As someone who’s spent 18 years guiding Calgary families through the ups and downs of our real estate market, I’m always watching new home construction closely. The latest numbers show Canada’s housing starts have dropped again—down roughly 1% on the national trend (244K units), and about 2% fewer actual starts in larger cities, now at 17,700. Year-to-date, we’re at 149,500 starts, which is 4% less than this time last year. That means construction still isn’t meeting the pace policymakers are pushing for.
It’s a reminder that even with more homes being built than a few years back, challenges keep mounting. Builders are navigating higher material costs—thanks in part to tariffs and ongoing global uncertainty—as well as softer demand, especially for condos. The national housing agency is already projecting that new builds, particularly condos, will keep sliding through 2028, with a lot of inventory left to move.
For local buyers and sellers, this shapes everything from what’s available to how quickly homes move. I’ve seen markets tighten and open up before, and it’s always about understanding where the opportunities are—whether you’re buying your first place or looking for an investment. That’s why I dig deep into these trends: so the families I work with can make decisions with confidence, even as the headlines shift.
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