Shelley Soles ABR®, C.C.S - Certified Condominium Specialist, SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist, REALTOR®

Agent

Phone: 403.253.1901   Mobile: 403.830.6646   Email

January 2026 marks my 20th year in the real estate industry, all of which have been with Royal LePage Benchmark in Calgary. This is milestone I'm very proud of and grateful for. 

In my business, the people I ride alongside make all the difference - this includes colleagues, clients and business partners. I take these partnerships to heart. Thank you for sharing the ride with me and I look forward to helping more buyers, sellers and investors in the coming year.

Over 95% of my business comes from past clients and referrals. These satisfied clients have spread the word about the great service they’ve received from me and my brokerage, Royal LePage Benchmark. I work primarily in Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie and Okotoks.

Every one of my clients is unique, and that is exactly how I treat them. I don’t measure my success by sales, but by the relationships I build along the way. My goal is to take the complex process of buying and selling real estate and make it a simple one.
 
So whether you are thinking about buying, selling or investing, give me a call - I would be happy to meet or talk with you to determine how I can help. Absolutely NO obligation!

I send out a newsletter at the beginning of every month - providing a summary of the previous month's activity in many segments of the market - along with some fun, interesting activities in Calgary and area that you and your family may enjoy!  If you'd like to receive a copy, please sign up using the link provided on this page.  

To find out more details on the current Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks markets, please check out the CREB Monthly Stats tab as it is updated the beginning of every month. If you'd like a more detailed breakdown of any segment of the market, I can provide more data.  

Cheers!

---

SLOW START FOR HIGH-DENSITY HOMES

Calgary, Alberta, Feb. 2, 2026 – 

Calgary reported 1,234 sales in January, a year-over-year decline of 15%, but in line with typical levels of activity for the month. While sales declined across all property types, the steepest declines occurred in higher-density homes.
 
“Following the typical December slowdown, potential buyers for high-density homes were more hesitant to return to the market in January, as increased supply choice across all aspects of the market has reduced the sense of urgency,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB®’s Chief Economist. “

At the same time, sellers were quick to bring their listings onto the market, causing the sales-to-new-listings ratio to drop to 44%, mostly due to shifts in apartment and row-style homes. Overall, this is not entirely uncommon for January, as both buyers and sellers weigh their options ahead of the spring market.”
 
The rise in new listings compared to sales caused inventory levels to increase to 4,391 units, the highest January level since 2020. However, as with sales, conditions vary by property type, with row and apartment homes facing higher levels of inventory compared to long term trends. 

The result is months of supply that range from under three months in the detached sector to five months for apartment-style homes.
 
Due to declines in the later part of 2025, benchmark prices are lower than levels reported at the start of last year. However, seasonally adjusted figures point to stable levels in January compared to the end of 2025.
 
Nonetheless, year-over-year total residential benchmark prices have declined by nearly 5%, as steep declines reported in the oversupplied row- and apartment-style homes weighed on total residential prices compared to last year.

For more specific, detailed information on the different segments of the market (detached, semi-detached, row/townhouse, apartment condos) and updates on the Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks markets last month, jump over to my CREB MONTHLY STATS page.

Contact Me

---

ROYAL LEPAGE 2025 WINTER RECREATIONAL PROPERTY REPORT

TORONTO, November 20, 2025 –Canada’s winter recreational housing markets rebound in 2025, as push to ‘Buy Canadian’ attracts domestic buyers

Following declining activity in 2024, the country’s most popular ski regions reported gains in sales and property prices in the first three quarters of this year

Royal LePage is forecasting a 4.0% increase in single-family home prices over the next year in popular ski regions across the country.

Nationally, single-family home prices in Canada’s winter recreational market increased 3.8% year over year in the first nine months of 2025.

16 of the 18 recreational markets in the report recorded an increase in sales this year.

47% of recreational property experts report more inquiries from domestic buyers of recreational real estate as a result of the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement.

According to the Royal LePage Winter Recreational Property Report released today, home prices in Canada’s popular ski region rose moderately in the first nine months of 2025. Nationally, the median price of a single-family detached home increased 3.8 per cent year over year to $982,000.

“Following a year of sluggish activity and stagnant prices in 2024, the real estate markets in Canada’s most popular ski destinations rebounded in 2025. Modest interest rate relief and a growing ‘Buy Canadian’ mindset helped reignite demand for slope side chalets and mountain retreats. While economic uncertainty continues to weigh on many urban markets, buyers seeking winter escapes are pushing ahead – demonstrating once again the resilience and enduring appeal of Canada’s recreational regions,” said Phil Soper, president and chief executive officer, Royal LePage.

Recreational real estate markets across the country have proven to be more resilient and stable than major urban markets over the past year, with strong demand and increases in sales activity and prices.

A majority of the recreational real estate markets covered in the report (89%) recorded a year-over-year increase in sales activity in the first nine months of 2025, and more than three quarters (78%) recorded an increase in the median price of single-family homes.

“An early blast of winter across Southern Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada has already energized recreational property owners and winter sports enthusiasts. The early snowfall has set a strong tone for the season ahead,” said Soper. “Canada’s recreational markets remain remarkably strong, driven by steady demand for ski and mountain properties and the growing desire for seasonal homes that offer relaxation, adventure, and connection to nature. With resorts gearing up for what’s expected to be an active season, momentum in these markets is expected to build.”

Eighty per cent of Royal LePage recreational property experts across the country reported similar or more demand in their respective regions for recreational homes compared to 2024, while 47 per cent reported an increase in inventory, and 47 per cent reported an increase in the average number of days on market.
 
To obtain a copy of the full report, please contact me at ssoles@royallepage.ca.

Here’s what you need to know about Canada’s First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

Saving for your first home? When it comes to putting money away to buy their first home, the federal government’s ‘tax-free in, tax-free out’ First Home Savings Account aims to give Canadians a helping hand.

Since April 1 2023, Canadians aged 18 or older who are purchasing their first home are eligible to enroll in a tax-free First Home Savings Account (FHSA). Introduced in the 2022 federal budget, the FHSA combines elements of a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), allowing users to make tax-deductible contributions and tax-free withdrawals from the account for the purposes of saving for a home. 

Am I eligible for the FHSA?
In order to open an FHSA, users must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian resident. Account holders must also be a first-time homebuyer — someone who has not owned a home and lived in it during the calendar year before the account is opened, or at any time during the prior four calendar years. 

An FHSA can be used for a maximum of 15 years, and stay open until December 31st in the year that the account holder turns 71 years old. Users cannot contribute to their spouse or common-law partner’s FHSA. 

How much can I contribute to my FHSA?
FHSA holders can contribute an annual maximum of $8,000 into their account, with a lifetime contribution limit of $40,000. Unused contribution room can be carried over to the next year up to a maximum of $8,000.

Carry-forward amounts start accumulating after the user opens the FHSA for the first time. Only the account holder can claim an income tax deduction for contributions made in a particular taxation year.

It is possible to have more than one FHSA open at a time, but the total amount that an individual can contribute to all of their FHSAs cannot exceed their annual and lifetime contribution limits. Similar to a TFSA, a 1% tax is applied on over-contributions to an FHSA for each month that the excess amount exists in the account. 

What are the benefits of the FHSA?
An FHSA marries together the concepts of a TFSA and an RRSP in one account. Contributions to an FHSA, like an RRSP, are tax-deductible.

Additionally, any withdrawals made for the sake of purchasing a home are non-taxable, similar to a TFSA, including any investment growth.

Users can take advantage of a series of qualified investments in their FHSA, including mutual funds and publicly-traded securities, plus government and corporate bonds. Users can also set up a self-directed FHSA to manage their own portfolio.

What happens when I want to take money out of my FHSA?
If a user wants to withdraw funds from their account, there are a few things to keep in mind. The account holder must be a first-time homebuyer at the time a withdrawal is made.

The qualifying home must be acquired (or construction must be completed) no more than 30 days prior to the withdrawal, and before October 1st of the following year, with the intention of occupying the property as their principal residence within one year after acquiring it. Be sure to read carefully the definitions of a first-time homebuyer and a qualifying home. 

If you wish to transfer money out of your FHSA to another account, you can do so to another FHSA, an RRSP or a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). Be sure to close your FHSA on or before December 31st of the year following your first qualifying withdrawal, when your participation period concludes.

To learn more about the First-Home Savings Account, visit Canada.ca.