Market Watch March 2024
Waterloo Region Experienced a Record Low in Home Sales During March
WATERLOO REGION, ON (April 4, 2024) —In March, a total of 596 homes were sold via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System of the Waterloo Region
Association of REALTORS® (WRAR). This represents a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same period last year and a decline of 33.4% compared to the average number of homes sold in the previous 5 years for the same month.
Despite the challenging market conditions, the first quarter of 2024 saw an increase in home sales, marking an 8.0 per cent rise compared to the previous year. However, these figures still fall short of the first-quarter sales of the past decade.
“While home sales in Waterloo Region hit a record low for March in over two decades, we’re also witnessing a positive trend,” says Christal Moura, president of WRAR. Over the past three months, prices and activity have started to pick up, and I expect this momentum will continue into the spring.”
Total residential sales in March included 344 detached (down 3.9 per cent from March 2023), and 127 townhouses (down 0.8 per cent). Sales also included 86 condominium units (down 1.1 per cent) and 37 semi-detached homes (down 11.9 per cent).
In March, the average sale price for all residential properties in Waterloo Region was $806,279. This represents a 3.6 per cent increase compared to March 2023 and a 6.6 per cent increase compared to February 2024.
- The average price of a detached home was $954,342. This represents a 4.9 per cent increase from March 2023 and an increase of 7.3 per cent compared to February 2024.
- The average sale price for a townhouse was $667,810. This represents a 4.4 per cent increase from March 2023 and an increase of 6.0 per cent compared to February 2024.
- The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $483,085. This represents an increase of 0.3 per cent from March 2023 and an increase of 5.3 per cent compared to February 2024.
- The average sale price for a semi was $680,039. This represents a decrease of 2.9 per cent compared to March 2023 and an increase of 1.0 per cent compared to February 2024.
“Home prices have been gradually increasing since December, which is a typical trend,” explains Moura. “The rate and extent of further increases will depend on the willingness and patience of potential home buyers who have been waiting for lower interest rates before making their purchase. With the Bank of Canada not anticipated to make any rate changes before its June meeting, some potential home buyers may feel stuck in limbo.”
There were 1,023 new listings added to the MLS® System in Waterloo Region last month, an increase of 18.7 per cent compared to March last year and a 15.9 per cent decrease compared to the previous ten-year average for March.
The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of March was 1,081 an increase of 54.0 per cent compared to March of last year and 1.1 per cent below the previous ten-year average of 1,093 listings for March.
The average number of days to sell in March was 19, the same number as March 2023. The previous 5-year average is 18 days.
Waterloo Region Experienced a Record Low in Home Sales During March
WATERLOO REGION, ON (April 4, 2024) —In March, a total of 596 homes were sold via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System of the Waterloo Region Association of REALTORS® (WRAR). This represents a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same period last year and a decline of 33.4% compared to the average number of homes sold in the previous 5 years for the same month.
Despite the challenging market conditions, the first quarter of 2024 saw an increase in home sales, marking an 8.0 per cent rise compared to the previous year. However, these figures still fall short of the first-quarter sales of the past decade.
“While home sales in Waterloo Region hit a record low for March in over two decades, we’re also witnessing a positive trend,” says Christal Moura, president of WRAR. Over the past three months, prices and activity have started to pick up, and I expect this momentum will continue into the spring.”
Total residential sales in March included 344 detached (down 3.9 per cent from March 2023), and 127 townhouses (down 0.8 per cent). Sales also included 86 condominium units (down 1.1 per cent) and 37 semi-detached homes (down 11.9 per cent).
In March, the average sale price for all residential properties in Waterloo Region was $806,279. This represents a 3.6 per cent increase compared to March 2023 and a 6.6 per cent increase compared to February 2024.
- The average price of a detached home was $954,342. This represents a 4.9 per cent increase from March 2023 and an increase of 7.3 per cent compared to February 2024.
- The average sale price for a townhouse was $667,810. This represents a 4.4 per cent increase from March 2023 and an increase of 6.0 per cent compared to February 2024.
- The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $483,085. This represents an increase of 0.3 per cent from March 2023 and an increase of 5.3 per cent compared to February 2024.
- The average sale price for a semi was $680,039. This represents a decrease of 2.9 per cent compared to March 2023 and an increase of 1.0 per cent compared to February 2024.
“Home prices have been gradually increasing since December, which is a typical trend,” explains Moura. “The rate and extent of further increases will depend on the willingness and patience of potential home buyers who have been waiting for lower interest rates before making their purchase. With the Bank of Canada not anticipated to make any rate changes before its June meeting, some potential home buyers may feel stuck in limbo.”
There were 1,023 new listings added to the MLS® System in Waterloo Region last month, an increase of 18.7 per cent compared to March last year and a 15.9 per cent decrease compared to the previous ten-year average for March.
The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of March was 1,081 an increase of 54.0 per cent compared to March of last year and 1.1 per cent below the previous ten-year average of 1,093 listings for March.
The average number of days to sell in March was 19, the same number as March 2023. The previous 5-year average is 18 days.
TRREB: Selling Prices Up In March and Set to Accelerate This Spring
TORONTO, ONTARIO, April 3, 2024 – March 2024 home sales reported through TRREB’s MLS® System were lower than the March 2023 result, due in part to the statutory holiday Good Friday falling in March this year versus April last year. Despite a better-supplied market compared to last year, there was enough competition between buyers to see a moderate increase in the average March home price compared to last year’s level.
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) REALTORS® reported 6,560 sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in March 2024 – down by 4.5 per cent compared to March 2023. New listings were up by 15 per cent over the same period. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, sales were down by 1.1 per cent. New listings were down by three per cent compared to February.
The first quarter ended with sales up by 11.2 per cent year-over-year. New listings were up by a greater annual rate of 18.3 per cent.
“We have seen a gradual improvement in market conditions over the past quarter. More buyers have adjusted to the higher interest rate environment. At the same time, homeowners may be anticipating an improvement in market conditions in the spring, which helps explain the marked increase in new listings so far this year. Assuming we benefit from lower borrowing costs in the near future, sales will increase further, new listings will be absorbed, and tighter market conditions will push selling prices higher,” said TRREB President Jennifer Pearce.
The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite benchmark was up by 0.3 per cent year-overyear. The average selling price was up by 1.3 per cent to $1,121,615. On a seasonally-adjusted month-over-month basis, the MLS® HPI Composite was up by 0.2 per cent and the average selling price was up by 0.7 per cent compared to February.
“The average selling price edged up in comparison to last year as we moved through the first quarter of 2024. Price growth is expected to accelerate during the spring and even more so in the second half of the year, as sales growth catches up with listings growth and sellers’ market conditions start to emerge in many neighbourhoods. Lower borrowing costs in the months ahead will help fuel increased demand for ownership housing,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.
“As demand for ownership and rental housing increases, supply will continue to be top of mind. Governments at all levels must maintain their focus on pursuing innovative solutions to increase the amount and mix of housing supply to improve affordability. This includes removing roadblocks to non-traditional arrangements, such as co-ownership models to benefit home buyers, including first-time buyers and seniors. Encouraging gentle density, including multiplexes, is critical to helping high demand areas such as the Greater Golden Horseshoe to meet housing supply targets,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele
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