Residential real estate sales in the Greater Toronto Area fell 23 per cent in March compared to the previous year, according to data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. The average sale price of a home also fell two per cent from last year to just under $1.1 million. (The Logic)
Talking point: The world is reeling from U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement Wednesday of a minimum of 10 per cent tariffs on goods. Canadian banks are expected to make it harder for people working in tariff-affected industries to qualify for mortgages. People worried about job security aren’t likely to buy a house, opting instead for a “wait-and-see approach,” Toronto Regional Real Estate Board chief information officer Jason Mercer said in a release. On the positive side, the organization noted that the drop in both interest rates and housing prices over the past year has made home buying more affordable.