TORONTO, June 3, 2016 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Mark
McLean announced that there were 12,870 home sales reported through
TREB’s MLS® System in May 2016. This result represented a new record
for the month of May and a 10.6 per cent increase over the same period last
year. In contrast, the number of new listings was down over the same time
frame by 6.4 per cent. The decline in listings was experienced in both the
low-rise and condominium apartment market segments.
“Whether we’re talking about existing homeowners or people looking to
purchase for the first time, there is no shortage of buyers in the marketplace
today. So, while the record number of home sales through the first five
months of 2016 is not necessarily surprising, it does sometimes mask the
larger story in the GTA: the shortage of listings, which has resulted in strong
upward pressure on home prices,” said Mr. McLean.
The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 15 per cent
year-over-year in May 2016. Similarly, the average selling price for all home
types combined was up by 15.7 per cent over the same period. Low-rise
home types, which remained in short supply in many GTA neighbourhoods,
experienced the strongest price growth.
“Widespread competition between buyers of singles, semis and townhouses
across the GTA has underpinned the robust annual rates of price growth
experienced so far this year. With this said, however, it is also important to
understand that tighter market conditions for condominium apartments have
resulted in price growth well above the rate of inflation in this market segment
as well,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis.
April home sales followed the regular seasonal trend with an increase relative to March. However, total residential transactions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were down compared to the same time last year, as potential buyers continue to wait for lower borrowing costs and for certainty about the trajectory of the economy. “Following the recent federal election, many households across the GTA are closely monitoring the evolution of our trade relationship with the United States. If this relationship moves in a positive direction, we could see an uptick in transactions driven by improved consumer confidence and a market that is both more affordable and better supplied,” said TRREB President Elechia Barry-Sproule. GTA REALTORS® reported 5,601 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in April 2025 – down by 23.3 per cent compared to April 2024. New listings in the MLS® System amounted to 18,836– up by 8.1 per cent year-over-year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, April home sales edged up m...
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