Existing home sales as measured by the Multiple Listing service (MLS®) are expected to increase during 2007 by 7.6% to approximately 519,722 units, surpassing the previous record level of 483,344 set in 2005. In 2008, MLS® sales are expected to decrease by 3.9% to 499,650 units reflecting moderating demand due to rising mortgage carrying costs. Despite this forecasted decline, MLS® sales in 2008 will be at their second highest level on record. During 2009, continuing moderation is expected with growth falling by 2.3 per cent to 488,300 units.
The average MLS® house price is expected to grow by 10.6% for 2007, to about $306,000 as strong sales in Western Canada continue to put pressure on prices. In 2008, existing home markets will become more balanced and price pressures will begin to ease. The average MLS® price will increase by 5.2 per cent to about $322,000 in 2008. Looking ahead to 2009, the average MLS® price is forecast to increase by 3.8% to approximately $335,000.

April 3, 2008 -- RealNet Canada Inc. releases the February 2008 GTA New Home Market Report, providing insight into sales activity, index price and remaining inventory of Low Rise and High Rise projects by product type for each TREB district. February 2008 New Home Sales Increased by 48% Compared to January 2008 February 2008 Low and High Rise new home sales in the Greater Toronto Area totaled 2,562 units/lots sold, down 6% from the same time last year. February 2008 Low Rise sales accounted for 58% (1,495) of the new home sales activity in the GTA, with an increase of sales of 43% from the previous month and a decline of 19% from the same month last year. February 2008 High Rise sales totaled 1,067 units sold, up 55% over the previous month and up 20% compared to the same time last year.

April 3, 2008 -- Low inventory levels kept the Greater Toronto Area resale housing market brisk but well off record levels last month, Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O’Neill announced today.

“Overall sales in the GTA declined 22 per cent compared to March 2007, 27 per cent in the City of Toronto and 18 per cent in the 905 suburbs,” said Ms. O’Neill. “It’s important to recognize though, that despite the worst winter in decades, 6,631 homes changed hands last month in the GTA and that is still a significant number.”

Diminished listing inventory, which at 20,533, was down six per cent from a year ago, kept prices strong in March.

Compared to last March, the average price in the GTA rose four per cent to $380,338 and two per cent in the City of Toronto to $404,361.

As well, a few neighbourhoods experienced increased sales activity last month.

Bowmanville (E17) saw a three per cent increase in transactions compared to March 2007, driven primarily by strong detached home sales.

Sales in Burlington (W25) were up 18 per cent compared to a year ago, with brisk activity in most housing categories.

Thorncliffe Park (C11) saw a six per cent overall increase in transactions, based mainly on semi-detached sales.

Increased semi-detached transactions also drove sales in Georgina (N17) up one per cent compared to last March.

Ms. O’Neill says March’s moderate performance isn’t disquieting given that Canadian economic fundamentals are holding steady.

“Forty per cent of international households that come to Canada settle in the GTA, giving us robust immigration levels; employment and wages continue to be strong; borrowing costs remain at historically low levels and there is a wide variety of mortgage products from which to choose,” she said.

“This means that there is a steady demand for housing and consumers should have the financial resources to buy homes; with such pent-up demand it is an excellent time to sell your home.”

“We remain concerned about the land transfer tax in Toronto and the economic slowdown in the United States,” added Ms. O’Neill. “Home sales in the City of Toronto spiked towards the end of 2007 probably in a bid to avoid the Toronto land transfer tax, but have since dropped off since the introduction of the tax.”

New Year Off To Good Start 

February 5, 2008 -- A strong performance within TREB's Central districts drove the Toronto area real estate market to a healthy 5,073 sales in January, off just two per cent from last year's record performance, President Maureen O'Neill announced today.

"While sales were strong, price increases remained modest, with the average rising six per cent to $374,449," said Ms. O'Neill. "There is clearly still a place for the first-time buyer in today's resale market."

NEIGHBOURHOOD CORNER

Mississauga

There were 647 sales in Mississauga this January, a decline of three per cent over the first month of 2007. The average price came in at $339,655, a one per cent increase over the same time-frame last year. Of these sales, 196 were of detached homes which averaged $516,190, up eight per cent over January '07.

The first episode of the 2008 Royal LePage Helping You in Real Estate Podcast series has been released. Once again featuring Linda Leatherdale, money editor of The Toronto Sun and host of MONEY LINE on Rogers Television, and Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage Real Estate Services, as well as other industry experts, the podcasts explore trends and activity in various areas of the real estate market. Listen in as they discuss the Canadian Real Estate market and the outlook for 2008.  http://www.royallepage.ca/CMSTemplates/AboutUs/company/CompanyTemplate.aspx?id=1590