HomebuyingTwo of the world’s least affordable housing markets are in Canada
Two Canadian cities rank among the world's severely unaffordable cities according to a global survey by Demographia.
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Compare mortgage rates in Toronto.
Toronto is one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation, so homeowners need to always be on the lookout for the lowest mortgage rates. That’s where LowestRates.ca comes in. With our free, no-obligation online service, we can help you make the most of record-low mortgage rates and save big money along the way.
Variable or fixed: which is lower?
Are you in the market for a fixed rate or a variable rate? We can help you decide. Over the last two years, our variable rates have been at least 0.5% lower than our fixed rates. With variable rates you pay less interest but also have less security if rates do eventually rise.
On average, variable rates are almost half a percentage point lower than fixed rates.On a $400,000 mortgage that’s an average savings of:
$97 Per Month
$1,165 Per Year
$28,471 In a Lifetime
5-year fixed mortgage rate in Toronto vs 5-year variable rate from LowestRates.ca
| Month | Average LR.ca 5-year fixed rate | Average LR.ca 5-year variable rate |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2015 | 2.37% | 1.89% |
| Dec 2015 | 2.49% | 1.98% |
| Jan 2016 | 2.39% | 2.08% |
| Feb 2016 | 2.43% | 2.09% |
| Mar 2016 | 2.34% | 2.08% |
| Apr 2016 | 2.32% | 2.05% |
| May 2016 | 2.32% | 2.05% |
| June 2016 | 2.25% | 1.99% |
| July 2016 | 2.19% | 1.95% |
| Aug 2016 | 2.18% | 1.95% |
| Sept 2016 | 2.19% | 1.94% |
| Oct 2016 | 2.12% | 1.97% |
Focus On
Toronto housing.
It's no secret that Toronto remains a seller's market in 2016. Prices for both condos and houses in the city have shown surprising strength over the past several years, and that trend looks set to continue.
Toronto real estate is only the second most expensive among Canada’s major cities though: the average cost of a single-detached house is $770,000 in Toronto, but about $1.3 million in Vancouver — that’s a $530,000 difference.
Single-Detached Home and Condo Prices by City
| City | Single-detached | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $523,900 | $358,900 |
| Vancouver | $1,380,300 | $493,100 |
| Calgary | $513,900 | $307,000 |
| Edmonton | $418,500 | $247,400 |
| Toronto | $768,500 | $371,800 |
| Ottawa | $402,000 | $300,600 |
| Montreal | $355,800 | $286,200 |
Whether it's a condo, a semi, or a fully-detached house, if it's in Toronto, chances are it's climbing up in value. In fact, the average home price in Toronto is currently a staggering $750,000, according to the latest data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Unsurprisingly, sellers are receiving multiple offers and realtors report bidding wars and sales considerably over asking.
It's clear that low mortgage rates are spurring housing demand in Canada's biggest city, even as other metro areas struggle to maintain sales and price momentum.
Average Home Prices in Toronto.
| Date | Home Prices |
|---|---|
| Jan-14 | $549,150 |
| Mar-14 | $549,147 |
| May-14 | $558,494 |
| Jul-14 | $562,698 |
| Sep-14 | $574,023 |
| Nov-14 | $578,862 |
| Jan-15 | $575,008 |
| Mar-15 | $602,736 |
| May-15 | $617,534 |
| Jul-15 | $622,935 |
| Sep-15 | $627,507 |
| Nov-15 | $636,682 |
| Jan-16 | $657,820 |
| Mar-16 | $677,221 |
| May-16 | $708,834 |
| Jul-16 | $725,000 |
| Sep-16 | $750,000 |
Average new home prices in Toronto have surged dramatically year over year, finally leaping to $940,000 in 2016. Developers report brisk sales, and many projects sell out in only days.
If you're looking to purchase a new home in Toronto, there’s some good news: falling mortgage rates have largely offset rising prices this year, so buyers are seeing their mortgage payments stay roughly the same size, even though they're paying more money for their homes.
New Home Prices in Toronto, Single-Detached
| Year | Price |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $658,063 |
| 2012 | $672,318 |
| 2013 | $756,537 |
| 2014 | $835,485 |
| 2015 | $893,000 |
| 2016 (F) | $940,000 |
Your Toronto mortgage questions, answered.
Variable or fixed: which is more popular?
Variable rates dominate Toronto’s 5-year term mortgage market. According to our data, over 60% of borrowers are picking variable rates in Toronto. We’re not too surprised though — variable rates have been substantially lower than fixed rates for the last few years.
5-Year Fixed Rates vs. 5-Year Variable Rates in Toronto: Who Takes What?✝
- of Toronto borrowers apply for 5-year variable mortgages
- 63%
- of Toronto borrowers apply for 5-year fixed mortgages
- 37%
✝Based on borrowers in Toronto who applied for a mortgage at LowestRates.ca since 2014.
About Toronto
A thriving metropolis of almost six million people, Toronto is very much at the centre of civic, cultural and economic life in Canada. It is home to most of the country's print and broadcast media and serves as the headquarters of nearly all its major banks, which have been named by the World Economic Forum as the safest and soundest in the world.
The city hosts a wide array of major cultural events, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the ScotiaBank Caribbean Carnival, and Luminato. It's no slouch in the sports department either, boasting an NHL, NBA and MLB team. In 2015, Toronto had the honour of hosting the Pan Am Games.
Visitors and residents can spend time in superb cultural institutions like the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, or enjoy the cityscape with excursions to the CN Tower or shopping in tony Yorkville.
Many choose to take day trips to destinations like Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls and the Stratford Festival, all only a short drive away. Toronto boasts a diverse population and is often referred to as the most multicultural city in the world. It's also a city of distinct and colourful neighborhoods, including Koreatown, Greektown, Chinatown and Little India.
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