If buying real estate is on your radar for 2026—whether it’s your first home or an investment property—this is the year to start preparing. Markets move in cycles, and as conditions begin to shift, opportunity often favours those who are informed, financially organized, and ready to act.

The outlook for 2026 suggests a softening market environment, which historically creates more breathing room for buyers. For first-time purchasers, this can mean less competition and more negotiating power. For investors, it may open the door to better pricing and long-term value. No matter your goal, the steps you take now can make a meaningful difference in what’s possible next year.

For First-Time Buyers: Build the Foundation Now

For many first-time buyers, the biggest challenge isn’t desire—it’s preparation. From saving for a down payment to understanding financing, the earlier you start building your foundation, the more confident you’ll feel when the right opportunity comes along.

In Canada, the minimum down payment depends on the purchase price:

• 5% on the first $500,000

• 10% on the portion between $500,000 and $1.5 million

• Homes purchased at $1.5 million or more require a minimum of 20%

While these numbers can feel daunting at first, there are powerful tools designed specifically to help first-time buyers get there faster.

First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
The FHSA is one of the most impactful savings tools introduced in recent years. You can contribute up to $8,000 per year, to a lifetime maximum of $40,000. Contributions are tax-deductible, and withdrawals used toward the purchase of your first home are completely tax-free. In many ways, it combines the best features of a TFSA and an RRSP, making it an ideal vehicle for disciplined, long-term saving.

RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)
Under the Home Buyers’ Plan, you can withdraw up to $35,000 per person from your RRSP to use toward your first home, tax-free, as long as the funds are repaid over time. For couples purchasing together, this can mean accessing up to $70,000 toward a down payment.

Used strategically, these tools can significantly accelerate your path to homeownership. Beyond saving, this is also the right time to focus on credit health, budgeting, and understanding your true purchasing power. Small adjustments now—such as reducing debt, setting up automatic savings, or meeting with a mortgage professional—can put you in a much stronger position next year.

For Investors: Opportunity Favors the Prepared

If you’re considering adding an investment property in 2026, preparation is just as critical. Investment purchases require a minimum 20% down payment, making planning and capital allocation especially important.

As markets soften, increased inventory and pricing pressure can create stronger buying conditions—particularly for investors focused on long-term fundamentals rather than short-term speculation. This environment often rewards those who have taken the time to run the numbers, understand risk, and identify properties that align with their goals.

This is a year to:

• Strengthen your savings strategy so capital is available when opportunities arise

• Review your borrowing power and ensure your financing structure supports future growth

• Analyze cash flow and rental demand, especially in neighbourhoods with strong employment, transit access, or long-term development plans

• Think long-term, considering appreciation, tenant stability, and overall portfolio balance

Well-prepared investors aren’t simply reacting to the market—they’re positioning themselves ahead of it.

Looking Ahead

Real estate success isn’t built on guessing the perfect moment to buy—it’s built on preparation, clarity, and smart decision-making. Whether your goal is purchasing your first home, securing an investment property, or simply understanding what your options may be, having a clear plan creates confidence and flexibility.

2026 is shaping up to reward buyers who prepare early and move thoughtfully. By laying the groundwork now, you give yourself the freedom to act when the right opportunity presents itself.

Real estate goals aren’t achieved by timing the market perfectly—they’re achieved by being ready when opportunity shows up.

Calgary’s real estate market in 2026 feels a bit like a story unfolding in real time—gentle shifts, new openings, and more room for buyers to make thoughtful decisions. After several years of strong activity and rising prices, the market is beginning to soften. That doesn’t mean life has slowed down. It simply means the landscape is changing, and with that comes a different kind of opportunity.

Rather than reacting quickly in high-pressure situations, today’s buyers are able to step back, evaluate their options, and make choices that truly align with their lifestyle, budget, and long-term plans. Across property types, we’re seeing a market that rewards preparation, clarity, and intention.

Single-Family Homes: Lifestyle Still Leads

For single-family homes, demand continues to be driven by lifestyle. Buyers are still prioritizing space for families, private backyards, proximity to schools, and communities where they can truly plant roots.

What’s different in 2026 is the pace. With inventory gradually increasing and competition easing, buyers are no longer facing bidding wars on most properties. This shift gives you room to focus on what matters most—location, lot size, condition, long-term resale potential—and to negotiate with greater confidence.

For sellers, this means that while demand remains, success now depends on thoughtful pricing, strong presentation, and clearly communicating what makes your home stand out.

Townhomes: The Sweet Spot Between Space and Affordability

Townhomes are becoming increasingly attractive to both first-time buyers and those seeking a balance between affordability and space. They often provide a more attainable entry point than detached homes, without sacrificing a sense of ownership or community.

In 2026, this segment is drawing interest from buyers who are weighing both lifestyle and long-term value. Sellers in this category should focus on highlighting what today’s buyers care about most: functionality, efficient layouts, and low-maintenance living. These practical features carry real weight for buyers navigating mortgage costs while still wanting room to grow.

Condos & Apartments: Flexibility and Urban Living

Apartments and condos continue to appeal to buyers seeking flexibility, urban living, or an accessible price point. With the market softening, condo buyers have the advantage of time—time to compare buildings, understand fees, review reserve funds, and choose a home that truly fits their daily life, rather than making decisions based on limited options.

For sellers, presentation and transparency are key. Staging, clear communication about condo fees, upcoming projects, and building amenities help buyers look beyond square footage and envision what their life could look like in the space.

What’s Really Driving the Market

Across all segments, what’s shaping Calgary’s market isn’t just numbers—it’s people recalibrating how they want to live. Interest rates, employment trends, and broader economic factors are part of the backdrop, but at the heart of it all is choice. Buyers have more of it. And sellers must tell their property’s story more clearly than ever.

Guidance for Buyers

• Get your financing in place early. Pre-approval isn’t just paperwork—it provides clarity, confidence, and a realistic understanding of your options.

• Know your priorities. Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves so you can act decisively when the right property appears.

• Think long term. The best purchase isn’t simply the best deal today—it’s the home that will support your life in the years ahead.

Guidance for Sellers

• Price with care. In a softer market, realistic pricing attracts serious buyers and avoids stagnation.

• Focus on presentation. Curb appeal, decluttering, and small updates can dramatically improve first impressions.

• Communicate value. Share the story behind your home—upgrades, community features, and lifestyle benefits all help buyers connect emotionally and logically.

Looking Ahead

Calgary in 2026 is a market where thoughtful planning wins. Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading, downsizing, or preparing to sell, this year rewards clarity, preparation, and a focus on real needs rather than reactive decisions.

Homes are more than investments—they’re where life happens. And in today’s market, you have the space to make that choice wisely.

After a few years of intense activity and rapid price growth, 2025 marked a noticeable shift in Calgary’s real estate market—and honestly, I think it’s a healthy one.

We finally saw more homes coming onto the market, thanks to record levels of new construction and increased listings across many property types. At the same time, demand cooled slightly due to lower migration levels and economic uncertainty earlier in the year. The result? A market that moved away from extreme seller conditions and into something much more balanced.

In real terms, that means buyers have more options and time to make decisions, while sellers need to be more thoughtful about pricing and presentation.

Detached & Semi-Detached Homes

Detached homes still held their value fairly well, even though sales slowed. Some areas saw slight price declines as inventory increased, while others—especially in more central locations—continued to post modest gains. Overall, detached prices ended the year up just over one per cent.

Semi-detached homes followed a similar pattern but stayed stronger a little longer. Limited supply in some pockets helped keep prices moving upward, with this segment finishing the year nearly three per cent higher than last year.

What this tells me: demand for traditional family homes is still there—but buyers now have breathing room, and sellers need to price realistically.

Townhomes & Condos

Townhomes and condos experienced the biggest adjustments. Increased inventory and competition from new construction shifted these segments into balanced—or in some areas, buyer-friendly—conditions much earlier in the year.

Apartment-style condos, in particular, saw more price pressure as additional supply came online. Buyers benefited from more choice, while sellers had to work harder to stand out. By the end of the year, prices in these segments were down modestly compared to 2024.

For anyone considering a condo or townhome, this created opportunities to negotiate and take time choosing the right fit.

What’s Happening in Surrounding Communities

In Airdrie, rising supply and competition from new builds pushed prices slightly lower.
In Cochrane, demand remained strong and prices continued to climb, supported by newer housing stock.
In Okotoks, limited inventory kept conditions relatively tight, with some property types still seeing strong gains.

Each community is moving at its own pace, which makes local knowledge more important than ever.

The Big Picture

Across Calgary and the surrounding region, we’re entering the new year with better inventory levels than we’ve had in the past three years. That doesn’t mean prices are collapsing—it means the market is normalizing.

Some segments are still performing well, while others are adjusting after a few very strong years. The most important takeaway? We’re no longer in a one-size-fits-all market. Conditions now depend on property type, price range, and location.

Why This Matters for You

If you’re a buyer, this is a market that rewards preparation. You have more choice, more time, and more negotiating power than you’ve had in years.

If you’re a seller, strategy matters. Pricing accurately, presenting your home well, and clearly communicating its value are more important than ever.

From where I sit, this shift is a good thing. A balanced market allows people to make thoughtful decisions—not rushed ones. And when it comes to buying or selling a home, that’s exactly the kind of environment you want.