July 2008 Prices Up, Sales In Line With Seasonal Expectations

August 6, 2008 -- TREB Members reported 7,806 sales of single-family dwellings in July, continuing a healthy but not record setting pace into the summer. “Even though GTA sales were down 12 per cent from the best-ever July 2007 figure of 8,912, sales were up 10 per cent from July 2006 (7,082),” said TREB President Maureen O’Neill.
July 2007 saw a 26 per cent increase in sales over the 7,082 recorded in July 2006. Furthermore, the sales decrease in July 2008 from July of 2007 wasdistributed unevenly across the GTA. Within the City of Toronto, the 3,132 sales recorded in July 2008 is down 14 per cent from last July’s 3,640 figure but up 10 per cent from the 2,852 sales recorded in July 2006. Comparing July 2007 with July 2006, a period before the Land Transfer tax went into effect in Toronto, sales increased 28 per cent.
In the 905 suburbs sales declined 11 per cent, to 4,674 in July 2008 from 5,272 last July, but increased 10 per cent from the 4,230 sales recorded in July 2006. Sales from July 2007 increased 25 per cent over July 2006.
Overall, the GTA average price rose just over one per cent in July 2008 over July 2007 to $371,427 from $366,012, and a nine per cent increase from $342,034 recorded during July 2006.
Once again, price movements differed depending on the part of the GTA involved.
Within City of Toronto boundaries, the increase was marginal (under one per cent) to $395,342 in July 2008 from $395,044 in July 2007 and up 10 per cent from the$360,409 recorded during July 2006.
In the 905 municipalities surrounding the City of Toronto, however, the average price climbed almost three per cent to $355,401 in July 2008 from the July 2007figure of $345,967 and up eight per cent from $329,644 recorded during July 2006.
Breaking down the total, 3,045 sales were reported in TREB’s 28 West districts and averaged $352,956; 1,349 sales were reported in the 14 Central districts andaveraged $467,743; 1,519 sales were reported in the 23 North districts and averaged $408,815; and 1,893 sales were reported in TREB’s 21 East districts and averaged $301,658.
NEIGHBOURHOOD CORNER
North York
In the first seven months of 2008, North York (C04,C06,C07, and C12 through C15) has seen 4,129 sales, down 19 per cent from the 5,115 recorded during the January to July period of 2007. The price averaged $500,109, up two per cent over the $488,663 recoded during the comparable period last year.
GTA Resale Housing Stable in July
August 6, 2008 -- With 7,806 transactions recorded last month, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) resale housing market continued at a moderate pace in July, Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Maureen O’Neill announced today.
Prices remained stable throughout the GTA in July. At $371,427 the average price increased slightly more than one per cent from $366,012 recorded in July 2007 and nine per cent from the $342,034 figure of two years ago.
In the City of Toronto the average price of $395,342 increased less than one per cent from the July 2007 price of $395,044 and 10 per cent from the July 2006 figure of $360,409.
In the 905 Region the average price increased three per cent to $355,401 compared to the July 2007 figure of $345,967. This also represents an eight per cent increase from the July 2006 average of $329,644.
“Sales declined 12 per cent last month from the best-ever July 2007 record of 8,912 but increased 10 per cent from the 7,082 sales transacted in July 2006,” said Ms. O’Neill. “Comparing July 2007 with July 2006, sales increased by 26 per cent.”
In the City of Toronto 3,132 sales were recorded, down 14 per cent from July 2007’s 3,640 transactions but up 10 per cent from the 2,852 sales recorded two years ago in 2006. Comparing July 2007 with July 2006, a period before the Land Transfer tax went into effect in Toronto, sales increased 28 per cent.
In the 905 Region there were 4,674 transactions, down 11 per cent from July 2007’s 5,272 sales but up 10 per cent from the 4,230 sales recorded in July 2006. Comparing July 2007 with July 2006, sales increased 25 per cent.
From a year-to-date perspective, the GTA’s 51,249 sales in 2008 have declined 14 per cent from the 59,339 reached at this time a year ago.
Certain neighbourhoods throughout the GTA experienced increased sales activity in July.
In Whitby (E15) sales increased 22 per cent from July 2007, based on strong sales in most housing types.
Brampton East (W24) saw a 12 per cent increase, based primarily on semi-detached home sales.
Strong detached home sales drove Uxbridge (N16) to a 23 per cent increase compared to a year ago.
The Annex (C02) experienced a 29 per cent sales increase due to strong detached home and condominium apartment sales.
In addition to stable prices, the list to sale price ratio, at 98 per cent, remains unchanged from a year ago.
“While homeowners continue to see healthy returns, it is taking slightly longer to achieve a sale; the average time on market has increased to 33 days compared to 31 days a year ago,” said Ms. O’Neill. “This may be due to that fact that there is now more choice available to homebuyers; there are currently 26,543 active listings, a 28 per cent increase from a year ago.”