October 2018 Market Review

October was another solid month in the Toronto real estate market. TREB reported 7,492 sales, up 6% from October 2017. The average sale price (across all home types) edged up 3%, to $807,340. As I mentioned last month, prices have been relatively stable over the last six months or so, making now a good time to buy.

That said, it’s clearly not a ‘buyers market’. The number of listings just hasn’t increased enough to put us into that territory. New listings actually declined 2.7% to 14,431, while total available listings at the end of the month was up just barely (0.4%), to 18,926. Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis, put it this way in the monthly Market Watch report (my source for all these numbers I quote in my monthly Market Review): “Annual sales growth has outstripped annual growth in new listings for the last five months, underpinning the fact that listings supply remains an issue in the Greater Toronto Area.” So, regardless of other, outside, influences like the OFSI stress test or rising mortgage rates, the Toronto real estate market has it’s own internal supply and demand pressures that keep driving prices up, a point I have stressed many times.

The 416 condo market (i.e. not including the 905 region) saw a slight increase in sales volume of 2.8% and a price jump of 8.6%. I’ve said it many times – condos are a great option!

The ‘fall market’ usually continues through November, so we’ve got plenty of time left in 2018. Of note, I was out showing houses on the weekend and bumped into four other Realtors at one house – a sign that there’s lots of action out there! Exciting times…. 😉