Understanding real estate inventory levels, or Months of Inventory (M.O.I.), is crucial because it can significantly influence your decision when buying or selling property. It is important to grasp the reasons behind its importance in the real estate landscape.
SUMMARY!
This month, all but two communities saw inventory increase, and one has moved into a buyer’s market. These are early signs the market may be softening, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing after such a long period of low inventory. That said, it’s too early to call it a trend. We’ll need another month or two of data to determine whether this is the start of a market shift or simply a seasonal slowdown from mid-July to mid-August.
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To foster “normal growth” in a real estate market, it’s essential to keep months of inventory (M.O.I.) below the 5-month threshold. Please scroll down for this month’s inventory rates across Central Alberta.
When buying or selling a property, it’s essential to consider the local inventory levels. This is key information, especially if you’re thinking of selling your home. If there are many homes for sale, prices typically remain the same or decrease. But if fewer homes are available, they tend to sell quickly, which can drive prices up.
(Seller’s market) with an inventory rate below 3.8 months of inventory
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(Balanced market) with inventory between 3.8-4.2 months of inventory
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(Buyer’s market) level A (4.3 – 5.9 months of inventory)
(Buyer’s market) level B (6 – 7.2 m.o.i.)
(Buyer’s market) extreme (7.3+ m.o.i.)
Here are the overall for-sale inventory levels in Red Deer and towns across Central Alberta. The average number of homes sold monthly is calculated based on the last 60 days of sales.
Red Deer, AB (inventory of *detached homes)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 122 | 112 | 128 | 129 | 182 | 206 | 184 | 223 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 50 | 53.5 | 71.5 | 78.5 | 93 | 103 | 114.5 | 110.5 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2 | 2 | 1.6 | 2 |
Red Deer, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 177 | 180 | 212 | 218 | 280 | 280 | 267 | 318 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 82.5 | 83.5 | 108.5 | 128 | 157 | 168.5 | 173.5 | 168.5 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Inventory numbers took a steeper than normal jump this past month!
Sylvan Lake, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 75 | 74 | 94 | 99 | 95 | 106 | 123 | 145 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 23 | 18.5 | 25 | 34.5 | 48 | 45.5 | 47.5 | 38.5 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 3.3 | 4 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.8 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Inventory numbers put Sylvan Lake into a balanced market this month.
Penhold/Springbrook, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 11 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 9 | 7 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 10 | 13 | 12 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
A bit of an inventory correction in Penhold/Springbrook, but smaller markets can see more swings. Penhold and Springbrook tend to follow Red Deer’s numbers.
Blackfalds, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 28 | 35 | 29 | 34 | 47 | 51 | 48 | 52 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 18 | 17 | 22 | 22.5 | 21 | 27.5 | 27.5 | 23.5 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.2 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
A high number of listings is matched to higher sales, keeping inventory low in Blackfalds.
Lacombe, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 36 | 42 | 41 | 45 | 57 | 55 | 54 | 62 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 8.5 | 9.5 | 12.5 | 14.5 | 18.5 | 24.5 | 27.5 | 28.5 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
It looked like the market was correcting, but higher sales in June/July put it farther away from a balanced market.
Innisfail, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 21 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 31 | 36 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 9.5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 13.5 | 13 | 8 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 4.5 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Inventory in Innisfail jumps into a buyer’s market this past month.
Rocky Mountain House (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 15 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 39 | 41 | 36 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 5 | 3.5 | 5 | 7.5 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 14 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 3 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, inventory drops a little lower in Aug.
Ponoka, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 8 | 12 | 16 | 29 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 33 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 9 | 6.5 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 12 | 11.5 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2 | 3.6 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.9 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Ponoka, Alberta, real estate inventory numbers climb a little this past month.
Stettler, AB (for sale inventory overall)
| Date 2026 | Jan 05 | Feb 11 | Mar 5 | Apr 1 | May 13 | June 16 | July 7 | Aug 5 | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | ||||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 4.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 7 | 12.5 | 14.5 | 16 | ||||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.9 | 10 | 6 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Stettler AB is a tight market right now but probably healthy for a smaller market.
Homes can sell in any market, but the crucial factor is pricing. If you list your property even slightly too high, it risks lingering on the market indefinitely, especially if home prices aren’t increasing. Allowing your home to remain ‘for sale’ for months can harm its current and future value.
Blake King manages iOnRealEstate.ca, catering to Central Albertans eager to stay informed about the local real estate market. Access to more information enhances decision-making, and when dealing with an asset as significant as your home, it becomes crucial to strive for the best possible decisions!
Blake King
Big Earth Realty
(403) 350-7672