About the 2017 Housing Market Outlook Report
The average residential sale price increased 13 per cent in Greater Vancouver to approximately $1,020,300 and rose 17 per cent in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to an estimated $725,857. Although demand remains high in both urban centres, limited inventory in the freehold market, the new 15 per cent foreign-buyer tax in Vancouver and the recent tightening of mortgage rules by the federal government are expected to soften market activity in the short term. In 2017, RE/MAX estimates average residential sale price will increase by two and eight per cent in Greater Vancouver and the GTA respectively.
Regional markets in close proximity to Canada’s highest-price cities continued to experience steady interest from local move-up buyers and buyers from these cities (“move- over” buyers) who are looking to find a balance between affordability and square footage. This year there were considerable year-over-year average price increases in Barrie (16 per cent), Hamilton-Burlington (20 per cent), the Fraser Valley (20 per cent) and Kelowna (14 per cent).
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RE/MAX 2017 Housing Market Outlook Report GTA
1. 2017 HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK | 19
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
First-time buyers continue to play an
important role in the GTA market. Most
are young professionals or young families
looking to enter the market by purchasing
a condo, where they can find affordability
and maintain a reasonable commute by
staying within the city.
CONDO MARKET
The average sale price for condos in the
GTA rose modestly in 2016, up two per cent
year-over-year compared to 2015. Demand
remains highest for 2-bedroom condos in
close proximity to TTC subway lines,
particularly within older developments
that offer over 1,000 square feet of space.
Developers are increasingly starting new
builds that feature larger units with more
bedrooms to accommodate first-time buyer
families. The upper-end condo market also
saw brisk activity this year as empty-nester
baby boomers close to retirement are
increasingly opting to sell their homes and
move into more manageable condos. In
2017, condos will likely continue to
remain popular with GTA buyers.
LUXURY HOMES
The Greater Toronto Area luxury market
continued to perform well in 2016.
Single-family homes are in high demand,
particularly from foreign buyers who are
taking advantage of the low Canadian
dollar. As baby boomers look to downsize
to high-end condos, new single-family
detached homes in the upper end of the
market are expected to become available
in 2017.
• Policies around building on the
Ontario Greenbelt are expected
to continue affecting inventory
levels, as the number of
single-detached homes
developers are able to build
is restricted and therefore
not able to meet demand
• The effect of tightened
mortgage rules and anticipated
mortgage rate increases will
impact housing affordability in
the GTA
• The RE/MAX 2017 average
residential sale price
expectation for the Greater
Toronto Area is an increase
of eight per cent
FUTURE
TRENDS
THE HOUSING MARKET
IN THE GREATER TORONTO
AREA CONTINUED TO SEE
SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY IN 2016.
The average residential sale price in the
GTA rose 17 per cent to $725,857, up
from $622,217 in 2015. Move-up buyers
continue to drive demand in the market
for single-family detached homes valued
up to $1.5 million in Toronto and $1
million in the surrounding GTA and this
trend is expected to continue into 2017.
The foreign-buyer tax in Vancouver shifted
some foreign investors’ attention to the
Toronto market in the second half of
2016. It is anticipated that foreign-buyers
will continue to be more active in the GTA
in 2017.
There were approximately 99,354 unit
sales between January and October this
year, and approximately only 1.1 months
of inventory currently on the market, which
is significantly lower than the past 15
years’ average inventory supply of two to
three months in the GTA. Rising average
residential sale prices, the short term
effect of increasing mortgage rates and
low inventory in the freehold market are
expected to lead to a slight drop in unit
sales, by five per cent in 2017. However,
we can expect the GTA to remain in a
seller’s market, and the average residential
sale price is anticipated to increase
approximately eight per cent.
2016 AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL SALE PRICE
$725,857
17%
2013
$522,963
2014
$566,626
2015
$622,217
2016 (ESTIMATE)
$725,857
2017 (FORECAST)
$783,926
GREATER
TORONTO AREA
ONTARIO
Source: Historical values are sourced from CREA or local board statistics. Estimates and forecasts are based on the opinion of independent
RE/MAX broker/owners and affiliates.
AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL SALE PRICE
(GREATER TORONTO AREA)
2. 2017 HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK | 20
MISSISSAUGA
Mississauga remained in a seller’s market
throughout 2016, with the average
residential sale price at $625,538; up 14
per cent from 2015. However, the total
number of sales decreased approximately
three per cent year-over-year and this
trend is likely to continue into 2017. Rising
prices are causing some potential buyers
to reconsider entering the market, which
may result in more even sale price growth
at an expected rate of eight per cent
in 2017.
Buyers remain shielded from double land
transfer taxes in Mississauga, and find
the market more accessible than Toronto.
Millennial first-time buyers in Mississauga
are typically entering the market by
purchasing condos. Local and foreign
investors drove demand in Mississauga’s
condo market, and the average sale
price for condos in 2016 was $367,779.
Move-up buyers; move-over buyers from
Richmond Hill, Markham, and Toronto;
and, foreign-buyers drove demand for
detached homes, especially in the upper
end of the market. Sales and price
appreciation are expected to remain
steady in 2017 due to buyer’s confidence
in Canada’s banking and regulatory
system, mitigating downward pressure
caused by recent tightening of mortgage
rules and the expectation of a steady
increase in domestic interest rates.
A condo building boom in 2017 and
beyond will drive demand – with new
developments coming up in Port Credit,
Erin Mills and around the City Centre.
The ongoing Lakeview revitalization and
development project also promises to
drive demand for housing in the area.
BRAMPTON
The real estate market in Brampton
remained busy in 2016. The average
residential sale price is estimated at
$582,295, up from $488,486 in 2015.
The year saw an abundance of buyers in
the market, particularly local move-up
buyers, millennial first-time buyers,
European investors attracted to a stable
Canadian economy, and move-over buyers
from Toronto seeking better value. In
2017, we can expect a more balanced
market. The influx of outside buyers is
expected to level out; an anticipated
short-term effect of recently tightened
mortgage rules; potential interest rate
increases; and, any changes to US trade
rules following the election. In 2017, the
average residential sale price is expected
to decrease approximately 2.5 per cent,
and homes may stay on the market for
30 – 45 days, signaling a return to a
more balanced market.
In 2016, detached single-family homes
saw the most sales activity in Brampton,
with sales volumes up 53.5 per cent.
Entry level homes sold in the $370,000
range; higher than the average entry
price for condos in the $220,000 range.
Affordability drove demand for freehold
properties among local first-time buyers
who prefer to pay slightly higher sale
prices instead of condominium fees.
A number of businesses relocating to
Brampton and expected infrastructure
developments including a hospital,
state-of-the-art medical facilities, and
a university will likely draw specialist,
medical, and management professionals
to live and work in the area. Six new condo
builds in proximity to these developments
are expected to increase inventory and
supplement the demand for quality homes
at affordable prices in Brampton.
2016 AVERAGE
RESIDENTIAL
SALE PRICE
$546,727
2016 AVERAGE
RESIDENTIAL
SALE PRICE
$582,295
14%
19%
MISSISSAUGA
BRAMPTON
GREATER
TORONTO AREA
ONTARIO
3. 2017 HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK | 21
OAKVILLE
A mix of low inventory and high demand
continued to characterize Oakville’s housing
market in 2016 as the average residential
sale price increased approximately 24
per cent in 2016 over the previous year
to approximately $1,044,536 up from
$837,410 in 2015.
Inventory levels remain exceptionally low
in the Toronto suburb, with only about one
month of inventory currently on the
market. Sales were still up in 2016
however, signaling an increase in Oakville’s
buyer pool. Sales rose to 3,288 between
January and October of 2016, compared
to 2,781 during the same period in 2015.
Two-storey, four-bedroom detached houses
saw the most activity this past year.
Foreign buyers, move-up buyers, and
move-over buyers from Toronto and other
parts of the GTA drove demand in Oakville
in 2016, especially in the upper end of the
market. Luxury homes worth $3 million
and above were in high demand this year,
particularly among move-over and foreign
buyers. These buyers are particularly
interested in Oakville’s lakefront properties
situated on a larger plot of land.
In 2017, inventory levels are expected
to remain low and price appreciation
is expected to continue to increase.
The average residential sale price is
expected to increase by approximately
five per cent in 2017.
DURHAM
Durham Region’s housing market saw
substantial growth in 2016. The average
residential sale price rose nearly 20 per
cent year-over-year to $527,285, up from
$442,332 in 2015. Sales were also
up considerably; there were 11,700
properties sold between January and
October in 2016, compared to 10,910
during the same period in 2015.
Much of this growth can be attributed to
move-over buyers from Toronto who are
attracted to the relative affordability of
Durham and better value on larger homes.
First-time buyers are expected to continue
to drive demand in the Durham market in
2017.
The 407 highway extension that opened
this year that extends the toll highway as
far as Oshawa is anticipated to help drive
demand in Durham region in the coming
years. Phase two of the 407 extension is
expected to begin in the near future,
bringing the highway further east to
Highway 35. These major infrastructure
developments that aim to better connect
the Durham Region to the rest of the
GTA make it an increasingly desirable
option for commuters.
Durham region’s market is expected to
continue to grow next year and will likely
remain a seller’s market. The average
residential sale price is estimated to
increase by nine per cent, and sales will
likely increase by five per cent.
2016 AVERAGE
RESIDENTIAL
SALE PRICE
$1,044,536
2016 AVERAGE
RESIDENTIAL
SALE PRICE
$527,285
25%
19%
OAKVILLE
DURHAM
GREATER
TORONTO AREA
ONTARIO