Welcome to a new year and to that rosy feeling of anticipation as we consider all the possibilities of a fresh beginning!
Let’s take a look at what’s been happening in the world of Toronto real estate during the initial days of 2018. Here’s a breakdown courtesy of our parent brokerage, Bosley Real Estate!
Welcome to a new year of Toronto real estate! First, let’s sum up the market for 2017.
• GTA realtors reported 92,394 sales through Treb’s MLS, down 18.3 percent compared to (113,133) the record set in 2016
• Record sales in Ql were followed by a decline in Q2 and Q3 after the Ontario Fair Housing Plan was announced.
• The average selling price for 2017 was $822,681- up 12.7 percent compared to 2016.
• The “stress” test was introduced in October causing a rush of new listings and sales for November and December.
There is no doubt that the new mortgage rules will impact the purchasing power of buyers in the resale market, pushing everyone down a rung on the property ladder.
Because of the housing bubble in the first quarter of 2017, this year will be a year of data misrepresentation. Any comparison to that bubbly time will make 2018 look bad. The media likes to report comparable data without providing context and the word “crash” might be thrown around liberally.
As for foreign buyers, they still view Canada as a very safe place to put their money, and many other foreign buyers are buying for their children when they attend University here, or for themselves based on a planned future move here.
The condominium resale market we expect to still be robust this year, with asking prices topping $1000 per square feet. The average price for a condo was close to $550,000 for the City of Toronto, up 15 percent compared to 2016.
Many investors still view Toronto condos as great long-term investments, but higher interest rates, rent control, and mortgage rule changes, might leave investors hesitant to buy.
It’s still too early to predict with any certainty what will happen i the next 12 months; with many new “rules” taking effect this year some buyers and sellers are reluctant to make a move. The waiting game begins!
*Bosley Real Estate Ltd. is a full service boutique brokerage operating in Toronto, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Port Hope, Ontario since 1928. We have four centrally located offices and over 250 sales representatives selling and leasing homes and condominiums in all the vibrant communities we work in. Our brand is well recognized internationally thanks to our unique affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Our sales teams meet weekly to discuss market conditions, trending topics, and anecdotes that more accurately reflect the true temperature of the real estate market.
HERE ARE THE TOP FIVE TRENDING STORIES OF THE PAST WEEK:
Here’s How Much House You Can Afford Under Canada’s New Mortgage Rules
“The mortgage stress test is a tool used to ensure that buyers do not spend more on a home than they can actually afford.”
Toronto Real Estate Board Blames Government For 18% Drop In Sales
“Detached home prices in Toronto are lower than they were a year ago.”
2017 Was The Year Of The Condo In Canadian Real Estate: Royal LePage Report
“One of the country’s biggest residential real estate companies is forecasting a 6.8 per cent increase in Toronto area housing prices next year with starter homes — particularly condos — expected to be in high demand again.”
Scooch over: Toronto has room for more density, study says
“Toronto’s population could triple and still be less dense than Brooklyn, N.Y., a Fraser Institute report suggests.”
Toronto’s luxury housing market hits rough patch as sales slump
“Toronto city council has approved regulations for short-term rentals in the city that would apply to such services as Airbnb.”
~ Steven and the Urbaneer Team
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage • (416) 322-8000
http://www.urbaneer.com • info@urbaneer.com
– earn your trust, then your business –
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