Jake Fang

📉 First January Sales Drop in 5 Years! Will the Market Rebound in February?
In 2026, Edmonton’s real estate market started the year in a rare “balanced market” phase not seen since the post-pandemic period. Buyer pressure has clearly eased.
According to the latest data, new listings jumped 85.7% compared to December 2025, while sales fell 13.4% — marking the first January decline in sales since the pandemic.
After a long seller’s market, the Months of Inventory (MOI) rose to 4.5 in January 2026, officially entering balanced market territory. This means more available listings, greater negotiation room, and better opportunities for buyers.
📊 How to Read MOI:
•0–4 months: Seller’s market (high competition)
•4–6 months: Balanced market
•6+ months: Buyer’s market (more bargaining power)
Looking back, MOI stayed between 2.25 and 2.7 for most of the first seven months of 2025, passed 3.0 in August, and continued rising to 4.5 by January 2026.
🏠 Price Trends by Property Type:
•Detached homes: ▼ 2% to $493,000
•Semi-detached: ▼ 1.2% to $405,000
•Townhomes: ▲ 1.9% to $296,000
•Condos: ▲ 10.7% to $192,000
Detached and semi-detached homes softened, while townhomes and condos rebounded — showing that buyers are increasingly favoring more affordable and lower-pressure options.
📌 For Sellers:
January’s data may cause some concern, but there’s no need to panic. Historically, March to June is the most active period. It’s wise to monitor February’s performance and consider listing in March or April.
If February remains weak, waiting may be reasonable — but don’t delay too long. As spring approaches, the chances of market recovery remain high.
📈 Long-Term Outlook:
Edmonton’s population continues to grow. Post-pandemic growth pushed the population past 1.2 million in 2025. Although growth has slowed recently, the long-term trend remains positive, supporting housing demand.
The future of the market can’t be predicted with certainty. We can only make rational judgments based on data and trends.
As a realtor, my role isn’t to make decisions for my clients, but to help them fully understand the market so they can make informed choices that suit their situation.