Consumers are buying in droves amid record confidence levels and a strong job market
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Average Montreal island home prices hit a record high of almost $500,000 in October, rising 12.7% from the prior year, the area’s real estate board said earlier this week.
Single family homes in the city and suburbs saw price increases of 10% to nearly $630,000, condos were up 14% to more than $370,000, and buildings with two to five units grew 15% to $583,801.
Average prices in the city of Montreal rose at least 13% in all three categories.
Still, Canada’s second-largest city and area remain a real estate bargain even as average prices were up 9.2% to $386,911 from $354,163 a year ago.
That compared to $780,104 in Greater Toronto, up 2.3% from the prior year and $1.04 million in Greater Vancouver, up 12.4%.
Read more: These Canadian cities have some of the most affordable homes in North America
Paul Cardinal of the Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards attributed monthly housing gains in 2017 to strong job creation, consumer confidence, low unemployment, and foreign migration.
“Employment is on fire in Montreal,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
With consumer confidence reaching a 10-year high, people are viewing it as a good time to make a major purchase like a house.
“They have confidence that it’s a good time to buy because of their expectation about their job, about their revenues, about interest rates and about the market itself.”
Last month was the most active October in eight years as the number of homes sold in the month increased 7% to 3,270, the real estate board said.
Greater Montreal homes also sold more quickly. Single-family homes sold last month were on the market on average for 78 days, almost two weeks less than a year ago.
Plexes spent an average of 81 days on the market, three days fewer than last year. Condominiums took the longest to sell at 103 days, but that was 17 days fewer than in October 2016.
“The single-family home and plex markets are becoming increasingly favourable to sellers, as selling times for these property categories are falling,” Greater Montreal Real Estate Board president Mathieu Cousineau said.
The strong activity came ahead of the federal government’s plans to tighten mortgage requirements.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions will implement new lending guidelines at the beginning of next year. Among the changes being considered is a requirement that homebuyers who do not require mortgage insurance still have to show they can make their payments if interest rates rise.
Cardinal said there is anecdotal evidence that some buyers are moving up purchases to beat the changes. However, he doesn’t believe there will be much impact on housing activity in the city.
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Single family homes in the city and suburbs saw price increases of 10% to nearly $630,000, condos were up 14% to more than $370,000, and buildings with two to five units grew 15% to $583,801.
Average prices in the city of Montreal rose at least 13% in all three categories.
Still, Canada’s second-largest city and area remain a real estate bargain even as average prices were up 9.2% to $386,911 from $354,163 a year ago.
That compared to $780,104 in Greater Toronto, up 2.3% from the prior year and $1.04 million in Greater Vancouver, up 12.4%.
Read more: These Canadian cities have some of the most affordable homes in North America
Paul Cardinal of the Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards attributed monthly housing gains in 2017 to strong job creation, consumer confidence, low unemployment, and foreign migration.
“Employment is on fire in Montreal,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
With consumer confidence reaching a 10-year high, people are viewing it as a good time to make a major purchase like a house.
“They have confidence that it’s a good time to buy because of their expectation about their job, about their revenues, about interest rates and about the market itself.”
Last month was the most active October in eight years as the number of homes sold in the month increased 7% to 3,270, the real estate board said.
Greater Montreal homes also sold more quickly. Single-family homes sold last month were on the market on average for 78 days, almost two weeks less than a year ago.
Plexes spent an average of 81 days on the market, three days fewer than last year. Condominiums took the longest to sell at 103 days, but that was 17 days fewer than in October 2016.
“The single-family home and plex markets are becoming increasingly favourable to sellers, as selling times for these property categories are falling,” Greater Montreal Real Estate Board president Mathieu Cousineau said.
The strong activity came ahead of the federal government’s plans to tighten mortgage requirements.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions will implement new lending guidelines at the beginning of next year. Among the changes being considered is a requirement that homebuyers who do not require mortgage insurance still have to show they can make their payments if interest rates rise.
Cardinal said there is anecdotal evidence that some buyers are moving up purchases to beat the changes. However, he doesn’t believe there will be much impact on housing activity in the city.
Related stories:
Montreal experiencing residential and commercial construction boom
Underdog market sales volume reaches 8-year high in September
