■Market Watch | DECEMBER, 2020

 GTA REALTORS^® Release November Stats

The record pace of home sales in the fall continued with 8,766 sales reported in November by Greater Toronto Area REALTORS^® through the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s (TRREB) MLS^® System. This result was up by 24.3 per cent compared to November of last year.

Generally speaking, year-over-year growth in sales was stronger for single-family homes in the GTA regions surrounding the City of Toronto, but annual single-family growth rates remained robust in the ‘416’ area code as well. “Home buyers continued to take advantage of very low borrowing costs in November, especially those looking to buy some form of single-family home. Competition between buyers for ground-oriented homes has been extremely strong in many neighbourhoods throughout the GTA, which has continued to support double-digit annual rates of price growth,” said Lisa Patel, TRREB President.

The MLS^® HPI Composite Benchmark was up by 10.6 per cent in November 2020 compared to November 2019. The average selling price for all home types combined was up by 13.3 per cent to $955,615.

Market conditions tightened in many single-family market segments in November, resulting in double-digit year-over-year increases in average selling prices for detached houses, semi-detached houses and townhouses.

In contrast to the single-family market segments, buyers continued to benefit from much more choice in the condominium apartment market compared to last year, particularly in the City of Toronto. The number of new condominium apartment listings in November was almost double that reported in November of last year. More options in the condo apartment market translated into a small year-over-year decline in the average condominium apartment selling price in the ‘416’ area code.

“The condominium apartment market is certainly more balanced than in previous years, with some buyers benefitting from lower selling prices compared to last year. However, this may be somewhat of a short-term phenomenon. Once we move into the post-COVID period, we will start to see a resumption of population growth, both from immigration and a return of non-permanent residents. This will lead to an increase in demand for condominium apartments in the ownership and rental markets,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB Chief Market Analyst.

■This Month in Real Estate | NOVEMBER, 2020

 

■Condo & Rental Market Report | Q3 2020

TREB Releases Q3 2020 Condo Market Statistics

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Lisa Patel announced that third quarter 2020 condominium apartment sales reported by Greater Toronto Area REALTORS^® totalled 7,072 – up 10.5 per cent from Q3 2019. The number of new listings in Q3 2020 amounted to 17,613 – an 84.6 per cent increase over Q3 2019. Active listings at the end of Q3 were more than double that reported the same time last year.

“The condominium apartment segment experienced the second best third quarter on record in terms of sales and the best third quarter on record in terms of the average selling price. However, while the pace of year-over-year condo sales and price growth remained strong, it was lower than that reported for low-rise home types. The condo market became much better supplied as many investors moved to sell their units, due in part to softer rental market conditions and a short-term rental market that was impacted by stricter regulations and the COVID-19-related drop in tourism,” said Ms. Patel.

The overall average condominium apartment selling price was up by 8.3 per cent year-over-year in the third quarter to $633,484. The average selling price in the City of Toronto, at $680,963, was up by a similar rate over the same period.

“While condo buyers certainly benefitted from more choice in the third quarter compared to the past few years, there was still enough competition between buyers to support average selling prices substantially above last year’s levels. It is important to note that one quarter does not make a trend, either on the demand or supply sides of the market. How the relationship unfolds between condo sales and listings over the next three to six months will dictate the longer-term direction for selling prices,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

 TRREB Releases Q3 2020 Condo Rental Market Stats

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Lisa Patel announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS^® reported 14,036 condominium apartment rentals through TRREB’s MLS^® System during the third quarter 2020. This was an increase of 30.2 per cent over Q3 2019.

The number of condominium apartments listed for rent at some point during Q3 2020 was up by 113.9 per cent compared to Q3 2019.

“Demand for condo rentals was very strong in the third quarter, with a record number of quarterly transactions reported. However, during the same period, the number of units listed more than doubled compared to last year. Many investor-owners took their units out of the short-term rental market, due to stricter regulations and the COVID-19-related tourism downturn, and made them available in the traditional rental marketplace. The result was more choice and more negotiating power for renters,” said Ms. Patel.

The average one-bedroom condominium apartment rent was down by 11.1 per cent year-over-year in Q3 2020 to $2,012 compared to $2,262 in Q3 2019. The average two-bedroom condominium apartment rent was down by 9.2 per cent over the same time period to $2,672 compared to $2,941 in Q3 2019.

“The demand for condo rentals remained very strong in Q3 as the economy experienced a substantial rebound. However, this demand was overshadowed by the very rapid rise in rental listings. Even if rental transactions remain at or near record levels, it will take some time for the added supply to be absorbed. Once we move into the post-COVID period, population growth from immigration and non-permanent residents will bolster rental demand and absorption,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

■Market Watch | NOVEMBER, 2020

GTA REALTORS^® Release October Stats

Home sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were up again year-over-year for the fourth month in a row. Our Members made 10,563 sales as reported through the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s MLS^® System in October 2020. This was up by 25.1 per cent compared to 8,445 transactions in October 2019.

Sales and new listings reached record levels for the month of October. However, year-over-year growth rates for sales and new listings diverged in some market segments. In the detached market segment, the pace of annual sales growth far outstripped growth in new listings. Conversely, the condominium apartment market segment experienced more than double the new listings compared to October 2019, whereas sales were only up by 2.2 per cent over the same period.

“Competition between buyers of single-family homes, and particularly detached houses, remained strong last month and continued to support double-digit annual rates of price growth in many GTA neighbourhoods. In contrast, condo buyers have benefitted from much more choice compared to last year. Pre-COVID polling had already pointed to an increase in investor selling in 2020. The pandemic only added to this trend with a stall in economic growth and a halt to tourism impacting cashflows for many investors,” said Lisa Patel, TRREB’s President.

The MLS^® HPI Composite Benchmark was up by 10.8 per cent on a year-over-year basis in October 2020. The average selling price for all home types combined was $968,318 – up by 13.7 per cent compared to $851,877 in October 2019.

“Year-to-date home sales through October were above last year’s level. The economic recovery in some sectors coupled with low borrowing costs has kept home purchases top-of-mind for many GTA residents. With this being said, we have not accounted for all of the pent-up demand that resulted from the spring downturn. Expect record or near-record home sales for the remainder of 2020,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

■This Month in Real Estate | OCTOBER, 2020

■Market Watch | OCTOBER, 2020

GTA REALTORS^® Release September Stats

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Lisa Patel announced that sales reported through TRREB’s MLS^® System by Greater Toronto Area REALTORS^® amounted to 11,083 – a new record for the month of September. This result was up by 42.3 per cent compared to September 2019. Following a record third quarter, sales through the first nine months of 2020 were up by approximately one per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

“Improving economic conditions and extremely low borrowing costs sustained record-level sales in September, as we continued to account for the substantial amount of pent-up demand that resulted from the spring downturn. Further improvements in the economy, including job growth, would support strong home sales moving forward. However, it will be important to monitor the trajectory of COVID-19 cases, the related government policy response, and the impact on jobs and consumer confidence,” said Ms. Patel.

Year-over-year sales growth in September continued to be driven by ground-oriented market segments, including detached and semi-detached houses and townhouses. Annual growth rates were also higher for sales reported in the GTA regions surrounding the City of Toronto.

The September 2020 MLS^® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 11.6 per cent year-over-year. The average selling price for all home types combined in September was $960,772 – up by 14 per cent year-over-year. Price growth was driven by the low-rise market segments. The relatively better supplied condominium apartment segment experienced a comparatively slower pace of price growth.

“On a GTA-wide basis, market conditions tightened in September relative to last year, with sales increasing at a faster pace than new listings. With competition between buyers increasing noticeably, double-digit year-over-year price growth was commonplace throughout the region in September, resulting in the overall average selling price reaching a new record,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

■This Month in Real Estate | SEPTEMBER, 2020

 

■Market Watch | SEPTEMBER, 2020

GTA REALTORS^® Release August Stats

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Lisa Patel announced that the strong rebound in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales continued with a record result for the month of August. GTA REALTORS^® reported 10,775 residential sales through TRREB’s MLS^® System in August 2020 – up by 40.3 per cent compared to August 2019.

Sales were up on a year-over-year basis for all major home types, both in the City of Toronto and surrounding GTA regions. It should be noted that the low-rise market segments, including detached and semi-detached houses and townhouses, were the drivers of sales growth. Condominium apartment sales were up on an annual basis for the second straight month but to a lesser degree.

“Increased demand for ownership housing has been based on improving economic conditions, in terms of monthly GDP growth and job creation, and the continuation of very low borrowing costs. In addition, fewer households have chosen to go on vacation as a result of COVID-19 and instead have remained in the GTA and been active in the housing market, satisfying pent-up demand from the spring,” said Ms. Patel.

Both the number of new listings entered into TRREB’s MLS^® System during the month and the number of active listings at the end of the August 2020 were up on a year-over-year basis. While new listings were up strongly for all home types, growth in new condominium apartment listings far outstripped growth in the other market segments.

“Generally speaking, market conditions remained very tight in the GTA resale market in August. Competition between buyers was especially strong for low-rise home types, leading to robust annual rates of price growth. However, with growth in condominium apartment listings well-outstripping condo sales growth, condo market conditions were comparatively more balanced, which was reflected in a slower pace of price growth in that segment,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

The MLS^® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 11.1 per cent in August 2020 compared to August 2019. Over the same period, the overall average selling price was up by 20.1 per cent to $951,404. Annual detached and semi-detached sales growth was stronger in the comparatively more-expensive City of Toronto compared to the surrounding GTA regions, which helps explain why growth in the overall average selling price outstripped growth in the MLS^® HPI Composite Benchmark.

■Condo & Rental Market Report | Q2 2020

Q2 2020 Condo Market Report TORONTO, ONTARIO, July 31, 2020 –Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Lisa Patel announced that second quarter 2020 condominium apartment sales amounted to 3,459 – down 50.8 per cent compared to 7,024 sales in Q2 2019. The number of new condominium apartment listings amounted to 8,717 in Q2 2020 – down 21.6 per cent compared to 11,114 new listings entered in Q2 2019. “The condominium apartment market experienced a dip in sales and new listings in the second quarter of 2020, as many potential buyers moved to the sidelines as a result of public health measures taken to combat COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn. With the overall housing market trending toward recovery in June, condo apartment sales will likely improve in the third quarter,” said Ms. Patel. Despite market conditions becoming more balanced in Q2 2020, the average selling price for condo apartments was up 5.1 per cent compared to Q2 2019 to $619,707. “It will be important to watch the relationship between condominium apartment sales and new listings as we move through the second half of 2020. If economic recovery is sustained, the demand for condo apartments will improve. However, the prospect of stricter regulations on short-term rentals and softer rental market conditions could fuel increased listings of investor-held units. If we see more balanced market conditions, condo price growth could be more moderate compared to low-rise home types,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst. Q2 2020 Rental Market Report TORONTO, ONTARIO, July 31, 2020 – Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Lisa Patel announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,320 condominium apartment rentals through TRREB’s MLS® System in the second quarter of 2020. This result was down by 24.8 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2019. The number of condominium apartments listed for rent at some point during Q2 2020 was up by 42 per cent compared to Q2 2019. “There are two key take-aways from the Q2 2020 rental market statistics. First, COVID-19 clearly impacted the demand for rental condominium apartments, due to restrictions on showing units and job losses across many sectors of the economy. Second, we saw the continuation of the pattern experienced over the past year, with year-over-year growth in rental listings far outstripping growth in rental transactions, resulting in a much bettersupplied market and a moderating pace of rent growth,” said TRREB President Lisa Patel. The average one-bedroom condominium apartment rent was $2,083 in Q2 2020 – down five per cent from Q2 2019. The average two-bedroom condominium apartment rent was $2,713, representing a 5.6 per cent decline from Q2 2019. “Following very tight market conditions in 2018, we have seen a consistent trend toward balance in the GTA condominium apartment rental market over the past year-and-a-half. Accelerating growth in rental listings were at the root of this trend, but the COVID-19- related drop-off in rental transactions had a marked impact as well. Increased choice led to more negotiating power for renters, resulting in year-over-year declines in average rents in the second quarter of 2020,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst. Q1 2020 Rental Market Report TRREB Releases Q1 2020 Condo Rental Market Stats Greater Toronto Area REALTOS® reported 7,192 condominium apartment rentals through TREB’s MLS® System in the first quarter of 2020. This result was up by 8.6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2019. The number of condominium apartments listed for rent at some point during Q1 2020 was up by 31.9% compared to Q1 2019. With the number of condominium apartments listed increasing on a year-over-year basis by a greater rate than rental transactions, the year-over-year pace of average rent growth has moderated. The average one-bedroom condominium apartment rent was $2,187 in Q1 2020, up 2.1 per cent from Q1 2019. The average two-bedroom condominium apartment rent was $2,811, in line with the Q1 2019 result.

■This Month in Real Estate | AUGUST, 2020

 

■Market Watch | August, 2020

GTA REALTORS^® Release July 2020 Stats

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Lisa Patel announces that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS^® reported 11,081 sales through TRREB’s MLS^® System in July 2020 – a 29.5 per cent increase over July 2019 and a new record for the month of July. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, sales were up by 49.5 per cent compared to June 2020.

Year-over-year sales growth was driven by low-rise home types, particularly in the regions surrounding the City of Toronto. However, condominium apartment sales were also up on an annual basis, including in Toronto. Total new listings were also up strongly on a year-over-year basis by 24.7 per cent, but this annual growth rate was less than that of sales, which means market conditions tightened on average compared to July 2019. In addition, active listings at the end of July were down by 16.3 per cent.

“Sales activity was extremely strong for the first full month of summer. Normally we would see sales dip in July relative to June as more households take vacation, especially with children out of school. This year, however, was different with pent-up demand from the COVID-19-related lull in April and May being satisfied in the summer, as economic recovery takes firmer hold, including the Stage 3 re-opening. In addition, fewer people are travelling, which has likely translated into more transactions and listings,” said Ms. Patel.

The July 2020 MLS^® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark was up by 10 per cent compared to July 2019. The overall average selling price was up by 16.9 per cent year-over-year to $943,710. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price was up by 5.5 per cent compared to June 2020.

Price growth was strongest for low-rise home types, notably within the City of Toronto. Despite more balanced market conditions in the condominium apartment market segment, year-over-year price growth remained in the high single digits.

“Competition between buyers continued to increase in many segments of the GTA ownership housing market in July, which fueled a further acceleration in year-over-year price growth in July compared to June. On top of this, we also experienced stronger sales growth in the more-expensive detached market segment, which helps explain why annual growth in the overall average selling price was stronger than growth for the MLS^® HPI Composite benchmark,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

■This Month in Real Estate | JULY, 2020

■Market Watch | July, 2020

GTA REALTORS^® Release June 2020 Stats

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Lisa Patel announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS^® reported 8,701 sales through TRREB’s MLS^® System in June 2020. This result represented a very substantial increase over the May 2020 sales result, both on an actual (+89 per cent) and seasonally adjusted basis (+84 per cent), and was only down by 1.4 per cent compared to June 2019.

Year-over-year growth in sales was reported in some areas and market segments. Especially notable were the detached and townhouse market segments in the GTA regions surrounding the City of Toronto. New listings were up slightly on a year-over-year basis by 2.1 per cent. However, active listings on TRREB’s MLS^® System at the end of June 2020 were down by 28.8 per cent compared to June 2019. Growth in new listings will need to outstrip growth in sales for a number of months before active listings approach last year’s levels.

The MLS^® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 8.2 per cent year-over-year in June. The average selling price for all home types combined was $930,869 – up by 11.9 per cent compared to June 2019. The actual and seasonally-adjusted average selling price was also up substantially compared to May 2020, by 7.8 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively.

Average and benchmark selling prices were up year-over-year for all major home types. The strongest average annual rates of price growth were experienced in the detached and semi-detached market segments in the City of Toronto at 14.3 per cent and 22 per cent respectively. This, coupled with the fact that average selling price growth outstripped growth in the MLS^® HPI benchmarks, points to a resurgence in the higher-end market segments.

■This Month in Real Estate | JUNE, 2020

■Market Watch | June, 2020

GTA REALTORS^® Release May 2020 Stats

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS^® reported 4,606 sales through TRREB’s MLS^® System in May 2020. This result was down by 53.7 per cent compared to May 2019. While the number of sales was down substantially on a year-over-year basis due to the continued impact of COVID-19, the decline was less than the 67.1 per cent year-over-year decline reported for April 2020.

On a month-over-month basis, actual and seasonally adjusted May sales were up substantially compared to April. Actual May 2020 sales increased by 55.2 per cent compared to April 2020. After accounting for the regular seasonal increase that is experienced each year between April and May, seasonally adjusted sales were up by 53.2 per cent month-over-month.

The number of new listings entered into TRREB’s MLS^® System in May was down by a similar annual rate to that of sales, dipping by 53.1 per cent to 9,104. On a month-over-month basis, actual new listings were up by 47.5 per cent.

The MLS^® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark price was virtually unchanged in May 2020 compared to April 2020. On a year-over-year basis, the composite benchmark was up by 9.4 per cent. The average selling price for all home types combined was up by three per cent compared to May 2019 to $863,599. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price was up by 4.6 per cent month-over-month compared April 2020.

The difference in year-over-year growth between the MLS^® HPI Composite Benchmark and the average selling price was related to the fact that home sales in the City of Toronto, particularly in the detached segment, were down by a greater annual rate than overall sales in the GTA. This resulted in a compositional impact on the overall average selling price.

■This Month in Real Estate | MAY, 2020

■Market Watch | May, 2020

GTA REALTORS® RELEASE APRIL 2020 STATS

TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 5, 2020 – Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Michael Collins released the following key housing market statistics for April 2020:

Home Sales and Listings

• Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 2,975 residential transactions through TRREB’s MLS® System. This result was down by 67 per cent compared to April 2019. Weekday sales remained within a relatively steady range during the month, averaging 130 per day.
• New listings amounted to 6,174 in April 2020 – down on a year-over-year basis by a similar rate compared to sales (-64.1 per cent).


Home Prices

• The average selling price for April 2020 transactions was $821,392 – up by 0.1 per cent compared to the average price of $820,373 reported for April 2019. The semi-detached and townhouse market segments experienced annual average price growth above the rate of inflation. The condominium apartment and detached segments experienced year-over-year price declines on average.

• The trend for the MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark, which had been on an upward trajectory since the beginning of 2019 flattened in April. On a year-over-year basis, the Benchmark was up by 10 per cent.

• The MLS® HPI indices represent prices for typical homes with consistent attributes from one period to the next. The fact that the MLS® HPI was up year-over-year by a greater rate than the average selling price suggests that the share of higher end deals completed in April 2020 versus April 2019 was down.

■This Month in Real Estate | APRIL, 2020

■Market Watch | April, 2020

GTA REALTORS® RELEASE MARCH STATS

April 3, 2020 – Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 8,012 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in March 2020 – up by 12.3 per cent compared to 7,132 sales reported in March 2019.

However, despite a strong increase in sales for March 2020 as a whole, there was a clear break in market activity between the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. For the purposes of this release, the start of the post-COVID-19 period was the week beginning Sunday, March 15.

• The overall March sales result was clearly driven by the first two weeks of the month. There were 4,643 sales reported in the pre-COVID-19 period, accounting for 58 per cent of total transactions and representing a 49 per cent increase compared to the first 14 days of March 2019.

• There were 3,369 sales reported during the post-COVID-period – down by 15.9 per cent compared to the same period in March 2019.

For March as a whole, new listings were up by three per cent year-over-year to 14,424. However, similar to sales, new listings dropped on a year-over-year basis during the second half of the month (beginning March 15) by 18.4 per cent.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark price was up by 11.1 per cent year-over-year in March 2020. The average selling price for March 2020 as a whole was $902,680 – up 14.5 per cent compared to March 2019. The average selling price for sales reported between March 15 and March 31, was $862,563 – down from the first half of March 2020, but still up by 10.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

■This Month in Real Estate | MARCH, 2020

■Market Watch | March, 2020

GTA REALTORS® RELEASE FEBRUARY STATS

TORONTO, MARCH 4, 2020 – In line with the forecast contained in the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s recently released Market Year in Review and Outlook Report, TRREB President Michael Collins announced a very strong year-over-year sales and price growth in February 2020.

Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,256 residential transactions through TRREB’s MLS® System in February 2020, representing a 45.6 per cent increase compared to a 10-year sales low in February 2019. However, February 2020 sales were still below the 2017 record result. Year-over-year sales growth, for the GTA as a whole, was strongest for ground-oriented home types.

After preliminary seasonal adjustment, February 2020 sales also exhibited positive momentum, up by 14.8 per cent compared to January 2020.

New listings amounted to 10,613 in February 2020, a 7.9 per cent increase compared to February 2019. This moderate annual growth rate was much smaller than that reported for sales, which means market conditions tightened considerably over the past year.

As market conditions tightened over the past year, competition between buyers has clearly increased. This resulted in a further acceleration in year-over-year price growth in February. The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 10.2 per cent. The average selling price for all home types combined was up by 16.7 per cent to $910,290. Double-digit average price growth was experienced for most major market segments, including detached houses and condominium apartments.

■This Month in Real Estate | FEBRUARY, 2020

■Condo & Rental Market Report | Q4 2019

Condo Market Report

TREB Releases Q4 2019 Condo Market Statistics TORONTO, January 15, 2019- Toronto Real Estate Board President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 5,367 condominium apartment sales through TREB’s MLS® System in the fourth quarter of 2019. This result was up by 3.8 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.

New condominium apartment listings were down substantially by 11.9 per cent on a year-over-year basis when comparing to Q4 2018. This suggests that condo market conditions tightened further over the past year.

“The condominium apartment market segment continued to perform well in 2019, with strong growth in sales and average price. Condominium apartments provide a relatively affordable entry point into the home ownership market for first-time buyers, who account for a substantial portion of demand each year,” said Mr. Collins.

The average price of a condominium apartment increased by 10.4 per cent from $558,733 in Q4 2018 to $616,591 in Q4 2019. Year-over-year price growth in the City of Toronto, which accounted for 71 per cent of transactions, was similar to the GTA as whole, at 10.3 per cent, resulting in an average price of $660,379.

“Tighter market conditions in the GTA condo market translated into increased competition between buyers and an accelerated pace of price growth. TREB continues to urge policy makers to develop strategies to bring more ownership and rental supply online, so that balanced market conditions and a moderate pace of price growth can be sustained over the long term,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

Rental Market Report

TREB Releases Q4 2019 Condo Rental Market Stats TORONTO, January 15, 2019- Toronto Real Estate Board President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 6,758 condominium apartment rentals through TREB’s MLS® System in the fourth quarter of 2019. This result was up by 11.8 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.

The number of condominium apartments listed for rent at some point during Q4 2019 was up by 35.6 per cent compared to Q4 2018.

“Strong job growth across a number of different sectors coupled with the GTA’s renowned cultural diversity continued to fuel robust population growth in 2019. Obviously, all of these people needed a place to live, with many initially pointed to the rental market. This obviously underpinned the growth in condominium apartment rental transactions,” said TREB President Michael Collins.

Average condominium apartment rents were up on a year-over-year basis for one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The average one-bedroom condominium apartment rent was $2,209 in Q4 2019 – up 3.1 per cent compared to Q4 2018. The average two-bedroom condominium apartment rent was up by 3.4 per cent over the same period to $2,868.

“The condominium apartment rental market became progressively better supplied throughout 2019, as annual growth the number of units listed for rent outstripped growth in rental transactions. The increase in units listed was likely due, at least in part, to condominium apartment investor-owners listing their units for rent in response to extremely strong average rent growth in 2018 and 2019. This resulted in average rent growth moderating closer to the rate of inflation,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

■Market Watch | February, 2020

GTA REALTORS® RELEASE JANUARY 2020 STATS

TORONTO, February 6, 2020 - TRREB President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,581 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in January 2020 – up by 15.4 per cent compared to January 2019. On a preliminary seasonally adjusted basis, sales were up by 4.8 per cent compared to December 2019.

“We started 2020 where 2019 left off, with very strong growth in the number of sales up against a continued dip in the number of new and available listings. Tighter market conditions compared to a year ago resulted in much stronger growth in average selling prices. Steady population growth, low unemployment and low borrowing costs continued to underpin substantial competition between buyers in all major market segments,” said Mr. Collins.

The MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark price was up by 8.7 per cent compared to January 2019 – the highest annual rate of growth for the Benchmark since October 2017. The condominium apartment market segment continued to lead the way in terms of MLS HPI® price growth, but all home types experienced price growth above seven per cent when considering the TRREB market area as a whole. The average selling price in January was up by 12.3 per cent, driven by the detached and condominium apartment segments in the City of Toronto.

“A key difference in the price growth story in January 2020 compared to January 2019 was in the low-rise market segments, particularly with regard to detached houses. A year seems to have made a big difference. It is clear that many buyers who were on the sidelines due to the OSFI stress test are moving back into the market, driving very strong year-over-year sales growth in the detached segment. Strong sales up against a constrained supply continues to result in an accelerating rate of price growth,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Director of Market Analysis and Service Channels.

■This Month in Real Estate | JANUARY, 2020

■Market Watch | January, 2020

GTA REALTORS® Release December & Annual 2019 Stats

TORONTO, January 7, 2020 - Toronto Real Estate Board President Michael Collins reported that December 2019 residential sales reported through TREB’s MLS® System by Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® were up by 17.4 per cent year-over-year to 4,399. Total sales for calendar year 2019 amounted to 87,825 – up by 12.6 per cent compared to the decade low 78,015 sales reported in 2018. On an annual basis, 2019 sales were in line with the median annual sales result for the past decade.

“We certainly saw a recovery in sales activity in 2019, particularly in the second half of the year. As anticipated, many home buyers who were initially on the sidelines moved back into the market place starting in the spring. Buyer confidence was buoyed by a strong regional economy and declining contract mortgage rates over the course of the year,” said Mr. Collins.

While sales were up in 2019, the number of new listings entered into TREB’s MLS® System was down by 2.4 per cent year-over-year. For the past decade, annual new listings have been largely in a holding pattern between 150,000 and 160,000, despite the upward trend in home prices over the same period.

“Over the last ten years, TREB has been drawing attention to the housing supply issue in the GTA. Increasingly, policy makers, research groups of varying scope and other interested parties have acknowledged that the lack of a diverse supply of ownership and rental housing continues to hamper housing affordability in the GTA. Taking 2019 as an example, we experienced a strong sales increase up against a decline in supply. Tighter market conditions translated into accelerating price growth. Expect further acceleration in 2020 if there is no relief on the supply front,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 7.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in December 2019. From June 2019 onward, the annual growth rate in the MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark accelerated. The average selling price in December 2019 was $837,788 – up almost 12 per cent year-over-year. For calendar year 2019, the average selling price was $819,319 – up by four per cent compared to $787,856 in 2018.