Montréal Real Estate Board's MLS® statistics
There were 3,411 sales in the Montréal Metropolitan Area in November 2009, a 51 per cent increase compared to November 2008, according to the Greater Montréal Real Estate Board's MLS® statistics. These 3,411 transactions were enough to surpass, by 4 per cent, the record-breaking sales levels of November 2007, when 3,276 transactions were registered.
“It’s important to remember that last year – in November 2008 – the Montréal real estate market was feeling the effects of the recession and posted a 31 per cent decrease in sales compared to November 2007,” said Michel Beauséjour, FCA, Chief Executive Officer of the GMREB. “So the increase in sales in November 2009 was amplified by the market’s poor performance last year. November 2007 offers a better point of comparison, as it was the best November on record,” he added.
All property categories registered an increase in sales in November 2009 compared to November 2008, and all categories managed to exceed the record-breaking sales levels of 2007. Condominiums led the way with a 55 per cent increase in sales compared to November 2008 and a 12 per cent increase compared to November 2007. Plex sales also grew by 55 per cent compared to 2008, while increasing by 2 per cent compared to November 2007. Finally, single-family homes posted a 49 per cent increase in sales compared to November 2008 and a 1 per cent increase compared to 2007.
“The market is very active. Now is a good time to sell a property, and it’s also a good time to buy a property as mortgage rates are still low and the inventory of homes for sale is quite extensive, with 21,197 properties on the market in the Montréal area,” said Mr. Beauséjour.
In November 2009, three of the five main geographic areas in the Montréal region exceeded the record-breaking sales figures of November 2007. The South Shore, which registered a 71 per cent increase in sales compared to November 2008, registered a 10 per cent increase compared to 2007. The Island of Montréal and the North Shore were the other two areas that surpassed the November 2007 sales levels, as both areas posted an increase of 6 per cent. Compared to November 2008, these two areas registered sales increases of 55 and 42 per cent, respectively. Sales in the areas of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Laval increased by 60 and 22 per cent, respectively, in November 2009 compared to the same month last year. However, they did not reach the November 2007 sales levels, with respective decreases of 1 and 12 per cent.
