December Market Update - Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks

Cochrane
December sales eased, contributing to the year-to-date decline of eight percent. The annual pullback in sales was met with new listings comparable to last year. This has helped support some inventory growth in the market, but levels are still well below what is typically available in the resale market. While inventory levels remain low, the recent pullback in sales has resulted in more balanced conditions taking some of the pressure of price growth seen over the last four months of the year.

On an annual basis, the benchmark price reached $504,067 in the town, nearly 17 percent higher than last year’s prices. Price gains were the strongest in both the detached and semi-detached sectors, where prices rose by 19 percent, establishing 2022 as the new record-high price.

Airdrie
Sales in Airdrie have declined since April, mainly because of the significant drop in detached home sales. December was no exception, as sales slowed compared to last year’s levels. Despite recent declines, year-to-date total residential sales increased by seven percent and have set a new record-high of 2,469 units. Regional population growth combined with the relative affordability of homes in Airdrie compared to Calgary are some factors supporting the record sales in 2022.

While new listings trended down in December, 2022 saw a general rise in new listings in the market. This has helped support some recent year-over-year gains in inventory levels over last year’s exceptionally low levels. Recent adjustments in both sales and inventory levels have caused the months of supply to trend up from the strong seller’s market conditions reported earlier in the year. However, conditions remain relatively tight with less than two months of supply.

The December benchmark price in Airdrie has eased by over six percent from the April peak. However, this is still 12 percent higher than last year's level. Overall, the annual benchmark price in 2002 was $489,558, nearly 20 percent higher than last year's level.

Okotoks
Sales activity eased in December, but the year-over-year pullback over the past few months has not offset the gains reported earlier in the year, as year-to-date sales activity rose by nearly two percent. This growth in sales was met with additional new listings in the market, helping support higher inventory levels over last year’s record lows. Even with some inventory growth, conditions continue to remain tight with under two months of supply, placing limits on the price adjustments.

While prices have trended down from the high seen in May, on an annual basis, benchmark price growth in the town was nearly 16 percent. Price growth was strongest in the detached sector, which for the first time, pushed above $600,000 on an annual basis.