High River Real Estate Market 2025: Annual Trends & 2026 Outlook

Prices: Still Rising, Despite Cooling Conditions

Despite a clear slowdown in activity, High River’s median home price increased 6% year-over-year in 2025. This reflects continued demand, limited large-scale new construction, and the ongoing desirability of smaller Alberta communities offering relative affordability compared to larger urban centres.

However, price growth occurred alongside longer selling timelines and increased inventory, indicating that gains were driven more by underlying fundamentals than by bidding wars or urgency.

Sales & Supply: Demand Softened as Choice Increased

Total home sales declined by 14%, while new listings edged up 3%. The result was a 43% increase in inventory, fundamentally changing market dynamics.

This shift reduced the sales-to-new-listings ratio from 0.88 to 0.74, a strong signal that buyer leverage increased significantly in 2025. Buyers were no longer forced to act quickly, and conditional offers became more common.

From a broader perspective, this aligns with:

• Elevated interest rates and mortgage stress tests

• Greater caution among buyers amid economic uncertainty

• Demographic stability rather than rapid population inflow

Market Pace: A Return to Normal Timelines

Average days on market increased 16%, from 31 days in 2024 to 36 days in 2025. While this represents a slower market, it remains well within historically healthy norms.

Instead of signaling weakness, longer timelines reflect:

• Buyers performing more due diligence

• Sellers adjusting pricing expectations

• A reduction in panic-driven purchasing

What This Means for 2026

For Buyers

• More inventory means more negotiating power

• Reduced pressure to waive conditions

• Pricing sensitivity will remain, especially if rates stay elevated

Strategy: Focus on value, condition, and long-term suitability rather than speed.

For Sellers

• Pricing correctly from the outset is critical

• Homes that are well-staged and well-maintained will stand out

• Overpriced homes are likely to sit longer and face reductions

Strategy: Preparation and realistic expectations matter more than ever.

The Bottom Line

2025 represented a return to balance for High River real estate. Prices remained resilient, but the market became more deliberate, transparent, and sustainable.

If 2024 was a year of momentum, 2025 was a year of recalibration — and 2026 is shaping up to reward strategy on both sides of the transaction.