GTA REALTORS Release November Stats

TORONTO, ONTARIO, December 4, 2024 – Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales increased strongly on a year-over-year basis in November 2024. Many buyers benefitted from more affordable market conditions brought about by lower borrowing costs. New listings were also up compared to November 2023, but by a much lesser annual rate. This meant that market conditions tightened, resulting in overall average price growth compared to last year.

“As we approach the end of 2024, I am pleased to report an improvement in housing market conditions. Many home buyers patiently waited on the sidelines for reduced inflation and lower borrowing costs. With selling prices remaining well off their historic peak and monthly mortgage payments trending lower, the stage is set for an accelerating market recovery in 2025,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Jennifer Pearce.

GTA REALTORS® reported 5,875 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in November 2024 – up by 40.1 percent compared to 4,194 sales reported in November 2023. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 11,592 – up by 6.6 per cent year-over-year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, November sales were up month-over-month compared to October.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 1.2 per cent year-over year in November 2024 – a much lesser annual rate of decline compared to previous months. The average selling price was up by 2.6 per cent compared to November 2023 to $1,106,050. Year-over-year average price growth was greater than that for the HPI Composite benchmark because of a greater weighting of detached home sales compared to last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price edged slightly lower compared to October.

“Market conditions have tightened, particularly for single-family homes. The detached market segment experienced average annual price growth above the rate of inflation, particularly in the City of Toronto. In contrast, the condominium apartment segment continued to experience lower average selling prices compared to a year ago.

Condo buyers are benefitting from a lot of choice and therefore negotiating power. This will attract renter households into homeownership as borrowing costs trend lower in the months ahead,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

While the rental market will remain relatively well-supplied as more renters transition to homeownership, expect rental demand to pick up as population growth remains high. The rental market could strengthen for both tenants and landlords by reducing the backlog of cases at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). 

“Reforming the LTB to make it faster and fairer will go a long way to getting more individuals and families into homes they can afford,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

GTA REALTORS® Release October 2024 Stats
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales increased year-over-year in October 2024. Over the same period, new listings were up, but at a lesser annual rate. The result was tighter market conditions compared to October 2023. The average selling price was up slightly on an annual basis.

“While we are still early in the Bank of Canada’s rate-cutting cycle, it does appear that an increasing number of buyers moved off the sidelines and back into the marketplace in October. The positive affordability picture brought about by lower borrowing costs and relatively flat home prices, prompted this improvement in market activity,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Jennifer Pearce.

GTA REALTORS® reported 6,658 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in October 2024 – up by 44.4 percent compared to 4,611 sales reported in October 2023. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 15,328 – up by 4.3 percent year-over-year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, October sales increased month-over-month compared to September. The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 3.3 per cent year-over year in October 2024. The average selling price was up by 1.1 per cent compared to October 2023 to $1,135,215. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price edged up compared to September.

“Market conditions did tighten in October, but there is still a lot of inventory and therefore choice for home buyers. 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,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

“Policymakers can further improve affordability by reducing taxes on home buyers. TRREB supports the Conservative Party of Canada pledge to remove the GST from the purchase of new homes sold for under $1 million as this is an encouraging step towards giving new home buyers desperately needed relief. Enhancing the rebate will not only make homes more affordable, but it will also increase the number of homes built,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

“Given that the average price of a home in less affordable markets such as the GTA and Vancouver is over $1 million, phasing out the rebate between $1 million and $1.5 million, rather than a hard cutoff at $1 million, would address this shortcoming. Provincial consideration should also be given to matching this proposal,” continued DiMichele.

Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales increased year-over-year in September. Buyers were starting to take advantage of more affordable market conditions brought about by interest rate cuts and lower home prices.

“As buyers take advantage of changes to mortgage lending guidelines and borrowing costs trend lower, home sales will steadily increase in relation to population growth. With every rate cut, a growing number of GTA households will afford a long-term investment in home ownership, including first-time buyers,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Jennifer Pearce.

GTA REALTORS® reported 4,996 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in September 2024 – up by 8.5 per cent compared to 4,606 sales reported in September 2023. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 18,089 – up by an even greater 10.5 per cent year-over-year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, September sales increased on a monthly basis compared to August, along with new listings.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 4.6 per cent year-over-year in September 2024. The average selling price, at $1,107,291 was down by a lesser one per cent compared to the September 2023 average of $1,118,215. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price edged up slightly compared to August.

“The annual improvement in September home sales was more than matched by the increase in new listings over the same period. This resulted in a better-supplied market and increased negotiating power for buyers re-entering the market. The ability to negotiate on price, led to moderate year-over-year price declines, particularly in the more affordable condo apartment and townhouse segments, which are popular with firsttime buyers,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

“We are pleased with the positive changes to mortgage lending guidelines announced over the past month. The ability for existing mortgage holders to shop around for the best rate without facing the stress test will result in more affordable renewals. Longer amortization periods and the ability to insure mortgages for purchases over $1 million dollars will give home buyers more options as the GTA housing market recovers. TRREB has long been calling for these changes to give buyers more flexibility as they navigate their home buying journey,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

TRREB: GTA Housing Market Becoming More Affordable 

TORONTO, ONTARIO, September 5, 2024 – Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales were down on a year-over-year basis in August 2024. New listings were up slightly over the same period. While the region’s housing market remained well-supplied in August, average home prices only edged slightly lower compared to August 2023. 

“The Bank of Canada’s rate cut announced on September 4 will lead to a further improvement in affordability, especially for those using variable rate mortgages. First-time buyers are especially sensitive to changes in borrowing costs. As mortgage rates continue to trend lower this year and next, we should experience an uptick in first-time buying activity, including in the condo market,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Jennifer Pearce. 

GTA REALTORS® reported 4,975 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in August 2024 – down by 5.3 per cent compared to 5,251 sales reported in August 2023. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 12,547 – up by 1.5 per cent year-over-year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, August sales edged up on a monthly basis compared to July, whereas new listings were down slightly compared to the previous month. 

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 4.6 per cent year-over-year in August 2024. The average selling price was down by a lesser 0.8 per cent compared to August 2023 to $1,074,425. The different annual rates of change between the MLS® HPI Composite and the average selling price were largely due to an increase in the share of detached home sales compared to last year, impacting the average price. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price edged lower compared to July. 

“As borrowing costs trend lower over the next year-and-a-half, home buyers will initially benefit from both lower monthly mortgage payments and lower home prices. Even as demand picks up, especially in 2025, it will take time for the inventory of listings to be absorbed. Ample choice in the market will help keep price growth moderate, at least in the initial phases of recovery,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer. 

“Today’s elevated listing inventory will ultimately recede. We need to maintain a sustained focus on boosting home construction, especially as it relates to producing the right mix of home types to meet consumers’ needs. This new housing also has to be affordable. Municipalities can help by reducing development charges, which are ultimately passed on to home buyers. If people can't find affordable housing in the GTA or surrounding Greater Golden Horseshoe, they will move elsewhere, and not necessarily to other parts of Ontario or Canada. Housing is a key driver of our region's economic development,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

To view ALL stats for West Toronto visit here

TRREB: June Home Buyers Eying Further Interest Rate Relief TORONTO, ONTARIO, July 4, 2024 – June 2024 home sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were lower compared to the same month last year, according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB). Despite the Bank of Canada rate cut at the beginning of last month, many buyers kept their home purchase decisions on hold. The market remained wellsupplied, resulting in a slight dip in the average selling price compared to June 2023.

“The Bank of Canada’s rate cut last month provided some initial relief for homeowners and home buyers. However, the June sales result suggests that most home buyers will require multiple rate cuts before they move off the sidelines. This follows Ipsos polling for TRREB, which suggested that cumulative rate cuts of 100 basis points or more are required to boost home sales by any significant amount,” said TRREB President Jennifer Pearce.

GTA REALTORS® reported 6,213 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in June 2024 – a 16.4 per cent decline compared to 7,429 sales reported in June 2023. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 17,964 – up by 12.3 per cent year-over-year.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 4.6 per cent on a year-overyear basis in June 2024. The average selling price of $1,162,167 was down by 1.6 per cent over the June 2023 result of $1,181,002. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, both the MLS® HPI Composite and the average selling price were up compared to May 2024.

“The GTA housing market is currently well-supplied. Recent home buyers have benefitted from substantial choice and therefore negotiating power on price. Moving forward, as sales pick up alongside lower borrowing costs, elevated inventory levels will help mitigate against a quick runup in selling prices,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

“Despite a temporary dip in home sales due to high interest rates, we know that strong population growth is driving long-term demand for ownership and rental housing. Ontario has set the goal of 1.5 million more homes on the ground by 2031. This is only possible if all levels of government ensure actionable solutions with sustained effort, including continuing to remove red tape, avoiding financial barriers to home construction, and minimizing housing taxes and development charges,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.