Resale Market Continues to Slow as Buyers Remain Watchful
Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,080 residential properties in September through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 1,601 in September 2021, a decrease of 33%. September’s sales included 816 in the residential-property class, down 34% from a year ago, and 264 in the condominium-property category, a decrease of 27% from September 2021. The five-year average for total unit sales in September is 1,586.
“September’s lower sales performance reflects continued hesitancy among Buyers as they watch interest rates rise and consider the speculation surrounding price trends. With rising interest rates, the mortgage stress test has sidelined some potential Buyers, while others are likely scrutinizing their budgets for affordability amidst inflation and cost of living increases,” says Ottawa Real Estate Board President Penny Torontow.
“On the other hand, we have seen an uptick in the number of new listings entering the market, which were not only higher than last month but also last year, and the five-year average. This trend continues to bring the resale market into more balance, which generally means more time for Buyers and Sellers to weigh their options and to adjust according to their needs,” she adds.
By the Numbers – Inventory & New Listings:
- Months of Inventory for the residential-class properties has increased to 3.1 months from 1.2 months in 2021.
- Months of Inventory for condominium-class properties has increased to 2.7 months from 1.6 months in 2021.
- September’s new listings (2,371) were 5% higher than 2021 (2,252) and 13% higher than August 2022 (2,091).
“Prices are stabilizing with slight month-to-month movement, whereas, year over year we are seeing the slow and steady increases that the Ottawa resale market is known for. As every neighbourhood is different, Buyers will want to consult a local REALTOR® who can tap into proprietary data on price trends and expert insights to help them navigate market shifts,” Torontow advises.
By the Numbers – Average Prices*:
- The average sale price for a condominium-class property in September was $450,987, an increase of 6% from 2021.
- The average sale price for a residential-class property was $706,658, increasing 0.5% from a year ago.
- With year-to-date average sale prices at $788,535 for residential and $457,189 for condominiums, these values represent a 9% increase over 2021 for both property classes.
REALTORS® also help with finding rentals and vetting potential tenants. Since the beginning of the year, OREB Members have assisted clients with renting 4,678 properties compared to 3,598 last year at this time.
* OREB cautions that the average sale price can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The calculation of the average sale price is based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold. Price will vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.
