Waterloo Region Home Sales Cool in November

WATERLOO REGION, ON (December 5, 2023) — In November, there were 441 homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System of the Waterloo Region Association of REALTORS® (WRAR), representing a decrease of 4.5 per cent compared to the previous year and a decline of 33.1 per cent compared to the previous 5-year average for the month.

“Last month, the number of homes sold followed their typical pattern of cooling to match the weather, but with consumer confidence continuing to drop, we saw sales slump to their lowest level for November in over a decade,” says Christal Moura, president of WRAR. “With many still waiting to see what happens with interest rates in the months to come, homes are taking a little longer to sell, there’s more inventory on the market, all contributing to sale prices levelling off.”

Total residential sales in November included 266 detached (down 6.7 per cent from November 2022), and 81 townhouses (no change). Sales also included 62 condominium units (up 5.1 per cent) and 31 semi-detached homes (down 16.2 per cent).

In November, the average sale price for all residential properties in Waterloo Region was $757,272. This represents a 2.6 per cent increase compared to November 2022 and a 1.4 per cent decrease compared to October 2023.

The average price of a detached home was $891,091. This represents a 5.8 per cent increase from November 2022 and on par with October 2023.

The average sale price for a townhouse was $611,667. This represents a 1.7 per cent decrease from November 2022 and a decrease of 5.1 per cent compared to October 2023.

The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $450,476. This represents a decrease of 1.3 per cent from November 2022 and a decrease of 5.4 per cent compared to October 2023.

The average sale price for a semi was $617,329. This represents a decrease of 3.9 per cent compared to November 2022 and a decrease of 6.2 per cent compared to October 2023.

“Canadians are feeling the pinch of affordability, leading to price adjustments in the housing market of Waterloo Region,” says Moura. “For prospective homebuyers, this slowdown presents an opportunity to enter the market during a less competitive phase and enjoy the advantages of homeownership in the long run.”

There were 868 new listings added to the MLS® System in Waterloo Region last month, an increase of 15 per cent compared to November last year and a 16.7 per cent increase compared to the previous ten-year average for November.

The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of November was 1,305 an increase of 54.8 per cent compared to November of last year and 21.0 per cent above the previous ten-year average of 1079 listings for November.

There were 2.4 months of inventory at the end of November, an 84.6 per cent increase compared to last year and 50.9 per cent above the previous 10-year average. The number of months of inventory represents how long it would take to sell off current inventories at the current sales rate.

The average number of days to sell in November was 24, compared to 22 days in November 2022. The previous 5-year average is 20 days.

TRREB: Elevated Borrowing Costs Taking a Toll on Housing Affordability

TORONTO, ONTARIO, December 5, 2023 – High borrowing costs and uncertain economic conditions continued to weigh on Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales in November 2023. Sales were down on a year-over-year basis, while listings were up from last year’s trough in supply. With more choice in the market, selling prices remained basically flat year-over-year.

“Inflation and elevated borrowing costs have taken their toll on affordability. This has been no more apparent than in the interest rate-sensitive housing market. However, it does appear relief is on the horizon. Bond yields, which underpin fixed rate mortgages have been trending lower and an increasing number of forecasters are anticipating Bank of Canada rate cuts in the first half of 2024. Lower rates will help alleviate affordability issues for existing homeowners and those looking to enter the market,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Paul Baron.

GTA REALTORS® reported 4,236 sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in November 2023 – a six per cent decline compared to November 2022. Over the same period, the number of new listings was up by 16.5 per cent. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, sales edged up compared to October 2023, while new listings were down by 5.5 per cent.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark and the average selling price, at $1,082,179, in November 2023 were basically flat in comparison to November 2022. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the MLS® HPI Composite benchmark was down by 1.7 per cent. The average selling price was down 2.2 per cent month-over-month.

“Home prices have adjusted from their peak in response to higher borrowing costs. This has provided some relief for buyers, from an affordability perspective. As mortgage rates trend lower next year and the population continues to grow at a record pace, expect demand to increase relative to supply. This will eventually lead to renewed growth in home prices,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

“Houses and condos are meant to be homes, first and foremost. We know the demand for homes, both rental and ownership, will grow for years to come. We have seen some productive policy decisions recently that should help with housing affordability, including allowing existing insured mortgage holders to switch lenders without the stress test. Additionally, in the interest of household and economic stability, we continue to call on the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to apply the same approach to uninsured mortgages. It also goes without saying that further policy work is required to bring more supply online,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

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