RObERT & DiAnA MCinTYRE
Your Cranston Resident REALTORS®
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403-710-2877 www.itsSold.ca Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd.
FREE oct 5 to oct 11 2012 issue 02-39 www.crebnow.com facebook.com/crebnow twitter.com/crebnow
Calgary area sales and price growth continue despite national trends kelsey hipkin
reporter/photographer
R
esidential sales activity continues to improve in Calgary, as year-over-year sales for the month of September increased by 11 per cent. After the first three quarters of the year, residential sales within Calgary limits totaled 17,018, a 15 per cent increase over 2011, painting a different picture than the national real estate market. “There has been significant discussion over the slowing national market,” said Bob Jablonski, CREB® president. “However, Calgary is seeing improving sales activity and price growth with no indication that the market is poised for a correction. “In fact, for the first time in several years, the Calgary housing market is demonstrating typical behavior for this time of year.” As well as Calgary, Alberta is also standing out amongst the national market. “Alberta is certainly no stranger to real estate exuberance,” said Will van’t Veld, economist with ATB Financial. “But, in many ways, our province has managed to pull off what analysts everywhere hope for: a soft landing. Compared to other places in Canada, the run-up in prices before the recession was far more dramatic, but the surge in prices postrecession was nearly non-existent after the initial drop, greatly improving affordability as wages kept rising and interest rates dropped like a rock.” Calgary’s single-family sales activity is rising, even though new listings are steadily declining. The total number of active listings has slightly improved over August. This slight increase, combined with slower unadjusted sales activity in September, helped push the months of supply into a balanced position.
statistics A3
kelsey hipkin, Reporter/Photographer
SINGLE FAMILY
MLS® MONTH END INVENTORY* SEP ‘10 – SEP ‘12
contents Speaker series looks news briefs for Soul of community the City
A3 A6
2761 2980 3093 3367 3501 3842 3817 3646 3535 3486
4024 4395 4616 4744 4630 4573 4753 4486 3761
CREB® STAFF
SEP10 OCT10 NOV10 DEC10 JAN11 FEB11 MAR11 APR11 MAY11 JUN11 JUL11 AUG11 SEP11 OCT11 NOV11 DEC11 JAN12 FEB12 MAR12 APR12 MAY12 JUN12 JUL12 AUG12 SEP12
2712
3073
3504
3869
4880 4528
Okotoks lifts population cap
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB via MLS activity. ®
$548,000
®
528 Woodbend Road Se
403.804.3990
See MoRe oF My liStingS on page a5
community A3
WILLOW PARK BUNGALOW Lots of upgrades in this lovely home in Willow Park across the street from a park and playground. Main floor boasts roomy entrance with French doors to living with bay windows and wood-burning fireplace, bright dining with bay windows, kitchen with eating nook, three bedrooms with master having 4-piece ensuite, electric fireplace and walk-in closet and another full renovated bathroom. Sparkling hardwood throughout living, dining and bedrooms up. Downstairs you will find Family room with new gas fireplace, knock-down ceilings, bedroom, laundry and plenty of storage. Newer windows, exterior doors, furnace, shingles on roof and more. Exceptional property! Exceptional Location!!MLS®C3539940
Shirley Mikolajow
C
algary Economic Development and the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre have kicked off a year long Soul of the City speaker series. The series began on Sept. 26 at the Simmons Building where more than 100 people took part in a discussion from consultant and placemaker Katherine Loflin.
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September 2012