GTA Commercial REALTORS(R) Report Commercial Market Figures

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 3, 2012) - Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) Commercial Division Members reported lease transactions accounting for almost 3.5 million square feet of industrial, commercial/retail and office space during the Third Quarter of 2012. This result was down from slightly more than 3.7 million square feet leased in the Third Quarter of 2011.

The year-over-year change in average lease rates was mixed. Based on transactions for which pricing was disclosed, the average industrial lease rate was up compared to last year whereas average commercial/retail and office lease rates were down.

"The industrial market segment accounted for almost three-quarters of total leased space in the Third Quarter. Average lease rates were up for all industrial size categories reported by TREB. If growth in average industrial lease rates continues in the Fourth Quarter and into 2013, it would suggest that market conditions are tightening with industrial firms in southern Ontario more confident about future growth," said TREB Commercial Division Chair Cynthia Lai.

Commercial Division Members reported 214 combined commercial sales in the Third Quarter - down 18 per cent from 262 sales during the same period in 2011. The average selling price was down for all three categories, but a comparison of transactions suggests that the decline was more the result of a different mix of property types sold this year compared to last, especially in relation to commercial/retail and office space.

"The mix of sold office space shifted towards larger properties in the Third Quarter of this year. Generally speaking, larger office properties are associated with a lower price per square. As a result, when larger properties account for a greater proportion of total transactions the overall average lease rate tends to dip, all else being equal," said Lai.

"The dip in the in the average commercial/retail sale price was also driven by sales of larger properties. Last year the mix and use of larger commercial/retail properties sold dictated a higher price compared to this year. For transactions in smaller size categories, average selling prices were more comparable between 2012 and 2011," continued Lai.

Third Quarter 2012: All Commercial Lease Transactions Total Leased Space for All Lease Transaction Types on TorontoMLS

Total Leased Square Feet
							%
			Q3 2012		Q3 2011		Change
	Industrial		2,561,000		2,756,443		-7.1	%
	Commercial		452,425		492,804		-8.2	%
	Office		468,027		479,646		-2.4	%
	Total		3,481,452		3,728,892		-6.6	%

Third Quarter 2012: Per Square Foot Net Commercial Leasing Summary

Lease Transactions Completed on a Per Square Foot Net Basis with Pricing Disclosed on TorontoMLS

Leased Sq. Ft. (Price Disclosed, Per Sq.Ft. Net)									Avg. Lease Rate (Price Disclosed, Per Sq.Ft. Net)
						%					Q3		Q3		%
		Q3 2012		Q3 2011		Change					2012		2011		Change
Industrial		1,339,922		2,091,442		-35.9	%		Industrial		$5.05		$4.74		6.5	%
Commercial		235,105		191,682		22.7	%		Commercial		$14.36		$20.37		-29.5	%
Office		300,511		237,100		26.7	%		Office		$10.79		$10.95		-1.5	%
Total		1,875,538		2,520,224		-25.6	%

Third Quarter 2012: All Commercial Sale Transactions
Total Number of Sales on TorontoMLS
	Total Sales
			%
	Q3 2012	Q3 2011	Change
Industrial	101	124	-18.5	%
Commercial	74	94	-21.3	%
Office	39	44	-11.4	%
Total	214	262	-18.3	%

Third Quarter 2012: Commercial Sales Completed with Pricing Disclosed on TorontoMLS
		Sales (Price Disclosed)							Avg. Sale Price Per Sq. Ft. (Pricing Disclosed)
						%					Q3			Q3			%
		Q3 2012		Q3 2011		Change					2012			2011			Change
Industrial		101		95		6.3	%		Industrial		$	70.18		$	78.29		-10.4	%
Commercial		74		74		0.0	%		Commercial		$	116.11		$	189.70		-38.8	%
Office		39		37		5.4	%		Office		$	146.05		$	229.64		-36.4	%
Total		214		206		3.9	%

Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They are governed by a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Over 35,000 TREB Members serve consumers in the Greater Toronto Area. The Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada's largest real estate board.

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