The Canadian housing market outlook for 2020 started strong. Ontario, the country’s most highly populated province, continues to attract homebuyers. While the coronavirus pandemic may shift this expectation in the short-term, the market will rebound quickly.
For buyers who want to purchase a home in Ontario, it can be challenging to decide where to settle down. Home prices vary across the province, and external factors can affect how much these prices increase. In 2019, among cities in Ontario, Oakville was the housing market with the most expensive sale price while Cornwall was the housing market with the least expensive sale price.
Here are some factors that determine Ontario real estate prices:
Low-interest rates
The Bank of Canada has reduced interest rates to 0.25%, from 1.25%. This new rate will stimulate more demand in the market to help lift the economy. However, low inventory will cause price increases, since sellers will want to get the best possible price.
The positive is that homebuyers are able to borrow more money at a reduced rate. This could lead to huge cost savings over time for buyers.
Some first-time buyers were challenged in entering the market previously due to the mortgage stress test. However, the lower interest rate can help buyers qualify for a mortgage and buy a larger or better home in areas outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which are more affordable.
Differences between Ontario’s housing markets
In Ontario, various housing markets outside the GTA are generally less volatile. Many people start their home search outside of the city, where greater affordability can be found.
In February, the average residential selling price in Toronto was up by 16.7%, to $910,290. A year-over-year double-digit price increase was seen in detached houses and condominiums. Great news for homeowners and sellers, but challenging for buyers on a budget.
Price-conscious buyers are thus choosing to live in the suburbs or rural areas of the province and commute to Toronto for work. The closer you get to the city, the more expensive housing becomes.
In other parts of Ontario, house prices are lower, since they don’t experience the level of demand seen in Toronto. This means homebuyers can take advantage of lower mortgage rates and less expensive property prices to purchase homes in these areas.
Yet, there are other cities in Ontario that are now showing similar trends to Toronto. For example, Ottawa and Windsor were experiencing seller’s market conditions, showing substantial year-over-year increases in average residential sale price at 11.7% and 11% between 2018 and 2019. Both cities continue to attract young professionals, especially with improved transportation features such as the Ottawa LRT.
The Niagara region also saw strong growth between 2018 and 2019, with average residential sale price increasing almost 13%.
Supply and demand
Especially in large cities like Toronto and Vancouver, it is challenging to purchase an affordable home because of high demand and low supply. In Toronto due to land shortages and the influx of immigrants, more people need homes to live in. At the start of 2020, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) shared that shrinking inventory had led to a double-digit jump in housing prices.
Whether homebuyers move to Toronto for job opportunities, better amenities or to be closer to transit, as this city continues to develop, it is expected that demand will grow alongside it.
According to a recent report by the Ontario Ministry of Finance, the population in this province is expected to increase by 38% by 2046. This is a jump from an estimated 14.3 million in 2018 to almost 19.8 million.
Yet, the number of listings continues to dwindle in the Toronto market. These market conditions result in bidding wars and more competition for desired homes. A seller’s market continues to prevail, making it difficult to enter this market as a buyer.
Seasonal real estate trends
Seasonality trends in the Ontario market can also play a role in real estate price increases.
During the winter, many people pause home searching to avoid poor weather conditions. If sellers are intent to sell during the winter season, the decrease in demand may require sellers to lower their asking price.
Spring and summer are when Canadians come out of “hibernation” to purchase homes. For sellers, the good weather can boost curb appeal to make their homes look better to homebuyers. Therefore, sellers can increase prices because of demand.
When the fall season rolls around, it can bring less inventory on the market because of the busy home purchasing activity which happened during the spring and summer seasons. Yet, demand remains stable, so homebuyers can expect competition when trying to secure the house they desire.
Ontario’s real estate prices haven’t shown signs of decreasing. Trends from earlier this year show that market activity continues despite social distancing measures from the coronavirus pandemic. Many housing markets in Ontario are considered seller’s markets. Yet, homebuyers can leverage low-interest rates to qualify for mortgages, purchase homes in areas with less demand, and use seasonal real estate trends to try to get a leg up on the competition.
HALIFAX – A village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.
Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.
Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.
The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.
Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.
They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave.
The Atlantic Community Shelters Society will also provide support to residents, ranging from counselling and mental health supports to employment and educational services.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
Housing affordability is a key issue in the provincial election campaign in British Columbia, particularly in major centres.
Here are some statistics about housing in B.C. from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Rental Market Report, issued in January, and the B.C. Real Estate Association’s August 2024 report.
Average residential home price in B.C.: $938,500
Average price in greater Vancouver (2024 year to date): $1,304,438
Average price in greater Victoria (2024 year to date): $979,103
Average price in the Okanagan (2024 year to date): $748,015
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Vancouver: $2,181
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Victoria: $1,839
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Canada: $1,359
Rental vacancy rate in Vancouver: 0.9 per cent
How much more do new renters in Vancouver pay compared with renters who have occupied their home for at least a year: 27 per cent
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Voters along the south coast of British Columbia who have not cast their ballots yet will have to contend with heavy rain and high winds from an incoming atmospheric river weather system on election day.
Environment Canada says the weather system will bring prolonged heavy rain to Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler and Vancouver Island starting Friday.
The agency says strong winds with gusts up to 80 kilometres an hour will also develop on Saturday — the day thousands are expected to go to the polls across B.C. — in parts of Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver.
Wednesday was the last day for advance voting, which started on Oct. 10.
More than 180,000 voters cast their votes Wednesday — the most ever on an advance voting day in B.C., beating the record set just days earlier on Oct. 10 of more than 170,000 votes.
Environment Canada says voters in the area of the atmospheric river can expect around 70 millimetres of precipitation generally and up to 100 millimetres along the coastal mountains, while parts of Vancouver Island could see as much as 200 millimetres of rainfall for the weekend.
An atmospheric river system in November 2021 created severe flooding and landslides that at one point severed most rail links between Vancouver’s port and the rest of Canada while inundating communities in the Fraser Valley and B.C. Interior.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
