Toronto Market Report - September 2021

SALES COMMENTARY

2020 Price Increase ForecastAFFORDABILITY in housing and not sale numbers has taken over the real estate discussion for most people with the politicians jumping on board. For 2021 year-to-date, the number of sales under $600,00 was 13,049 units or 15% of total sales on TRREB. In 2020 to the end of August, the numbers were 13,437 and 23%. While the drop-in units sold was just 3%, for the same period, year-to-date sales for the total market from 2020 to 2021 were up by 52%! When you look at the sales-to-new listing ratio, prices can only go up from here. Currently, we are at a decade-old low for listings! 

So, what is the answer: not government housing or purpose-built rental housing. Rather governments need to work together to build Co-Op housing. Non-profit Co-Op housing usually requires a small down payment to buy a share in the Co-Op and the Co-Op itself gets a mortgage on the whole property. People living in these units are responsible for paying and operating the Co-Op. Governments can also be responsible for buying the land and speeding up municipal approvals. The result is that you can reduce construction costs by 40% and create a pride of ownership which is non-existent with renters. 

Affordability also leads to a discussion of the condo market. (Toronto is one of the few major cities of the world with low-rise housing). While condos and particularly downtown condos underperformed the market in 2020, we forecast a strong rebound in 2021. Overall sales in August of 2021 were 20% lower than in 2020 at 8600 units but condo sales were 11% higher than in August of 2020. Not only are condo sales higher this August, but ‘new’ and ‘active’ listings in 2021 are now 37% and 43% lower than this time last year. All indications are that condo prices will continue to increase over the fall months.

5 ADVANTAGES TO CO-OP HOUSING