Residential real estate values in major Canadian markets
post extraordinary gains over 25-year period, says RE/MAX
Mississauga, ON (January 24, 2007) – Residential housing values in virtually all major Canadian
centres have posted significant gains since 1981, according to RE/MAX. Leading the charge is Barrie,
Ontario with an exceptional 372 per cent increase in average price ($51,665 to $244,000) over the 25-year
period.
Despite the cyclical nature of the business, an analysis of 17 housing markets across the country found
that price appreciation topped 240 per cent in seven areas, including Barrie (372 per cent), St. Catharines
(329 per cent), Hamilton-Burlington (325 per cent), Ottawa (297 per cent), Greater Toronto Area (290 per
cent), Greater Vancouver Area and Halifax-Dartmouth (242 per cent increase). Victoria reported a 229
per cent increase, London experienced an upswing of 228 per cent, Calgary was up 227 per cent, and
Kelowna rounded out the top 10 at 211 per cent.
Nationally, average price appreciated 264 per cent in the 25-year period, rising from $76,021 to an
estimated $277,000 in 2006. Although a number of factors contributed to the substantial upswing in
values, perhaps the greatest influence was a 25 per cent increase in Canada’s population (which rose from
24,820,393 to a projected 31,021,251 in 2005).
“For most people, homeownership has been more of a necessity of life than an investment vehicle,” says
Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President and Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. “The percentage increases that have occurred across the country over the past 25 years show that real
estate is also a solid investment.”
“The results are nothing short of remarkable, given the economic volatility of the marketplace in the past
25-year period,” says Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada. “This
is especially true in recent years when serious external factors such as 9/11, SARS, and an outbreak of
forest fires barely registered on housing activity. Any one of these disasters would have had a significant
impact on real estate markets in the 1980s.”
Thanks to economic diversity, today’s housing markets are more insulated than in the past. Alberta’s probusiness
stance, for example, has served to attract major corporations to the province in recent years.
Saskatchewan’s economic base has shifted from agriculture to natural resources virtually overnight. In
Ottawa, an economy once solely dependent on the one major employer in the area, the evolution of hightech
has played a substantial role in the overall health of the residential real estate market.
“Immigration has also bolstered residential home sales, particularly in Canada’s largest cities,” says
Polzler. “Approximately 250,000 new Canadians arrive annually and we know from experience that
many will buy a home within five years of immigrating. Job opportunities have also prompted inmigration
across the country as purchasers from more rural communities seek employment in major
metropolitan areas.”
Baby Boomers have also been a powerful force behind housing demand, explains Ash, particularly in the
upper end where sales have surged in recent years. “Boomers have demonstrated their buying intentions
through the purchase of primary residences, recreational and retirement properties and even in financially
assisting their children—the next generation of homebuyers—thereby stimulating the first-time segment
as well.”
RE/MAX is Canada's leading real estate organization with over 16,880 sales associates situated
throughout its more than 630 independently owned and operated offices across the country. The
RE/MAX franchise network, now in its 33rd year of consecutive growth, is a global real estate system
operating in over 63 countries. More than 6,740 independently owned offices engage 119,400 member
sales associates who lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while
providing real estate services in residential, commercial, referral, relocation and asset management.
Christine Martysiewicz Eva Blay/CharleneMcAdam/Kim Kofman
RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada Point Blank Communications
905.542.2400 416.781.3911
Market 1981 2006 % Change
Vancouver $148,861 $509,876 242
Victoria $121,648 $400,000 229
Kelowna* $104,285 $323,978 211
Calgary $106,033 $346,673 227
Edmonton $91,438 $250,915 174
Regina $54,915 $131,851 140
Saskatoon $64,756 $160,577 148
Winnipeg $52,656 $151,983 189
London $57,989 $190,521 228
St. Catharines $49,655 $213,032 329
Hamilton-Burlington $58,508 $248,400 325
Toronto $90,203 $351,941 290
Barrie $51,665 $244,000 372
Ottawa $64,854 $257,481 297
Montreal $55,004 $215,659 292
Halifax-Dartmouth $59,366 $203,178 242
Moncton $44,338 $130,000 193
St. John's $55,067 $139,300 153
National $76,021 $276,824 264
*Okanagan Mainline
National 2006 Average Price is based on CREA January-November 2006
Residential MLS Average Price
Source: CREA, TREB, OMREB, CREB, WREB, EREB, RE/MAX
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