The five- and 10-year averages for price growth in newer downtown Toronto condos is 15% and 8%, respectively. GTA-wide, the 10-year average is also 8%.
A surge in Canadians’ disposable incomes and a decline in their spending habits have resulted in approximately $170 billion of surplus of cash, $90 billion of which is tied up in households, according to a CIBC report.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the impetus for reduced consumer spending, but with the addition of the government’s pandemic emergency programs, which bolstered incomes, the amount of money Canadians saved skyrocketed. The report noted that the excess cash—the other $80 billion is held by businesses—which is about 4% of consumer spending, is a record.
“That spike in disposable incomes coincided with a notable decline in spending, which resulted in the savings rate surging from 3.6% to 28.2% as of June,” read the report. “Since then, government support has become increasingly more tailored to those who need it the most, while the re-openings have seen a nascent recovery in consumer spending. Using US data for the third quarter as a guidepost, the Canadian savings rate likely fell to 13% in Q3—still miles above the 3.6% level seen prior to the pandemic. With the second wave of infection upon us, that rate is likely to remain elevated during the winter.”
The report’s findings are all the more bizarre considering the economy is still reeling from pandemic-induced business shutdowns this past spring, and yet Canadians have never been more flush. But upon closer examination, low-income households accounted for the overwhelming majority of job losses in Canada, and their consumption habits didn’t much diminish as they continued buying essentials. However, the majority of the surplus money belongs to mid- and high-income households, which curtailed their non-essential outlays.
“We do not have current data on spending by level of income for Canadians, but utilizing high-frequency US data, we learn that spending amongst high-income households is currently 10% below its January level—notably weaker than the 3% drop seen amongst low-income households,” said the report. “With the happy days of summer over, it is reasonable to assume that mid- and high-income households will, in fact, reduce consumption of nonessentials again.”
The report also predicted that consumption growth will decelerate while incomes will stay elevated because of both the Canada Recovery Benefit program and Employment Insurance, which will cost $17.9 billion and $13.5 billion, respectively, through the next two years, and because of new job creation.
News of a fixed rate increase might inspire consumers driven by fear of being priced out of the market in Canada.
Even before COVID-19 moved us all to work from home, reevaluations of office space were already underway, but not nearly to the extent they are now.
This consultant and real estate investor said that a third of new construction properties built every year in Ontario have legitimate claims for reimbursement, but they aren't taken advantage of.
New condos going up on King St. E. and Berkeley St. by Lamb Development Corp will be 32-storeys and the new Ontario Line subway route station.
Condominium sales in the City of Toronto surged by 63.2% year-over-year in February to 2,167, according to the latest data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board.
According to GTA-based Seth Ferguson, CEO of Multifamily Real Estate Investments Inc., Texas has arguably the most propitious horizon in the Sun Belt.
In 2020 alone, this commercial real estate team did over $60 million in commercial sales in Toronto.
Craig Proctor, top Canadian real estate agent and coach, offers advice on how to dominate during these crazy real estate times. Join his Millionaire Agent-Maker SuperConference March 19-21.
Signup for our weekly newsletter to get the latest news, updates and amazing offers and delivered directly in your inbox.