Canadian House Prices Record ‘Normal’ Year-Over-Year Growth

TORONTO, October 19, 2010 - Canada's residential real estate market saw year-over-year growth in the third quarter as fears of a double dip recession or a housing bubble faded. According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey released today, house price appreciation slowed to a more modest five per cent in the quarter, which is historically typical of balanced real estate markets.

"Most Canadian housing markets cooled in the third quarter. In fact, the year is unfolding much as we predicted, with the unusually active first half of 2010 giving way to slower markets in the later part of the year.  Helped by very low rates in a competitive mortgage financing market, the third quarter was slightly stronger than anticipated, on new demand fuelled by improved affordability in many regions," said Phil Soper, president and chief executive, Royal LePage Real Estate Services. Looking ahead, it is very unlikely that the period from now to year-end can keep pace with the activity levels posted in the overheated market of the final quarter of 2009."

"House price growth now sits just below the long term annual average of approximately five per cent, but once this is adjusted for inflation, which is very low and expected to continue to be that way for some time, appreciation is right on track.  Canadian homeowners will be pleased," said Soper.

"During the period which stretched from 2007 through early 2010, the Canadian housing market was characterized by often wild swings in housing activity. We believe much of that volatility has been worked out of the system and that gradual economic improvement, particularly with our employment picture, offset by the dampening effect of a gradual increase in mortgage costs, should bring a steadier housing industry through 2011," said Soper.

"While the quantity of home sales transactions fluctuated significantly period to period over the past two years, as the real estate industry absorbed the impact and uncertainty of the recession, Canadian house prices saw much less change. In sharp contrast to the U.S. situation, in which a mountain of foreclosures flooded the supply side of the market during the most volatile times, Canadians were reluctant to list their homes. With a limited supply of listings, house prices maintained their value and Canadians, their equity," added Soper.

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