CREA Updates Resale Housing Forecast

OTTAWA, Sept. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has updated its forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations in 2012 and 2013.

Since CREA's last resale housing forecast, mortgage regulations were tightened further, activity in Ontario softened, and the slowdown of sales activity in British Columbia deepened. As a result of these developments, CREA has lowered its forecast for Canadian home sales this year and next. The national average price forecast has also been reduced, reflecting an expected decrease in Ontario's and British Columbia's provincial sales as a proportion of national activity.

British Columbia's share of national sales has declined further below its long term average. Ontario's share of national sales has also retreated from elevated levels, and is expected to hold near its long run average.

National resale housing activity is now forecast to rise by 1.9 per cent to 466,900 units in 2012. Alberta is still expected to post the biggest increase in activity, offsetting a sales decline in British Columbia.

In 2013, CREA forecasts that national sales activity will recede by 1.9 per cent to 457,800 units. This is a larger decline than was previously forecast, reflecting the cumulative effects of previous and recent changes to mortgage regulations, and anticipated interest rate increases in the second half of 2013. Activity is expected to ease in all provinces except Alberta and Manitoba, with Ontario registering the largest decline.

Although revised downward, national sales in 2012 and 2013 are forecast to remain roughly on par with the 10 year average, with 2012 coming in slightly above and 2013 slightly below average.

"All real estate is local, so housing market prospects can and do differ among regions and communities," said Wayne Moen, CREA President. "For that reason, buyers and sellers should talk to their REALTOR® about the housing market outlook where they live."

The national average home price is forecast to rise by just 0.6 per cent to $365,000 in 2012, reflecting a strong start to the year for sales and average price in Ontario but fewer expensive home sales in British Columbia.

The national average price is expected to edge lower by one tenth of one per cent to $364,500 in 2013, with Ontario and British Columbia registering small price declines amid modest average price gains in other provinces.

"Recent changes to mortgage regulations are likely to sideline some potential first-time home buyers, particularly in some of Canada's priciest housing markets," said Gregory Klump, CREA's Chief Economist. "That's likely to result in slower momentum for resale housing activity, with an increase in the amount of time it takes for move-up buyers to sell their current home. Job growth is widely expected to continue at a modest pace while interest rates remain on hold, so the economic outlook is absent the factors that typically result in forced sales and a dramatic swing in prices."

SOURCE: The Canadian Real Estate Association

For further information:

Pierre Leduc, Media Relations
The Canadian Real Estate Association
Tel.: [phone] or 613-884-1460
E-mail: [e-mail]