Home prices across the country have increased, especially in popular urban areas such as Toronto and Vancouver. Many Canadians have felt they have either been completely priced out of the market, or have to settle for a home vastly cheaper than their dream home. It seems many prospective homebuyers are becoming fed up with the […]
City
Number of Housing Starts Fell Sharply in May – Lowest Level in a Year
Amidst months of above-average activity, the pace of housing starts for the month of May fell sharply to 195,613 units from 216,775 units this past April, according to a recent report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC). The decline seen in May was due to drastically fewer condos, apartments, and town homes being […]
Announcements
Is The Housing Market Still One Of The Biggest Vulnerabilities To Our Economy?
The Bank of Canada released its Financial System Review last week, and while instability in the housing market, alongside high household debt, remains to be one of the biggest vulnerabilities to Canada’s economy, there may be subtle signs of easing. Government interventions, such as higher interest rates and tighter mortgage lending guidelines, have played a […]
Announcements
69% of GTA Residents Believe The Most Pressing Issue in This Election is: Housing Policy
The provincial election is one day away and according to a recent poll done by Ipsos, a majority of voters across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) want the next elected party to put focus on housing policies that will increase supply and reduce demand in the region as well as decreasing provincial and municipal land […]
Announcements
GTA May Home Sales Plunge Again – 22%
On Monday, The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released its Monthly Market Figures for the month of May, and home sales across the Greater Toronto Area are down, once again, when compared to the same time last year. According to the report, the number of home sales for May was 7,834 units, a 22.2 per […]
Announcements
CIBC: New Canadian Mortgages To Be Reduced By Half In Back Half Of Year
Last week, CIBC forewarned that the number of mortgages it will grant in the back half of the year will be reduced by 50 per cent. The bank, which faced a serious number of cutbacks for mortgage applications during the first half of the year, believes that the new lending guidelines (including stress test for […]
City
Millennials Are Opting Out Of Condos And Looking For More Spacious Homes. The Issue: The Lack of (Affordable) Supply
Millennials are outnumbering Baby Boomers and are quickly becoming the fastest growing cohort in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). As the growth of this generation continues, so does the demand for housing. According to a new study released last week by Ryerson University’s Centre for Urban Research and Land Development, 500,000 Millennials will […]
City
Excessive Regulations And Barriers To Development Are Costing Canadian Home Buyers An Extra $200,000: New Study
Outdated zoning bylaws, deferrals on permit approvals, amplified development charges, and land-use restrictions in Southern Ontario’s Greenbelt, have added nearly $168,000 to single-detached homes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and $644,000 in Vancouver – the two (already) priciest cities in Canada. According to a new study released last week by C.D. Howe Institute, government […]
City
Luxury Condo Prices Outperform Luxury Detached Homes
Amidst government interventions, rising mortgage rates, and declining sales activity within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), luxury condo prices have remained comparatively resilient. According to new figures released last week by Royal LePage, luxury condo prices outpaced luxury detached homes in the GTA over the first four months of the year, with average prices rising […]
City
Toronto Home Sales for the Month of April: Lowest Recorded in 15 Years
While the housing market may appear to be stabilizing itself, when compared to the whirlwind number of sales and steep pricing last year, the latest Market Figures report released by the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) shows April home sales are at its lowest level in 15 years. Typically, April tends to be a big month for the […]
City
What Rising Mortgage Rates Mean for Canadian Homebuyers
Last week, three of the five largest banks in Canada, TD Bank, CIBC, and RBC, raised their benchmark rates for five-year fixed mortgage rates, igniting concern amongst homebuyers and homeowners. TD Bank began the rippling effect of rising interest rates last Wednesday, increasing its five-year fixed rate 45 points, from 5.14% to 5.59% – not […]