Home prices in Canada rose another 0.6 per cent from July to August, setting another all-time record, according to the Teranet-National Bank Composite House Price Index.
The index, which measures resale house prices in the 11 largest metro areas in the country, found prices have risen 1.9 per cent, nationwide, in the past year.
Prices in Toronto’s closely watched housing market rose 1.33 per cent in the month, a very sharp increase that’s unlikely to be sustained, as it would mean they are now growing at a 16-per-cent annual rate. Prices in the city have risen 3.72 per cent so far since the start of the year.
Vancouver and Victoria, B.C., both posted declines, continuing a market slump that began last year.
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Where House Prices Are Rising And Falling
Victoria: down 2.2%(01 of25)
Open Image ModalSource: StatsCan New House Price IndexPer cent change Feburary 2012 to February 2013. (credit:Shutterstock)
Vancouver - down 0.6%(02 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alamy)
Windsor: down 0.1%(03 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Flickr: avlea2)
Saskatoon: up 0.9%(04 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shutterstock)
Edmonton: up 1%(05 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alamy)
Montreal: up 1.1%(06 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alamy)
Ottawa: up 1.7%(07 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shutterstock)
Quebec City: up 2%(08 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shutterstock)
London: up 2%(09 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Canadian Press)
Regina: up 2.2%(10 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alamy)
Hamilton: up 2.3%(11 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shutterstock)
Halifax: up 2.7%(12 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shutterstock)
Toronto - up 3.7%(13 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alamy)
Calgary: up 4.3%(14 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alamy)
Winnipeg: up 5.5%(15 of25)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shutterstock)
Nova Scotia: Up 2,900(16 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 9.5 (9.3) (credit:Alamy)
Saskatchewan: Up 2,400(17 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 3.9 (3.8) (credit:Canadian Press)
Manitoba: Up 2,000(18 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 5.0 (4.9) (credit:Alamy)
Newfoundland: Up 1,000(19 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 12.3 (11.7) (credit:Alamy)
P.E.I.: Down 200(20 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 12.1 (11.6) (credit:n_wilsey via Flickr)
New Brunswick: Down 2,100(21 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 10.5 (10.1) (credit:Shutterstock)
Alberta: Down 11,000(22 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 4.8 (4.5) (credit:Alamy)
British Columbia: Down 15,000(23 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 7.0 (6.3) (credit:Canadian Press)
Quebec: Down 17,000(24 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 7.7 (7.4) (credit:Alamy)
Ontario: Down 17,000(25 of25)
Open Image ModalUnemployment rate (previous month in brackets): 7.7 (7.7) (credit:Alamy)
Economists at the big banks have declared Canada’s housing slump over, following last year’s decline in sales volumes. BMO's Doug Porter noted that the 1.9-per-cent year-on-year price gain is within striking range of the inflation rate, indicating a steady market. His two-word conclusion on the data: "Big deal."
“Existing home sales were up 18 per cent from a year ago. Therefore, it is hard to believe that nationwide monthly price drops are in the offing,” Teranet said in a research note.
Not everyone is convinced everything is fine.
“New housing demand is still falling sharply while excess supply mounts,” Capital Economics said in a recent research note. The firm last year predicted a 25-per-cent price correction for Canada’s housing market.
Evidence is growing that developers are heeding the warnings of an overheated, oversupplied market. Housing starts have declined for the past four months, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports, bringing the numbers more in line with demand.