The strength exhibited by the GTA real estate market in 2017 is poised to continue seamlessly into this year, according to the latest report from commercial real estate services provider Altus Group Limited.
In the firm’s 2018 GTA Flash Report, Altus outline the key trends that industry players in Toronto should look out for in the coming months.
Chief among these is the growing prominence of shared work spaces in office properties.
“The trend of renting workstations within a larger office space will grow in the GTA as low vacancy rates lead to higher rents. Look for this segment to grow not just in the downtown market, but throughout the GTA, as employers look to accommodate staff pushed further out in search of more affordable housing options,” Altus stated.
Demand for industrial space will remain strong, since online and traditional retailers will continue seeking warehouse space “to support their e-commerce business strategies.”
“Retailers will continue to shrink their brick and mortar footprint and traditional retail space will continue to evolve as retail centres focus on consumer experiences, especially food themes, to draw in traffic.”
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On the residential side, land sales are projected to enjoy a strong 2018, with the caveat of greater uncertainty due to higher prices and recent policy changes.
“High-demand areas are likely to remain expensive, which could push some developers to seek more affordable options outside traditional core areas.”
New condominium apartment sales volume will likely remain elevated this year, Altus added.
“However, surpassing 2017 levels will be a challenge. While investor interest continues to be strong, some end user buyers who have been looking to the new condominium apartment sector for more affordable homes are now starting to be priced out of this segment as well,” the report explained.
“Some modest increase in new single-family sales is possible, however sales in this segment will continue to be challenged by lack of available product, in particular options that are affordable to a broader range of buyers.”
Ephraim is currently a journalist at Mortgage Broker News, Real Estate Professional and Canadian Real Estate Wealth.
Ephraim is a highly accomplished news reporter whose work has been published across North America and the Asia Pacific region. Before joining Key Media, Ephraim spent eight years working as a journalist with Reuters TV. His areas of expertise include real estate, mortgage, and finance.
As part of its response to Canada’s ongoing housing challenges, the federal government has added another 12 new properties to the Canada Public Land Bank,...
As part of its response to Canada’s ongoing housing challenges, the federal government has added another 12 new properties to the Canada Public Land Bank,...
