In the past year detached home prices have drifted downward in Toronto and Vancouver while condo prices have surged, so the price gap between the two has narrowed. At the end of this article we explain our belief that now may be the best time to trade in your condo or townhome for a detached home.
The consensus seems to be that 2018 will experience a drop in detached home prices while condo prices rise.
The new mortgage stress test which came into effect January 1st makes it more difficult for Canadians to qualify for a mortgage, and the combination of rising rates and the new stress tests could force home buyers to come up with significantly higher down payments than 2017.
You will need to qualify for a 6.25% 5-year fixed mortgage by the end of 2019. The actual rate is forecast to be 4.25% but federal rules require lender apply a 2% stress test.
The consensus seems to be that 2018 will see more price gains than 2017, and that detached house prices will stay relatively flat while condo prices rise continue to climb.
Impact of new mortgage rules on home buyers.
Impact of new mortgage rules on mortgage renewals.
A conservative forecast by CMHC in October predicted Montreal real estate prices would continue to rise at a healthy rate of 4% annually. If Montreal homes catch the attention of speculators and foreign investors then that growth rate could quickly hit 8%.
