Detached sales strengthen as Calgary’s housing market becomes more divided
Calgary’s housing market held relatively steady in September, but the citywide numbers continue to mask an important divide between property types.
Sales totalled 1,650 units, nearly four per cent below September 2025 but similar to August. That month-over-month stability was notable because sales typically ease from August into September. Stronger activity in the detached sector helped offset weakness elsewhere in the market.
At the same time, increased supply continues to give buyers more options, particularly in row and apartment properties. The result is a market where detached homes remain relatively balanced, while higher-density properties face more competition and greater downward price pressure.
Supply remains elevated relative to sales
New listings increased from August, bringing Calgary’s sales-to-new-listings ratio down to 49%. Inventory remained relatively stable from August, and months of supply stayed just under four.
Those figures point to more choice than Calgary experienced during tighter market conditions, but the balance between buyers and sellers depends heavily on property type.
The unadjusted residential benchmark price was $566,700 in September, nearly 1% below last year. CREB® noted that some monthly price movement at this time of year is seasonal, with seasonally adjusted prices relatively stable compared with August.
The larger year-over-year price adjustments have been concentrated in higher-density housing.
Detached homes are moving differently
Detached sales reached 896 units in September, up from August and more than 4% higher than a year earlier. A rise in new listings provided buyers with more options and supported additional sales.
With a 52% sales-to-new-listings ratio and just over three months of supply, detached conditions remained relatively balanced overall.
Even within detached housing, however, conditions differed considerably by location. The North West, West and South districts had less than three months of supply, while the North East was approaching six months.
The detached benchmark price was one per cent below last September, with the decline primarily driven by the oversupplied North East district. City Centre and West detached prices remained above last year.
Semi-detached homes also showed signs of more supply in September. A monthly increase in listings pushed the sales-to-new-listings ratio to 45 percent and months of supply to nearly four months. The benchmark price of $685,200 was comparable to September 2025.
More competition for row and apartment sellers
The clearest buyer-market conditions remain in higher-density housing.
Row home sales eased from August as new listings increased, pushing the months of supply above four for the first time since the beginning of the year. The benchmark price fell to $412,400, nearly six per cent below last September.
Apartment conditions remain even more supply-heavy. September saw 343 sales and 717 new listings, with a months of supply just above 5. The apartment benchmark price fell to $291,400, more than eight per cent below the September 2025 level.
CREB® attributes much of this divergence to where new housing supply has been added. Construction growth over the past three years has been concentrated in higher-density housing, increasing competition for apartment and row properties more significantly than for detached homes.
What September means for Calgary buyers and sellers
September reinforces why Calgary-wide averages only tell part of the story.
Detached buyers are seeing more choice, but relatively balanced conditions mean competition can still vary significantly by district. Row and apartment buyers generally have more alternatives, while sellers in those segments are competing in markets with higher supply and greater price pressure.
For homeowners considering a move, property type and location have become increasingly important when interpreting market conditions. A detached home in one district may be operating in a very different environment from an apartment or row property elsewhere in Calgary.
The broader market remained relatively stable since August, but beneath that stability lies a growing divide in supply, competition, and pricing across Calgary’s housing segments.