Home ownership became slightly more affordable in Q3, says RBC

TORONTO – Home ownership became more affordable in Canada in the third quarter despite a broad spike in home prices, according to the latest survey by RBC Economics. The bank says that was because of rising household incomes, low and steady interest rates and cheaper utility costs in many parts of the country. RBC says resales rose for the eighth time in the past nine months in October, primarily due to robust activity in hot markets in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. That is in contrast to balanced or soft conditions elsewhere in the country despite signs of strengthening activity in the third quarter. RBC says this split resale picture shows up in price trends as well, with prices in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver appreciating much faster than other local markets. The report also suggests declines in fixed mortgage rates earlier this year were a key reason for such strength in the housing market since spring. RBC predicts interest rates will slow the market in 2015 with the Bank of Canada expected to raise its overnight rate mid-year and longer-term rates will rise before that. “With home resales sitting close to the highest levels since early 2010, the overall tone of Canada’s housing market is quite solid at this stage,” said RBC chief economist and senior vice president Craig Wright. “A combination of gradually increasing interest rates and higher prices will likely reverse the improvement in housing affordability that took place in the past year and weigh more and more heavily on homebuyer demand in Canada,” he said. “We expect the next stage of the housing cycle to be a transition toward lower resales and slower price increases.” The RBC index looks at the level of pre-tax household income needed to cover the costs of owning a specified category of home at current market values. During the third quarter of, affordability measures at the national level fell by 0.2 percentage points to 47.8 per cent for two-storey homes and by 0.3 percentage points to 27.1 per cent for condo apartments. The measure for detached bungalows inched higher by 0.1 percentage points to 42.6 per cent.