GTA still a tale of two markets

TORONTO, Feb. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - The GTA's tale of two markets was even more prevalent in the tally of new home sales in January 2013, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) announced today.

In the high-rise market, new home buyers are still looking for and finding quality, affordable homes across the GTA. Choice in the high-rise market is a direct result of provincial public policy which has resulted in an ever increasing emphasis on intensification, and the industry is adapting to the shift.

In January, new home buyers purchased 686 high-rise homes, most of which were sold in the City of Toronto. Buyers interested in owning a new condominium in the 905 found a variety of projects in York Region as well.

The tale of the low-rise market is illustrated by constrained land supply and a lack of product and choice. According to RealNet Canada Inc., BILD's official source of new home market intelligence, new home buyers purchased 562 single, semi-detached and townhomes in the GTA.

"People still want to purchase a detached, semi-detached or townhome in the GTA and over the last few years, we have seen a reduction in sales of ground-related housing. A typical January for the low-rise market would have seen more than 1,000 new homes sold across the GTA," said BILD President and CEO Bryan Tuckey. "The level of ground-related housing sales resulted in 1,248 new homes to be sold in the GTA - almost 1,000 below the long-term average. This is a direct result of reduced affordability and choice in the low-rise sector and illustrates the effect of public policy on the market."

The RealNet New Home Price Index indicated a 16 per cent increase in the low-rise sector over January 2012 ($639,588). High-rise condominiums remained the more affordable option in the GTA, with a two per cent increase in the price-per-square-foot bringing the unit price index to $435,722.

A statistical backgrounder can be found here. For additional information, contact Amy Lazar or Andrei Zaretski.

Jan '13	Low Rise			High Rise			Total
Region	2011	2012	2013	2011	2012	2013	2011	2012	2013
Durham	179	212	129	12	4	12	191	216	141
Halton	214	178	105	46	44	21	260	222	126
Peel	294	273	192	89	24	27	383	297	219
Toronto	44	30	10	837	551	508	881	581	518
York	403	481	126	115	121	118	518	602	244
GTA	1,134	1,174	562	1,099	744	686	2,233	1,918	1,248
Jan-Jan	1,134	1,174	562	1,099	744	686	2,233	1,918	1,248

Source: RealNet Canada Inc.

With more than 1,400 members, BILD, formed through the merger of the Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association and Urban Development Institute/Ontario, is the voice of the land development, home building and professional renovation industry in the Greater Toronto Area.  BILD is proudly affiliated with the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders' Associations.

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/02/26/20130226_C8413_DOC_EN_24057.pdf

SOURCE: Building Industry and Land Development Association

Amy Lazar 
Manager, Communications
416-391-3452 or 416-543-3903                  
[email protected]
                                                       
Andrei Zaretski
Manager, Marketing & Media Relations
416-391-3450 or 416-843-4898
[email protected]