Real Estate Blog

The rate is also weighing on how buyers fare with the mortgage stress test, which once required those with uninsured mortgages -- borrowers with a down payment of at least 20 per cent -- to carry a mortgage rate of either two percentage points above the contract rate, or 5.25 per cent, whichever is greater. 

For fixed borrowers, CREA said the stress test just moved from 5.25 per cent to the low 6 per cent range, another roughly one per cent increase in a month. 

"People are nervous. They are thinking, 'if I take on this mortgage, when mortgage rates are going up and the price to (live) is more, what is going to happen?" said Anita Springate-Renaud, a Toronto broker with Engel & Volkers. 

She noticed that many homes were still getting multiple offers last month, but instead of 20 offers, two or three was becoming the norm. 

Properties are also taking longer to sell. Homes that used to find a buyer in three or four days are now sitting for two weeks, in some cases, she said. 

Many other realtors have found buyers and sellers holding off on purchasing or listing properties until they see how much of an effect mortgage and interest rate changes have on the market. 

"For buyers, this slowdown could mean more time to consider options in the market," said Jill Oudil, CREA's chair, in a news release. 

"For sellers, it could necessitate a return to more traditional marketing strategies." 

This shift in sentiment was reflected in the number of newly listed homes, which, on a seasonally adjusted basis, fell by 2.2 per cent to 70,957 last month from 72,557 in March. 

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, new listings amounted to 91,559 last month, down 10.5 per cent from 102,294 in April 2022. 

Even though CREA reported slowing sales and fewer listings, Canadians were shelling out even more for homes than they did in 2021. 

The national average home price was a little over $746,000 in April, up 7.4 per cent from about $695,000 during the same month last year. 

Excluding the Greater Toronto and Vancouver areas from this calculation, cuts $138,000 from the national average price, CREA said. 

However, on a seasonally adjusted basis the national average home price slid by 3.8 per cent to $741,517 last month from $771,125 in March. 

The home price index benchmark price hit $866,700 last month, down 0.6 per cent from a month ago but up 23.7 per cent from a year ago and 63.9 per cent from five years ago. 

The benchmark price was lowest in Saskatchewan, where it totalled $271,100 and highest in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, where it amounted to more than $1.3 million. 

"Sales in the province slid 21 percent in April and are now back in-line with pre-pandemic activity levels," he said. 

"The market balance has gone from drum tight with 'not enough supply,' to one that resembles the 2017-19 correction period." 

Within the province, TD Economics economist Rishi Sondhi found Toronto to be an outlier because sales and prices dropped more there than in the country overall. 

Sondhi believes the Toronto market is now close to tipping in favour of buyers, but in the coming months, expects prices to continue falling nationally, reflecting the cooler demand backdrop. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Featured Real Estate

Dalran Homes presents this modern brand new 2 story, 2171sqft walk out backing on to a small pond that will be built to impress    the most discerning buyer. With    sophistication and functionality in mind, this fully finished home offers 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Open concept main floor offers luxury vinyl plank flooring, stunning kitchen appliances, quartz counter tops, walk through pantry, mudroom, dining room, vaulted ceiling in living 
room w fireplace.

Read more