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housing market

Toronto Real Estate Market Update: May Brings a Slower Spring and More Buyer Power

Sales Slowdown Creates Opportunity

This past May marked one of the slowest spring real estate markets Toronto has seen in over two decades. According to new data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), just 6,244 homes were sold across the GTA — a 13% drop compared to the same time last year.

With the exception of May 2020 during early pandemic lockdowns, this is the lowest number of May sales since 2002. And it’s worth noting: our population has grown by over 35% since then.

Home Prices Edge Down Across the Board

The average sale price across the GTA in May was $1.1 million, representing a 4% decline year-over-year. Different property types experienced varying levels of price correction:

  • Semi-detached homes: down 8.4%

  • Condos: down 7.3%

  • Detached homes: down 5.6%

  • Townhomes: down 3.3%

Lower prices combined with slightly reduced borrowing costs have improved affordability, but many buyers remain hesitant due to broader economic concerns.

Inventory Rising, Confidence Lagging

New listings are on the rise. Nearly 22,000 properties came to market in May — up 14% year-over-year. With more listings and fewer sales, the sales-to-new-listings ratio sits at 28%, confirming a buyers’ market. That means:

  • More choice for buyers

  • Greater negotiating power

  • Slower pace = more time to make decisions

Interest Rates, Trade Tensions & What's Next

Market activity continues to be shaped by economic uncertainty, especially around trade with the U.S. and Bank of Canada interest rate decisions. While some expect a rate cut in the near future, the central bank has so far held steady.

Still, we are seeing early signs of recovery: both sales and prices increased slightly compared to April on a seasonally adjusted basis. That’s two months in a row showing a positive trend.

Final Thoughts

For Buyers, this is a rare moment of leverage — more supply, less competition, and room to negotiate.

For Sellers, pricing strategy and strong marketing are critical to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Whether you’re looking to move soon or just want to better understand your home’s current value, I’m here to help you navigate today’s evolving market.

BOLD Action Builds Homes

The housing supply and affordability crisis are pushing the dream of homeownership further out of reach for Ontario families.

Last month, OREA released their latest policy report, Analysis of Ontario’s Efforts to Boost Housing Supply. The report outlines 10 action items, based on the recommendations of Ontario’s Housing Affordability Task Force, that will increase housing supply and address the housing affordability crisis. Actions include:

  • Allowing water and wastewater services to be provided through a municipal services corporation, lowering up front costs of purchasing a new home by up to $50,000;

  • Supporting commercial-to-residential conversions with greater density along transit corridors; and

  • Ending exclusionary zoning to unlock more housing supply in existing communities.


Together, all 10 action items would improve affordability and create future generations of homeowners. Read more in last week's Toronto Star op-ed by OREA CEO Tim Hudak.

Please encourage your MPP to take bold action to build more homes.

Fall Outlook & Upcoming Listings To Watch

It’s been a wild summertime — between focusing on everyones well-being amid this pandemic, and skyrocketing interest in GTA area homes and properties, this ‘new normal’ is taking time to get used to!

From RE/MAX Fall Market Outlook:

Canadian housing market expected to remain active for the remainder of 2020 due to pent-up demand and low inventory levels, say RE/MAX brokers and agents

Canadians showing more interest in suburban and rural homes for sale, as work and life dynamics shift 

Canadian housing prices anticipated to increase by 4.6% in the third and fourth quarter according to RE/MAX brokers and agents. This is compared to the earlier prediction by RE/MAX brokers and agents of +3.7% at the start of the year.32% of Canadians no longer want to live in urban centres, opting for rural or suburban communities instead.Canadians are almost equally split in their confidence in Canadian housing market, with 39% as confident as they were before the pandemic, and 37% slightly less confident.

Leading indicators from RE/MAX brokers and agents across the Canadian housing market point to a strong market for the remainder of 2020. According to the RE/MAX Fall Market Outlook Report, RE/MAX brokers suggest that the average residential sale price in Canada could increase by 4.6 per cent during the remainder of the year. This is compared to the 3.7 per cent increase that was predicted in late 2019.

Read more on the RE/MAX blog


Gearing up for some exciting new listings - Coming Soon to Realtor.ca!

TORONTO

  • 3 Bedroom Bungalow

  • Large lot

  • Great family home!

MARKHAM

  • 3 Bedroom Executive home

  • Fully remodelled top to bottom

  • Open-concept

UNIONVILLE

  • Luxurious 4 Bedroom

  • Most-desirable location

  • Top School catchment area

No consensus on house price trends

The Toronto and GTA housing market has often been difficult to analyse housing sales trends, and that is reflected this week with very different opinions on the future housing pricing trends.  

CREA says prices topping out

National home prices continued to rise in February, but the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) said Friday that evidence pointed to a market that was “topping out.”

“MLS HPI trends for February show that home price growth is generally slowing,” said Gary Morse, CREA President. “At the same time, price gains and trends differ among housing markets tracked by the index.”

via: http://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca


RE/MAX predicts 'heated' spring market

Canada’s housing market won't be cooling down just yet, with a new report by RE/MAX pointing to a growing number of bidding wars in markets across the country.

“Major Canadian real estate markets continued to show exceptional resiliency throughout the first quarter of the year, with strong demand and diminished supply setting the stage for a heated spring 2012,” according to the Re/Max report.

via: http://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca

With the diverse nature of the Greater Toronto Area housing market, both views can be correct.  We expect to see continued strength in desireable areas (like Unionville, Markham and Stoufville), and with the currently limited for-sale inventory available, housing prices in these areas are likely to remain strong.