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Toronto Continues to Recover from 2017 Slump

By
Commercial Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto)


Toronto and GTA Markets in July 2019

This is the recently released report of the Toronto Real Estate Board concerning the July 2019 results:

          GTA REALTORS® Release July 2019 Stats TORONTO, August 6, 2019 –

Toronto Real Estate Board President Michael Collins announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 8,595 sales through TREB’s MLS® System in July 2019. This result was up by 24.3 per cent compared to July 2018. On a month-over-month basis, sales were up by 5.1 per cent, after preliminary seasonal adjustment.

New listings entered into TREB’s MLS® System in July 2019 were up compared to July 2018, but by a much lesser annual rate than sales, at 3.7 per cent. With annual growth in sales far outstripping annual growth in new listings, market conditions clearly tightened compared to last year. Active listings at the end of July were down by 9.1 per cent year-over-year, further reflecting tightening market conditions.

As market conditions continued to tighten in July, the average selling price increased by 3.2 per cent on a year-over-year basis to $806,755. The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was up by 4.4 per cent. Higher density home types continued to drive price growth, whereas detached home prices remained down in many communities throughout the GTA.

Broadly speaking, increased competition between buyers for available properties has resulted in relatively strong price growth above the rate of inflation for semi-detached houses, townhouses and condominium apartments. However, the single-detached market segment, which has arguably been impacted most by the OSFI stress test, has experienced a slower pace of price growth, with average detached prices remaining lower than last year’s levels in some parts of the GTA.

 

REVIEW


 

Here are the average sale prices as reported by TREB for single family homes of all types in the GTA, including houses, townhouses and apartments starting at the beginning of 2018 until now:


 

Average Prices              Month
 

2018
 

$734,837              January 1st

$735,874              January 31st

$767,801              February    

$784,514              March

$804,926              April

$803,440              May

$808,066              June

$781,918              July

$765,252              August

$796,814              September

$807,538              October

$787,741              November

$749,019              December

 

2019
 

$749,019              January 1st

$747,515              January 31st

$779,748              February

$788,153              March

$820,536              April

$838,220              May

$831,737              June

$806,755              July    

 

For those following these numbers on a monthly basis, please note that some of the recent sales numbers in 2019 have had to be restated. A few transactions may have fallen through and not closed as originally scheduled. Consequently, TREB deletes them and re-enters them in the proper month. That will throw the average prices off by a few hundred dollars.

 

Let’s do a quick analysis. 2018 started with $734,837 and we are now at $806,755, that’s an increase of $71,918 which is 9.78% increase over the nineteen month period. Expressed over 12 months, that’s a 6.18% annualized increase.

 


Let’s also go back to 2017 which was the year with the peak of the market and the sudden drop. 2017 started with $730,472 and we are now at $806,755, that’s an increase of $76,283 which is 10.44% increase over the thirty one (31) month period. Expressed over 12 months, that’s a 4.04annualized increase.

 

Why don’t we try the short term numbers for just 2019?  The calendar year 2019 started with $749,019 and we are now at $806,755, that’s an increase of $57,736 which is 7.71% increase over the seven month period. Expressed over 12 months, that’s a 13.21% annualized increase.  

So, what’s the percentage rate of increase?

 

From 2017                     4.04%           calculated

From 2018                     6.18%           calculated

From 2019                     13.21%            estimated     

        

Volume of Sales

 

Month                  2019                     2018           Trend

January                3,969                      3,987          down

February              4,983                      5,148          down

March                  7,138                      7,188          down         

April                     9,008                     7,742         up              

May                      9,961                     8,402          up

June                      8,849                     8,024          up

July                      8,595                      6,916          up

 

Total                    52,503                  47,407          up

 

Last year the total sales for the first seven months was 47,407, and this year it’s 52,503, or 5,096 more transactions representing an 10.75% increase.

 

This trend will put the pressure on prices. Buyers have obviously chosen to enter the market rather than continue to sit on the sidelines. Eliminating the stress test as lengthening the amortization periods would help too.

 

COMMENT

 

This looks like an attractive and balanced market for both Buyers and Sellers. Lightening up on the stress test (mortgage qualifications rules) and extending amortization periods will permit Buyers to get more house for the money they spend. That’s a political decision and we have a federal election coming up this October. This will be topical.

Detached homes are still the most popular and sought after in the marketplace. The problem is that they became just too expensive for the average buyer. You will see a resurgence in prices for detached homes over the next few months.


 

Brian Madigan LL.B., Broker

www.iSourceRealEstate.com

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