New Condominium Sales Reach Second Highest Level on Record in 2021
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) new condominium apartment sales totaled 30,844 units in 2021, increasing by 69% over 2020 (18,282 units) and narrowly missing the all-time high reached in 2017 (31,216 units). The market capped off the year with exceptional strength as fourth quarter sales of 8,361 units represented 77% year-over-year growth and the highest Q4 on record.
After the pandemic impacted presale launch activity in 2020, a total of 92 projects and 26,835 units were brought to market in 2021 — a 49% increase over 2020 and the third highest level behind 2017 (29,529 units) and 2011 (28,448 units). These new units were met with record demand as their absorption rate reached a high of 85%, far surpassing
the 10-year average of 66%. Furthermore, an 85% share of projects that launched for presale in 2021 sold at least 70% of their units, with the length of time needed to meet this level averaging only 2.6 months (average project size of 270 units).
With the total number of sales in 2021 outweighing the number of new launches last year by over 4,000 units, unsold inventory dropped 26% year-over-year to a 14-quarter low of 10,422 units in Q4-2021. Unsold inventory was 31% below the 10-year average of 15,003 units and equal to only 4.1 months of supply. In the 905 region of the GTA, inventory fell to a low of 2.4 months in Q4-2021, compared to 5.7 months in the City of Toronto (416 area).
Pricing for new condo units averaged $1,322 psf in Q4-2021, increasing 18% annually — the fastest pace for new condo price appreciation since 2018. Prices increased the most in the 905 region with 23% annual growth to an average of $1,050 psf, while City of Toronto prices grew 17% year-over-year to an average of $1,429 psf.
“Even with a large increase in new condo project launches in 2021, demand continued to outpace supply, leaving the market with exceptionally low inventory and surging prices heading in 2022. With resale supply also scare, expect competitive market conditions to sustain in the near term. However, by the second half of the year, interest rate increases, record condo completions, and policy changes that likely target investors should lead to more moderate levels of presale activity.”
--Shaun Hildebrand, President of Urbanation
