Calgary’s October Market: Steady Sales, Different Realities

In my September update, I asked what would happen once buyers and sellers returned after Labour Day. We now have a clearer answer: sales held their ground, but the amount of choice - and the competition sellers face - depends heavily on the property.

If you’re considering a move this fall, that distinction matters more than a citywide headline.

What changed after Labour Day?

CREB’s September report, released October 1, recorded 1,650 Calgary sales, close to August and nearly 4% below September 2025. New listings increased from August, while total inventory stayed relatively stable. Citywide supply remained just under four months.

Detached homes were broadly balanced, with just over three months of supply. Row homes had more than four months, while apartments had just over five. CREB described buyer-favouring conditions in the row and apartment segments. Even detached conditions differed by location: supply was below three months in the North West, West and South, compared with nearly six in the North East.

Months of supply estimates how long the current inventory would take to sell at the current sales pace. It helps put the number of listings into context; it is not a prediction of how long an individual home will take to sell.

Why the weekly update sounds different

The Real Estate District’s October 1 weekly market update reported showings down approximately 2%, essentially unchanged sales and an 8% decline in new listings from the previous week, following a 14% decline the week before.

That is a shorter snapshot than CREB’s full-month comparison. Both can be true: new listings can rise across September compared with August, then slow toward the end of the month. These weekly figures are brokerage-reported observations, not the monthly CREB totals.

Fewer new listings also does not automatically mean fewer homes are available. Existing listings remain part of the competition until they sell, expire or leave the market.

Buying this fall: compare the alternatives

Start with the homes you would actually consider buying. Compare recent sales, current asking prices, time on market and meaningful differences in condition or location.

For a condo or townhome, include competing new homes in that comparison. Look beyond the advertised price to condo fees, parking, completion timing and what is included. For a condominium purchase, the building’s documents and financial position deserve careful review alongside the unit itself.

For a detached home, narrow the search to the neighbourhood and price range. A citywide average cannot tell you whether a particular listing is well priced or whether another buyer is likely to compete for it.

My approach is to build an offer around the evidence for the property, your financing and your priorities. More choice can create room to negotiate, but the right terms still depend on the listing.

Selling this fall: make the comparison easy

Before choosing a list price, look at your home through a buyer’s eyes. Which properties would they view on the same afternoon? What would make them choose yours?

Preparation should answer that question. Clear photography, accurate information, sensible repairs and a price supported by comparable sales help buyers understand the value.

Once listed, review the response regularly. Few showings may call for a closer look at price and presentation. Showings without offers may reveal a different concern. Feedback is most useful when it is considered alongside new competition and recent sales, rather than one comment in isolation.

If you are buying and selling, compare both sides of the move together. The difference between your sale proceeds and purchase cost may matter more than either headline price.

A stronger provincial outlook is context, not a price forecast

ATB’s September 24 outlook forecasts Alberta real GDP growth of 2.6% in 2026, compared with 0.9% nationally. It also identifies affordability pressures and trade uncertainty. These are economic forecasts, not guarantees of home-price growth.

That broader context is worth watching. Your immediate decision still needs to work at the level of the home, the neighbourhood and your own plans.

What does this mean for your next move?

The useful question this October is: how much competition is there for the type of home you want to buy or sell?

Tell me your neighbourhood, property type and approximate budget - or the home you’re considering selling - and I’ll help you compare recent sales with the options currently on the market.

Start a conversation with Ryan.

Sources: CREB, September 2026 statistics, released October 1; The Real Estate District, weekly market update, October 1, 2026; ATB Financial, September 24, 2026 economic outlook. Weekly and monthly comparisons cover different periods and should not be treated as interchangeable. Analysis prepared October 2, 2026.