Homes sales across Canada rose for the fifth consecutive month and recorded a double-digit increase compared to a year ago in part aided by interest rates, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.
However, sales in Vancouver and Toronto, the two largest domestic markets, remained “well below” the levels achieved before mortgage stress tests were introduced last year, the association said.
Sales rose by 3.5 per cent in July compared with June and by 12.6 per cent versus the same month in 2018, the association’s figures show.
The Bank of Canada kept interest rates at 1.75 per cent last month after raising them five times from 2017 to last Oct.
“The extent to which recent declines in mortgage interest rates have helped lift sales activity varies by community and price segment,” CREA President Jason Stephen said in a statement. “All real estate is local.”
The number of new listings was almost flat, easing by 0.4 per cent in July as increases in Calgary, Toronto and Edmonton offset a decline in B.C. and Montreal, CREA said.
House prices were similar with gains of 0.6 per cent month on month and 0.2 per cent from a year ago.
“Sales continue to rise in housing markets where the mortgage stress test had little impact due to upbeat local economic conditions and a supply of affordably priced homes,” CREA Chief Economist Gregory Klump said in the statement.
“Meanwhile, the mortgage stress test is doing no favours for homebuyers and sellers alike in places facing challenging local economic prospects and subdued consumer sentiment.”
Angela Calla is a 15 year award-winning woman of influence mortgage expert. Alongside her team, passionately assisting mortgage holders get the best mortgage, and educating them on The Mortgage Show on CKNW for over a decade and through her best-selling book The Mortgage Code available on Amazon. To purchase the book click here: The Mortgage Code. Proceeds from a sales will help build a new emergency room at Eagle Ridge Hospital. Angela can be reached at callateam@dominionlending.ca or 604-802-3983.
