NYD

4,009 home sales were reported through the Toronto Real Estate Board MLS in January 2019, up by 0.6 per cent compared to January 2018. The average selling price was up by 1.7 per cent for the month year-over-year. The first month of this year continues to show the condo market segment leading the way in terms of price growth. This segment is one to watch closely, as data released on February 1, 2019 by Urbanation Inc., which tracks data in the preconstruction condo market in the GTA, indicate that prices of prebuild condo units rose 16 per cent in 2018 to a record of $921 a square foot in the GTA over all, and $1,117 a square foot in central Toronto. Over the past two years, new construction condos prices have climbed by 56 per cent in the GTA, far outpacing price increases for resale condos.

A total of 77,426 residential transactions flowed through the TREB MLS in 2018 with an overall average selling price of $787,300 for all home types combined in the TREB market area that includes both the 416 and 905 areas. These numbers compared to 2017 translate into declines of 16.1 per cent in sales and 4.3 per cent in price. Despite overall declines, the condo market segment in both the 416 and 905 bucked the trend with average sales up by 7.8 per cent and average prices up by just over 8 per cent year over year. The volume of sales and positive price increases of this home type reflects a move of GTA home buyers in 2018 to more affordable home ownership options.

OREA urges Ontario to revamp realtor rules, allow 'transparent' bidding - BNN Bloomberg The Ontario Real Estate Association is making more than three dozen recommendations to the provincial government on how it should update the rules governing realtors, including allowing for a more open bidding process for buyers and sellers.

Thinking of renting a condo in Toronto? Get ready to pay a record $2,385 a month Market remains exceptionally tight