May 2021 was yet another remarkable month for home sales
activity in LSTAR's jurisdiction: the Association recorded 1,258 residential
transactions via its MLS® systems - up 87.5% from May 2020, when the local real
estate market was experiencing a pandemic-induced decline.
"This number marks the second best May for LSTAR home
sales, surpassed only by May 2017, when LSTAR REALTORS® sold 1,433 homes,"
said LSTAR 2021 President Jack Lane. "However, year-to-date sales are at
an all-time high. At the end of May, there have been 5,175 sales, up 64.3% over
the same period last year."
The overall inventory figure, which shows how long it would take
to liquidate the existing housing supply in our area at the current rate of
sales activity, remained at 0.6 months - its lowest level in the last decade.
"Combined with the high demand, the lack of housing supply
is pushing the Sales to New Listings ratio up, creating a Sellers' Market with
multiple offers for many listings and numerous properties sold over the asking
price," Lane added. "Nonetheless, it's essential for consumers to
understand that each home is unique and its sale price can vary based on its
location, type, and features," he emphasized.
The single-family home remains on top of the local buyers'
preferences, with 937 sales in May.
Despite all the increases seen in the HPI benchmark prices and
average sales prices, homes in LSTAR's jurisdiction appear to be relatively
affordable when compared to houses from some other major Ontario and Canadian
centres. The following chart is based on data taken from the CREA
National Price Map for April 2021.