Canada's Housing Market in July 2026: A Snapshot of Nine Communities

By Ron Alfred De Guzman, MaxWell Realty Insights | August 27, 2026

Canada's housing market kept finding its footing in July. Nationally, sales rose for a fourth month running, listings kept shrinking, and prices held nearly flat. But the national picture only tells part of the story. Here's what happened across nine MaxWell Realty market areas last month, and how each compares to the national trend.

The National Picture

Home sales across Canada climbed 0.5% month over month in July, the fourth straight gain, according to CREA. New listings fell 1.6%, the third drop in a row. The national average home price landed at $674,819, up just 0.2% year over year.

CREA's senior economist Shaun Cathcart said July looked much like June: sales inching up, listings thinning, prices holding steady. The bigger story is happening beneath the headlines, with markets across the Prairies and Quebec gradually moving back toward balance.

Alberta: Inventory Is Climbing Everywhere

Every Alberta market in this report saw inventory grow year over year, giving buyers more room after a couple of tight years.

Calgary posted 1,904 sales, down 9.2% from last year, with the average sold price up modestly to $629,855. Detached homes remained the dominant segment.

Greater Edmonton saw 2,535 sales, down 11.0%, while inventory jumped nearly 18%. Months of supply rose sharply, a clear sign of loosening conditions. Average sold price reached $475,079.

Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat followed a similar pattern: fewer sales than last year, but noticeably more inventory and longer days on market. Medicine Hat remains the tightest of the three.

Leduc saw the sharpest swings, with inventory, days on market, and months of supply all up substantially. Sales dipped slightly, yet the average sold price still climbed over 11% to $471,658.

Grande Prairie bucked the trend, with sales up 1.4% and 85% of new listings turning into sales, one of the more balanced markets in the group.

Lloydminster was the outlier on price, with both average and median sold prices down 5% to 6% year over year.

Atlantic Canada Holds Steadier

Fredericton and Region told a different story. Sales fell 14.5%, but the average sold price still rose 5% to $372,263. Inventory grew nearly 24%, and months of supply climbed sharply, signaling more balance ahead.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

The throughline across nearly every market: more inventory and more time on market, even where prices keep climbing. That usually means more negotiating room for buyers, without necessarily triggering price declines. Sellers are still seeing solid prices, but facing longer timelines and more competition from other listings.

CREA notes a few provinces, including Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, remain borderline sellers' markets, while Ontario has moved out of buyers'-market territory after a rough start to the year. Alberta's cities reflect that same broader shift toward balance.

Quick Reference: July 2026 By the Numbers

All figures reflect July 2026 activity compared to July 2025.

Sources

• MaxWell Realty Market Reports, July 2026, data provided by CREA and the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton
• Canadian Real Estate Association, "Canadian Home Sales Climb Again in July," news release, August 18, 2026
• CBC News, "July home sales down 5.3% from last year, but market becoming more balanced: CREA," August 2026
• CREA Quarterly Forecast, July 15, 2026

This post is for general market information only and is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract.