Found 32 blog entries tagged as housing market.

St. John's Newfoundland real estate

Is the Newfoundland and Labrador real estate market still sizzling, or is it cooling down like a February evening in the province?

For the last two years, Canada’s housing market has been taken aback by the exceptional growth in Atlantic Canada, heated up by the population boom and the surge in home prices. This was a surprising turn of events because, before the coronavirus pandemic, people were leaving parts of the east coast, and some local real estate markets unable to gather much momentum.

Now it appears that Newfoundland real estate is joining the broader market. Sales activity is strong, though it has eased recently. Price gains remain sky-high, but growth has also eased year-over-year. Overall, the housing boom is…

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In recent months, officials at all three levels of government have been scrambling to increase affordability in the Canadian real estate market, with municipal, provincial and federal housing proposals ranging from new or higher tax rates to more tax credits.

During the last general election, all of the federal party leaders put forward their ideas to improve the housing sector and ensure more Canadians can purchase a home, be it a single-family home, townhouse or condominium unit, without breaking their budgets to do so. But now that it appears Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government will remain in power for another three years, the Grits are beginning to tackle this national issue. What federal housing proposals will actually…

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Bank of Canada Interest Rate Announcement Raises It Another 0.5% on June 1

This morning’s interest rate announcement by the Bank of Canada reveals another 50-basis-point hike to the key rate, bringing it up to 1.5 per cent. This is the third in a series of increases expected in 2022, with the year kicking off at a low of 0.25 per cent, followed by a 0.25-per-cent bump in March and another 0.5-per-cent increase in April. Today’s increase makes the second time in the last 25 years that the Bank has implemented back-to-back increases of 50 basis points. The move appears to be having a cooling effect on hot Canadian housing markets, with Toronto and Vancouver sowing some signs of cooling. The Bank said it will use its monetary policy tools to ease…

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Non-Resident Buyer Bans

For years, even before the coronavirus pandemic, many public policymakers and housing advocates claimed that foreign investors contributed to the skyrocketing cost of home ownership in Toronto and Vancouver. At a time when Canadian real estate prices have skyrocketed since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health crisis, lawmakers are looking closely as possible solutions, with some suggesting non-resident buyer bans could cool the hot market.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, non-resident owners account for an average of nearly three per cent of housing stock. This is up from the pre-pandemic rate of 2.3 per cent.

Where are foreign investors dropping their capital in the Canadian real estate market?…

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The population data from the census 2021 is now available and it offers us a wealth of information about where Canadians live, where they’re moving to and what communities are growing in size as a result. 

The latest census arrives at a critical time in Canada’s real estate history, when governments of all levels are weighing their options to boost supply and improve housing affordability. Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has also played a critical role in influencing the migration of Canadians, including those new to the country. 

“This type of information is critical in helping to answer many of the important questions being asked in Canada’s national housing conversation,” said Shaun Cathcart, Senior Economist and Director of…

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Is the Canadian real estate market a mountain to climb? For a lot of young professionals who are first-time homebuyers, getting into the housing market can be a challenge, whether it’s saving up enough money for a down payment, finding the right home or securing a mortgage in order to buy it.

From tighter mortgage lending standards to higher interest rates, there is a lot to learn for the current crop of first-time homebuyers, and we’re here to help with this simplified guide to securing a mortgage for the first time.

The First-Time Homebuyer’s Guide to Securing a Mortgage

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, where do you even begin when applying for a mortgage? Let’s start with the basics.

Ensure You Have A Sufficient…

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  • Canadian luxury real estate_aerial view

Pandemic accelerated value of home ownership at luxury price points to new heights in major Canadian centers in 2021

Demand for Canadian luxury real estate shifted into high-gear from coast to coast in 2021 as both domestic and non-resident consumption of tangible assets, such as homes, reached new levels, according to a report released today by RE/MAX Canada.

“The currency of home ownership has clearly taken on a new dimension in 2021,” says Christopher Alexander, President, RE/MAX Canada. “Canadians are moving to secure their future. The pandemic fuelled a run on real estate that has encompassed every segment of the market, and the value of housing has increased exponentially as a result–not only as a form of…

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Canada’s monetary policy is too loose, and tightening is the simplest way to correct it. That’s the gist of the latest research note from the Bank of Montreal (BMO). Senior economist Robert Kavcic notes the current market is more frenzied than anything else in Canadian history. He sees Ottawa using a rate hike to cool it, which will help reduce demand. By reducing demand, he sees the market froth easing.

Canadian Home Prices Are Accelerating At A Rapid Rate

Today’s Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows soaring home prices. As stated earlier, the price of a typical home is now 26.6% higher than last year. It’s hard to believe, but recent growth has been even faster than usual. According to the bank, the 1, 3, and 6-month annualized…

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Canada’s oldest bank has a warning for homebuyers — prices don’t always rise. The uncharacteristic message came from BMO‘s chief economist Douglas Porter. Canada has seen few home price corrections, causing homebuyers to think of it as “risk-free.” Not just in Toronto or Vancouver, but virtually every market in the country, all simultaneously. BMO wants you to know that’s not always the case, and risks rise the longer home prices avoid a correction. 

Canadian Real Estate Prices Climbed Despite A Decade Of Warnings

Canadian real estate has faced “bubble” warnings for nearly a decade that have not come true. Some dudes named Poloz and Macklem were even ranting about it back in 2013 but have since come around. Justified or not, listening…

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Canadian real estate_2022 report

Confidence continues in Canadian real estate market, with the inter-provincial relocation trend likely to remain strong in 2022

  • Migration between provinces expected to continue in 2022, potentially impacting local Canadian real estate conditions, according to 53 per cent of RE/MAX brokers (20 out of 38)
  • 49 per cent of Canadians believe the housing market will remain steady in 2022 and view real estate as one of the best investment options over the next year
  • Some of the highest outlooks are anticipated for Atlantic Canada, with Moncton and Halifax projecting average residential sales prices to increase by 20 per cent and 16 per cent respectively in 2022
  • 95 per cent of regions (36 out of 38) surveyed are likely to remain seller’s markets…

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