Another week in Toronto has come to a close and, from January 11 to 13, real estate stories continued to take our desktops by storm. In fact, you may have struggled to keep up with it all!
And, let's be real: everything -- *gestures vaguely* -- is a lot right now, so there's a fair chance you don't want to spend your weekend doom-scrolling, trying to catch up on all the latest news about what's up, what's down, and what's not budging. In fact, we wouldn't recommend it. (Who thought the change of the calendar year meant anything at all, really?)
To make your day a little easier, we've gathered up this week's top articles and assembled them below. Consider this place your Toronto real estate news digest, where you can get the picture before you go outside to get some (socially distanced) fresh air.
With that, we'll get right to it. Here are your top "storeys" for the week:
1. What Ford’s New COVID Measures Mean for the Ontario Construction Industry
As Ontario grapples with surging daily COVID-19 case numbers that are now threatening to swamp hospitals, Premier Ford announced new public-health measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, which includes new restrictions to the construction industry. The measures include a stay-at-home order, in connection with a province-wide state of emergency declaration.
2. Ford Government Approves Temporary Ban of Residential Evictions
With stay-at-home orders in place, the Ontario government has approved an emergency order that temporarily pauses the enforcement of residential evictions. This marks the second time in less than a year that the province has paused residential evictions. The government made the announcement Thursday morning, two days after Premier Ford declared the province was entering its second state of emergency as Ontario grapples with surging daily case numbers that are now threatening to swamp hospitals.
3. Canadians Believe More in the Housing Market Than the Overall Economy
Is this optimism? Despite the negative implications COVID-19 has had on nearly every business sector, it appears the pandemic hasn’t had an (lasting) effect on the the real estate industry. According to RBC's latest edition of its Home Buying Sentiment Poll, Canadians still believe in the strength of the housing market — despite growing concerns of the overall economy.
4. Average Rent Prices in Downtown Toronto Are Now Less Than the GTA Average
“Never thought I would see this,” Realosophy Realty President John Pasalis wrote on Twitter. His words are paired with a visual, which shows that right now, downtown rents are priced lower than those across the city at large, as well as across the GTA. The core’s average rent price is $2,132, under Toronto as a whole at $2,152, and the GTA’s current $2,227 average.
But there's more to rent prices than their at-a-glance averages.
5. Average 1-Bedroom Rent in Toronto Has Dropped Over 20% Year-Over-Year
In a similar vein to the above article, this week, Padmapper released its January national rent report, analyzing hundreds of thousands of listings last month to examine median rent prices across the 24 largest cities in the country. And where the country's largest city is concerned? One-bedroom rents fell nearly 4% month-over-month, while rents are down over 20% year-over-year.
6. Who Gets the House? ‘Divorce Month’ Prompts Real Estate Questions
In news that's both a bummer and important to know, the first month of the year is often known as ‘Divorce Month’ — pandemic or not. And COVID, along with all the increased time it’s forced people to remain together under one roof, has likely only added to the number of people now seeking separation from their partners. And while the initial decision to part ways is the first of a long list of decisions that must be made, what to do with a shared property is most often also hanging out at the top of that list.
7. Canadian Housing Market Already On Pace to Have Record Year in 2021: RBC
On Wednesday, RBC Senior Economist Robert Hogue released a new report looking at the current state of the country’s housing market, which Hogue believes is on pace to set more records amid the current unprecedented public health and economic challenges. The report begins with this sentiment: “in the end, the rollercoaster that was 2020 left Canada’s housing market more or less where it started the year: full of bidding wars, escalating prices and exasperated buyers unable to find a home they can afford.”
8. A Sprawling Winter Light Exhibit is Coming to Toronto’s Waterfront
Need some fresh air? We feel you. Starting this Friday, two new outdoor light exhibits will open to the public as part of Harbourfront Centre and The Waterfront BIA’s outdoor winter celebration of arts & culture: Site Alive | Winter Edition, which will transform the 10-acre waterfront campus into a unique, immersive world of sensory experience.
