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June sales consistent with typical levels

  
                            
     

June sales consistent with typical levels

     
     

Calgary inventory levels ease

          

Despite the 18 per cent year-over-year decline in June       home sales, for a total of 2,183 units, transaction levels remain only       five per cent below the 10 year average for June and three per cent above       levels over the past five years.

     

“We’ve seen less concern from consumers lately,” said       CREB® president Corinne Lyall. “One of the main reasons is that we       haven’t seen the worst case scenarios play out in the energy and housing       sectors.”
       
      “Consumers who were waiting for wide-spread price declines have been       surprised to see that it just hasn’t happened yet, and so they’ve decided       to take advantage of the improved selection and lower lending rates,”       said Lyall.
       
      The level of new listings that came on the market in June totaled 3,122       units, resulting in the second month of elevated absorption rates, which       placed downward pressure on inventory levels. The overall months of       supply continues to remain balanced at 2.3 months.

     

With conditions remaining relatively stable in June, there       was minimal pressure on home prices. The city-wide benchmark price totaled       $455,400, a respective monthly and year-over-year gain of 0.29 and 0.13       per cent.

     

“Even though city-wide prices were essentially unchanged       in June, it’s important to note that activity can vary significantly       depending on community, property type and price range,” said Lyall.       “Every transaction has its own unique features, which is why we always       encourage consumers to discuss these differences with local experts.”

     

Second quarter results pointed towards more stability in       the market. The year-over-year decline in sales activity eased from 32       per cent in the first quarter to 22 per cent in the second quarter.        Meanwhile, the level of pullback of new listings outweighed the gains       recorded in the first quarter, resulting in a year-to-date decline of       nearly eight per cent.

     

While both sales and new listings have slowed for each       property type within the city, the apartment sector continues to report       the weakest absorption rates.
       
      The weaker rates in this sector are now impacting prices. Despite last       month’s improvement in price, the second quarter benchmark price was 0.81       per cent below levels recorded last year and 0.93 per cent below first       quarter figures. Year-to-date unadjusted apartment averages continue to       remain 1.65 per cent above last year’s levels.

     

In the detached segment, benchmark prices totaled $515,500       in June, slightly higher than last month and 0.4 per cent higher than       June 2014 prices. Meanwhile, the year-to-date benchmark price for       detached properties remained 3.44 per cent above last year’s figures.

     

Against this backdrop, the year-to-date average and median       detached home price for Calgary has reported declines of 2.26 and 1.54       per cent city-wide. This doesn’t come as a surprise, given that the share       of sales activity has declined in the higher price ranges.
       
      “The housing market is showing some signs of stability right now,” said       CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.  “However, there are several       risk factors that could influence the market in the second half of the       year,” said Lurie. “Many of these factors will be addressed in CREB®’s       mid-year forecast update, which will be released at the end of July.”