Detached home sales and prices roar back to life in first half of 2019 – ReMax

The bounce-back in single-detached home sales is contributing to an uptick in average price, with more than 50 per cent of neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area reporting an increase in detached housing values the first half of 2019, according to a new report from Re/Max of Ontario-Atlantic Canada.Re/Max examined trends and developments in 65 Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) districts, finding that detached home sales were up in almost 88 per cent of markets, while prices were up in 51 per cent of markets between January and June 2019, compared to the same period one year ago. The 905 area saw the greatest increase in homebuying activity, with all 30 areas reporting rising detached home sales, and 43 per cent of 905 communities experiencing price appreciation. Meanwhile, in the 416, just 20 of the 35 districts experienced an uptick in sales, while detached home prices increased in 57 per cent of neighbourhoods."Detached housing is finally back on track, with year-to-date sales almost 17 per cent ahead of last year's levels, signaling a return to more normal levels of home-buying activity," says Christopher Alexander, executive vice-president and regional director, ReMax of Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "Market share is also climbing, with detached homes now representing 45.7 per cent of all home sales in the Greater Toronto Area, up from 43.1 per cent one year ago."While improving affordability is the catalyst in the uptick in detached home sales, Re/Max says location is equally important, as first-time and trade-up buyers move to secure prime real estate before values are on the move again.

Top 5 detached home markets in 416 by price growth, first half of 2019

Neighbourhoods	Average price	% increase
1. (E01)North RiverdaleSouth RiverdaleBlake-JonesGreenwood-Coxwell	$1.38M	15.2
2. (C01)Trinity-BellwoodsPalmerston-Little ItalyNiagaraLittle PortugalKensington-ChinatownDufferin Grove	$1.95M	12.8
3. (C11)LeasideThorncliffe Park	$2.19M	11.2
4. (E04)Dorset ParkWexford-MaryvaleClairlea-BirchmountIonviewKennedy Park	$836,585	7.8
5. (W02)JunctionHigh Park NorthRunnymede-Bloor,West VillageLambton-Baby PointDovercourt-WallaceEmerson-Junction	$1.41M	7.1

Source: Re/Max of Ontario-Atlantic Canada; E01, C01, C11, E04, W02are TREB market districts (trebhome.com)

Top 5 detached home markets in 905 by price growth first half of 2019

Neighbourhoods	Average price	% increase
1. Uxbridge2. Milton3. Halton Hills4. Brampton5. Ajax	$895,490$903,359$842,864$835,435$728,923	64.33.62.82.5

Source: Re/Max of Ontario-Atlantic CanadaDespite strong demand in these hot-pocket areas, approximately 45 per cent of districts within the 416 are in a technical buyers' market, with a good selection of homes listed for sale. ReMax says select neighbourhoods north of Bloor offered greater flexibility in terms of negotiation – this is especially true when average price topped $2 million – while market conditions were tightest south of Bloor Street."Heated demand clearly exists for single-detached housing south of Bloor Street, but there are pockets throughout the 416 that are scorching hot," says Alexander. "The Oakwood-Vaughan area in C03, where homes can still be had for just over the $1-million price point, is one of those neighbourhoods, while C10, comprised of Sherwood Park, Mount Pleasant West, Mount Pleasant East, is another. The Junction Area, High Park North, and Runnymede-Bloor West Village (W02) in the west end, and Leslieville (E01) and the Beach (E02) in the east, are also highly sought-after, with proximity to transportation and vibrant shopping avenues the common denominators drawing younger buyers."Top performers in terms of unit sales were markets offering single-detached homes at less than the $1-million price point. Scarborough's L'Amoreaux, Tam O'Shanter-Sullivan, Steeles neighbourhood (E05) saw the most significant upswing in terms of percentage increase in sales, with the number of homes sold up 76.2 per cent to 148 units."With recovery well underway in the detached housing segment, the residential real estate market is starting to fire on all cylinders," says Alexander. "The possibility of more relaxed mortgage rules down the road – in conjunction with today's low interest rate environment – may serve to spark up the GTA housing market yet again."