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There have been no significant changes occurring in sales activity, but the number of new listings coming onto the market continues to ease relative to 2018 levels.

The decline in new listings was enough to start chipping away at overall inventory levels, which have eased slightly compared to last year.

The slight adjustment in supply levels has helped support further reductions in the months of supply, which was 4.6 months in April. While this level still represents oversupply in our market, it does reflect improvement from the nearly seven months of supply that we saw at the start of the year.

“Demand remains relatively weak in the resale market. However, if supply levels continue to adjust, this could help reduce the amount of oversupply and eventually support some price stability,” said CREB^® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

As of April, the total residential benchmark price in Calgary was $415,900. This is slightly higher than last month, but still nearly five per cent lower than last year’s levels.

Citywide sales were 1,547 units in April, two per cent higher than last year’s levels. Year-to-date sales remain nearly six per cent lower than last year and are 26 per cent below longer-term averages.

“Sales have been improving mostly in the lower price ranges, causing tighter supply conditions in that segment.  This will likely have a different impact on price trends in the lower price ranges depending on location,” said Lurie.

HOUSING MARKET FACTS

Detached

• Detached sales improved by nearly three per cent in April compared to last year, due to gains in homes priced under $500,000. However, with 930 sales, activity still remain 24 per cent below long-term averages.  Recent gains were also not high enough to offset pullbacks earlier in the year, causing year-to-date sales to fall by over five per cent.
• Improving sales did not occur across all districts. In April, there was growth in the North East, North West, South and South East districts of the city. Despite some signs of sales improvement, overall sales activity remains well below 10-year averages throughout every region in the city.
• April detached inventories citywide continue to remain just above levels recorded last year. Months of supply remain relatively unchanged at four months.
• The amount of oversupply has varied significantly depending on the area of the city. Months of supply has only risen in the City Centre, South and West districts of the city.
• Despite some of the adjustments occurring in the detached sector, overall April prices remain lower than last year’s levels across all districts. Year to date, the largest year-over-year declines occurred in in the City Centre, North West and South districts.

Apartment

• Despite the affordability of apartment condominiums, sales activity continues to fall across the city and in most districts. There have been 714 apartment condominium sales so far this year, the lowest level since 2001.
• The decline in new listings has started to outweigh the sales decline, causing inventories to ease. As of April, resale apartment condominium inventories totaled 1,546 units, 16 per cent lower than inventory levels last April.
• The easing inventories have also caused the months of supply to decline to just above six months. While this is still a buyers’ market, this trend could help ease the downward pressure on prices if it continues.
• Apartment condominium prices in April totalled $250,400, comparable to last month, but over two per cent below last year’s levels and nearly 17 per cent below 2014 highs.

Attached

• Attached sales activity improved compared to last year’s levels for the second straight month, almost offsetting the declines occurring in the first two months of the year.  Year-to-date sales were 1,113 units, nearly one per cent below last year’s levels, and 14 per cent below long-term averages.
• Year-to-date sales have improved in all districts except the City Centre, North West and West.
• Improved sales and easing listings have helped prevent further inventory gains in this sector and overall months of supply have trended down to five months.
• Following several months of prices trending down, semi-detached benchmark prices in April rose over the previous month. However, prices remain over five per cent below last year’s levels at $395,300.
• Row prices were $284,900 in April, over five per cent below last year’s levels.

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

• Stronger sales in March and April offset earlier declines, causing year-to-date sales to total 363 units, similar to levels recorded last year. New listings continue to decline, causing April inventories to ease compared to last year. Months of supply remain elevated at five months, but this is a notable improvement compared to last year, when months of supply was over six months.
• Rising sales and easing inventories helped prevent further price declines in April compared to March. However, overall, April prices remained nearly four per cent below last year’s levels. Prices have eased across all property types, with the largest year-to-date decline in the apartment sector at eight per cent.

Cochrane

• Despite improving sales in April, year-to-date sales in Cochrane eased by six per cent compared to last year. However, new listings have also eased, helping reduce some of the inventory in the market.  While inventories and months of supply remain elevated, for the first time since June 2018, the months of supply fell below six months.
• Some improvement with oversupply has likely prevented further monthly declines in prices. As of April, total benchmark prices remain over three per cent below last year’s levels for a total of $415,100.

Okotoks

• Despite some recent improvements in sales, year-to-date sales activity slowed compared to last year. New listings have also eased, but it was not enough to prevent further inventory gains, keeping months of supply above five months.
• The amount of oversupply has impacted prices. April residential prices totalled $406,700. This is nearly four per cent below last year’s levels. Price declines were slightly higher in the attached sector, with a year-over-year decline of nearly five per cent.

Peter Lougheed XC ski day for Mito Dec 29 2012 – click here for the video!

I think about 15 guys and gals showed up for the annual 100 km Cross Country Ski at Peter Lougheed Park yesterday … led by Team Mito. Big shout out to Brigid who prepared a wonderful lunch of chilli! Great day! “Best conditions in the 5 years of the big ski” – said Brendan who has done ’em all. (I arrived late during the 2nd loop … and skiied about 35 km.) Super beautiful & super fun – I made a movie capturing a wee bit of the day that I was a part off.

I’ve been returning to the ‘home land’ every year since moving to Calgary in 2003 (like a good Maritimer does) however I thought that I maybe able to ‘hold off’ this year.   However, by the end of August … I was missing my annual return.  I began to think about running the PEI Marathon on October 14/12. I pulled out Hal Higgdon’s guide to running a Marathon … set my sights on a 3 hour Marathon (I did it 10 years earlier in PEI) … and pretended the race was not just 7 weeks away.

At about 16 km … my legs were hurting.  I was kind of concerned … as I had never experienced this.  I was thinking … “hmm, just 16 km in … why do my legs hurt?”

I was very pleased with myself at the half way point in a time of 1 hour 27 minutes. (I had an extra 3 minutes to hit my goal of 3 hours.)

At Kilometer 25 … my legs begged me to stop … and they won.

I seen quite a few old friends along the course, at water stations … stopping for hugs. In my mind … I figured I would try to enjoy the finish … and be okay with a 4 hour time.  I was very pleased (and surprised) to finish in 3 hours 17 min.

… I’ll be back. I figure that I have another 3 hour marathon in me … before exiting my 40’s.  (I’ll need more running miles and pace myself in the first half.)

Bryon Howard - Gangster Style - at PEI Marathon

I did it again! Successfully represented senior buyers in the purchase of a ridge lot Bunglow in Tuscany at 94% of the listing price.  Wow! They are excited about the magnificent location on the Ridge in  with PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE MOUNTAINS, C.O.P & DOWNTOWN CALGARY! This custom built fully finished executive bungalow is the perfect combination of luxury & location. Floor to ceiling windows on the main floor allow for tons of natural light & offer great views from your living room, kitchen, eating area & master bedroom.

ReMax Realtor Bryon Howard has execited buyers over this perfect home.

Custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops & hardwood flooring make the kitchen an entertainer’s dream. Open concept & vaulted ceilings throughout, 3 way fireplace, built in desk area & extensive finishing upgrades – truly special living space.  They will enjoy the walk out level – perfect for entertaining their adult children with a full wet bar, wine storage and spacious family room with a 2nd fireplace – for the Grand children!

My buyers wanted a walk out bungalow with South or West Back Yard & Views

Silver Spring Home

Fantastic 4 bedroom immaculate hillside home with over 2200 sq. ft. of development with both city and mountain views! Within short walking distance of public and catholic schools, the Bow River and terrific Parks. Need LRT to work? No problem — two stations are less than 5 minutes away. Over $80,000 in updates in the last few years including New Windows and Doors, Furnace, Driveway, Deck, Fence, Landscaping and Flooring. You’ll love the kitchen in the center of the home with corian counter tops, slate floors and stainless steel appliances. Large windows make this home super bright and the perfect basement has a huge rec room and two walkouts! Watch the sun set on the huge gorgeous deck above the garage on those long summer nights or enjoy the park like WEST back yard with loads of beautiful trees.Don’t miss out on this stunning home, call to view today!

MLS #C3518121

Offered at $429,900

Marda Loop Condo

Stunning one bedroom condo in the appropriately named building, Dream. This complex offers a beautifully designed courtyard, heated underground parking including visitors’ parking and separate storage. #203 is bright and open with 9′ ceilings. The well designed and functional kitchen includes lots of cupboards, black appliances and a breakfast bar. A spacious dining area provides plenty of space for a table and chairs. The gas fireplace adds a great deal of warmth in the living room. The balcony is a good size and great for entertaining. The extra large master bedroom offers a large closet area and cheater door to the 4-piece bath and insuite laundry. The den makes a perfect computer room. If you desire a great place to live in the best location in Calgary – this is it! In the heart of Marda Loop – Shopping, transportation, restaurants, entertainment & Parks are within walking distance. Close proximity to Westhills, downtown and the road to the Mountains.

MLS #C3517656   Offered at 259,900

I enjoy racing … and I enjoy giving back to the community.

Recently I contacted my friend Tony Smith of Smith Events. Tony runs University of Calgary Triathlon Club, Canmore Try-A-Triathlon, XTERRA Alberta Off-road Triathlon & Duathlon Festival, Golden Triangle – 3 Day Triathles Tour and 1 Day Epic, and a bunch more endurance events.

I’m going to be sponsoring Tony’s events … whereby each person who signs up for an event will get a water bottle.

In exchange, Tony will give me a link on his website … and place a finishing banner at his events.

My business manager, Sue Styles, helped me create the below copy for Tony’s website.

Bryon Howard,

e: Bryon@TheHowardTeam.net t: 403-287-3880 w: http://www.TheHowardTeam.net   fb: bryon.howard

Recently , I’ve been considering the spelling of my name. Way to many people think my name is pronounced Byron … but it is pronounced Brian. It’s really screwed up … because it’s spelled Bryon.

I’m not sure why my parents did this to me.  I still love ’em … even though since grade 1 … on the 1st day of school the teacher called me Byron … and all the kids laughed … and called me this until about November.  This happens less frequently since high school … but still happens at least every three or four years.  (I’m really glad I’m not still in school. That sucked.)

I like my last name … and will work on branding it. Howard is cool. Bryon is alright. I hate Byron. I’m not fancy about Brian.

I love selling Calgary real estate … and want it to be easy for people to recognize me … and find me.  I work with ReMax … which is a powerful brand and has 37% of the market share in Calgary. I want my personal brand to match ReMax … and will ALWAYS use the ReMax logo along with this brand concept.

Below are some concepts that my good friend Greg Kolodziejzyk came up with.

I told Greg that I wanted to copy Greg Hamre’s logo. (See below the header from The Hamre Team’s website.) I met Greg Hamre and his bro at a ReMax conference in Banff in November. He’s a super cool guy. He and his family sell Real Estate in Ottawa. http://www.weknowottawa.com  (I hope he doesn’t mind. I’ll have to remember to ask him.)

I’m leaning towards the logo on the top right corner. If you have any thoughts on this … you could post below – or send me an email.

Branding Bryon Howard – Calgary, Alberta ReMax Realtor