Property sales in canada stronger than expected

The Canadian Real Estate Association has revised its forecast for residential property sales as transaction activity and prices were stronger than expected in the second quarter of the year.

Sales momentum was also better than expected heading into the third quarter. As a result, the 2011 national forecasts for sales activity and average price have been raised.

National sales activity is forecast to reach 450,800 units in 2011, up less than 1% from levels in but CREA had previously forecast a decline of about 1% for activity in 2011. Erosion in affordability due to higher prices has prompted a small downward revision to the outlook for sales in 2012.

British Columbia’s 2011 sales forecast has been revised slightly higher, in recognition that home sales there appear to have bottomed out sooner than previously anticipated. Stronger than expected activity in Ontario offset slightly softer than anticipated demand in Quebec, Manitoba, and Newfoundland in the second quarter of 2011. Accordingly, the Ontario sales forecast for 2011 has been raised, while the outlook for activity in Quebec, Manitoba, and Newfoundland has been revised lower.

Source: PropertyCommunity.com