Sales of homes double and triple, as Canadians Buy into Homeownership en Masse

Decade in Review 1995 – 2005 highlights sales and price activity in 16 markets across the country. Prince Edward Island saw unit sales activity triple in the 10-year period while sales more than doubled in Ottawa, Toronto, St. John’s, Calgary, Montreal, Victoria and Edmonton. Montreal and Calgary reported the greatest average price appreciation - in excess of 80 per cent or eight per cent annually -- while Halifax-Dartmouth, Saskatoon, Kelowna, and Edmonton saw housing values climb 70 per cent or more in the first quarter of 2005, compared to the same period one decade earlier.

"More Canadians bought into homeownership during the last 10 years than in any previous decade," says Elton Ash, Regional Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada. "Lower borrowing costs and tight vacancy rates helped jumpstart the country’s real estate engine in the latter half of the 1990s. Consumer confidence and solid economic fundamentals kept the market on track. Despite an increase in mortgage rates from historic levels reported in 2003 and an abundance of affordable rental accommodations, Canadians continue to share the dream of homeownership. That appeal has yet to be duplicated by any other investment vehicle."

Home sales across the country rose to approximately 3.6 million units between 1995 to 2004, up 25 per cent over the 2.9 million sales reported in 1985 – 1994. Statistics Canada pinpoints homeownership levels at 65.2 per cent nationally in 2002 and rising. Only Quebec and British Columbia reported homeownership levels under the national average.

The highest number of residential sales occurred in Toronto at 18,074 units in the first quarter of 2005, compared to 7,464 units during the same period in 1995. Prince Edward Island led the charge in terms of percentage increase at 203.6 per cent (170 vs. 56), Ottawa at 165.6 per cent (2,699 vs. 1,015), Calgary at 143 (6,812 vs. 2,803), Toronto at 142.2 per cent, and St. John’s at 139 per cent (447 vs. 187).

"Despite a year-to-date increase in the number of homes listed for sale, housing values are positioned to climb even further," says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "Demand simply continues to outpace supply in hot pocket areas of major Canadian centres. In Vancouver, for example, demand is so heated that purchasers are including ´trump clauses´ in their offers to purchase that allow them to ante up on any higher offers that may be presented. That’s a first for this industry."

Average price in Canada’s most expensive market hovers at $395,390 so far this year, up a nominal 19 per cent over the $332,003 reported in the first quarter of 1995. Although housing values in Vancouver experienced some downward pressure in the mid-to-late 1990s, price appreciation since 2001 has demonstrated steady upward momentum.

The highest percentage increase in average price occurred in Montreal where housing values rose 85.9 per cent from close to $105,000 in the first quarter of 1995 to nearly $195,000 year-to-date 2005. Three of the top four remaining markets were located in Western Canada, with Calgary ranking second at 81.7 per cent, Saskatoon securing fourth at 76.2 per cent, and Kelowna at 76.1 per cent rounding out the top five. Halifax-Dartmouth placed third with a 77.3 per cent increase in average price over the 10-year period. Nationally, average price has increased 53.7 per cent, rising from $152,855 in the first quarter of 1995 to close to $235,000 year-to-date (January-February) 2005.

"Existing homeowners in the major centres have seen equity gains that have far exceeded their expectations, especially in the last five years," says Polzler. "Yet, the rate of appreciation is healthy. We have not seen the annual double-digit increases of 20 per cent or more that would typically precipitate a bubble."

The report also identified a number of trends developing across the country:

~ Luxury homes in virtually every city experienced brisk sales activity in recent years.
~ Condominiums surged in popularity over the past decade, providing both first-time buyers and empty-nesters with a lifestyle that both age groups could appreciate.
~ Immigration has played a role in many Canadian markets, with British Columbia and the Atlantic Provinces enjoying an influx of wealthy purchasers from abroad.
~ Younger buyers are more active in housing markets than ever before, as financial institutions relax stringent lending policies in place one decade ago.