08/20/2026
Market Comment 🏠
Central Alberta entered August with more homes available and fewer transactions than last month. Active MLS® listings rose to 1,621—the highest level in the last 12 months, up 8.8% from July and 10.4% year over year. July sales totaled 517, a decline of 7.8% from June and 13.7% from July 2025. Buyers now have more choice and negotiating room, while sellers face greater competition and need to pay close attention to pricing, property condition and presentation.
Conditions remain uneven and can change substantially from month to month, particularly in smaller markets where modest changes in listings or sales can affect the market classification. Innisfail, for example, moved from a seller’s market in June to a buyer’s market in July. Red Deer, Lacombe, Blackfalds and Penhold favoured sellers in July; Sylvan Lake, Ponoka, Rocky Mountain House and Three Hills were balanced markets; while Clearwater County and Innisfail favoured buyers. Year-to-date sales were below 2025 levels in every reported market except Penhold.
Alberta’s economy should remain supportive of housing, but the outlook is not without challenges. ATB forecasts 2.6% real GDP growth in 2026, supported by energy production, construction, population growth and consumer activity. Central Alberta benefits from Red Deer’s diverse mix of energy, agriculture, manufacturing, construction and public-sector employment. With the Bank of Canada holding its policy rate at 2.25%, borrowing costs are more predictable, although softer employment conditions, living costs and trade uncertainty may continue to temper buyer confidence through the remainder of the year.
