PRICES:
Residential Prices ⬇️ 7% from last year
Condominium Prices ⬆️9 % from last year
SUPPLY is ⬆️
699 new listings came to market this past month. We usually see around 662 in December.
DEMAND is ⬇️
601 properties sold over the last month. Typically we see 775 in December.
ABSORPTION RATE (Supply vs Demand)
How quickly are new properties sold and absorbed into the market
- January 2022 – 48% absorption rate
- February 2022 – 55% absorption rate
- March 2022 – 55% absorption rate
- April 2022 – 46% absorption rate
- May 2022 – 39% absorption rate
- June 2022 – 28% absorption rate
- July 2022 – 22% absorption rate
- August 2022 – 22 % absorption rate
- September 2022 -20% absorption rate
- October 2022 – 18% absorption rate
- November 2022 – 17% absorption rate
- December 2022 – 16% absorption rate
Homes are not getting snapped up as quickly as they were in March 2022. The ratio between supply and demand has slowed to a more traditional Ottawa pace.
What do the numbers for December show?
“As interest rates and inflation both climbed, buyers retreated to the sidelines and began taking a wait and see approach. However, while it’s quieter than the frantic pace we experience in 2021, it is now a balanced market.” -Ottawa Real Estate Board’s 2023 president Ken Dekker.
Balanced. As expected, the numbers have just shifted into a balanced market. While there are many different economic factors which could impact our future, it appears as though Ottawa’s real estate market is performing similarly to pre-pandemic times.
Judging by the conversations that I’m having, inventory will be increasing each month as we build toward the spring market. This is an opportunity for those buyers who were on the sidelines. Let’s get you pre-approved, talk about how the process works, discuss additional expenses to be prepared for, and discuss what criteria you need for your ideal home.
Sellers that want to win will reach out early and create their personal plans for success. We will discuss price points, trends, what repairs will give you the best return and how to make your home stand out.
Laura Seanor
Ottawa Realtor®
RE/MAX Hallmark® Realty Group🏠
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Ottawa 30-second Real estate market update
Do you have questions about what it takes to sell or buy in Ottawa, Canada successfully? Fill in the contact form and let’s chat.
OTTAWA, JANUARY 5, 2023 – Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) sold 601 residential properties in December through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System, compared with 857 in December 2021, a decrease of 30%. December’s sales included 466 in the residential-property class, down 22% from a year ago, and 135 in the condominium-property category, a decrease of 48% from December 2021. The five-year average for total unit sales in December is 775.
2022 in Review
Residential and condo resales in 2022 totaled 15,288, compared with 20,289 in 2021, decreasing 25%. Total sales volume in 2022 was approximately $10.5B compared to $13B in 2021.
“Even with the normal seasonal slowdown, December’s performance was in stark contrast to the very active resale market that opened 2022,” says Ken Dekker, OREB’s newly installed 2023 President. “As interest rates and inflation both climbed, buyers retreated to the sidelines and began taking a wait and see approach. However, while it’s quieter than the frantic pace we experienced in 2021, it is now a balanced market.”
By the Numbers – Average Prices*:
- The average sale price for a condominium-class property in December was $434,973, an increase of 9% from 2021.
- The average sale price for a residential-class property was $655,839, decreasing 7% from a year ago.
- With year-to-date average sale prices at $769,623 for residential units and $453,770 for condominiums, these values represent a 7% increase over 2021 for residential-class properties and an 8% increase for condominium-class properties.
“Although market activity tapered off in later 2022, there was an immense amount of activity in the spring at high prices,” says Dekker. “This will be an important caveat to consider as we begin comparing 2023 numbers to the previous year.”
By the Numbers – Inventory & New Listings:
- Months of Inventory for the residential-class properties has increased to 3.7 months from 0.9 months in December 2021.
- Months of Inventory for condominium-class properties has increased to 3.9 months from 0.9 months in December 2021.
- December’s new listings (699) were 17% higher than 2021 (600) and down 56% from November 2022 (1,598). The 5-year average for new listings in December is 662.
“The leading economic force behind Ottawa’s rapid appreciation in the past five years is chronic supply insufficiency,” says Dekker. “It intensified during the pandemic as prospective purchasers capitalized on incredibly low interest rates. Today’s higher rates are slowing down building projects, which exacerbates the low supply issue.”
2023 Lookahead
“Since Ottawa is made up of hyper-local markets, it is a difficult ecosystem to forecast,” says Dekker. “Plus, there are a multitude of factors influencing a changing economic environment these days that will dictate how much activity the resale market will see in 2023. REALTORS® have access to expert insights and industry resources that can help buyers and sellers navigate the complexities.”
REALTORS® also help with finding rentals and vetting potential tenants. OREB Members have assisted clients with renting 6,105 properties this past year compared to 4,813 in 2021.
* 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.
