With 5,627 homes sold, August marked a slight increase over July in terms of number of homes sold as well as for the average sale price. The average sale price YTD is now at $1,224,216, compared to 2021’s average price of $1 095,339. 

Please don’t expect prices to start to rise again. What August’s data shows is that the real estate market is active with sales and purchases taking place. While listings remain in short supply, buyers show continued willingness to purchase at today’s market prices. Overpriced listings are soon exposed by today’s savvier buyer and those listings will languish.

As always there are areas of strength and weakness in the market. Condominium sales in the 416-area code have strengthened as overall demand has increased due to the higher price points for detached homes and the fact that rents have increased significantly over the last year. Renovated suites in older buildings are typically larger and are selling at significant premiums over those that are unrenovated. Also 905 detached home prices have softened in the outlying areas, but the challenge for first time buyers or those moving further away to upsize will be qualification for financing.

The dream of a private backyard and a white picket fence is deeply rooted in our society which will keep demand up. My prediction is we will see a stabilizing of these conditions moving forward. The volume of transactions may decline but underlying market dynamics, principally demand and low supply, will buoy sales prices.

Predictably, we are reading more and more doomsday comments about significant price declines because among other key factors, interest rates are rising. But the offsetting demand, I expect, will counter that thought. We have seen this wishful thinking before. A well priced property sells in approximately 3 weeks, provided it is priced within 5% of market value. Looking at it with a seasonal perspective, the market is reasonably active in all categories of properties right across the GTA.

If you are interested in finding opportunities in today’s real estate market, you need a knowledgeable broker that can give you the information you need to make a good decision for you and your family. A full time, experienced realtor like me, associated with a great company like RE/MAX Realtron! Give me a call, let’s chat, after all you have a friend in the business who is, you know….the Point Man In Real Estate! 

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

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Some interesting facts about the real estate market activity in July:

June 2022 Stats are out & borrowing costs continued to impact the amount of homes sold. 6,474 sales occurred last month, down by 41% compared to last year's strong result. The number of transactions was also down compared to May 2022, but this is often the case due to the seasonal nature of the market.

The average selling price, at $1,146,254, remained 5.3% above the June 2021 level, but continued to trend lower on a monthly basis. The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was up by 17.9% year-over-year, but also experienced a month-over-month dip compared to May.

Annual price growth was driven more so by less expensive market segments, including townhouses and condominium apartments.

While the number of transactions was down year-over-year, the number of new listings was little changed over the same period. This has provided for more balance in the market, resulting in a more moderate annual pace of price growth.

Contact me with questions as to how this impacts your buying or selling decisions!

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

Read Full Market Stats Package

No surprise as the Toronto Real Estate Board released the May sales numbers. 7,283 properties sold with an average sale price at $1,274,869, up 16.4% since the end of 2021.  GTA Realtors meanwhile listed 18,679 homes for sale year to date. There were 7,283 sales in May 2022 – down 38.8% compared to May 2021 and down 9% compared to April 2022. 

The number of new May listings was like last year’s level and edged up on a month-over-month basis. With sales down and new listings trending flat to slightly up, the number of active listings was up on a year-over-year basis by 26%. Without a doubt, the increase in mortgage rates is a real concern as many are waiting to see the impact on prices but market conditions remained tight enough to support an overall average selling price of $1,212,806 for May 2022, representing an annual growth rate of 9.4%.

The reality of the market has not changed. Due to a shortage of homes for sale, prices in January and February rose at an unsustainable rate of 25%+. In March, sellers with inexperienced Realtors continued to offer properties for sale at significantly higher prices than the previous sales and, not surprisingly, buyers balked as homes stopped selling almost overnight. With the mortgage rate increase taking some buyers out of the market and others waiting to see what happens, the number of homes sold dropped compared to last year. The impression and Buyers’ hope is that home prices will keep declining.

The problem is, “Hope” is not a strategy. Hope supports realistic optimism, a necessary component of success. But If the market turns back up, as we have seen before, e.g. 2018, and interests rise again, buyers will be further disadvantaged. The other factor is, no matter whether you are buying or selling, putting on hold your life needs and that of your family is costly in more ways than just monetarily.  We need only think back over the past 2+ years to recognize that.

This is also an amazing time to increase your investment portfolio. It’s said “don’t time the market”, but it is also said, “buy the dip” if the opportunity presents itself. Give me a call and let me show you the reality of the market and how you can turn it to your advantage.

Pareto’s Principal says that 20% of sales people do 80% of the sales in any field. As a full time, professional & experienced realtor and businessman have the pricing & marketing strategies and negotiating skills to make it work for you. As a top performer and being with Remax, the largest multinational real estate company marketing properties world-wide, you need me and Remax!

You can read the full May report and/or call me to talk about your personal situation, your hopes, and dreams. There is no obligation and perhaps we can plan together to turn your hopes into your reality.

Have a great June and start of summer.

To A Good Life

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

The GTA housing market continued its adjustment to higher borrowing costs, with the number of transactions down on a monthly and annual basis. There were 8,008 homes sold in April 2022 – a 41.2% decrease compared to April 2021 and a 27% decrease compared to March 2022.

On a year-over-year basis, the decline in sales was greater in the ‘905’ area code regions surrounding Toronto, particularly for detached houses. The benchmark price was up by 30.6% year-over-year in April 2022 but was down in comparison to the March level. The average selling price, at $1,254,436, was up by 15% compared to April 2021, but down compared to the average selling price of $1,300,082 in March 2022.

Contact me with questions as to how this impacts your buying or selling decisions!

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!⁠
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

Read Full TRREB Market Report

Great news is that there were no big surprises that will immediately impact our real estate markets in the April 7th budget. For now, let’s focus on Budget announcements that could touch us as Buyers, Sellers or Homeowners. There are some specific initiatives put forward that will help more Buyers get into the market which in turn will sustain future market resiliency for Sellers.

While the 2022 Federal Budget must still receive Parliamentary approval, here are key proposals within the Budget that touch on our housing markets:

1. Introduction of a Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) - Designed to help First Time Home Buyers, Taxpayer Account Holders will be able to contribute up to $8,000 per year towards the purchase of a first home. An FHSA combines the features of both an RRSP and a TFSA.

• Like a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), contributions will be eligible for an income tax deduction and the money will grow tax free inside the account.

• Up to $40,000 can be contributed, and then be withdrawn to purchase a first home, without tax consequences.

Details are sure to be released soon as the FHSA plan is expected to launch in 2023.

As a thought – Wouldn't it be wonderful if the FHSA and RRSP Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) could be combined into a super-sized down payment for a First Time Home Buyer purchase? But it's likely not possible. So, it seems to be a future choice of the HBP or the FHSA. Advantage going to the FHSA, because repayment is not required, as would otherwise be if using the HBP.

2. Doubling of the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit. This income tax credit applies to a qualifying “first home” purchased during the tax year. The updated credit increases from $5,000 to $10,000, which will put $1,500 back into a Buyer’s pocket. This increase is set to be available for the 2022 tax year.

3. Doubling the Home Accessibility Tax Credit. Individuals can receive 15% in tax relief on up to $20,000 in eligible renovations (up from $10,000) for a tax deduction of up to $3,000. Generally, eligible expenses are for updates that assist seniors, or those entitled to the Disability Tax Credit, to make their homes more accessible.

4. Introduction of a Multi-generational Home Renovation Tax Credit to help families create a multi-generational home. Starting in 2023, this refundable credit would allow families to claim 15% of up to $50,000, to a maximum of $7,500 for eligible renovation and construction costs incurred to construct a secondary suite.

5. Extension of the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, which allows eligible first-time home buyers to lower their borrowing costs by sharing the cost of buying a home with the government. This Plan has been extended to March 31, 2025.

6. Support of Rent-to-Own Projects to help make it easier for renters to get on the path of home ownership while renting.

7. Modification of the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) – New tax rules for “property flipping” aimed at individuals who sell their principal residence within 12 months of purchase. According to the budget, the measure would apply to residential properties sold on or after January 1, 2023.

Two things that were surprisingly left out of this budget were the rumoured reintroduction of 30-year amortization for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)-insured mortgages for first-time home buyers. And the reduction of the mortgage insurance fees charged by CMHC. However, if home prices and/or interest rates continue on the upward trajectory, these programs could easily be re-visited.

Questions? Want to know more about market activity in your  neighbourhood? I always invite your calls.

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

*Federal Budget information as above outlined is pending parliamentary approval. Details gathered at the time of release are presented for information only and may be altered or adjusted by the time the Budget is approved & then implemented.

There were almost 11,000 Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales reported in March 2022, capping off the third-best March and second-best first quarter on record. Tight market conditions continued to support a double-digit annual pace of price growth, with an average selling price of $1.3 million.

The average selling price dipped slightly month-over-month, bucking the regular seasonal trend. New listings were also down on a year-over-year basis, but by a much lesser annual rate than sales. This suggests that while market conditions remained very tight, homebuyers did not experience the same level of competition from other buyers compared to a year earlier.

Contact me with questions as to how this impacts your buying or selling decisions!

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

Has the recent interest rate increase affected the market? Are all homes selling with multiple offers Should I wait to sell my Home? Should we wait to purchase a home?

The answers and so much more information is shared by RE/MAX Realtron Broker/Owner Alex Pilarski and V.P. Agent Experience, Jeremy Pilarski. Listen to their take on the real estate market and their prediction for what’s next. Send me a message and let me share more information that will help you make the Right Move!

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

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February home sales were down compared to the all-time record in 2021, but represented the second-best result for the month of February in history. New listings dropped, but by a marginally lesser annual rate than sales, pointing to a modest move to a slightly more balanced market. Competition between buyers, however, remained tight enough to support double-digit price growth year-over-year.

There were 9,097 sales reported through the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board's (TRREB) MLS® System in February 2022, representing a 16.8 per cent decrease in the number of sales compared to February 2021.

The supply of listings for low-rise home types (detached, semi-detached and townhouses) was also down year-over-year, but not by as much as sales. In the condominium apartment segment, particularly in Toronto, new listings were up in comparison to February 2021.

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

Read Full Report

Thinking of Selling? Word Of Advice from Thornhill Realtor Sam Chaim...Don't Wait For Spring!

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

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The demand remained strong for homeownership from a historic perspective while at the same time, inventory remained in short supply contributing to tighter market conditions and year-over-year price growth. 5,636 sales were reported in January 2022 which is down by 18.2% when compared to January 2021. Though sales were down, the sales that did occur resulted in the second-best average for the month. Home price increased by 33.3%.

Contact me with your questions about how this impacts your buying or selling decision!

To A Good Life!

Sam Chaim⁠ - Your Point Man in Real Estate
Making A Difference For You!
Re/Max Realtron⁠
416-543-7252⁠
sam@samchaim.com⁠

JUST SOLD in Thornhill for 121% of ASKING PRICE in 2 Days! Today is a day of congratulations and memories as well. Congratulations Howard and THANK YOU for allowing me the opportunity to Make A Difference For You! Contact me today to sell your home for TOP DOLLAR!