Greater Toronto Area Resale Homes Sales remain high in May

Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,470 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, representing a one per cent dip from May 2009. In comparison to previous years, this was the third highest May sales result on record.

“The pace of transactions slowed in May following record-setting sales in February, March and April,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “Buyers who otherwise would have been purchasing a home in May moved more quickly this year, likely to get ahead of Mortgage rate hikes.”

New listings were up 38 per cent annually to 18,940. The average price for May transactions was $446,593 – up 13 per cent compared to the average of $395,609 recorded in May 2009.

“The gap between listings and sales has widened, which means there is more choice for Buyers,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “The annual rate of price growth will slow in the second half of 2010, from the current double digit pace into the single digits.”

Median Price
In May, the median price was $376,750, from the $337,000 recorded during May of 2009.

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Mid April GTA Home Sales up 25% as compared to last year

Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,601 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) during the first two weeks of April. This represented a 25 per cent increase compared to the 3,681 sales recorded during the same period in 2009. New listings increased by 48 per cent annually to 9,512.

“The fact that annual growth in new listings outstripped growth in sales suggests that the GTA existing home market is becoming better supplied,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour.

"Home owners are reacting to strong sales and price growth by Listing their homes in greater numbers. They are confident they will receive offers in line with their asking price."

The average price for April mid-month transactions was $430,271 – up 12 per cent compared to the average of $383,361 recorded during the first 14 days of April 2009.

"The average annual rate of price increase has declined and we are shortly going to see a return to sustainable single-digit rates of growth," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

"As home Buyers experience more choice in the marketplace, there will be less upward pressure on the average Selling price in the GTA.”

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Our office is located in this great location of Mississauga near Hurontario Street and Eglinton Avenue area, Surrounded by 9 condominium buildings of Kingsbridge Garden Circle, Tucana Court and Eglinton Avenue. If you are thinking of buying or Selling real estate in this location, we are just a walking distance and a phone call away.

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70% increase in sale of existing GTA homes in Mid March over same period last year

TORONTO, MARCH 17, 2010 - Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,353 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) during the first two weeks of March. This represented a 70 per cent increase compared to the 2,562 sales recorded during the same period in 2009 when resale transactions had dipped markedly due to the recession.

Government of Canada Takes Action to Strengthen Housing Financing

On February 16th, The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, announced a number of measured steps to support the long-term stability of Canada's housing market and continue to encourage home ownership for Canadians.

"Canada's housing market is healthy, stable and supported by our country's solid economic fundamentals," said Minister Flaherty. "However, a key lesson of the global financial crisis is that early policy action can help prevent negative trends from developing."

The Government will therefore adjust the rules for government-backed insured mortgages as follows:

• Require that all borrowers meet the standards for a five-year fixed rate Mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower Interest rate and shorter term. This initiative will help Canadians prepare for higher interest rates in the future.
• Lower the maximum amount Canadians can withdraw in refinancing their mortgages to 90 per cent from 95 per cent of the value of their homes. This will help ensure home ownership is a more effective way to save.
• Require a minimum down payment of 20 per cent for government-backed Mortgage insurance on non-owner-occupied Properties purchased for speculation.

"There's no clear evidence of a housing bubble, but we're taking proactive, prudent and cautious steps today to help prevent one. Our Government is acting to help prevent Canadian households from getting overextended, and acting to help prevent some lenders from facilitating it," said Minister Flaherty. "If some lenders aren't willing to act themselves, we will act. These measures demonstrate the Government is committed to taking action when necessary to support the long-term stability of a sector that is so vital to our economy and the financial well-being of Canadian families."

These adjustments to the Mortgage insurance guarantee framework are intended to come into force on April 19, 2010.

Greater Toronto Area Resale Real Estate Market Resilient in 2009

January 6, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 87,308 MLS® transactions in 2009 – a 17 per cent increase over 2008. This result included 5,541 sales in December. The 2009 result was in line with the healthy levels of sales experienced between 2004 and 2006, but lower than the record of 93,193 set in 2007.

“After a slow start to the year, existing home sales rebounded during the second half of 2009,” said TREB President Tom Lebour. “As consumer confidence improved, many households moved to take advantage of affordable home ownership opportunities in the GTA. The strong residential real estate sector was a key contributor to overall economic recovery in Canada.”

The average home price in 2009 climbed four per cent to $395,460. The average price for December transactions was $411,931.

“Market conditions became very tight in the latter half of 2009. Sales climbed strongly relative to the number of homes listed for sale, resulting in robust price growth that more than offset average price declines in the winter,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “A greater supply of listings in 2010 will see home prices grow at a sustainable pace.”

Median Price
In December, the median price was $349,000, from the $305,000 recorded during December of 2008.

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Mississauga and Greater Toronto Real Estate reported increased sales by Mid December

Growing debt threatens economic stability: BOC

With household debt-to-income ratios in Canada at historical highs, the Bank of Canada is warning both borrowers and financial institutions to practice caution, particularly when it comes to Mortgage lending.

"Financial institutions need to carefully consider the aggregate risk to their entire portfolio of household exposures when evaluating even an insured Mortgage, since a household defaulting on an insured mortgage would likely be unable to meet its other debt obligations," the central bank's financial system review said.

On the borrower side, the bank stressed the need for households to "assess their ability to service these debt obligations over their entire maturity, taking into account likely changes in both income and Interest rates." The warnings can be seen as a response to the current views that Canada could be heading toward a housing bubble.

Some good news in the report came on the topic of liquidity, with the Bank of Canada saying Canada's major banks have increased their stock of liquid assets and reliance on stable funding sources, "bolstering" their ability to provide credit during periods of stress. The report also said market-based funding is improving and that conditions in the international financial system have improved considerably since the last financial system review in June.

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Thinkg of Buying or Selling your home or investing in real estate in Mississauga, Brampton and region of peel, please visit www.AceTeamRealty.com or call me at 416-618-9753.

Manoj Arora, Broker or Record

Ace Team Realty Inc., Brokerage, Mississauga

Greater Toronto Area Real Estate Home Sales Remain Strong in November

December 3, 2009 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,446 sales in November – slightly more than double the November 2008 result when GTA home sales had dipped markedly due to the economic downturn. Year-to-date sales were up 14 per cent compared to the first 11 months of 2008.

“This year in the GTA home sales will be in line with the healthy levels experienced between 2004 and 2006,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “Increased resale home transactions in the Toronto area and country-wide played a key role in pushing the Canadian economy out of recession in the third quarter.”

The average price for November transactions was up 14 per cent year-over-year to $418,460. The average price year-to-date was up four per cent to $394,464.

“Very strong annual growth rates for sales and average price should be expected through the first quarter of 2010, because we will be comparing the current recovery to the housing market decline experienced last winter,” according to Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “As we move into the spring, growth rates will move to more sustainable levels.” have been high relative to listings,” according to Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “Watch for listings to rebound in 2010 as home owners react to the strong sales and price growth experienced in the latter half of this year.”

Median Price
In November, the median price was $353,800, from the $312,250 recorded during November of 2008.

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