Newport in Canal's Landing offers affordable townhomes in Airdrie's premiere water-focused community

If you've been searching for a beautiful and affordable townhome in the heart of an established community, look no further than the picturesque community of Canal's Landing in Airdrie. On June 23, Genesis Builders Group is hosting a grand opening for Newport, its latest offering in the community.

"Newport is really a community within a community, and is perfect for millennials, professionals or downsizers," said Kelsey Orvis, marketing co-ordinator at Genesis Builders Group. "It's really designed for anyone who wants to spend more time enjoying life, rather than shovelling snow and cutting grass."

Many Canadian energy-related municipalities within Alberta and Saskatchewan have seen housing markets struggle over the past few years, resulting in price declines.

The recent mortgage rule changes and higher lending rates are factors weighing on demand and prices across some of those areas.

May sales activity continued to ease, with the largest declines occurring in the detached sector. Additional gains in new listings continued to increase inventory levels.

Citywide sales activity in May totalled 1,726 units, 19 per cent below last year's levels and 24 per cent below longer-term averages. Sales activity in the detached sector declined to levels not seen in over a decade.

"The impact of rising lending rates and stricter qualification levels is causing demand to ease across all product types," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

Prices steady, but struggles in Alberta economy weigh on housing

Changes to the lending industry and a challenging economic recovery are weighing on sales activity in Calgary's housing market.

Supply levels have not adjusted to the weaker demand environment, and that is preventing price recovery.

"Slower sales do not come as a surprise, given the economy has not yet improved enough to offset the impact of changes in the lending industry," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

"While the rising inventories are being monitored, prices have remained relatively flat as gains in some areas of the city have been offset by declines in other areas."

As Airdrie grows, new communities flourish

Airdrie's new communities are looking forward to renewed expansion in 2018, as more buyers are looking to the city, fuelling a boom that has put residential housing sales at their highest point since 2013.

According to the city of Airdrie, nearly 2,000 houses were sold in 2017 for an average price of $394,046, up from 1,336 the previous year. The housing boom has not only led to a population increase, but has helped Airdrie grow its young, vibrant demographic. The city's statistics now show that 35 per cent of residents are between the ages of 25 and 44, with children under 15 accounting for the second largest demographic.

Prices remain stable compared to last year


As expected, slow sales this quarter have persisted through March in the City of Calgary. This is not a surprise, after stronger growth in sales at the end of last year following the announced changes to the lending market.

First quarter sales totaled 3,423 units, nearly 18 per cent below last year's levels and 24 per cent below long-term averages. Easing sales and modest gains in new listings caused inventories to rise and months of supply to remain above four months.

Calgary housing market prices hold, but sales fall

Residential home sales declined in February, but a decline in new listings helped keep prices steady this month.

Sales totaled 1,094 units in February, 18 per cent below last year's activity. Easing sales occurred across all property types this month, which outpaced the sales growth that occurred in January. After the first two months of the year, sales activity remains well below longer-term averages.

Minerva and Glenn Kraushar plunged head first into homeownership in family-friendly Evanston

Eight years ago, Edmontonians Minerva and Glenn Kraushar tied the knot and then travelled south down the QEII to begin an exciting new adventure in Calgary. Glenn was beginning medical school at the University of Calgary and Minerva was finishing off her marketing degree. While in school, the couple bounced from rental home to rental home, their lives contingent upon the whims of landlords.

Calgary's Seedy Saturday offers unprecedented opportunity for local gardeners to try new things

What is the big green event for gardeners this month? If you guessed St. Paddy's Day, you've got the right date, but the wrong activity.

The garden event in Calgary on March 17 involves green, but goes so much further than green beer or shamrocks. Seedy Saturday is a worldwide adventure for gardeners who want to grow their own organic food from locally sourced and selected seeds. Supporting Seedy Saturdays builds community and local habitat.

New developments in surrounding areas limited price growth in 2017

When it comes to Calgary's housing market, there's a lot of activity on the outskirts and in surrounding areas.

"We have a number of new communities and areas with many new developments offering competing products for the resale market," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.