The improvement of the Calgary housing market continued in December with further stability capping off a stronger second half of the year.

New figures from the Calgary Real Estate Board show that activity returned to levels close to those seen in the past five years with annual sales up 1%.

“Price declines, lower mortgage rates and some modest improvements in full-time employment helped support some demand growth in the city. Reductions in supply are also contributing to the slow adjustment to more stable conditions in the housing market,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

Annually, the attached homes segment was the star performer with sales up by nearly 7% for a total of 3,780 sales. Apartments just outpaced year-ago levels with 2,672 units sold, while detached sales...

These are the 10 most expensive Calgary communities in the southwest quadrant, based on year-to-date (YTD) residential average sale price.

1. Bel Aire
Established: 1960
Population: 390
Dwellings: 159
Median pre-tax household income: $401,839
New listings (YTD): 20
Number of residential sales (YTD): 4
Residential average sale price (YTD): $2,000,000
Residential benchmark price (YTD): N/A

2. Britannia
Established: 1956
Population: 690
Dwellings: 313
Median pre-tax household income: $268,603
New listings (YTD): 40
Number of residential sales (YTD): 19
Residential average sale price (YTD): $1,807,237
Residential benchmark price (YTD): $1,342,380

3. Bayview
Established: 1967
Population: 751
Dwellings: 248
Median pre-tax household income: $260,339
New listings (YTD): 22
Number of residential sales...