Sales Strong in November

December 3, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS reported 6,510 existing home sales in November – down 13 per cent from 7,446 sales in November 2009. New listings were also down 13 per cent annually to 8,642.

On a month-over-month basis, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales increased for the fourth straight month to 88,100. This rate was substantially higher than the July low of 67,900.

"The GTA resale market has tightened since the summer. Healthy market conditions continued to support growth in the average selling price," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston.

"Sales through the first 11 months of the year were down only marginally compared to the same period in 2009. We remain on track for one of the best years on record under the current TREB market area," continued Johnston.

The average selling price for November transactions was $438,030 - up five per cent compared to November 2009.

"The average selling price in the GTA is affordable. A household earning the average income can comfortably cover the mortgage payments on an average priced home. Expect the average selling price to grow at a moderate pace over the next year," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

GTA Housing Market Conditions Remain Healthy in September

October 5, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 6,310 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in September 2010. This represented a 23 per cent decrease compared to the 8,196 sales recorded during the same period in 2009. Through the first nine months of the year, sales amounted to 69,069 – up four per cent compared to the first three quarters of 2009.

"The level of sales in the second half of 2010 has been lower, representing a balancing out period following record levels of sales in the latter half of 2009 and first few months of 2010. We remain on track for one of the best years in history for existing home transactions in the GTA," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston.

The average price for September transactions was $427,329– up five per cent compared to the average of $406,877 reported in September 2009. The average selling price through the first nine months of the year was $429,657.

"Resale homes in the GTA remain affordable," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

"It is important to consider the positive impact of declining mortgage rates over the past two decades. Simply considering home prices relative to incomes does not allow for an accurate analysis of affordability," continued Mercer. "The share of average household income going toward a mortgage payment on the average priced home in the GTA remains within accepted lending guidelines. This is why the average home selling price has continued to grow."

source: Treb

GTA REALTORS® Report Mid-Month Resale Housing Market Figures

TORONTO, October 18, 2010
Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 3,012 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) during the first two weeks of October 2010.
This represented a 17 per cent decrease compared to the 3,631 sales recorded during the same period in 2009. Year-to-date sales amounted to 71,988, representing a three per cent increase compared to 2009.
“The GTA resale market is balancing out from the record level of sales experienced in the second half of 2009 and first few months of 2010. This is why sales figures have been lower than 2009 levels in recent months. With this said, it should be noted that the annual rate of decline slowed somewhat through the first two weeks of October,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston.
The average price for October mid-month transactions was $444,644 – up seven per cent compared to the average of $414,479 recorded during the first 14 days of October 2009.
“We are seeing enough buyers relative to sellers to promote continued price growth year-over-year. People are buying because home ownership remains affordable in the GTA. A household earning the average income can comfortably afford a mortgage on the average priced resale home,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.
Source: Treb

Stabilization continues in Canadian resale housing market

Sometimes it feels good to be surprised, but Tuesday’s anticipated announcement by the Bank of Canada that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 percent was a relief. The global economic recovery is entering a new phase, and the Bank of Canada is now expecting weaker-than-projected recovery across the board, especially in the United States. Canada is not an exception in this shift in projections since July’s Monetary Policy Report, as the Bank continues to expect the economic recovery here will also be more gradual.

Corresponding to the overnight right maintaining at 1 percent, the Bank Rate is set at 1 ¼ percent and the deposit rate is set at ¾ percent. Growth rates in Canada are expected to be 3.0 percent in 2010, 2.3 percent in 2011, and 2.6 percent in 2012. Although a portion of this more subdued profile is a result of the more gradual global recovery, it also takes into account a more subdued expectation for Canadian household spending. The projections around household spending come from the decline in housing activity, and as a result, the increased focus on household debt considerations.
 
Source: PropertyWire

Sales and New Listings Down, Average Price up in July

August 5, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 6,564 sales in July – a 34 per cent dip from the record 9,967 sales reported in July 2009. New listings, at 10,825, dropped to the lowest level for the month of July since 2002.

"The level of July sales remained below the expected long-term trend. The market has become more balanced following record monthly sales through most of the winter and early spring," said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Bill Johnston.

Total sales through the first seven months of 2010 were up 12 per cent compared to the same period in 2009.

Notwithstanding the fact that price trends vary at the neighbourhood level in GTA, the average price for July transactions was $420,482, representing a six per cent increase over July 2009. Over the first seven months of 2010, the average selling price was up 12 per cent annually to $432,253.

"Market conditions promoting growth in the average selling price have remained in place. While July sales were down compared to last year, the number of new listings in the marketplace also fell. This means there was enough competition between buyers to exert upward pressure on price," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

 

 

Source; Treb

Market More Balanced in June

July 6, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 8,442 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in June. This represented a 23 per cent decrease compared to the record 10,955 sales reported in June 2009. Sales for the second quarter of 2010 amounted to 28,810 – up one per cent annually. Year-to-date sales through June were up 23 per cent to 50,455 compared to the first six months of 2009.

"We experienced a record number of existing home sales during the first half of 2010, but these sales were weighted more towards the beginning of the year," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston. "The pace of home sales has moderated from record levels over the past two months with the prospect of higher mortgage rates."

The average price for June transactions was $435,034 – up eight per cent compared to the average of $403,972 recorded for June 2009.

"With more homes to choose from in the second quarter, many home buyers have been making less-aggressive offers. This has resulted in less upward pressure on the average selling price," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "The annual rate of average price growth in the second half of 2010 will be in the single digits."

Median Price
In June, the median price was $367,750, from the $345,000 recorded during June of 2009.

Source: Treb

May Sales Remain High

Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,470 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®)

in May, representing a one percent dip from May 2009. In comparison to previous years, this was the third highest May sales result on record.

“The pace of transactions slowed in May following record-setting sales in February, March and April,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour.

“Buyers who otherwise would have been purchasing a home in May moved more quickly this year, likely to get ahead of mortgage rate hikes.”

New listings were up 38 per cent annually to 18,940. The average price for May transactions was $446,593 up 13 per cent compared to the average of $395,609 recorded in May 2009.

“The gap between listings and sales has widened, which means there is more choice for buyers,”said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

“The annual rate of price growth will slow in the second half of 2010, from the current double digit pace into the single digits.”
 
Median Price
In May, the median price was $376,750, from the
$337,000 recorded during May of 2009.

Source: treb