Quebec mortgage rates update
An increase in Quebec births could lead to parents upgrading
According to recent data released by the Institut de la statistique du Quebec, births in the province have risen significantly in the past year. After increasing by almost 8% in 2006, it is expected that an additional 85,000 births will be recorded in 2007, a 3% rise. It could be assumed that that some of these new parents could look at upgrading to larger houses. The CMHC reports that while more formal research needs to be done, this assumption is supported by both resale and new home statistics. In fact, sales and starts of family homes showed notable increase in regions where the birth rate had recently jumped.
Quebec housing demand to remain strong in 2008
The conditions that sustained Quebec home buying in 2007 will continue to fuel demand in the next two years, and translate into 46,500 starts in 2008 and 45,000 the following year. Quebecs economy will be supported by strong domestic spending and rising disposable income, which will support housing demand. Again this year, the weak spot will be the export sector which will continue to struggle with the current exchange rate and growing foreign competition. This will be especially true of the manufacturing sector. As a result, GDP will grow in the vicinity of two per cent in the next two years, while job growth will register approximately one per cent in 2008 and 2009 respectively. While interest rates are expected to increase, their relatively low levels combined with the growing range of financial instruments should still facilitate home buying in the coming years and possibly encourage some households to move ahead their purchase plans. Population aging will continue to fuel demand for such dwellings as condominium and retirement home apartments.
Quebec MLS sales forecasted to be 79,000 in 2008
Resales: Sales of existing homes will moderate but remain strong in the coming years. Demand for existing condominiums (be they townhomes or apartments) will be robust. Sales of existing homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) should be in the vicinity of 79,000 in each of 2008 and 2009.
2008 Housing prices expected to rise 3% in Quebec
With sales expected to cool and inventories expected to rise once again, price growth will not be as strong in the coming years. We expect that prices will increase by approximately 3 per cent in both 2008 and 2009, compared to over six per cent in 2007. As a result, the MLS average resale price will approach $215,000 in 2008 and $221,000 in 2009.
Quebec key stats
Metric Quebec Canada
Population
2007
Consumer Price Index
Mar'08 (2002 = 100)
7,700,800
32,568,000
112
113
Average earnings
$37,887
$40,914
(Feb'08)
Unemployment rate
(Mar'08 )
7.3%
6.0%
Housing starts
(Mar'08)
45,700
243,000
2007 (E) Average Residential Resale Price
$206,843
$306,397*
6.6%
$214,600
10.6%
$322,400*
2008 (F)
(annual % change)
2009 (F)
3.8%
$221,000
5.2%
$334,500*
3.0%
$17,669,506,000
3.8%
$152,478,903,000
Chartered banks
Mortgages approved by lenders, residential 2006
Trust companies
$957,821,000
$6,664,898,000
Life and companies other
$7,262,741,000
$30,225,144,000
Total
Source: Stats Canada, CMHC 2007 E = estimated by the CMHC
$25,890,068,000
$189,368,945,000
* Canada calculation excludes Yukon and Northwest Territories Data based on application received date Mortgage approval data are gross and may not fully capture lending activities of credit unions, caisses populaires, other sma ller institutions and privately-insured loans in some areas Quebec data is understated due to low response rate to the surveys in that province. *Conventional Lending data only
Local Market Indicators
Sources: CMHC, Canadian Real Estate Association, Local Real Estate Boards, Statistics Canada
Census Metropolitan Area
Total Housing Starts
MLS sales
MLS average price
2007
2,788
4,537
$182,477
Gatineau
2008 (F)
2,500
4,550
$185,000
2009(F)
2,400
5,000
$187,000
2007
23,233
42,800
$251,000
Montreal
2008 (F)
22,600
41,500
$263,500
2009(F)
21,900
40,700
$274,000
2007
5,284
7,684
$176,097
Qu� City ec
2008 (F)
5,000
7,500
$188,000
2009(F)
4,850
7,500
$197,000
2007
685
1,260
$136,977
Saguenay
2008 (F)
1,100
1,225
$150,000
2009(F)
500
1,200
$160,000
2007
1,318
1,872
$177,281
Sherbrooke
2008 (F)
1,293
1,900
$ 186,145
2009(F)
1,286
1,919
$193,591
Trois-Rivi� es
2007
1,197
863
$128,000
2008 (F)
1,150
825
$136,000
2009(F)
MLS = Multiple Listings Service *MLS numbers reflect all of Durham Region
975
775
$143,000
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