Real Estate Update Alberta

Residential sales activity reported through the MLSR Systems of real estate
boards in Alberta numbered 6,354 units in August 2014, rising four per cent
from a year earlier. This was a new record for home sales in the month of
August.Nationally, home sales activity was up two per cent from year-ago levels in August 2014.

On a year-to-date basis home sales activity in the province was running 10
per cent ahead of levels from the same time last year. It marked the best
first eight months of any year since 2007 and the third best ever.

The provincial average price for homes sold in August 2014 was $397,701 an increase of four per cent from August 2013. The national average price, by comparison, rose five per cent on a year-over-year basis to $398,618.

Monthly residential average prices were up from year-ago levels in South
Central Alberta (+27 per cent), Lloydminster (+15 per cent), Grande Prairie
(+10 per cent), Central Alberta (+7 per cent), Lethbridge (+7 per cent),
Calgary (+5 per cent), and Edmonton (+4 per cent). On the other hand prices declined in Alberta West (-2 per cent), Medicine Hat (-2 per cent) and Fort McMurray (-7 per cent).