What CREB’s Outlook Means for Homeowners Considering Selling
By Derek Chevrefils, Calgary REALTOR® with 2% Realty – January 2026
If you own a home in Calgary and are thinking about selling in the next 6 to 12 months, you are likely wondering what the market will look like in 2026.
Will prices keep rising? Will buyers still be active? Or has the market already peaked?
According to the Calgary Real Estate Board’s (CREB) 2026 Forecast, Calgary is moving into a more balanced phase. After several years of rapid price growth and tight supply, conditions are shifting. Inventory is rising, migration is slowing, and buyers have more choice than they did from 2022 through 2024.
CREB summarizes the outlook clearly:
“Balanced to buyer’s market conditions are expected to persist in 2026 depending on property type.”
That does not mean values are collapsing. What it does mean is that the market is no longer forgiving. During the surge years, many homes sold quickly even when they were overpriced or poorly timed. According to CREB, that buffer is disappearing. With more inventory and steadier demand, buyers now have alternatives. Homes that miss the mark are no longer rescued by momentum.
This forecast is especially important for homeowners who are considering selling in 2026 or early 2027. Understanding how your property type fits into these trends can help you decide when to sell and how to approach the market.
The Big Picture for Calgary in 2026
CREB explains that 2025 marked a turning point. After years of undersupply and exceptional migration, the market began to normalize.
Several forces are shaping the outlook:
- New home construction reached record levels
- Rental supply expanded across the city
- Migration slowed sharply from recent highs
- Demand returned closer to long term averages
CREB notes:
“Elevated supply across new, resale and rental markets, combined with stable demand, is expected to prolong the time it takes to absorb the additional resale supply currently in the market.”
For sellers, this means the pace of the market has changed. Homes may take longer to sell. Buyers compare options more carefully. Pricing errors are more costly than they were during the surge years.
Detached Homes in Calgary
CREB expects detached homes to remain the most stable segment of the market.
- Market conditions: Balanced
- 2026 Forecast Benchmark Price: $754,000
- Expected Price Movement: Flat
CREB states:
“This is expected to prevent any significant change in detached prices this year.”
Detached homes are not projected to decline in a meaningful way. However, the automatic appreciation seen in 2022 through 2024 has paused. Buyers now have more alternatives, including brand new homes in expanding communities.
What This Means for Detached Sellers
- Overpricing is more likely to result in longer days on market
- Buyers expect value and condition
- Homes that are priced accurately still sell
- “Testing the market” carries more risk than it did two years ago
This is a market where strategy matters more than momentum.
Semi-Detached (Duplex) Homes
CREB describes the semi-detached segment as balanced, with meaningful variation by price range and location.
- 2026 forecast benchmark price: $691,000
- Expected price movement: modest or flat
Improved supply in competing property types is expected to limit further price growth.
For semi-detached sellers, outcomes will increasingly depend on where the home sits within its price band and how it compares to nearby alternatives. Some pockets will remain steady. Others may soften.
Row Homes
Row homes are feeling the impact of rising supply more directly.
- 2026 forecast benchmark price: $433,000
- Expected price movement: Slight decline
CREB notes:
“Supply pressure in this segment is expected to continue, placing further downward pressure on resale prices.”
New construction has increased competition, especially for resale properties. Buyers have options. Row home sellers who anchor to 2023 or early 2024 pricing expectations may struggle.
Apartment Condos
CREB is most direct about apartments.
- 2026 forecast benchmark price: $310,000
- Expected price movement: Decline of 3% to 4%
- Inventory: Record highs
- Rental vacancies: Rising
CREB states:
“Excess supply of apartment-style units will persist in 2026, driving further price reductions.”
Condos can and will still sell. But buyers hold leverage, and pricing precision becomes critical.
What This Means for Calgary Sellers
CREB’s forecast does not point to a crash. It points to a market governed by fundamentals.
In this environment:
- Buyers are more deliberate
- Homes take longer to sell
- Competition matters
- Outcomes diverge
In a market where pricing and timing matter more than ever, many Calgary homeowners are also questioning whether traditional commission structures still make sense.
When prices are flat and negotiations are tougher, every dollar of equity matters. Saving fifteen to twenty-five thousand dollars in commission is not a gimmick. It is a meaningful financial decision.
Low-commission models are emerging because the market has changed:
- More competition
- Longer selling cycles
- Less tolerance for pricing errors
- Greater focus on net proceeds
Keeping more of your equity is a practical response to these conditions.
FAQ for Calgary Home Sellers
Will Calgary home prices crash in 2026?
No. CREB forecasts stability for detached and semi-detached homes and modest declines in higher-density segments. This is normalization, not collapse.
Is it a bad time to sell?
No. Homes continue to sell. The difference is that success now depends on alignment with the market, not momentum.
Should I wait until 2027?
CREB expects elevated supply to persist into 2027. Waiting does not guarantee better conditions. What matters is your property type, location, and goals.
Do I need to price below market?
No. But you need to price accurately. Buyers compare options. Overpricing costs time and leverage.
Final Thoughts for Homeowners
The Calgary real estate market is becoming more balanced, more competitive, and more selective.
CREB’s 2026 Forecast does not say panic. It says adjust.
If you are thinking about selling in the next year, the smartest move is understanding how your home fits into these trends and how to position it correctly from day one.
2% Realty Calgary 