Sabrina's Blog

Calgary, Alberta, June 1, 2026 – In line with seasonal trends, inventory has risen from the start of the year, reaching 6,752 units in May. While these levels are consistent with last May, they remain 11 per cent higher than longer-term trends for the month, thanks to higher supply levels of apartment and row-style homes. Meanwhile, inventory levels for detached homes are down three per cent compared with both last year and long-term trends. 

At the same time, sales activity has been slowing. Calgary sales in May were 2,162 units, 16 per cent lower than last year’s levels and similar to sales reported in April. While new listings also slowed by 13 per cent compared with last year, it was not enough to offset the pullback in sales, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to ease to 51 per cent. The lower ratio also contributed to some of the inventory build, causing the months of supply to rise. However, conditions do vary across the market, with a range of two-and-a-half months of supply in the detached market to more than five months of supply in the apartment condominium market.    

“The shift in supply is being felt in the market. More supply choice in the new and rental markets has created a more competitive environment for potential buyers. At the same time, concerns over rising cost of living and slower migration are also weighing on consumers,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®). “While this has caused the overall resale market to shift to a balanced state, the supply pressure is having a more prevalent impact for apartment-style units, where conditions are favouring the buyer. This is also impacting price movements, with apartment prices continuing to trend down and other property types reporting a seasonal lift over the winter months.”  

The unadjusted total residential benchmark price in May was $570,500, up over April’s levels and the $554,400 reported in January, but still three per cent lower than last May. Most of the unadjusted monthly gain was driven by detached homes, which rose from $724,000 in January to $747,800 in May. Apartment prices remain lower than January levels and are nine per cent lower than levels reported last May. Overall, when adjusting for seasonality, total residential prices have remained relatively stable, as detached improvements have offset pullbacks for apartment-style homes.

Detached

Detached new listings reached 2,195 units in May compared with 1,192 sales, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to ease to 54 per cent compared to the higher levels reported over the past three months. This supported a monthly lift in inventory levels, but supply remained three per cent lower than levels reported last year at this time. With two-and-a-half months of supply, conditions remain relatively balanced and are supporting stability in seasonally adjusted prices. Within the detached market, there is some significant variation. While year-to-date sales have slowed by four per cent, there have been gains for the lowest-priced (under $600,000) and highest-priced ($1.5 million and up) homes. Within each district, conditions ranged from a seller’s market in the West district to a buyer’s market in the North East district. The variation is also impacting price movements. The North East district is reporting the highest year-over-year decline at seven per cent. Meanwhile, thanks to recent gains, the West district has seen prices remain consistent with levels reported last year.

Semi-Detached

Both sales and new listings in May remained at levels similar to the previous month. With 217 sales and 375 new listings, the sales-to-new-listings ratio was 58 per cent, supporting some modest improvements in inventory levels. Despite inventory improvements, conditions remained relatively balanced, with months of supply sitting at just under three months. Unadjusted benchmark prices continued to rise in May, reaching $691,100. This is an improvement over the $667,000 reported in January, but still one per cent lower than levels reported in May 2025. Like the detached sector, conditions vary significantly across the city. Prices have been trending up across most districts. Meanwhile, year-to-date new record-high prices have been reported in the North West and West districts. 

Row

Following April’s gains, May sales slowed, adding to the year-to-date decline of 16 per cent. The 350 sales were met with 695 new listings, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to fall to 50 per cent in May. This also resulted in slight gains in inventory levels, pushing the months of supply up above three months. While there is more supply compared to several years ago, prices have still reported some modest gains compared with earlier in the year. The unadjusted benchmark price was $422,300 in May. Prices have improved since the beginning of the year, but remain over six per cent lower than last year’s levels. The largest year-over-year declines occurred in the North East and East districts, where prices fell by more than 10 per cent. The West district reported the smallest decline at nearly four per cent. 

Apartment Condominium

Additional supply choice in the rental and new-home markets is heavily weighing on resale condominiums. Sales continued to slow into May, contributing to a year-to-date decline of nearly 28 per cent. At the same time, while new listings are not as high as last year, the 403 sales compared to 961 new listings caused the sales-to-new-listings ratio to fall to 42 per cent, keeping inventories elevated. With supply levels remaining elevated and demand easing, the months of supply has pushed above five months, creating conditions favourable to buyers. The excess supply is also weighing on prices, as the unadjusted benchmark price continues to decline. In May, the unadjusted benchmark price was $300,400, lower than January levels and nine per cent below last year’s price. Prices have eased across each district, with double-digit declines occurring in the North East, North, and East districts. The lowest price decline occurred in the North West district at six per cent.    

REGIONAL MARKET FACTS

Airdrie

Sales activity continued to slow compared to last year, bringing levels more consistent with long-term trends. At the same time, new listings have started to ease compared to last year. Overall, with a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 53 per cent and months of supply of just over three months, conditions in the resale market are relatively balanced. The total residential benchmark price was $515,000 in May, an improvement compared to January levels, but still five per cent lower than levels reported last year at this time. Added competition from the new-home market and more supply in surrounding areas and the city are weighing on prices in the Airdrie market.

Cochrane

Unlike other areas, sales in Cochrane continue to rise over last year’s levels and are higher than long-term trends. The 115 sales this month were met with 188 new listings. The improvement in new listings compared with sales did help bring the sales-to-new-listings ratio down from the previous month, but at 61 per cent, it remains higher than many other areas. Inventory levels have also remained relatively stable throughout the spring, keeping the months of supply just below three months. With less inventory build in the Cochrane market, prices continued to trend up, reaching $576,400. While prices are still one per cent lower than last year’s levels, they have continued to improve from the $550,800 price reported at the start of the year.

Okotoks

May reported 72 sales and 121 new listings, pushing the sales-to-new-listings ratio up to 60 per cent.  This limited the growth in inventory levels, which remain below long-term trends for the town. While the months of supply has remained relatively low in Okotoks at a little over two months, additional supply just outside the town and in south Calgary has likely prevented some of the upward pressure on home prices. The lower level of sales activity in Okotoks also tends to create more volatility in monthly price movements. In May, the benchmark price was $618,900, down over both April and last year, but still an improvement over levels reported at the beginning of the year. 

If you've been asking yourself what does it cost to sell a home in Calgary, you're not alone. It's one of the first questions I hear from sellers and one that catches a lot of people off guard. The costs are manageable when you know what to expect, but the sellers who struggle are almost always the ones who didn't plan for them early enough.

I've helped countless Calgary homeowners through the selling process, and in this post I'm going to walk you through every cost you need to know about  and more importantly, how to avoid the expensive mistakes I see happen all too often.

The Real Cost of Selling a Home in Calgary: What to Expect

Selling a home in Calgary involves more than just accepting an offer and collecting a cheque. There are several costs that come into play before, during, and at closing. Let's break them down one by one.

The Real Property Report (RPR)

This is one of the most misunderstood costs in the Calgary home selling process. A Real Property Report is a legal document prepared by a land surveyor that shows the boundaries of your property and the location of any structures on it. Before your home can change hands, you also need a compliance stamp from the City of Calgary confirming everything on your property meets municipal requirements.

Here's what most sellers don't realize: the RPR needs to be in place at least ten days before closing. I always recommend having it ready at the time of listing, because if there's an issue, you want to know about it early, not a week before possession day.

I had a client who received their RPR late in the process. It turned out a balcony had been added to the home without proper city approval. The deal still closed, but $25,000 of their sale proceeds was held back at the lawyer's office until they could get the balcony approved and receive a compliant stamp. That process took months. That is not a position you want to be in.

The good news: if nothing has changed on your property since your last RPR, you may be able to use the existing one. It's always worth checking before you order a new one.

Lawyer Costs

Selling a home in Calgary involves legal work: transferring title, discharging your mortgage, handling the flow of funds, and making sure the transaction is properly documented from start to finish. Your real estate lawyer plays a critical role in closing the deal, and their fees are a real cost to factor into your net proceeds.

This is not an area to cut corners on. A good real estate lawyer gives you peace of mind that everything has been handled correctly and can save you from costly errors that could delay or derail your closing.

Staging and Preparing Your Home

First impressions sell homes. Calgary buyers decide within minutes ( sometimes seconds) whether a home feels right to them, and that feeling starts the moment they walk through the door.

Staging and prep costs can vary widely depending on your home and how much work it needs. It might mean a deep clean, fresh paint in a few rooms, renting furniture pieces to refresh a space, or simply decluttering and rearranging what you already have. I walk through every home with my sellers before we list and point out exactly what I think is worth addressing to get the best return on their investment.

I also have a trusted network of Calgary professionals,  organizers, decluttering services, and tradespeople — who can help you get your home photo-ready without the stress of figuring it out on your own. The homes that are prepared with care consistently attract more interest and stronger offers. It is one of the best things you can do to maximize what you walk away with.

Moving Costs

It's easy to forget about moving costs when you're focused on the sale itself, but they are a real part of your overall financial picture when selling a home in Calgary. Whether you hire a full-service moving company, rent a truck, or land somewhere in between, costs add up — especially if you have a large home or need storage between properties. Factor this in early so it doesn't catch you off guard at the finish line.

Condo Documents

If you're selling a condo in Calgary, there are documents that need to be provided to the buyer so they can review the financial and operational health of the condo corporation — things like meeting minutes, financial statements, reserve fund reports, and bylaws.

As a homeowner, you may be entitled to some of these documents at little or no cost. However, certain documents need to be formally prepared by condo management, and those come with fees. If you need them on a rush basis, expect to pay significantly more. Timing matters here just as much as it does with the RPR — don't wait until you have an accepted offer to start thinking about this.

Commission

Yes, there is a commission involved in selling your Calgary home. And yes, sellers sometimes push back on this. Here is how I think about it: commission is not a cost, it is an investment.

When you work with a Calgary realtor, you are paying for professional photography, strategic marketing, skilled negotiation, and someone in your corner managing every detail of what is likely the largest financial transaction of your life. Sellers who try to go at it alone often leave money on the table: through underpricing, missed buyers, or fumbled negotiations, without ever realizing it.

The commission is a small percentage of a very large asset. Would you hire the cheapest surgeon for an important operation? Your home deserves the same thinking.

The Biggest Mistake Calgary Home Sellers Make

It's not the costs themselves : it's leaving everything too late.

I get calls from sellers who want to be listed the next day. But preparing a Calgary home for sale properly takes time. Photos need to be booked. Drone shots can only be done on calm, clear days. Staging needs to be thought through. Marketing looks significantly better when it's prepared with care rather than rushed overnight.

When you call me early, I can help you get ahead of all of it. I'll walk through your home and point out what to address before photos. I can connect you with trusted movers, professional organizers, and decluttering services that help your home shine. The Calgary homes that sell for the best price are the ones that were prepared with intention  and that preparation starts well before the listing goes live.

Frequently Asked Questions: Selling Costs in Calgary

What does it cost to sell a home in Calgary? The total cost of selling a home in Calgary depends on several factors including your home's value, whether you need a new RPR, your lawyer's fees, staging requirements, moving costs, and commission. Planning ahead and working with an experienced Calgary realtor helps ensure none of these costs come as a surprise.

Do I pay realtor commission as a seller in Calgary? Yes, in most cases the seller pays the commission in a Calgary real estate transaction. Think of it as an investment in getting the best possible price for your home, a skilled realtor typically nets you far more than you pay in commission through expert pricing, marketing, and negotiation.

What is an RPR and do I need one to sell my Calgary home? A Real Property Report (RPR) is a legal document prepared by a land surveyor showing your property boundaries and structures. You also need a compliance stamp from the City of Calgary. It is required for most home sales and should be arranged as early as possible — ideally at the time of listing, not at closing.

How much do condo documents cost in Calgary? Condo document fees vary depending on what needs to be ordered and whether a rush is required. Some documents are available to owners at low or no cost, while others prepared by condo management carry fees. Rush orders can double the cost, so ordering early is always the smarter move.

When should I start preparing to sell my Calgary home? The earlier the better. Reach out to a realtor well before you plan to list; ideally months in advance. This gives you time to get your RPR in order, prep and stage your home properly, book professional photography, and ensure your marketing is polished and ready to make the strongest possible first impression.

The Bottom Line

Understanding what it costs to sell a home in Calgary puts you in control. The RPR and compliance stamp, lawyer fees, staging and prep, moving costs, condo documents if applicable, and commission: none of these should catch you off guard when you plan ahead.

The sellers who have the smoothest, most profitable experiences are the ones who reach out early, ask the right questions, and give themselves time to do things properly.

If you're even thinking about selling your Calgary home, let's talk now. The earlier we connect, the better positioned you'll be when it's time to list.