Luxury homes see double-digit increase in sales

Luxury homes are selling like hotcakes in Canada's major markets, according to Sotheby's International Realty Canada's latest Top-Tier Real Estate Report. That upward trend is expected to continue well into 2015, with historically low mortgage lending rates, a solid Canadian economy and an ongoing flow of immigration, migration and foreign investment into Vancouver, Calgary, the Greater Toronto Area and Montreal.

The report released today examined properties sold in the $1 million-plus range between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014, analyzing sales volume, the number of days on market, and the percentage of homes that sold over asking price.

Canada's big four all saw double-digit gains in the sale of luxury homes. The GTA led the pack with a 38-per-cent increase over 2013 – head and shoulders above Canada's priciest market of Vancouver, which saw gains of 25 per cent, and Montreal's 21 per cent. Calgary's more modest increase of 16 per cent is attributed to fluctuations in the oil market, which introduced uncertainty to the luxury market.

With demand up and inventory down, luxury homes favored sellers in 2014, showing a drop in days on market and a rise in the number of homes sold over asking price in the GTA and Vancouver. The steady rise in the benchmark price of a typical, detached single-family home (now well beyond the $1 million mark in what are considered "conventional" neighbourhoods) has propelled the price of luxury homes upward in these cities as well.

According to Sotheby's International Realty Canada president and CEO Ross McCredie, "2014 was another benchmark year for high-end real estate in Canada, as demand continued to be fueled by historically low lending rates, a strong economy and steady immigration and migration into Canada's major cities. We expect the market to remain strong in the GTA and Vancouver well into 2015, and for demand to outweigh available inventory, especially when it comes to detached single-family homes. The outlook for Montreal and Calgary is positive, but more conservative – both cities are heading into the year positioned to maintain balance."

Related reading: Luxury Homes Growing in Property Type, Area and Buyer