For a seller's market, Calgary is certainly seeing it's fair share of new buyers.

Following a month that saw MLS® sales in the city increase by 17 per cent from the previous year, August saw 2,196 sales in the city, an increase of 27.5 per cent in comparison to the same month in 2012.

Seller's market conditions persist, pushing up prices

Calgary, Sept. 3, 2013 – Residential sales within city limits totaled 2,196 units, an 27.5 per cent increase over 2012 and 8.7 per cent on a year-to-date basis.

The level of transactions was well above long-term trends for the month, mostly due to improved activity in the single-family sector. However, on a year-to-date basis, activity is only slightly higher than expectations.

Much like most of Calgary's real estate scene, condos in the city are finding themselves in high demand.

Through the first seven months of 2013, combined (apartment and townhome) condominium sales in the city have increased by 16 per cent over the previous year. In July, combined condo sales shot up 26 per cent over the same month in 2012, a clear indicator momentum in the market is rising.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) have implemented new rules on guarantees it offers banks and other lenders. A move CREB®'s president said is a step to control a market the agency feels is "overheated".

In a note to lenders, the agency said it would be restricting banks and mortgage companies to a maximum of $350 million of new guarantees this month under the National Housing Act Mortgage-Backed Securities program.

With the release of CREB®'s monthly stats, Calgary's residential sales totaled 2,268 units in July, a 17 per cent increase over last year and a six per cent increase year-to-date.

CREB®'s Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie said recent flooding likely contributed to sales activity.

Pre-flood home sales activity in communities surrounding Calgary saw an increase of 4.6 per cent over the first half of the year, but CREB® cautions the cleanup and rebuilding post-flood will have an as-yet unknown impact on those communities.

"While not all towns follow the same pricing trends, on aggregate the surrounding areas have been recording year-over-year price gains in excess of six per cent," said Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB®'s chief economist. "This in part is a result of the tighter supply levels in the city market spilling over into the surrounding areas."