Strong home prices expected amid slowing sales

The Globe and Mail.

“Price gains remain firm in much of the country, with average prices expected to be up about 6 per cent year-over-year, steady from the prior month,” Bank of Montreal economist Benjamin Reitzes wrote in a research note.

Some of the local boards have already disclosed April’s numbers. The average selling price in Edmonton was up 4.5 per cent from a year ago, to $365,045; Toronto’s average selling price rose 10.1 per cent to $577,898; Ottawa’s average price ticked up 0.8 per cent to $374,015; Regina’s remained relatively flat, at $317,176.

“Prices continue to rise despite cooling activity, reflecting relatively tight supply in major markets,” Mr. Reitzes wrote. He, like many economists, questions whether the price momentum can be sustained.

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