Toronto Housing Market Forecast to Remain Stable in 2014


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 12, 2013) - Toronto's housing market will remain stable next year, according to Ed Heese, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) Senior Market Analyst for Toronto. CMHC presented its latest forecast for the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) today at the annual CMHC Housing Outlook Conference.

At this year's conference, entitled 'Profiling Toronto's Echo Boomer', CMHC market analysts explained how the Echo Boomer demographic will influence homebuying trends in Toronto and provided an in-depth housing market forecast for 2014.

"Housing markets in Toronto next year will look quite similar to what we're seeing this year. Existing home sales will be up modestly while housing starts will ease," said Ed Heese. "Rental vacancies will remain relatively low, but the rate of increase in rents will slow.

Highlights from today's conference include:

  • Total housing starts will ease in 2014 with activity shifting to semi-detached and row homes from single-detached homes and apartments.
  • Gradually rising mortgage rates will keep existing home sales growth modest.
  • Rising home values will keep more people in rental housing, but additional condo rentals will keep rental supply in balance with demand.
  • After lagging in 2013, income growth will match broadly based employment growth.

"Housing activity in Ontario will slow in 2013 then stabilize by 2014, thanks in large part to an improving Ontario economy, lower inventories of unsold homes and less out-migration to other provinces. Tight resale market conditions for single detached homes, active repeat buyers and improving income growth will allow demand for lower density homes to hold up better for most of 2014," said Ted Tsiakopoulos, CMHC`s Ontario Regional Economist.

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable housing solutions. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.

For more information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

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Contact Information:

Ed Heese
Senior Market Analyst, CMHC
416-218-3369
eheese@cmhc.ca

Beth Bailey
Communications and Marketing, CMHC
416-218-3355
bbailey@cmhc.ca