Tuesday, December 5, 2017

■Market Watch | December, 2017

GTA REALTORS® Release November Stats

December 5, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,374 transactions through TREB's MLS® System in November 2017. This result was up compared to October 2017, bucking the regular seasonal trend. On a year-over-year basis, sales were down by 13.3 per cent compared to November 2016.

New listings entered into TREB's MLS® System in November 2017 amounted to 14,349 – up by 37.2 per cent compared to November 2016, when the supply of listings was very low from a historic perspective.

"We have seen an uptick in demand for ownership housing in the GTA this fall, over and above the regular seasonal trend. Similar to the Greater Vancouver experience, the impact of the Ontario Fair Housing Plan and particularly the foreign buyer tax may be starting to wane. On top of this, it is also possible that the upcoming changes to mortgage lending guidelines, which come into effect in January, have prompted some households to speed up their home buying decision," said Mr. Syrianos.

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark price was up by 8.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in November 2017. The average selling price for all home types combined was down by two per cent compared to November 2016, due in large part to a smaller share of detached home sales versus last year. On a year-to-date basis, the average selling price was up by 13.4 per cent compared to the same period last year. High density home types continued to lead the way in terms of price growth, with the average condominium apartment price up by double-digits compared to November 2016.

"Changes in market conditions have not been uniform across market segments. In line with insights from consumer polling undertaken by Ipsos in the spring, we are still seeing seller's market conditions for townhouses and condominium apartments in many neighbourhoods versus more balanced market conditions for detached and semi-detached houses. We will have more insights to share about consumer intentions for 2018 at the end of January when TREB releases its third annual Market Year in Review and Outlook report," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

■Market Watch | November, 2017

GTA REALTORS® Release October Stats

November 2, 2017
 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos reported 7,118 residential sales through TREB's MLS® System in October 2017. This result represented an above-average increase between September and October of almost 12 per cent, pointing to stronger fall market conditions.

On a year-over-year basis, October sales were down compared to 9,715 transactions in September 2016. Total sales reported through the first 10 months of 2017 amounted to 80,198 – down from 99,233 for the same time period in 2016.

"Every year we generally see a jump in sales between September and October. However, this year that increase was more pronounced than usual compared to the previous ten years. So, while the number of transactions was still down relative to last year's record pace, it certainly does appear that sales momentum is picking up," said Mr. Syrianos.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark price was up by 9.7 per cent on a year-over-year basis in October. Annual rates of price growth were strongest for townhouses and condominium apartments. The average selling price for October transactions was $780,104 – up by 2.3 per cent compared to the average of $762,691 in October 2016.

"The housing market in the GTA has been impacted by a number of policy changes at the provincial and federal levels. Similar to the track followed in the Greater Vancouver Area, it appears that the psychological impact of the Fair Housing Plan, including the tax on foreign buyers, is starting to unwind," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

■Condo & Rental Market Report | Q3 2017

Condo Market Conditions Remain Tight in Q3 2017

October 23, 2017 
-- Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos reported continued average price growth on a year-over-year basis for condominium apartments listed and sold through TREB's MLS® System by Greater Toronto Area REALTORS®. The average selling price was $510,206 in Q3 2017 – up by 22.7 per cent compared to the average of $415,894 reported in Q3 2016.

"The condominium apartment market segment has exhibited the strongest average rates of price growth since the spring, relative to other major market segments. Competition between buyers remains strong, as listings remain below last year's very constrained levels. Over the past few months, TREB has participated in discussions at various levels of government pointed at developing solutions for the housing supply issue in the GTA. As these discussions continue, it will be important to remember that the condominium apartment market is not immune to a listings shortage," said Mr. Syrianos.

"TREB will also be paying close attention to the potential impacts of the new OSFI Guideline B- 20 concerning new mortgage rules and underwriting standards, and the possibility of a vacancy tax in the City of Toronto. We will be asking consumers about their opinion on these initiatives, from the prospective of buying and selling intentions, during our fall polling cycle," continued Mr. Syrianos.

There were 5,684 condominium apartment sales reported through TREB's MLS® System in the third quarter of 2017. This result was down from 7,991 sales reported during the same period in 2016.

New condominium apartment listings were also down on a year-over-year basis by 10 per cent to 9,845 in Q3 2017 compared to 10,967 in Q2 2016.

"Condominium apartments will likely account for a greater share of home sales as we move forward. Consumer polling undertaken for TREB by Ipsos in the spring pointed to increased buying intentions for condominium apartments. With this in mind, it is not surprising that we have continued to see robust price growth, as demand has remained strong relative to available listings," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.


Competition Between Renters Remains Strong in Q3

TORONTO, ONTARIO, October 23, 2017 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced that year-over-year increases in average rents for condominium apartments were up very strongly in the third quarter, based on rental transactions reported by Greater Toronto REALTORS® through TREB’s MLS® System.

The average rent for one-bedroom condominium apartments in the TREB market area was up by 11.2 per cent on an annual basis to $1,976 in Q3 2017. The average two-bedroom condominium apartment rent was up by 7.7 per cent over the same period to $2,607.

“Competition between renters remained very strong for available units in Q3. It is clear that supply is part of the issue. Different levels of government have committed to looking at housing supply through the policy lens. TREB has participated in these policy discussions and looks forward to continuing the dialogue. To this end, TREB does have concerns that increased rent controls and a possible vacancy tax in the City of Toronto could serve to reduce the supply of available rental units as potential investors look to less-regulated sectors in which to invest,” said Mr. Syrianos.

The number of condominium apartments listed during the third quarter and the number of rental agreements signed were down by similar amounts on a year-over-year basis.

“It is reasonable to assume that the vacancy rate for condominium apartments has trended lower this year. If the current relationship between rental demand and supply remains in place moving forward, rent increases for available units will continue to trend well-above the rate of inflation. Economic and demographic trends suggest that rental demand will increase and there are real concerns that the already constrained supply of units for rent could get worse,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis.

Monday, October 9, 2017

■This Month in Real Estate | OCTOBER 2017


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Thursday, October 5, 2017

■Market Watch | October, 2017

GTA REALTORS® Release September Stats

October 4, 2017
 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 6,379 sales through TREB's MLS® System in September 2017. This result was down by 35 per cent compared to September 2016.

The number of new listings entered into TREB's MLS® System amounted to 16,469 in September – up by 9.4 per cent year-over-year.

"The improvement in listings in September compared to a year earlier suggests that home owners are anticipating an uptick in sales activity as we move through the fall. Consumer polling undertaken for TREB in the spring suggested that buying intentions over the next year remain strong. As we move through the fourth quarter we could see some buyers moving off the sidelines, taking advantage of a better-supplied marketplace," said Mr. Syrianos.

The average selling price in September 2017 was $775,546 – up 2.6 per cent compared to September 2016. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark was up by 12.2 per cent on a year-over-year basis. A key reason for the difference in annual growth rates between the average price and the MLS® HPI composite is the fact that detached homes – the most expensive market segment on average – accounted for a smaller share of overall transactions this year compared to last.

"With more balanced market conditions, the pace of year-over-year price growth was more moderate in September compared to a year ago. However, the exception was the condominium apartment market segment, where average and benchmark sales prices were up by more than 20 per cent compared to last year. Tighter market conditions for condominium apartments follows consumer polling results from the spring that pointed toward a shift to condos in terms of buyer intentions," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

■Market Watch | September, 2017

GTA REALTORS® Release August Stats

September 6, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 6,357 home sales through TREB's MLS® System in August 2017. This result was down by 34.8 per cent compared to August 2016.

The number of new listings entered into TREB's MLS® System, at 11,523, was down by 6.7 per cent year-over-year and was at the lowest level for August since 2010.

"Recent reports suggest that economic conditions remain strong in the GTA. Positive economic news coupled with the slower pace of price growth we are now experiencing could prompt an improvement in the demand for ownership housing, over and above the regular seasonal bump, as we move through the fall," continued Mr. Syrianos.

The average selling price for all home types combined was $732,292 – up by three per cent compared to August 2016. This growth was driven by the semi-detached, townhouse and condominium apartment market segments that continued to experience high single-digit or double digit year-over-year average price increases.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark, which accounts for typical home types throughout TREB's market area, was up by 14.3 per cent year-over-year in August. The fact that MLS® HPI growth outstripped average price growth, points to fewer high-end home sales this year compared to last.

"The relationship between sales and listings in the marketplace today suggests a balanced market. If current conditions are sustained over the coming months, we would expect to see year-over-year price growth normalize slightly above the rate of inflation. However, if some buyers move from the sidelines back into the marketplace, as TREB consumer research suggests may happen, an acceleration in price growth could result if listings remain at current levels," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

■Condo & Rental Market Report | Q2 2017

Average Condo Price Up Year-Over-Year in Q2 '17

July 24, 2017 
-- Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced the release of TREB's Q2 2017 Condo Market Report. Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 8,223 condominium apartment sales reported through TREB's MLS® System between April and the end of June. This result was down by eight per cent compared to 8,942 sales reported in Q2 2016.

New listings of condominium apartments were up slightly on a year-over-year basis
by 0.7 per cent to 13,682.

"Despite the recent dip in overall GTA home sales, the condominium apartment market was quite resilient, especially when compared to low-rise market segments. Condo apartment sales accounted for a greater share of overall transactions during the spring compared to the same period last year. Market conditions also remained tight, which resulted in the continuation of strong annual rates of price growth," said Mr. Syrianos.

The average selling price for condominium apartments increased by 28.1 per cent compared to Q2 2016. The average selling price for the TREB market area as a whole was $532,032, with the average price in the City of Toronto higher, at $566,513.

"Recent consumer survey results from Ipsos suggest that condominium apartments will continue to gain in popularity with home buyers over the next year. This makes sense, given that many households, especially first-time buyers looking to live in the City of Toronto, have turned their attention in increasing numbers to less expensive forms of ownership housing," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.


Strong Growth in Average Rents in Q2 2017

TORONTO, ONTARIO, July 24, 2017 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced the continuation of very tight conditions in the condominium apartment rental market in the second quarter of 2017. 


The number of rental transactions reported through TREB’s MLS® System remained in line with Q2 2016 levels, while the number of units listed at some point during the quarter declined year-over-year. Average annual rates of rent growth for one- and two-bedroom condominium apartments were over eight per cent. 

“The Greater Toronto Area continues to be a very attractive place to live for many people, some of whom choose to rent. While rental demand remained very strong from a historic perspective in the second quarter, the supply of available rental units remained constrained, and average rents continued to grow well-above current and expected future rates of inflation,” said Mr. Syrianos. 

“It is clear that we continue to suffer from a lack of available rental units. The Fair Housing Plan announced by the Government of Ontario committed to measures designed to increase housing supply. Conversely, the Fair Housing Plan also expanded rent controls, which could preclude investment in rental properties, thereby further constricting supply. With different policy components potentially at odds, it will be interesting to see the eventual impact of the Fair Housing Plan on the rental market in the GTA,” continued Mr. Syrianos. 

The average one-bedroom condominium apartment rent was up by 8.8 per cent year-over-year in the second quarter to $1,861 per month. The average two-bedroom rent was up by 8.7 per cent to $2,533. 

“Competition between would-be renters increased in the second quarter of this year relative to the same time period in 2016. This meant that average rents increased by much more than the rate of inflation. In addition, the annual pace of rent growth also increased compared to Q2 2016, reflecting the fact that, generally speaking, it has become harder to find a place to rent this year compared to last,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis.

■Market Watch | August, 2017

Market Continued to Adjust in July

August 3, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 5,921 residential transactions through TREB's MLS® System in July 2017. This result was down by 40.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis, led by the detached market segment – both in the City of Toronto and surrounding regions. While sales were down, the number of new listings reported were only slightly (+5.1 per cent) above last year's level.

"A recent release from the Ontario government confirmed TREB's own research which found that foreign buyers represented a small proportion of overall home buying activity in the GTA. Clearly, the year-over-year decline we experienced in July had more to do with psychology, with would-be home buyers on the sidelines waiting to see how market conditions evolve," said Mr. Syrianos.

"Summer market statistics are often not the best indicators of housing market conditions. We generally see an uptick in sales following Labour Day, as a greater cross-section of would-be buyers and sellers start to consider listing and/or purchasing a home. As we move through the fall, we should start to get a better sense of the impacts of the Fair Housing Plan and higher borrowing costs," said TREB CEO John DiMichele.

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark price was up by 18 per cent on a year-over-year basis. However, the Composite Benchmark was down by 4.6 per cent relative to June. Monthly MLS® HPI declines were driven more so by single-family home types. The average selling price for all home types combined was up by five per cent year-over-year to $746,218.

"Home buyers benefitted from more choice in the market this July compared to the same time last year. This was reflected in home prices and home price growth. Looking forward, if we do see some would-be home buyers move off the sidelines and back into the market without a similar increase in new listings, we could see some of this newfound choice erode. The recent changes in the sales and price trends have masked the fact that housing supply remains an issue in the GTA," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

■Market Watch | July, 2017

More Moderate Price Growth in June TORONTO, July 6, 2017 – Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,974 sales through TREB’s MLS® System in June 2017 – down by 37.3 per cent in comparison to June 2016. The number of new residential listings entered into TREB’s MLS® System, at 19,614, was up by 15.9 per cent compared to June 2016. While this annual rate of growth was sizeable, it represented a more moderate annual rate of growth compared to May 2017, when new listings were up by 48.9 per cent year-over-year.

“We are in a period of flux that often follows major government policy announcements pointed at the housing market. On one hand, consumer survey results tell us many households are very interested in purchasing a home in the near future, but some of these would-be buyers seem to be temporarily on the sidelines waiting to see the real impact of the Ontario Fair Housing Plan. On the other hand, we have existing home owners who are listing their home because they feel price growth may have peaked. The end result has been a better supplied market and a moderating annual pace of price growth,” said Mr. Syrianos.

Annual growth rates for MLS® HPI benchmark prices have moderated over the past two months, but remain strong. The MLS® HPI composite benchmark price was up by 25.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in June. June’s average selling price for all home types combined for the TREB market area was $793,915, representing a 6.3 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2016. A better supplied market has certainly been a key factor influencing the moderation in price growth.

“Recent Ipsos survey results suggest that home buying activity in the GTA will remain strong moving forward. The year-over-year dip in home sales we have experienced over the last two months seem to be the result of would-be buyers putting their decision to purchase temporarily on hold while they monitor the impact of the Fair Housing Plan. On the supply side of the market, it certainly looks as though buyers will benefit from more choice in the second half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016,”said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis and Service Channels.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

■Market Watch | June, 2017

Active Listings Increase in May

June 5, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 10,196 sales through TREB's MLS® System in May 2017 – down by 20.3 per cent compared to 12,790 sales reported in May 2016. Sales of detached homes were down by 26.3 per cent. Sales of condominium apartments were down by 6.4 per cent.

Active listings – the number of properties available for sale at the end of May – were up by 42.9 per cent compared to the lowest level in 15 years recorded in May 2016, but remained below the average and peak during that period. The number increased considerably for low-rise home types including detached and semi-detached houses and townhouses. Active listings for condominium apartments were down compared to May 2016.

"Home buyers definitely benefitted from a better supplied market in May, both in comparison to the same time last year and to the first four months of 2017. However, even with the robust increase in active listings, inventory levels remain low. At the end of May, we had less than two months of inventory. This is why we continued to see very strong annual rates of price growth, albeit lower than the peak growth rates earlier this year," said Mr. Cerqua.

Selling prices continued to increase strongly in May compared to the same month in 2016. The MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark price was up by 29 per cent year-over-year. The average selling price for all home types combined for the TREB Market Area as a whole was up by 14.9 per cent to $863,910. Year-over-year price increases were greater for condominium apartments compared to low-rise home types. This likely reflects the fact that the low-rise market segments benefitted most from the increase in listings.

"The actual, or normalized, effect of the Ontario Fair Housing Plan remains to be seen. In the past, some housing policy changes have initially led to an overreaction on the part of homeowners and buyers, which later balanced out. On the listings front, the increase in active listings suggests that homeowners, after a protracted delay, are starting to react to the strong price growth we've experienced over the past year by listing their home for sale to take advantage of these equity gains," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Monday, May 15, 2017

■This Month in Real Estate | MAY 2017


■Condo & Rental Market Report | Q1 2017

Condo Market Conditions Tightened Further in Q1

April 25, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported a double-digit annual increase in condominium apartment sales in the first quarter of 2017. A total of 7,251 condominium apartments changed hands through TREB's MLS® System during the first three months of 2017 – up 21.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2016.

Over the same period of time, the number of new condominium apartment listings entered into the MLS® System was down by 18.8 per cent to 9,036 compared to 11,123 new listings a year earlier.

"Condominium apartments have historically been the housing type of choice for many first-time buyers due to the relatively lower price point compared to groundoriented housing options. Given that more than half of intending home buyers are expected to be first-time buyers in 2017, according to a recent Ipsos poll conducted for TREB, it makes sense that demand for this housing type has remained strong," said Mr. Cerqua.

The average selling price for condominium apartments in the first quarter of 2017 was $489,551 – up 24.3 per cent compared to an average of $393,858 for the first quarter of 2016. The average price was highest in the City of Toronto, at $521,842, representing a year-over-year increase of 24.3 per cent.

"Market conditions became much tighter in the condominium apartment segment over the past year, with sales accounting for a greater share of listings. As competition between buyers increased further, the pace of price growth accelerated," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.


Tight Rental Market Conditions Continue in Q1

TORONTO, ONTARIO, April 25, 2017 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 6,680 condominium apartment lease transactions through TREB’s MLS® System during the first quarter of 2017. This result was up by 3.5 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2016.

The number of condominium apartments listed for rent at some point during the first quarter was up on a year-over-year basis, but by less than one per cent.

“As the population and, by extension, number of households continues to grow in the Greater Toronto Area, the demand for housing increases. Some of this demand is pointed at the rental market, including condominium apartments that owners have chosen to rent out to tenants. The problem is that the supply of units available for rent has not kept up with demand, leading to more competition between renters and strong upward pressure on average rents,” said Mr. Cerqua.

The average one-bedroom condominium apartment rent for the TREB market area as a whole was up by 7.8 per cent to $1,791. The average two-bedroom rent was up by 6.8 per cent to $2,432.

“It is important to remember that the rental market meets the housing needs for a substantial number of GTA residents, including newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in the region. As a result, the rental market often falls under the public policy lens. Policies pointed at the rental market should be based on solid empirical evidence and should not hamper the supply of rental listings, which has been the main issue impacting renters over the last year,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis.

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Thursday, May 4, 2017

■Market Watch | May, 2017

Strong Growth in New Listings in April

May 3, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® entered 33.6 per cent more new listings into TREB's MLS® System in April 2017, at 21,630, compared to the same month in 2016. New listings were up by double-digits for all low-rise home types, including detached and semi-detached houses and townhouses. New listings for condominium apartments were at the same level as last year.

Total sales for the TREB market area as a whole amounted to 11,630 – down 3.2 per cent year-over-year. One issue underlying this decline was the fact that Easter fell in April in 2017 versus March in 2016, which resulted in fewer working days this year compared to last and, historically, most sales are entered into TREB's MLS® System on working days.

"The fact that we experienced extremely strong growth in new listings in April means that buyers benefited from considerably more choice in the marketplace. It is too early to tell whether the increase in new listings was simply due to households reacting to the strong double-digit price growth reported over the past year or if some of the increase was also a reaction to the Ontario government's recently announced Fair Housing Plan," said Mr. Cerqua. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark Price was up by 31.7 per cent year-over-year in April 2017. Similarly, the average selling price for all home types combined was up by 24.5 per cent to $920,791.

"It was encouraging to see a very strong year-over-year increase in new listings. If new listings growth continues to outpace sales growth moving forward, we will start to see more balanced market conditions. It will likely take a number of months to unwind the substantial pent-up demand that has built over the past two years. Expect annual rates of price growth to remain well-above the rate of inflation as we move through the spring and summer months," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

■Market Watch | April, 2017

Tight Market Conditions Continue in March

April 5, 2017
 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 12,077 residential sales through TREB's MLS® System in March 2017. This result represented a 17.7 per cent increase compared to the 10,260 sales reported in March 2016. For the TREB market area as a whole, annual sales growth was strongest for condominium apartments and detached houses.

The number of new listings also increased on a year-over-year basis, at 17,051 – a 15.2 per cent increase compared to March 2016. The strongest growth in new listings was experienced in the detached market segment. While new listings were up strongly compared to last year, the rate new listings growth was still lower than the rate of sales growth. As a result, GTA market conditions continued to tighten.

"It has been encouraging to see that policymakers have not implemented any knee-jerk policies regarding the GTA housing market. Different levels of government are holding consultations with market stakeholders and TREB has participated and will continue to participate in these discussions. Policy makers must remember that it is the interplay between the demand for and supply of listings that influences price growth," said Mr. Cerqua.

Strong competition between buyers continued to cause high levels of price growth in all major market segments. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark Price was up by 28.6 per cent year-over-year. For the TREB market area as a whole, the average selling price was up by 33.2 per cent, with similar annual rates of growth in the low-rise and condominium apartment segments.

"Annual rates of price growth continued to accelerate in March as growth in sales outstripped growth in listings. A substantial period of months in which listings growth is greater than sales growth will be required to bring the GTA housing market back into balance. As policy makers seek to achieve this balance, it is important that an evidence-based approach is followed," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Monday, April 3, 2017

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Monday, March 6, 2017

■Market Watch | March, 2017

Sales Up and Listings Down in February

March 3, 2017
 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 8,014 residential sales through TREB's MLS® System in February 2017. Despite the fact that February 2016 had one more day due to the leap year day, this result was up on a year-over-year basis by 5.7 per cent compared to 7,583 sales reported last year.

"The February statistics tell me that many Greater Toronto Area households continue to view home ownership as a great long-term investment. The high demand for ownership housing we're seeing is broad-based, with strong sales growth for most low-rise home types and condominium apartments. This makes sense given the results of a recent consumer survey undertaken for TREB by Ipsos, which found an even split between intending first-time buyers and existing homeowners who indicated that they were planning on purchasing a home in 2017," said Cerqua.

While the demand for ownership housing grew over the past year, new listings entered into TREB's MLS® System in February were down on a year-over-year basis by 12.5 per cent to 9,834.

The MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark Price was up by 23.8 per cent compared to February 2016. Similarly, the average selling price was up by 27.7 per cent year-over-year to $875,983. Annual rates of price growth continued to be strongest for low-rise home types, particularly detached houses. Growth rates for condominium apartment prices were also in the double digits, likely a result of strong demand from first-time buyers.

"The listing supply crunch we are experiencing in the GTA has undoubtedly led to the double digit home price increases we are now experiencing on a sustained basis, both in the low-rise and high-rise market segments. Until we see a marked increase in the number of homes available for sale, expect very strong annual rates of price growth to continue," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

■Market Watch | February, 2017

Strong Start to 2017
February 3, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 5,188 residential transactions through TREB's MLS® System in January 2017. This result was up by 11.8 per cent compared to 4,640 sales reported in January 2016. Annual rates of sales growth were higher for condominium apartments than for low-rise home types.

January 2017 picked up where 2016 left off: sales were up on a year-over-year basis while the number of new listings was down by double-digit annual rates for most major home types.

"Home ownership continues to be a great investment and remains very important to the majority of GTA households. As we move through 2017, we expect the demand for ownership housing to remain strong, including demand from first-time buyers who, according to a recent Ipsos survey, could account for more than half of transactions this year. However, many of these would-be buyers will have problems finding a home that meets their needs in a market with very little inventory," said Cerqua.

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark price was up by 21.8 per cent on a year-over-year basis in January. Similarly, over the same period, the average selling price was up by 22.3 per cent to $770,745, with double-digit gains in the average prices for all major home types.

"The number of active listings on TREB's MLS® System at the end of January was essentially half of what was reported as available at the same time last year. That statistic, on its own, tells us that there is a serious supply problem in the GTA – a problem that will continue to play itself out in 2017. The result will be very strong price growth for all home types again this year," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

■Condo & Rental Market Report | Q4 2016

Strong Condo Sales and Price Growth in Q4 2016

January 26, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that condominium apartment sales reported by Greater Toronto REALTORS® in the fourth quarter of 2016 were up by 22.3 per cent yearover- year to 6,831. Over the same period of time, new listings were down by 13.4 per cent.

With a double-digit annual increase in sales and a double-digit annual decline in new listings, condo market conditions tightened substantially over the past year.

"Gone are the days when we were concerned about a potential glut in inventory in the condominium apartment market. The supply concerns that have been top-ofmind for ground-oriented home types are also now a reality for the condo market segment. Regardless of the price measure considered, heightened competition between condo buyers has resulted in double-digit price inflation," said Mr. Cerqua.

At the end of the fourth quarter, the MLS® Home Price Index apartment benchmark price was up by 15.2 per cent. The average condominium apartment selling price for the fourth quarter was up by 14.5 per cent to $437,281.

"First-time buyers represent an important component of home ownership demand. Many households looking to purchase their first home will consider a condominium apartment. Interest in this market segment has continued to grow as prices for lowrise home types have increased on a sustained basis," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.


Strong Average Rent Growth in Q4 2016

TORONTO, ONTARIO, January 26, 2017 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced continued tightening in the GTA condominium apartment rental market in the fourth quarter of 2016. Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 5,717 condominium apartment rental transactions through TREB’s MLS® System during the last three months of 2016 – down 5.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2015.

Rental transactions were down because of a lack of units available for rent, not because of declining demand.  The number of condo apartments listed for rent during the fourth quarter of 2016 shrank by more than 14 per cent to 9,545.

“We have talked a lot over the past year about a lack of inventory for ownership housing.  What is less well known is the fact that rental market conditions also tightened over the past year.  Competition between renters has increased, leading to very strong year-over-year growth in average rents,” said Mr. Cerqua.

The average one-bedroom condo apartment rent was $1,776, representing an annual increase of 7.4 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2015.  Over the same period, two-bedroom rents increased by eight per cent to $2,415.

“The demand for rental accommodation has increased in the GTA.  The condominium apartment vacancy rate dropped markedly between 2015 and 2016.  In many parts of the GTA, investor-owned condo apartments are the only option for renters looking for new, modern units in sought-after neighbourhoods.  In the absence of more units coming available, expect above-inflation rent growth to continue,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

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Friday, January 6, 2017

■Market Watch | January, 2017

Record Sales in 2016

January 5, 2017 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that 2016 was a second consecutive record year for home sales. Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 113,133 home sales through TREB's MLS® System – up by 11.8 per cent compared to 2015. The calendar year 2016 result included 5,338 sales in December – an annual increase of 8.6 per cent.

The strongest annual rate of sales growth in 2016 was experienced for condominium apartments followed by detached homes.

"A relatively strong regional economy, low unemployment and very low borrowing costs kept the demand for ownership housing strong in the GTA, as the region's population continued to grow in 2016," said Mr. Cerqua.

The annual rate of growth for the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) in the TREB market area accelerated throughout 2016 – from 10.7 per cent in January 2016 to 21 per cent in December 2016. The overall average selling price for calendar year 2016 was $729,922 – up 17.3 per cent compared to 2015. The pace of the annual rate of growth for the average selling price also picked up throughout the year, including a climb of 20 per cent in December.

"Price growth accelerated throughout 2016 as the supply of listings remained very constrained. Active listings at the end of December were at their lowest point in a decade-and-a-half. Total new listings for 2016 were down by almost four per cent. In 2016, we saw policy changes and policy debates pointed at the demand side of the market. If we want to see a sustained moderation in the pace of price growth, what we really need is more policy focus on issues impacting the lack of homes available for sale," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.