THIS PAST YEAR SAW THE SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOME AND CONDO MARKETS DIVERGE ON DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT PATHS IN CANADA’S TWO HIGHEST-PRICED REAL ESTATE MARKETS, GREATER VANCOUVER AND THE GREATER TORONTO AREA, AS REVEALED IN THE 2018 HOUSING MARKET OUTLOOK.

The trend is expected to continue into 2018 as a mix of relative affordability for condo units and price appreciation for detached homes in recent years, combined with government policy changes in both markets, has helped push an influx of buyers toward condo ownership.

An evolving regional economy helped to drive real estate market activity and price increases in Calgary in 2017, but both buyers and sellers remain relatively tentative as the city continues to recover from the ongoing downturn in the oil sector. An influx of development projects in recent years has led to increased inventory of condos, and demand has not been able to keep pace with supply, resulting in sellers adjusting their listing prices downward to reflect current market conditions. Detached single-family homes remain in highest demand, particularly from move-up and first-time buyers, latter of which often receive financing assistance from family. The lower-end of the market may see a slight increase in average sale price and activity as buyers reduce their budgets following the implementation of the OSFI mortgage rate stress test on January 1, 2018.

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