Royal Lepage sent out a study a few weeks ago (I happened to be one of the participants), and they just released the results.
Here’s the article… I bolded and underlined the key words, if you are short on time. 🙂
As the Canadian real estate market continues to rebound from a steep decline a year ago brought on by the recession, home buyers remain nervous about the stability of the economy, according to a survey of 1,225 Royal LePage agents and brokers across Canada. However, few buyers think home prices will decline again.
When asked to comment on the most common fears they are hearing from home buyers over the past three months, 38 percent of Royal LePage agents and brokers cited economic stability and related factors such as job security. Twenty-three percent said home buyers fear they may not be able to sell their existing homes at the price they are hoping for, while 12 percent said buyers are hesitant because they believe prices have not yet hit the bottom of the cycle. Twenty percent of agents and brokers said they are not hearing any concerns from buyers.
The Royal LePage Advisor Survey, conducted online in November 2009, also found that an increasing number of Canadians are purchasing homes as investment properties, and almost 50 percent of brokers and agents say the number of buyers intending to renovate their properties after purchase is increasing.
“Given the volatility in the real estate markets over the past 18 months, it is not surprising that the state of the economy continues to weigh on the minds of Canadians as they consider buying a home,” said Phil Soper, president and chief executive, Royal LePage. “Canadian real estate markets are enjoying a strong recovery as 2009 draws to a close and appear poised for healthy growth in 2010. Our survey shows that consumer confidence is edging towards normal levels. Canadians clearly believe that the worst of the recession is behind them and that the real estate market is on the path to sustainable recovery.”
“The most obvious sign that market conditions are improving is found in the significantly higher unit sales volumes. That said, we have seen some significant recent increases in home prices, which is unusual at this time of year. Paradoxically, the recession is contributing to the unexpected rise in year-end house prices. On one hand, Canada’s low interest policy has stimulated demand. On the other, many Canadians who might otherwise feel comfortable putting their homes on the market don’t yet have the confidence in the state of the economy’s recovery to list their homes, which is contributing to the current supply shortage,” Soper added. (Chuck note: this is a great summary statement of today’s market… even though I think Soper is a bit of knob.)
According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey for the third quarter of 2009, the economic recession halted the flow of the real estate cycle from the fourth quarter of 2008 through the first quarter of 2009, but the market is essentially now back on track. Although the supply of homes for sale continues to be constrained in many markets across Canada, Royal LePage predicts that once housing supply returns to normal levels, the economy will support modest pricing growth into 2010.
