10/08/2026
Market Comment:
The pace of residential sales eased again in September, with 435 properties sold across Central Alberta, compared with 463 in August and 5.0% fewer than September last year. Active listings also declined, totalling 1,511 on October 1, down from 1,567 a month earlier, although still 8.5% higher than last October. Sales have decreased each month since June, while inventory has declined for two consecutive months.
Six of the ten local markets we track were balanced in September: Red Deer, Blackfalds, Lacombe, Sylvan Lake, Ponoka and Rocky Mountain House. Penhold and Innisfail favoured sellers, while Clearwater County and Three Hills favoured buyers. Despite these differing conditions, year-to-date sales remained below last year’s totals in every market except Penhold.
National research provides context for the hesitation among some buyers. The Bank of Canada’s second-quarter consumer survey recorded a decline in both home-buying and selling intentions. The Bank of Canada also found that high living costs, trade uncertainty and concerns about inflation and the Middle East conflict were weighing on household spending decisions. CMHC similarly reported that economic uncertainty, modest income growth and borrowing costs were keeping buyers cautious, with improved affordability alone not enough to bring many back into the market.
