GTA Real Estate Update: November 2023 Market Update:
The market continued to favour buyers in November despite a slight dip in months of inventory relative to October. Prices were up 0.3% year-over-year but down 3.89% month-over-month. The current average price of a home in the GTA sits at $1,082,179.
We had 16.5% more new listings relative to November ‘22 although not surprisingly fewer homes (10,545) came on the market in last month relative to October (14,397) as buyers and sellers turned their attention to the holiday season. As a result sales were down 8.82% month over month. Sales were down 6% from November ‘22.
What does this mean for buyers and sellers?
Buyers
Buyers remain in a strong negotiating position with inventory to choose from and the ability to negotiate favourable terms when presenting offers. Now remains to be a good time to buy. Pricing has been trending downward and with indications pointing to interest rates coming down as early as Q2 2024 buyers who purchase now will be ahead of the curve when those on the sidelines re-enter the market.
Sellers
Fewer properties came online in November meaning sellers today have slightly less competition then they did through October albeit more than a year ago. It continues to be important to price properties effectively to attract buyers who can offer the best possible price and terms. Preparing a home and presenting it to best showcase its strengths is key.
New Legislation
Another big change impacting Real Estate is the release of new regulations governing Realtors®. TRESA or the Trust in Real Estate Services Act replaced previous regulations on December 1, 2023. Among several changes will be a new Open Offer Process available to sellers when listing their property. Read more about this process and it’s impact on buyers and sellers here [insert link to other blog post].
Planning a Move
Whether you are considering upgrading, downsizing or relocating now may be a better time then you think. Purchasing a home in the next 60-90 days may be your ideal time to get a home at the best possible price. Even though mortgage rates are high, making a purchase before they go down and more buyers step back into the market can put you at an advantage. Just be sure to explore your options with qualified professionals including well informed Realtors® like ourselves, lenders, etc.
Interest Rates and Their Impact:
On December 6th the Bank of Canada held its policy rate for a third straight time indicating we may be at the end of a cycle of increasing rates. Recently, bond yields, which underpin fixed rate mortgages have been trending lower which has provided some short term relief for those looking at fixed rate mortgages.
A look ahead
As more and more financial experts begin forecasting a move by the Bank of Canada to lower its policy rate in 2024 in response to the changing economy and a growing number of upcoming mortgage renewals, the outlook is better for existing homeowners and those looking to get into the market.
