Despite easing in May, demand-supply conditions generally remained balanced across Canada or still favoured sellers. This is likely to change.
By Robert Hogue, RBC senior economist
The jump in home resales last month wasn’t a surprise given the earlier plummet—to a 36-year low in April—had much to do with the unprecedented lockdowns and social distancing orders imposed since mid-March. It was clear the lifting of some of these measures in May would kick the market into gear. Yet the eye-catching month-to-month gains across the country overstate the rebound. Activity was still 40 percent to more than 50 percent below year-ago levels in most major markets. The increase in May made up only one-fifth of the drop in March and April in Vancouver and Toronto, and closer to one-quarter in Ottawa. Markets in Saskatchewan and Manitoba were further ahead in the recovery—sales reversing 50 percent to almost 85 percent of the declines in the previous two months—reflecting the relatively speedier reopening of the economy in these provinces.
We expect to see more buyers returning to the market this summer as they become more comfortable house hunting amid falling infection rates and as provincial governments continue to relax social distancing restrictions. That said, we expect that many won’t return due to COVID-19 and the collapse in oil prices. Slower immigration will also be a dampening factor keeping housing demand soft, especially in oil-producing regions.
There are early signs demand and supply are decoupling. After falling in tandem in March and April, supply rose faster than demand in May. The 69 percent m/m surge in new listings brought the Canada-wide sales-to-new listings ratio down to 0.59 from 0.63 in April. The ratio fell in the majority of markets outside Ontario with Montreal and other Quebec markets posting large declines (though from generally elevated levels). New listings tripled in May in Montreal after the provincial government lifted the lockdown it imposed on the real estate industry mid-March. New listings rose more modestly in most Ontario markets last month, further tightening demand-supply conditions in the province.
We expect further decoupling in the period ahead. Economic hardship is no doubt taking a toll on a number of current homeowners—including investors. Some of them could be running out of options once government support programs and mortgage payment deferrals end, and may be compelled to sell their property.
Despite easing in May, demand-supply conditions generally remained balanced across Canada or still favoured sellers. That’s likely to change. We expect the increase in supply to tip the scale in favour of buyers in many markets across Canada, some sooner than others. Vancouver and other BC markets, for example, could see buyers calling the shots as early as this summer. It could take a little longer in Ontario, Quebec and parts of the Atlantic Provinces. Buyers already rule in Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canada’s HPI has likely crested. We believe downward price pressure will build in most markets in the coming months. Strong starting points in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Halifax will provide these markets with a temporary buffer. Prices are already declining in Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Nationwide, we expect benchmark prices to fall seven percent by the middle of 2021 though believe a widespread collapse in property values is unlikely.
This report was originally published by RBC Thought Leadership.
Robert Hogue is a member of the Macroeconomic and Regional Analysis Group, with RBC Economics. He is responsible for providing analysis and forecasts for the Canadian housing market and for the provincial economies. His publications include Housing Trends and Affordability, Provincial Outlook and provincial budget commentaries.
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