Seller Tips

How Do I Know If I'm in a Buyer's or Seller's Market Right Now?

The Direct Answer

You don't need to wait for a headline to tell you. Three numbers, checked together, tell you almost everything: months of inventory, median days on market, and what share of active listings have already been reduced. As a rough guide, under 3 months of inventory generally favours sellers, over 5 to 6 generally favours buyers, and anything in between is genuinely balanced, meaning the outcome depends more on your specific home than on the market label. Right now in East YEG, we're sitting around 3.3 months of inventory, which puts us in that balanced-to-slightly-buyer-friendly range rather than clearly one or the other.

Months of Inventory: The Core Number

Months of inventory answers a simple question: at the current pace of sales, how long would it take to sell everything currently on the market? Divide active listings by the number of homes sold in the last 30 days. A low number means listings are being absorbed quickly relative to supply, favouring sellers. A high number means supply is building up faster than buyers are working through it, favouring buyers. This single number is the fastest gut check for where a market actually stands, but it shouldn't be the only one you look at.

Days on Market and Price Reductions Confirm the Story

Median days on market tells you how quickly homes that do sell are actually moving. A market can technically have moderate months of inventory but still show homes sitting for a long time before finding a buyer, which points to pricing or presentation issues more than raw supply and demand. The share of active listings that have already been reduced from their original price rounds out the picture. A high reduction rate tells you a meaningful number of sellers priced ahead of where the market actually is, which is useful information whether you're the one pricing a new listing or negotiating on one that's already sitting.

Why the Citywide Label Can Still Mislead You

Even once you know these three numbers, remember they're usually reported for a whole city or region, not your specific neighbourhood or home style. A citywide number that says "balanced" can hide a market where detached bungalows are moving fast and condos are sitting, or where one neighbourhood is tight while the one next door has plenty of supply. The general numbers are a starting point for the conversation, not the final answer for your specific property.

Thinking About Selling in East YEG?

What Would It Take to Get Top Dollar for Your Home?

Between negotiation trends, price reductions, and how fast homes are actually moving right now, the numbers above only tell part of the story. I'll give you a straight answer on what your specific home is worth today, and what it would take to maximize your sale price in this market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jason Beattie

REALTOR® | eXp Realty | BT Group

780-791-9633  |  Jason.Beattie@eXpRealty.com