Calgary condo buyers gain leverage as market splits ahead of spring

Calgary’s housing market is heading into spring with a noticeable divide, as new data shows condo buyers gaining negotiating power even while detached homes remain competitive.

The city’s real estate landscape is telling two different stories, with single-family homes still drawing multiple offers, tight timelines, and strong demand. But the picture shifts dramatically when you look at the condo sector.

New figures from Royal LePage show condo prices have dropped 4.5 per cent year over year, landing around $257,000. Rising inventory, increased rental availability, and the city’s broad rezoning efforts have created choice for condo shoppers.

Corinne Lyall, broker and owner at Royal LePage Benchmark, says the shift is significant.

“There’s probably over five months of inventory in our condo market… if you’re looking for an apartment-style condominium, a one-bedroom or even a two-bedroom, two-bath, you’ll have more choice than you would have had in the past.”

The data suggests Calgary is effectively operating as two markets moving in opposite directions. Detached homes continue to see strong competition, while condos and row-style homes are settling into more balanced conditions, with longer selling times and more room for negotiation.

For first-time buyers, that balance could open long-awaited doors to homeownership at a more accessible price point, even as the broader market remains stable.

The report forecasts that overall home prices are still expected to edge higher by year’s end, but what happens in the condo sector this spring may ultimately shape Calgary’s housing story for the rest of 2026.