Market Watch October 2024
In October 2024, the Waterloo Region real estate market showed signs of improvement with 604 homes sold, marking a 7.1% increase from the previous year, though still below the 10-year average.
The average sale price reached $779,008, representing a modest 1.4% increase year-over-year but a slight decrease from September. The market saw varying performance across property types, with detached homes and semi-detached properties experiencing significant sales growth, while townhouse sales declined.
A notable increase in inventory levels, with 1,711 active listings, suggests a shift toward more balanced market conditions. The Bank of Canada’s decision to cut its policy rate to 3.75% may have contributed to market optimism, though some buyers appear to be waiting for further rate reductions before entering the market, particularly with new mortgage reforms set to take effect in December 2024.
Despite the average days on market increasing to 27 days compared to 21 days in October 2023, the combination of increased sales activity, stable prices, and growing inventory levels indicates a gradually stabilizing market environment.
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Below are October’s Market Reports for Waterloo Region and the GTA.
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Lance
HOME SALES IN WATERLOO REGION INCREASED IN OCTOBER.
WATERLOO REGION, ON (November 4, 2024) —In October, a total of 604 homes were sold in the Waterloo Region via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System of the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® (Cornerstone). This represents a 7.1 per cent increase compared to the same period last year and a decline of 14.2 per cent compared to the average number of homes sold in the previous ten years for the same month.
“For the first time since May, we witnessed an encouraging rise in home sales throughout Waterloo Region last month,” stated Christal Moura, spokesperson for the Waterloo Region market area. “This positive trend reflects a shift toward more balanced conditions within our housing market and a renewed confidence among buyers.”
Total residential sales in October included 383 detached homes (up 15.4 per cent from October 2023), and 104 townhouses (down 20.0 per cent). Sales also included 66 condominium units (up 1.5 per cent) and 49 semi-detached homes (up 53.1 per cent).
In October, the average sale price for all residential properties in Waterloo Region was $779,008. This represents a 1.4 per cent increase compared to October 2023 and a 1.4 per cent decrease compared to September 2024.
- The average price of a detached home was $885,587. This represents a 0.6 per cent decrease from October 2023 and a decrease of 2.9 per cent compared to September 2024.
- The average sale price for a townhouse was $643,382. This represents a 0.2 per cent decrease from October 2023 and an increase of 7.8 per cent compared to September 2024.
- The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $484,429. This represents a 1.8 per cent increase from October 2023 and a decrease of 0.2 per cent compared to September 2024.
- The average sale price for a semi was $650,098. This represents a decrease of 1.2 per cent compared to October 2023 and a decrease of 0.7 per cent compared to September 2024.
On Wednesday, October 23, Cornerstone welcomed the news that the Bank of Canada cut its policy rate by 50 basis points to 3.75 per cent. This marks the fourth consecutive rate cut since June and is the most substantial decrease since March 2020. Moura commented, “The interest rate cuts are certainly beneficial for those with variable mortgages and encouraging news for homeowners facing mortgage renewals. However, I believe many prospective home buyers may continue to wait for more significant reductions before making a move, especially with the anticipated mortgage reforms that come into effect on December 15, 2024.”
There were 1,144 new listings added to the MLS® System in Waterloo Region last month, an increase of 0.3 per cent compared to October last year and a 19.9 per cent increase compared to the previous ten-year average for October.
The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of October was 1,711 an increase of 21.0 per cent compared to October of last year and 48.5 per cent above the previous ten-year average of 1,153 listings for October.
The total inventory across the market increased by 19.2 percent, resulting in a 3.1-month supply of all property types by the end of October. Condominium apartments had the highest inventory, with 5.5 months’ supply, followed by townhouses with 3.8 months’ supply and detached homes with 2.5 months’ supply. The number of months of inventory represents the time it would take to sell off current inventories at the current sales rate.
The average time to sell a home in October was 27 days, one day shorter than the previous month. In October 2023, it took 21 days for a home to sell, and the five-year average is 18 days.
TRREB: SALES & AVERAGE PRICE INCREASES IN OCTOBER.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, November 6, 2024 – Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales increased strongly year-over-year in October 2024. Over the same period, new listings were up, but by a lesser annual rate. The result was tighter market conditions compared to October 2023. The average selling price was up slightly on an annual basis.“While we are still early in the Bank of Canada’s rate cutting cycle, it definitely does appear that an increasing number of buyers moved off the sidelines and back into the marketplace in October. The positive affordability picture brought about by lower borrowing costs and relatively flat home prices, prompted this improvement in market activity,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Jennifer Pearce.
GTA REALTORS® reported 6,658 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in October 2024 up by 44.4 per cent compared to 4,611 sales reported in October 2023. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 15,328 – up by 4.3 per cent year-over-year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, October sales increased month-over-month compared to September.
The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 3.3 per cent year-over year in October 2024. The average selling price was up by 1.1 per cent compared to October 2023 to $1,135,215. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price edged up compared to September.
“Market conditions did tighten in October, but there is still a lot of inventory and therefore choice for home buyers. This choice will keep home price growth moderate over the next few months. However, as inventory is absorbed and home construction continues to lag population growth, selling price growth will accelerate, likely as we move through the spring of 2025,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.
“Policymakers can further improve affordability by reducing taxes on home buyers. TRREB supports the Conservative Party of Canada pledge to remove the GST from the purchase of new homes sold for under $1 million as this is an encouraging step towards giving new home buyers desperately needed relief. Enhancing the rebate will not only make homes more affordable, but it will also increase the number of homes built,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.
“Given that the average price of a home in less affordable markets such as the GTA and Vancouver is over $1 million, phasing out the rebate between $1 million and $1.5 million, rather than a hard cutoff at $1 million, would address this shortcoming. Provincial consideration should also be given to matching this proposal,” continued DiMichele.
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Sell and move forward with confidence!
Lance Nielsen
519-748-7057
Lance@LanceNielsen.com