TORONTO,
ONTARIO, April 5, 2017– Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua
announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 12,077 residential sales
through TREB’s MLS® System in March 2017. This result represented a 17.7 per
cent increase compared to the 10,260 sales reported in March 2016. For the TREB
market area as a whole, annual sales growth was strongest for condominium
apartments and detached houses. The number of new listings also increased on a
year-over-year basis, at 17,051 – a 15.2 per cent increase compared to March
2016. The strongest growth in new listings was experienced in the detached
market segment. While new listings were up strongly compared to last year, the
rate new listings growth was still lower than the rate of sales growth. As a
result, GTA market conditions continued to tighten. “It has been encouraging to
see that policymakers have not implemented any knee-jerk policies regarding the
GTA housing market. Different levels of government are holding consultations
with market stakeholders and TREB has participated and will continue to
participate in these discussions. Policy makers must remember that it is the
interplay between the demand for and supply of listings that influences price
growth,” said Mr. Cerqua. Strong competition between buyers continued to cause
high levels of price growth in all major market segments. The MLS® Home Price
Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark Price was up by 28.6 per cent year-over-year.
For the TREB market area as a whole, the average selling price was up by 33.2
per cent, with similar annual rates of growth in the low-rise and condominium
apartment segments. “Annual rates of price growth continued to accelerate in
March as growth in sales outstripped growth in listings. A substantial period
of months in which listings growth is greater than sales growth will be
required to bring the GTA housing market back into balance. As policy makers
seek to achieve this balance, it is important that an evidence-based approach
is followed,” 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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