Market Update for January 15th

Despite the pandemic, Canadians continue to remain optimistic when it comes to the future and their finances. Many Canadians remain confident in their ability to save and continue to aspire to make their dream of owning a home a reality. This from a poll this week that RBC released titled Home Buying Sentiment Poll. Despite the negative implications COVID-19 has had on nearly every business sector, it appears the pandemic hasn’t had a lasting effect on the real estate industry as Canadians still believe in the strength of the housing market — despite growing concerns of the overall economy.

The poll, which provides updates related to the Canadian housing market, found that while the vast majority of respondents were concerned about the financial impacts of COVID-19 (78%), less than half of respondents polled said they were concerned about the impact the second wave of the pandemic will have on the real estate market (43%). When asked, 80% of respondents said that home ownership is a good investment right now, with 52% believing that home prices will continue to go up. Another 60% said that homes in their respective locales are overvalued, and 56% said that affordability will only worsen in the near future.

High home values continue to drive many Canadians further outside of major city centres, both in search of affordability and more space. When asked, Canadians said they were most interested in purchasing property in the suburbs or a commuter city (38%), followed by rural areas (26%). Only 14% of respondents said they would look to purchase a home in a major metropolitan area.

This survey follows the release of the Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence Index (BNCCI), which revealed Canadians are currently showing the highest level of real estate market optimism in the past nine months, further suggesting confidence in the Canadian housing market continues to grow even as the country grapples with the current resurgence of COVID-19. Many Canadians remain confident in their ability to save and continue to aspire to make their dream of owning a home a reality.