Vacancy Rate Remains Low in St. John’s Area
From the CMHC press release regarding vacancy rates in St. John’s.
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Fall Rental Market Survey, the vacancy rate in the St. John’s Census metropolitan area (CMA) was 1.3 per cent, compared to 1.1 per cent in 2010.
“With record employment and income growth attracting people to the region, population growth continued to create rental demand as new immigrants have a high tendency to rent,” said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. “An increase in home prices and a solid economy also supported demand for rental units in 2011. These factors, coupled with limited new rental supply, continued to keep the local vacancy rate low,” added Janes.
Provincially, vacancy rates in percentage terms were 1.3 in the Corner Brook area, 1.2 per cent in Gander and 0.9 per cent in the Grand Falls-Windsor area. The combined provincial vacancy rate for all centres surveyed increased from 1.0 per cent to 1.3 per cent.
Overall, the average two bedroom rent was $701 across the five urban centres surveyed, with increases recorded in every centre. The highest average two bedroom rent recorded was $771 in the St. John’s CMA, while Bay Roberts posted the lowest average rent of $561. The remaining average two bedroom rents were $584 in Corner Brook; $567 in Gander and $646 in Grand Falls-Windsor.
MLS Trends for Third Quarter Housing Market in Newfoundland
MLS® Residential Sales Up in Third Quarter
- MLS® sales increased 12.8% to 1,493 compared to 2010’s third quarter sales of 1,323
- July, August and September MLS® sales were 499, 551 and 443, respectively
- Third quarter average MLS® residential house price climbed 6.5% to $253,755 compared to $238,285 during the third quarter of 2010
Buyers’ Market Conditions
- There were a 2,658 new residential listings during the third quarter compared to 2,356 during the same period last year, an increase of 13%
- Active listings or inventory averaged 2,750 a month from July to September versus 2,442 a month during Q3 of 2010
- The sales-to-active listings ratio indicated that 18% of listings sold in July, 20% in August and 17% in September, and averaged 18% during the quarter, unchanged from the third quarter of 2010
Active Listings Increase
- Active residential listings or inventory increased approximately 13% during the quarter
- Active listings for July, August and September were 2,816, 2,807 and 2,628, respectively
- With inventory increasing on par with sales, housing market conditions favoured buyers during the whole third quarter
July Housing Starts for the St. John’s Area
CMHC released the July Housing Starts for the St. John’s Area report yesterday. Below is the press release.
ST. JOHN’S, August 9, 2011 – Housing starts in the St. John’s region were up during the month of July, according to preliminary data1 released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). July’s housing starts totaled 258 units throughout the St. John’s area compared to 176 units in July of 2010. There were 24 additional starts recorded in urban centres outside the St. John’s region, for a total of 282 provincial urban housing starts.
“A sizeable increase in multiple housing starts activity contributed to the overall gains in new home construction throughout the St. John’s area in July,” said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Single-detached starts were up 12 per cent in July to 154 units. Despite the monthly gains, the trend towards lower levels of single housing starts in 2011 remains, with this segment of the market down 15 per cent compared to a year ago,” added Janes.
In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in July were up three per cent to 16,486 units compared to 15,947 a year ago. Single-detached starts declined 11 per cent to 6,396 units, while multiple starts increased 15 per cent to 10,090 units in July. In the Atlantic region, 1,318 new homes were started compared to 1,348 units during July 2010.
June Housing Starts for the St. John’s Real Estate Area
CMHC released the June Housing Starts for the St. John’s Area yesterday. Here is a clip of the article.
“Housing starts in the St. John’s region were up during the month of June, according to preliminary data released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). June’s housing starts totaled 278 units throughout the St. John’s area compared to 232 units in June of 2010. There were 56 additional starts recorded in urban centres outside the St. John’s area, for a total of 334 provincial urban housing starts. Year-to-date, urban starts are down 3 per cent, with 935 posted provincewide.
“Higher levels of multiple housing starts supported the overall gains in new home construction activity in the St. John’s area in June,” said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Single-detached starts were relatively stable in June at 193 units. The trend towards lower levels of single housing starts remains, with this segment down 20 per cent compared to this time last year,” added Janes.
In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in June were up four per cent to 15,982 units compared to 15,346 a year ago. Single-detached starts declined seven per cent to 7,287 units, while multiple starts increased 16 per cent to 8,695 units in June. In the Atlantic region, 1,051 new homes were started compared to 1,012 units during June 2010.”
A copy of the PDF file can be found here.
CMHC Report: May Housing Starts for the St. John’s Area
Housing starts in the St. John’s real estate market were flat during the month of May, according to preliminary data released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). May’s housing starts totaled 223 units throughout the St. John’s area compared to 215 units in May of 2010. There were ten additional starts recorded in urban centres outside the St. John’s area, for a total of 233 provincial urban housing starts. Year-to-date, urban starts are down 17 per cent, with 561 posted province-wide.
“Single-detached construction activity declined considerably in May, but was offset by a significant increase in multiple housing starts in the form of condos in St. John’s,” said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. “The trend towards lower levels of construction activity continued, with the single-detached segment down 27 per cent compared to this time last year,” added Janes.
In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in May were down seven per cent to 15,025 units compared to 16,178 a year ago. Single-detached starts declined 23 per cent to 6,005 units, while multiple starts increased seven per cent to 9,020 units in May. In the Atlantic region, 848 new homes were started compared to 1,137 during May 2010.
A complete copy of the PDF report can be found here
April Housing Starts for the St. John’s Area
ST. JOHN’S, May 9, 2011 – Housing starts in the St. John’s region declined during the month of April, according to preliminary data released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). April’s housing starts totaled 71 units throughout the St. John’s area compared to 129 units in April of 2010. There were five additional starts recorded in urban centres outside the St. John’s area, for a total of 76 urban housing starts across the province.
“New home construction activity slowed in April, with significant declines recorded in both single and multiple starts,” said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. “While housing starts are forecast to end the year down from 2010 levels, the trend to lower levels of activity is expected to moderate in the coming months,” added Janes.
In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in April were down 15 per cent to 13,528 units compared to last year’s total of 15,897. Single-detached starts declined 27 per cent to 5,382 units, while multiple starts decreased four per cent to 8,146 units in April. In the Atlantic region, 551 new units were started compared to 640 units during April 2010.
The complete CHMC Report can be found here.
February Housing Starts for the St. John’s Area
ST. JOHN’S, March 8, 2011 – Housing starts in the St. John’s real estate region decreased during the month of February, according to preliminary released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
February’s housing starts totaled 52 units throughout the St. John’s area compared to 67 units in February of 2010. There were no additional starts recorded in urban centres outside the St. John’s area.
“New home construction activity took a breather during February, with starts down 22 per cent,” said Chris Janes, senior market analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. “While starts activity is retreating from recent highs, growth in employment, income and population is expected to support the local housing market again this year,” added Janes.
In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in February were down seven per cent to 9,900 units compared to last year’s total of 10,637. Single-detached starts declined 27 per cent to 3,300 units, while multiple starts increased eight per cent to 6,600 units in February. In the Atlantic region, 269 new units were started compared to 453 units during February 2010.
The full CMHC press release can be found here










