A rendering of the primary bedroom – 802, 100 10A Street N.W. (Realtor.ca)Designed by architects Davignon and Martin, this 
A rendering of the formal dining room – 802, 100 10A Street N.W. (Realtor.ca)Located in The Kenten at 100 10A St. N.W., the building will include a private gym, sky lounge, golf simulator, concierge services, a hot tub and a sauna.
A look at 300 37 Ave. S.W. in Calgary, Alta. (Realtor.ca)Described as an “exceptionally rare” and “historic” property, this 
Inside 300 37 Ave. S.W. in Calgary, Alta. (Realtor.ca)”This home has been thoughtfully designed to connect back to nature while offering everyday family living and large-scale entertaining,” says the listing.
A look at 4111 162 Ave. S.W., in Calgary, Alta. (Realtor.ca)This 
A look at 4111 162 Ave. S.W., in Calgary, Alta. (Realtor.ca)It has a sports room, theatre room and a 
A look at 40 Eagle Ridge Place S.W. in Calgary, Atla. (Realtor.ca)This 
A look at 40 Eagle Ridge Place S.W. in Calgary, Alta. (Realtor.ca)The home may be of interest to culinary enthusiasts due to its walk-in cooler, gas cooktop, double ovens and commercial-grade appliances.
A look at 717 Royal Avenue S.W. in Calgary, Atla. (Realtor.ca)This 
A look at 717 Royal Avenue S.W. in Calgary, Alta. (Realtor.ca)”The house boasts plenty of areas in which to relax, spend some quality time together or unwind in peaceful solitude,” says the listing. “The bright sun filled family room, the sumptuous den with its hotel bar (complete with brass foot rail), the theatre room with 108” screen or the home gym with shower and sauna.
TORONTO – The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says home sales in October surged as buyers continued moving off the sidelines amid lower interest rates.
The board said 6,658 homes changed hands last month in the Greater Toronto Area, up 44.4 per cent compared with 4,611 in the same month last year. Sales were up 14 per cent from September on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The average selling price was up 1.1 per cent compared with a year earlier at $1,135,215. The composite benchmark price, meant to represent the typical home, was down 3.3 per cent year-over-year.
“While we are still early in the Bank of Canada’s rate cutting cycle, it definitely does appear that an increasing number of buyers moved off the sidelines and back into the marketplace in October,” said TRREB president Jennifer Pearce in a news release.
“The positive affordability picture brought about by lower borrowing costs and relatively flat home prices prompted this improvement in market activity.”
The Bank of Canada has slashed its key interest rate four times since June, including a half-percentage point cut on Oct. 23. The rate now stands at 3.75 per cent, down from the high of five per cent that deterred many would-be buyers from the housing market.
New listings last month totalled 15,328, up 4.3 per cent from a year earlier.
In the City of Toronto, there were 2,509 sales last month, a 37.6 per cent jump from October 2023. Throughout the rest of the GTA, home sales rose 48.9 per cent to 4,149.
The sales uptick is encouraging, said Cameron Forbes, general manager and broker for Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., who added the figures for October were stronger than he anticipated.
“I thought they’d be up for sure, but not necessarily that much,” said Forbes.
“Obviously, the 50 basis points was certainly a great move in the right direction. I just thought it would take more to get things going.”
He said it shows confidence in the market is returning faster than expected, especially among existing homeowners looking for a new property.
“The average consumer who’s employed and may have been able to get some increases in their wages over the last little bit to make up some ground with inflation, I think they’re confident, so they’re looking in the market.
“The conditions are nice because you’ve got a little more time, you’ve got more choice, you’ve got fewer other buyers to compete against.”
All property types saw more sales in October compared with a year ago throughout the GTA.
Townhouses led the surge with 56.8 per cent more sales, followed by detached homes at 46.6 per cent and semi-detached homes at 44 per cent. There were 33.4 per cent more condos that changed hands year-over-year.
“Market conditions did tighten in October, but there is still a lot of inventory and therefore choice for homebuyers,” said TRREB chief market analyst Jason Mercer.
“This choice will keep home price growth moderate over the next few months. However, as inventory is absorbed and home construction continues to lag population growth, selling price growth will accelerate, likely as we move through the spring of 2025.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
