bungalows in Calgary at requiring just under 39 percent of an average household’s pre-tax income; in BC, that number is 82 percent.

Many of us make good money for honest work in Alberta, and we like to put it into our homes. Fortunately a middle class family here can afford to do that without having to live on just 18 percent of our gross. That kind of Alberta Advantage helps to make up for snow in May, doesn’t it?