A strong performance within TREB's Central districts drove the Toronto area real estate market to a healthy 5,073 sales in January, off just two per cent from last year's record performance, Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O'Neill announced yesterday.

While sales were strong, price increases remained modest, with the average rising six per cent (compared to January 2007) to $374,449. There is clearly still a place for the first-time home buyer in today's resale market, said Ms. O'Neill.

The strongest activity last month took place in Toronto's Central and East MLS districts:

Sales of existing homes in Greater Toronto Area set an annual record early!

TREB, November 19, 2007 -- 2007 has already become the best year on record for resale homes in the Greater Toronto Area. 84,994 properties have changed hands, as compared to 84,145 sales in 2005, our previous best year, Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Maureen O’Neill announced today. "All of the economic conditions remain in place for a strong housing market in the GTA. The unemployment rate fell by approximately half a percent last month, Statistics Canada anticipates sustained immigration throughout the next decade and mortgage rates remain historically low," said Ms. O’Neill. "Toronto is a very vibrant city in which to live and compared to other urban centres like New York, Los Angeles and London, our housing is very affordable."

Toronto Star, November 20, 2007 -- "Generally speaking, it's odd to see a real estate cycle last this long," says Ted Tsiakopoulos, Ontario regional economist for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. "It seems we've reached a new paradigm where low interest rates, low inflation and a steady job market have kept this going a while longer than most people thought." Other factors at play in 2007 include the introduction of longer-term amortizations in the market, which has allowed new buyers to get a foot in the door, and higher new-home prices that have pushed people back into the resale market, says Tsiakopoulos.

November GTA Home Sales Highlights

Year ends with a strong December

TORONTO, January 4, 2007 -- Resale housing activity in December increased by four per cent compared to the same month a year ago, Toronto Real Estate Board President Dorothy Mason announced today.

Year-over-year, the average price in 2006 rose five per cent over the $335,907 recorded in 2005 to $351,941. “This means that prices continue to outpace inflation, making home-ownership a sound investment in today's economy and invariably in the long term”.

“The market is on solid footing and is in excellent shape heading into 2007,” TREB’s President said. The winter season is an excellent time to be active in this healthy market, whether starting out as a first time buyer or making a move to a different home.”

TORONTO, October 18, 2006 -- In the first half of October, Toronto Area housing activity kept pace with mid-October results from a year ago, Toronto Real Estate Board President Dorothy Mason announced today.

"There were 3,007 sales reported to mid-month, essentially on par with the 3,012 sales reported during the same period in 2005," Mrs. Mason said. "Adding to this strong result is the fact that transactions are up three per cent from the 2,913 recorded during the first part of September which is a good sign for the stability of the autumn market."

Jason Mercer, CMHC's Senior Market Analyst for the GTA, said, "Steady demand for resale homes has kept average prices rising above inflation, albeit at a lower annual rate, as buyers have benefited from increased choice in the marketplace."