Canadian Real Estate Still Charging Ahead

The latest statistics show that Canadian residential real estate prices are still charging ahead.

Since last December, the average home across the country has increased by 11.8%, (a 23% rate if annualized) which is phenomenal since our prime rate too has been increasing over that period. Sales volumes too are up, by 3.6% on a year-over-year basis.

The average house price across the country is now $304,328 (about $272,000 USD), which compares to about $231,000 (USD) for America.

Price increases are being led in oil-rich Alberta, which is facing rises of 40% annually. Although prices have seen a dramatic increase, most market commentators say that the Canadian market, overall, isn't as vulnerable to a downturn as the US market, for two reasons:

1. If Alberta is stripped out of the price picture, the average price increase is much more sensible, and
2. Interest rate increases have been subdued here, and our prime rate about 2% below the US prime rate.

JW

The Confused Capitalist