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Rates are based on an average mortgage of $300,001
| Insured | 80% LTV | 65% LTV | Uninsured | Bank Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year fixed rate | 6.44% | 5.89% | 5.89% | 7.35% |
6.59%
|
| 2-year fixed rate | 5.59% | 5.59% | 5.59% | 5.84% |
6.19%
|
| 3-year fixed rate | 4.79% | 4.89% | 4.89% | 4.99% |
5.29%
|
| 4-year fixed rate | 4.79% | 4.94% | 4.89% | 4.89% |
5.19%
|
| 5-year fixed rate | 4.44% | 4.64% | 4.44% | 4.44% |
4.84%
|
| 7-year fixed rate | 5.49% | 5.84% | 5.84% | 5.89% |
5.90%
|
| 10-year fixed rate | 5.74% | 5.89% | 5.89% | 6.09% |
7.25%
|
| 3-year variable rate | 5.75% | 5.90% | 5.80% | 5.80% |
8.10%
|
| 5-year variable rate | 5.40% | 5.65% | 5.45% | 5.45% |
5.94%
|
| HELOC rate | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Stress test | 5.25% | 5.25% | 5.25% | 5.25% | N/A |
Updated
Rising interest rates have had a significant impact on the mortgage and housing markets in Calgary, as has been around the country. Borrowers are searching for more affordable housing options and sellers are hesitating on listing their properties to avoid enduring the most of higher rates.
Calgary’s housing and mortgage market has shown resilience since 2022, compared to other provinces like Ontario and BC, driven by record-high international and interprovincial migration over the past two years. With higher house prices in high-demand provinces like Ontario and BC, buyers are looking for an affordable housing market and Calgary offers that option for them. These factors have increased housing demand in Calgary. However, supply is struggling to keep up with the increase in demand.
Inflationary pressure led the Bank of Canada to hike its policy interest rate 10 times since March 2022 up until July 2023, resulting in a significant increase in prime rates, bond yields and overall interest rates further impacting the housing market. The BoC rate hikes successfully reduced inflation to 2.9% in May 2024 but in turn made borrowing increasing difficult for the common Canadian. While analysts believe rates will go down in the second half of 2024, starting with the June 2024 rate cut of 0.25%, the rates will still be higher than the pre-pandemic levels.
Even as Alberta has experienced international as well as inter-provincial immigration influx in the last two years, the housing and mortgage dynamics differ in the province’s two largest cities – Calgary and Edmonton. However, the mortgage rates and lenders you will have access to in these two cities will be quite similar. Due to higher average home prices in Calgary compared to Edmonton (average benchmark price was $587,100 in Calgary in May 2024 compared to $392,700 in Edmonton during the same period), you are most likely to get a lower mortgage rate in Calgary as lenders compete to get your business. Some lenders may be more competitive in Calgary to negotiate to close the higher mortgage amount, compared to that in Edmonton as the mortgage amount is likely to be lower.
Oil and gas and energy sectors are the biggest employer in Calgary and the city is home to headquarters of big Canadian oil companies. The health of the oil sector does have an impact on the housing demand in the city. If oil prices rise, oil companies end up being in a better position to hire more people and pay better bonuses to their workers, resulting in job security and a stronger economy. This would indirectly lead to greater demand for mortgages as people would want to invest in real estate, and they feel in a better position financially to buy a home.
On the contrary, if oil prices fall, Calgarians working with oil companies are likely to lose their jobs, get lower salaries or not be in a financially stable economy. They might not feel as confident financially to make a big investment like buying a home, which would have an impact on housing demand in the city.
Mortgage rates across the country have been significantly high in the last two years, since the pandemic. With 10 interest rate hikes by the Bank of Canada between March 2022 and July 2023, the mortgage and housing markets have considerably suffered in major markets like Ontario and BC. The higher interest rates have shifted the markets, with buyers searching for relatively more affordable housing options like those in the Calgary market.
The first BoC rate cut in two years happened in June 2024 and analysts expect more rate cuts happening in the second half of 2024.
While the 5-year variable interest rate borrowers enjoyed lower interest rates than 5-year-fixedrate borrowers before BoC rate hike spree started in Q2 2022, things changed for the worse for those borrowers. For a long time, 5-year variable mortgage rate remained the preferred choice for mortgage borrowers, but this changed quickly as the 5-year fixed rate began to hover lower than its variable counterpart starting December 2022.
Variable rate mortgages kept increasing mercilessly until July 2023, when the Bank of Canada halted its rate hike at 5%. In terms of fixed rate, bond yields – which have a direct impact on fixed rates – saw a 17-year high in October 2023 but then fell again over the next months. Inflation also came down from 8% in June 2022 to 2.9% in May 2024 and is expected to reach the 2% mark by 2025 end. The inflation and economic situations play a big role in Bank of Canada’s interest rate decisions.
Source: Ratesdotca
Our in-house mortgage data shows that the lowest 5-year fixed rate is at 4.64% compared to 5.70% 5-year variable rate in June 2024. Two year ago, before the Bank of Canada’s rate hikes set in, the lowest 5-year variable rate was sitting comfortably at 0.85% in March 2022. This drastic interest rate change has deterred many first-time homebuyers to get into the market, as well as sent existing home-owners - who purchased homes at a very low rates back in 2021 and are up for renewal soon - in a tizzy because they are in for a real financial shock upon renewal at higher rates.
Calgary’s housing market is a sweet surprise amidst the housing mayhem that the BoC rate hikes caused in the country. Positive international immigration and interprovincial migration resulted in an influx of 45,375 people to Alberta in the first quarter of 2024. This is an increase of 4.5% from the first quarter of 2023. Fewer people left Alberta for elsewhere in Canada in Q1 2024, which significantly increased housing demand in this Albertan city.
Employment opportunities and relative affordability attracts people to the province, which has resulted in strong sales growth despite high interest rates.
We need to look at the housing market situation in Calgary through the lens of active listings and inventory. Active listings include single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and other types of properties currently on the market and available for purchase. When a seller lists a property, it becomes part of the active inventory. If you’re searching for a home, these are the properties you can consider. Active listings exclude properties that are under contract or already sold. On the other hand inventory encompasses both active listings and properties that are closed but pending sales. Monitoring inventory levels helps gauge market conditions and influences home prices.
In Calgary, the year-to date data (January 1 to the present date) by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) suggests inventory has gone down while active listings continue to grow. Year-to-date 2024 (January 1-May) inventory is at 2,635 listings, which is 11.46% less compared to YTD 2023 inventory of 2,976. While active new listings have increased by over 10% at 15,4845 2024 YTD, compared to 14,334 active listings in YTD 2023. Total sales also increased by 11.2% to 12,412 listings YTD 2024 compared to 11,162 listings YTD 2023. This suggests there is a strong demand and limited supply in the Calgary housing market. Such a scenario leads to a seller’s market, where buyers face competition, and prices tend to rise.
According to CREB, the city has experienced seller’s market conditions since the end of 2021. In Q1 2024, the total residential benchmark price increased over 10% year-over-year to $584,867.
Detached homes
In Calgary, the median sale price for single detached homes rose 13.4% on a year-over-year basis to $688,500 in the first quarter of 2024. This was a new record for the median sale price. New listings for detached homes rose to 2,036 in May 2024 compared to 1,795 in May last year, and average price of a detached property also rose 12.23% from $733,230 in May 2023 to $822,873 in May 2024. It appears from the numbers that the detached market continues to favour the seller as prices continue to rise.
Semi-detached
Calgary saw a 34% increase in new listings of semi-detached homes to 360 in May 2024 compared to 268 listings in May last year. This corresponded well with the increase in average price of semi-detached homes by 16% to $702,960 in May 2024 compared to $601,503 in May 2023. Just like the detached market, the sellers of semi-detached homes in Calgary continue to win as persistently tight market conditions drive up prices.
Townhouse or Row
The median sale price for townhouse and row units rose 21.6% on a year-over-year basis to $450,000 in the first quarter of 2024. This was also a new record for the median sale price of townhouse and row units. In May 2024, new listings rose 22.42% to 688 compared to 562 listings in May 2023. The average price of a row house in Calgary rose 16.56% to $473,913 from $406,597 in May 2023.
Apartments
The median sale price for apartment units rose 19% on a year-over-year basis to $312,250 in the first quarter of 2024, setting another new record for the median sale price of apartment properties.
New apartment listings increased 21.85% to 1,249 in May 2024, compared to 1,025 in May 2023, and average price of an apartment also increased 13.54% from $349,154 in May 2024 from $307,504 in May 2023.
Despite record-setting housing starts last year and an increase in active listings in the resale market, housing supply struggles to keep up with the demand. The demand for more affordable homes continues to drive growth for condos, apartments and row houses in Calgary. The market statistics continue to favour the sellers in Calgary. The lower house prices in 2023 can be due to crushing high interest rates and mutiple rate hikes by the BoC.
Many factors ranging from Bank of Canada’s policy rate, economic situation and your own personal finance situation can affect your mortgage rate. Let’s breakdown some of the major factors that can impact your mortgage rate in Calgary:
Remember that individual circumstances and market dynamics play a crucial role in determining mortgage rates. It's essential to consult with a mortgage professional to explore your specific options and find the best rate for your situation.
The average value of new mortgage loans in Calgary saw a steady increase from Q1 2019 to Q3 2021. As pandemic drove the house prices in Calgary housing market at a significant pace, the average new mortgage loan also increased. Rising interest rates starting Q2 2022 kept potential buyers on the edge while seller's enjoyed a stronghold on house prices in the market due to controlled inventory and higher demand.
Home prices in many Calgary areas dropped double digits from the 2022 peak. The average value of new mortgage loan also saw a decline between Q4 2022 and Q2 2023. As the Bank of Canada kept rate hike steady at 5% in July 2023, buyers gained confidence and we can see Q3 2023 average new mortgage loan price increase.
In addition to that, many borrowers could only afford lower mortgages due to high interest rates, which resulted in driving down the average new mortgage loan value starting Q2 2022.
While prices picked up in Q1 2024, there are mixed messages that the current economic conditions, Calgary's seller's market and increasing demand due to immigration and migration from other provinces are pushing buyers to the sidelines.
| Geography | 2019 Q1 | 2019 Q2 | 2019 Q3 | 2019 Q4 | 2020 Q1 | 2020 Q2 | 2020 Q3 | 2020 Q4 | 2021 Q1 | 2021 Q2 | 2021 Q3 | 2021 Q4 | 2022 Q1 | 2022 Q2 | 2022 Q3 | 2022 Q4 | 2023 Q1 | 2023 Q2 | 2023 Q3 | 2023 Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $258,241 | $256,616 | $274,762 | $276,236 | $278,928 | $289,038 | $297,367 | $313,607 | $323,678 | $343,971 | $364,954 | $350,686 | $361,001 | $366,163 | $363,654 | $325,612 | $320,298 | $314,540 | $338,522 | $327,899 |
| Provinces | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alberta | $274,739 | $276,992 | $285,010 | $283,456 | $275,343 | $284,999 | $297,154 | $296,603 | $290,816 | $313,308 | $329,274 | $317,212 | $319,728 | $331,285 | $339,854 | $317,353 | $310,002 | $316,328 | $326,879 | $325,139 |
| Calgary | $290,839 | $293,994 | $302,960 | $302,718 | $289,424 | $301,570 | $317,497 | $316,979 | $304,368 | $338,462 | $361,420 | $344,341 | $342,042 | $358,516 | $371,194 | $336,715 | $331,194 | $339,293 | $357,552 | $356,881 |
Source: CMHC
From the pre-pandemic times, the average monthly mortgage payment in Calgary was around $1,581 in Q1 2019, which decreased as interest rates went historically low through Q1 2021. With the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes, staring March 2022, you can see monthly payments increase Q2 2022 onwards. House prices have also increased in Calgary which is evident from the data that shows monthly mortgage payments increased as well.
| Geography | 2019 Q1 | 2019 Q2 | 2019 Q3 | 2019 Q4 | 2020 Q1 | 2020 Q2 | 2020 Q3 | 2020 Q4 | 2021 Q1 | 2021 Q2 | 2021 Q3 | 2021 Q4 | 2022 Q1 | 2022 Q2 | 2022 Q3 | 2022 Q4 | 2023 Q1 | 2023 Q2 | 2023 Q3 | 2023 Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,416 | $1,410 | $1,442 | $1,432 | $1,428 | $1,451 | $1,467 | $1,530 | $1,597 | $1,534 | $1,594 | $1,722 | $1,909 | $1,923 | $1,984 | $1,920 | $2,074 | $2,143 |
| Provinces | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alberta | $1,520 | $1,500 | $1,482 | $1,470 | $1,456 | $1,443 | $1,447 | $1,412 | $1,375 | $1,437 | $1,488 | $1,436 | $1,476 | $1,601 | $1,800 | $1,856 | $1,907 | $1,905 | $1,977 | $2,089 |
| Calgary | $1,581 | $1,560 | $1,544 | $1,545 | $1,515 | $1,501 | $1,517 | $1,484 | $1,403 | $1,521 | $1,597 | $1,527 | $1,543 | $1,692 | $1,941 | $1,971 | $2,033 | $2,036 | $2,153 | $2,296 |
Source: CMHC
To find the best mortgage rates in Calgary you can:
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, here’s what you can do to make housing more affordable for yourself:
If you're searching for a mortgage broker or agent, apply for a quote with RATESDOTCA. We'll set you up in three minutes with the mortgage provider offering you the lowest rate.
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank of Canada | 100 239 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1B9 (Multiple locations) | |
| True North Mortgage | 225 7 Ave SW (Plus 15), Calgary, AB T2P 2W3 (Multiple locations) | (403) 248-6699 |
| The Mortgages for Less Team | 223 14th Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 (Multiple locations) | (403) 241-3255 |
| Concord Mortgage Group Ltd. | 107 1905 Centre St NW, Calgary, AB T2E 2S7 | (403) 290-1990 |
| CML Canadian Mortgage Lender | 2316 6 St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 3Z1 (Multiple locations) | (866) 265-7988 |
| Fairstone | 2943 17 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2A 0P7 (Multiple locations) | (800) 995-2274 |
| FEJ Capital Inc | 2148B 52 Ave Ne, Calgary, AB T3J 0K7 | (403) 383-3495 |
| Connect First Credit Union Ltd. | 116-317 7 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2Z2 (Multiple Locations | (403) 736-4000 |
| LowestRates.ca | 225 King Street W, Toronto, ON. | (844) 726-0907 |
| RATESDOTCA | 225 King Street W, Toronto, ON. | (844) 726-0907 |
Calgary, Alberta’s mortgage and housing market is heavily influenced by the health of the energy sector, primarily oil and gas, besides the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decision and other economic policy related changes.
The city’s economy is also driven by tourism thanks to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains and its annual Calgary Stampeded rodeo that draws crowds from around the world.
Even with the scare of a global recession looming, a recent fiscal update reported that Alberta is well-positioned to thwart any economic challenges, owing to higher oil prices from the tight global demand-supply challenge. Housing has historically boomed when the oil and gas industry is performing well.
Analysts believe oil prices will continue to be volatile, despite a good performance since mid-October 2023. Calgary’s housing market has suffered due to high interest rates, impact of inflation, and immigration, causing high demand for housing and limited supply and inventory. Like most other regions, housing and mortgage demand are expected to remain weak into 2024, until Bank of Canada continues to cut its policy interest rate further after the recent June 2024 rate cut. Mortgage market is expected to see some respite in late 2025-early 2026, but time will tell.
For month ended March 31, 2024, Alberta has recorded a total of 588,901 number of mortgages, with 1,886 mortgages in arrears, which is 0.32% of arrears to total number of mortgages.
Mortgage underwriters often exercise slightly more caution with Calgary deals given ongoing difficulties in the oil and gas sector, which create risk of defaults, home price weakness and higher losses.
If you’re a Calgarian in the market for a mortgage, you might be considering a mortgage from your bank thinking the “convenience” of having all your accounts in one place seems appealing. Well, you might want to think again.
These days, roughly 90% of consumer banking is done online and banks no longer have a monopoly on convenience. In fact, you’d be remiss to complete the mortgage process without first comparing rates. There are two key reasons for this: it’s easy, and it can save you a bundle of money.
If you compare Calgary’s best mortgage rate against the worst rate, that difference can span a full percentage point or more. If you took the first offer from your bank at the mid-part of that range, you’d be leaving thousands of dollars on the table given an average size mortgage.
It’s a well-known fact that Canada’s big banks are not the most transparent companies when it comes to pricing mortgages. Getting the best rate in Calgary truly requires legwork and comparison. That said, banks do tend to have lower pricing on uninsured mortgages and HELOCs versus competitors.
One option is to work with a mortgage broker. They’ll shop several lenders for you to find you the best mortgage rate in the city. But keep in mind brokers don’t get paid from all lenders, so they won’t offer a comprehensive market picture.
One thing they can do, if you deal with a competitive one, is use part of their commission to “buy down” your rate. It never hurts to ask a broker to do this in order to win your business.
In general, the best time to shop rates in Calgary is during the busy spring homebuying season. That’s when most lenders offer their sharpest mortgage deals. Just remember: the goal is to minimize your total borrowing costs. That means settling on the optimal combination of the lowest rate and the best flexibility, given your five-year goals.
Got more questions about getting a mortgage in Calgary? We got you covered.
By comparing rates on RATESDOTCA, you could save thousands of dollars annually. By going this route, you'll be making informed decisions based on all the choices available – rather than jumping on the first mortgage offer you see.
RATESDOTCA is one of the best places to compare mortgage rates in Calgary. Lenders across Canada, such as the Bank of Nova Scotia, TD Bank, National Bank, RBC, BMO, and many others, are compared directly to one another to help you find the best deal possible on your Calgary mortgage.
Rather than going into the process blindly, having sites like RATESDOTCA compare mortgage rates allows you to have up-to-date knowledge well before you make the life-changing decision of purchasing a home. In fact, RATESDOTCA is updated with the latest rates on the market constantly – so don’t be shy to check back frequently for new deals.
Mortgage rates are influenced by many factors. As an individual, you will be assessed for your ability to pay back your mortgage, the type of home you are buying, its condition, location and more. So, from that point of view, mortgages can vary greatly, even within a single neighbourhood.
However, because Calgary is a major metropolitan area, and has many lenders vying for your business, mortgage rates would not necessarily be higher in the city compared to other areas in the province. Also, the real estate market is relatively liquid, making rates competitive no matter where you look. This means that rates in Calgary may in fact be lower than in other parts of Alberta due to the potentially higher number of competitors.
*Based on the difference between estimated deep-discount 5-year fixed rates from Canada's top six banks and the lowest comparable rates on RATESDOTCA, as of January 14, 2022.
Shivani is a Content Manager at RATESDOTCA, focusing on mortgages. She is an experienced communication and marketing professional who specializes in content strategy and SEO optimization. Shivani ensures that our written materials meet the highest standards of quality and relevance.
She holds a Digital Marketing Management certificate from the University of Toronto, a Business Communications certificate from the University of British Columbia, a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Delhi.
Shivani has previously worked as a deputy digital productions editor with PMNA-The Canadian Press, and as an editor with The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and the Investor's Digest of Canada. She has also worked in reputed news media groups in India and the Middle East.
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