[lang_en]Market rebounds on news that the worst of recession is over.

Calgary, September 1, 2009 – Calgary metro home prices made the first year-over-year increase on a monthly basis since February 2008 according to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®). Prices received an added boost from the sale of a $10.3 million home earlier this month.

“Calgary’s housing prices are edging upwards as consumer confidence improves and demand continues to grow,” says Bonnie Wegerich, President of the Calgary Real Estate Board. “The recent $10.3 million-sale has undoubtedly boosted the average price this month, but even without this sale the average price is higher than a year ago.”

[/lang_en][lang_en]The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in August 2009 was $454,130, showing an increase of 4 per cent from July 2009, when the average price was $436,782, and showing an increase of 3 per cent from August 2008, when the average price was $440,625. The average price of a Calgary metro condominium was $283,330 showing a 1 per cent decrease from July 2009, when the average price was $285,032 and a decrease of 2 per cent over last year, when the average price was $287,832. Average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighbourhoods, or account for price differentials between geographical areas.

The last time prices showed a year-over-year increase was February 2008 when single-family homes rose by 5.2 per cent from February 2007 to $471,696 and condos increased by 3.3 per cent from February 2007 to $311,812.

The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in August 2009 without the $10.3 million-sale would be $446,413—coming in just above the average price one year ago.

“We might see a gradual edging up in average prices come this fall, but on the whole, prices will most likely remain relatively stable. With our inventory at just under a four-month supply, the market continues to be in balance,” added Wegerich.

The number of single family homes and condos sold in August in Calgary metro are also both up from the same time a year ago.

Typically a slower month for sales, August saw 1,277 single family homes sold in Calgary metro. This is an increase of 9 per cent from August 2008, when single family home sales were 1,170. This is a decrease of 19 per cent Total MLS® Inventory to Sales Total MLS® Information Absorption Rate from 1,585 sales in July of this year. The number of condominium sales for the month of August 2009 was 632, an increase of 28 per cent from August 2008 when 495 condominiums changed hands. This was a decrease of 10 per cent from the 702 condominium transactions recorded last month.

“We are seeing an upward revision of our housing market forecasts at the national level,” says Wegerich. “I think it is fair to say the recovery in the market has been a little brisker then first expected—and all signs indicate the rebound, all be it gradual, will have some longevity.”

Single family Calgary metro new listings added for the month of August totaled 1,910, a decrease of 9 per cent from July 2009 when 2,089 new listings were added, and showing a decrease of 16 per cent from August 2008, when 2,270 new listings came to the market. Calgary metro condominium new listings added in August 2009 were 832, down 9 per cent from July 2009, when the MLS® saw 918 condo listings coming to the market. This is a decrease of 21 per cent from August 2008, when condominium listings were 1,054.

The median price of a single family Calgary metro home in August 2009 was $400,000, showing an increase of 3 per cent from July 2009, when the median price was $390,000, and up 1 per cent from August 2008, when the median price was $398,000. The median price of a condominium in August 2009 was $260,000, down 1 per cent from July 2009, when the median was $263,000, and down 3 per cent from August 2008, when the median price was $268,500. All Calgary metro MLS® statistics include properties listed and sold only within Calgary’s city limits. The median price is the price that is midway between the least expensive and most expensive home sold in an area during a given period of time. During that time, half the buyers bought homes that cost more than the median price and half bought homes for less than the median price.

“All in all we are optimistic about the fall market. Low mortgage rates, government incentives and realistic pricing on the part of sellers are contributing to healthy sales numbers—as is the recent boost in consumer confidence on news that the worst of the economic slowdown is over,” says Wegerich.

CREB® is a professional body of 5,445 licensed brokers and registered associates, representing 252 member offices. The Board does not generate statistics or analysis of any individual member or company’s market share. All MLS® active listings for Calgary and area may be found on the Board’s website at www.creb.com.[/lang_en]