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
Shelley Soles

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!

Featured Properties

Listing # A2310190  |  $598,000

Condo  |  For Sale

34 Vandoos Gardens, Calgary, AB

You’ve been waiting for this one! This 4-bedroom/3 bath bungalow in Horizon Village Varsity is ready... More

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APARTMENT PRICES EASE AS INVENTORY REMAINS ELEVATED


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% 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 3% 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% lower than last year’s levels and similar to sales reported in April. While new listings also slowed by 13% 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%. 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 3% 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 9% 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.

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.

ROYAL LEPAGE 2026 RECREATIONAL PROPERTY REPORT

Canadians’ appetite for recreational real estate remains strong, despite economic uncertainty and return-to-office mandates

TORONTO, ON, March 26, 2026 – According to Royal LePage, the median price of a single-family home in Canada’s recreational regions is forecast to increase 4.0 per cent in 2026 to $604,552, compared to 2025. Despite ongoing consumer caution amid economic and political tensions, constrained housing supply relative to buyer demand is expected to place modest upward pressure on recreational property prices in the year ahead.

Median house price forecast to increase 4.0% in Canada’s cottage market in 2026; upward price momentum sustained by limited supply 

Highlights:

Canada’s recreational markets are expected to see an increase in single-family home prices in 2026, with Manitoba and Saskatchewan forecast to see the highest level of price appreciation at 5.5%.

The weighted median price of a single-family home in Canada’s recreational property market increased 4.3% year over year in 2025 to $581,300.

Nationally, the weighted median price of a single-family waterfront property decreased 5.2% year over year, while that of a condominium increased 2.1%.

Single-family homes in Atlantic Canada recorded the highest year-over-year price appreciation in 2025, rising 11.8%.

35% of Royal LePage®recreational property experts reported an increase in the number of full-time residents moving back to urban centres over the past year.

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.