Reports

After experiencing modest increases since the start of 2024, house prices in Canada’s major urban centers remained stable in June, while market conditions for the housing market continue to indicate balanced conditions between buyers and sellers. It’s true that the beginning of the monetary easing cycle in June encouraged more buyers to take action during the month, but we didn’t see a major wave of new transactions that could have put upward pressure on prices. While record population growth, a shortage of housing supply and upcoming rate cuts by the Bank of Canada will continue to support the Canadian real estate market in the months ahead, we are cautiously optimistic about the magnitude of any recovery in the housing market in the coming months, and its potential impact on prices. Indeed, many uncertainties remain, including the risk of a further deterioration in the labour market, particularly among young people who are facing the worst affordability conditions in decades. It’s true that consumer confidence has been somewhat reinvigorated by the start of overnight rate cuts, but interest rates remain in highly restrictive territory for the time being.

July 2024

After remaining relatively stable since the start of 2024, house prices in Canada’s major urban centers rose by 0.5% from April to May, against a backdrop of renewed optimism following the start of the monetary easing cycle by the Bank of Canada. The increase observed in May was entirely due to a rise in prices in the non-condo segment (+0.7%), while condo prices have remained relatively stable since August 2023 as inventory in this segment continues to accumulate. While record population growth, the shortage of housing supply and the start of rate cuts by the Bank of Canada will continue to support the Canadian real estate market in the months ahead, we are cautiously optimistic about the magnitude of any recovery in the housing market in the months ahead and its potential impact on prices. Indeed, many uncertainties remain, including the risk of a further deterioration in the labour market, particularly among young people who are facing the worst affordability conditions in decades.

June 2024

Following growth in the previous two months in the wake of a slight upturn in the real estate market activity at the start of winter, house prices in Canada’s major urban centres remained unchanged on a seasonally adjusted basis from March to April. This stabilization comes as resale market activity remains sluggish in the spring, with first-time homebuyers possibly on the sidelines awaiting possible interest rate cuts from the Bank of Canada by summer. Weakness is particularly noticeable in the country’s largest city, Toronto, where the job market has deteriorated significantly in recent months (unemployment rate now 7.9% vs. 5.6% a year earlier). Although record demographic growth, a shortage of housing supply, more favourable fixed mortgage rates than last year and possible cuts in the policy rate will continue to support the Canadian real estate market in the months ahead, we are cautiously optimistic about the extent of an eventual recovery in the housing market in the months ahead and its potential impact on prices. Indeed, many uncertainties remain, including the risk of a further deterioration in the labour market, particularly among young people who are facing the worst affordability conditions in decades.

May 2024

After returning to growth territory in February, the Teranet-National Bank Composite Index™ continued to rise in March, with a small gain of 0.2% on the previous month. This increase in home prices comes at a time when the housing market has regained strength since November, buoyed in particular by exceptional demographic growth, slightly more advantageous fixed mortgage interest rates and the anticipation of policy rate cuts by the Bank of Canada. Although these factors will continue to support the real estate market in the months ahead, we are cautiously optimistic about a significant recovery in the housing market in the coming months and stronger price growth. Indeed, many uncertainties remain, including a potential further deterioration in the labour market for young people, who are facing the worst affordability conditions in decades.

April 2024

After contracting by 1.5% over the previous five months, the Teranet-National Bank Composite Index^TM finally returned to growth in February, rising by 0.2% compared with the previous month. This increase in property prices comes at a time when the housing market regained strength between November and January, buoyed by exceptional demographic growth, more advantageous fixed mortgage interest rates and the anticipation of interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada. However, it remains to be seen whether this is the start of an upward trend. On the one hand, the lack of housing supply on the market will continue to support prices, but the persistent affordability challenges should limit households’ ability to pay and thus the increase in property values. It appears that the resale market started to slip again in February, while bond yields have risen in recent weeks due to less favourable news on inflation, which is delaying potential cuts in the overnight rate. As a result, we expect home prices to move sideways in the short term.

March 2024