As of early 2024, the Toronto real estate market showed signs of sluggishness due to a decrease in housing demand, but it experienced a sharp rebound in the latter half of the year. This improvement created better conditions for those looking to purchase a home in the city. However, Toronto’s real estate market remains notorious for its volatility, meaning that depending on when you buy, you might either save thousands of dollars or face additional costs.
According to the December 2024 Housing Affordability Report by Ratehub.ca, housing affordability has improved in 9 out of 13 major Canadian cities, including Toronto. The report calculated the minimum annual income required to purchase an average home in these cities, factoring in changes in mortgage rates and stress tests. Notably, the five-year fixed mortgage rate in 2024 fell from 5.71% to 4.99%, and the mortgage stress test benchmark rate decreased from 7.71% to 6.99%. This improvement in rates contributed to a significant improvement in housing affordability compared to 2023.
Toronto saw the largest improvement in affordability, with the annual income required to purchase an average home dropping by $12,400 in 2024. This shift was largely due to a slight drop in the average home price, from $1,065,300 in January 2024 to $1,061,900 by December 2024. Experts expect a continued recovery in Toronto’s real estate market in 2025, particularly with the possibility of additional rate cuts from the Bank of Canada.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has also forecasted a recovery in the housing market for 2025 and 2026. The association attributes this expected rebound to pent-up demand, lower lending rates, and increased listings during the spring of 2025. Early indicators of this recovery were already seen in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Ratehub.ca also provided a breakdown of the annual income required to purchase an average home in Toronto throughout 2024. The figures show a clear trend of improvement in affordability as the year progressed:
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- January: $210,200
- February: $213,950
- March: $216,920
- April: $217,170
- May: $215,920
- June: $214,360
- July: $208,950
- August: $204,100
- September: $199,800
- October: $195,420
- November: $194,900
- December: $197,800
For anyone planning to buy a home in Toronto in 2024, it’s crucial to closely track interest rate fluctuations and market trends, as these factors can greatly influence the affordability of homes in the city.