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!
There’s been a lot of talk about more homes coming onto the market, but overall inventory in Central Alberta is still relatively low. Some communities have seen inventory increase, while others have actually dropped slightly.
What has changed is the pace of the market. Prices were climbing much faster in 2025, and in a rapidly rising market, sellers can often push their asking price higher and still catch up to the market. With price growth slowing in 2026, we’re seeing more homes come to market priced too aggressively.
As a result, some homes are sitting longer and going through multiple price reductions before selling. However, homes that are priced correctly for today’s market are still selling. The market hasn’t stopped — sellers just need to be more accurate with pricing than they did during the steeper price increases of last year.
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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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 122 | 112 | 128 | 129 | 182 | 206 | 184 | 223 | 215 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 50 | 53.5 | 71.5 | 78.5 | 93 | 103 | 114.5 | 110.5 | 101.5 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2 | 2 | 1.6 | 2 | 2.1 |
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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 177 | 180 | 212 | 218 | 280 | 280 | 267 | 318 | 315 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 82.5 | 83.5 | 108.5 | 128 | 157 | 169 | 174 | 169 | 154.5 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
A small inventory increase in the Red Deer market. However, it’s still a low inventory level in the seller’s market zone.
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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 75 | 74 | 94 | 99 | 95 | 106 | 123 | 145 | 122 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 23 | 18.5 | 25 | 34.5 | 48 | 45.5 | 47.5 | 38.5 | 37 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 3.3 | 4 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
More of a balanced market in Sylvan Lake, Ab
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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 11 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 9 | 7 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Inventory stays the same.
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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 28 | 35 | 29 | 34 | 47 | 51 | 48 | 52 | 50 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 18 | 17 | 22 | 22.5 | 21 | 27.5 | 27.5 | 23.5 | 28.5 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.8 |
(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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 36 | 42 | 41 | 45 | 57 | 55 | 54 | 62 | 60 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 8.5 | 9.5 | 12.5 | 14.5 | 18.5 | 24.5 | 27.5 | 28.5 | 23.5 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Inventory in Lacombe dropped back to a more severe seller’s 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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 21 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 31 | 36 | 36 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 9.5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 13.5 | 13 | 8 | 5.5 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 6.5 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Inventory in Innisfail is very high, with sales slowing.
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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 15 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 39 | 41 | 36 | 35 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 5 | 3.5 | 5 | 7.5 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13.5 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 3 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, inventory stays the same Aug to Sept
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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 8 | 12 | 16 | 29 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 33 | 38 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 9 | 6.5 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 12 | 11.5 | 9 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2 | 3.6 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 4.2 |
(SELLER’S MARKET)with an inventory rate below 3.9 months!
Ponoka, Alberta, real estate inventory numbers climb into a buyer’s market.
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 3 | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| properties currently for sale | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 13 | |||
| avg # of homes selling ea. month | 4.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 7 | 12.5 | 14.5 | 16 | 16 | |||
| M.O.I. in Red Deer* | 2.9 | 10 | 6 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
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