Commentary
The housing market continues to swing back into balance. Coming off a hot market, home sales are falling in line with the historic average and home prices are falling in line with historic price-appreciation levels. Although not as exciting as the record-breaking activity seen earlier this year, this period of slower growth is necessary for long-term stability.
Likewise, the outlook for the Canadian economy, employment, and mortgage market remains upbeat, but tempered. The second month of record-breaking number of jobs created is a good indicator of strength. Canada will continue to be somewhat susceptible to global economic movements, and the Bank of Canada intends to monitor both the domestic and global economy as it makes further decisions about interest rate increases.
Overall, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic, but it is widely recognized that the Canadian economy remains strong, resilient, and stable compared to other major economies.
Housing Market
Home Sales
Existing home sales activity totaled 33,959 units in June, down 8.2% from the previous month as sales trend back toward the 20 year average. This departure from the seasonal norm is considered by some to be the effects of changes to mortgage regulations and rising interest rates that caused buyers to act in April that would have otherwise done so at a later date.
Average Home Price
The national average home price slid a slight 1.2% to $342,661 in June from a month ago, but remains 4.9% above year-ago levels. Now that home prices have fallen back in line with the 30-year historic appreciation rate of 5.5%, economists and industry experts expect prices to increase at a slower rate as the market balances.
Inventory
Sales-to-Listings Ratio
The number of months of inventory measures the amount of time it would take to sell all the homes on the market at the current pace of sales if no new homes become available. There were 6.9 months of inventory in June, which is close to the level seen in March of 2009. Fewer new listings are expected to enter the market over the coming months, which should continue to stabilize the balance between supply and demand.
Mortgage Rates
Average for: 25-Year Amortization, 5-Year Term
Mortgage rates fell slightly to 5.79% for the month of July from 5.89% in June. Interest rates are expected to increase as recovery continues to gain a firmer footing. Now could be a great time to lock in a historically favorable 5 year fixed mortgage rate.
Sources: Conference Board, The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Bank of Canada
Notable News
Bank of Canada Raises Interest Rate
Since 2007, the Bank of Canada has either cut rates or kept rates steady. In order to stay close to the 2% target inflation rate, the Bank raised rates 0.25% for the second time in July, following closely behind the first rate increase the previous month. The rate now stands at 0.75%.
While the Canadian economy, and job growth particularly, has been strong lately, the Bank cautioned that it expects economic growth to continue at a slower pace for the remainder of the year. Thus far, the recovery has been driven largely by consumers. Earlier in the year, many chose to take advantage of low interest rates and purchased sooner than they otherwise would have. Going forward, consumers are expected to play a smaller role, while business investment and trade take the lead. This is a good signal for the long-term stability and growth of the economy.
Sources: CREA, The Financial Post
Timely Topics
10 Things to Keep in Mind While Looking for Your First Home
Interest rates at favorable levels and a wider selection of homes than earlier this year provide an opportunity for first-time buyers to enter the market.
- Know what you can afford before you fall in love with your dream home.
- Get a mortgage qualification to firm up an offer and ensure you and the bank are on the same page about what you can afford.
- Consider additional expenses that come with owning a home but not with an apartment like property tax, insurance, and repairs.
- Be flexible on the little things . It would be wonderful to find a home with everything you want, but those are hard to come by – distinguish nice-to-haves and must-haves early.
- Have imagination and look beyond paint colors, wallpaper, or other easy and affordable things you can change.
- See through the smoke and don’t overpay for minor and relatively inexpensive upgrades or for the seller’s exquisite furnishings – the house will look different with your decor.
- Don’t compromise on the big things, such as enough bedrooms to accommodate additions to the family or space for an office if you work from home.
- Always inspect even if the surface looks great; it’s important to know if anything major is wrong and what it will cost to fix.
- Hire an agent who will represent your best interest.
- Think about the future in regard to the neighborhoods, surroundings, schools, and developments.
