London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) announced 439 homes* were sold in December, up 2.1% over December 2017 and right on par with the 10-year average. The number of home resales for the year was 8,690, down 13.3% compared to 2017, which set a record year for residential real estate.
"One of the trends that stood out in December was the sales-to-new listings ratio, which was 108.1% across the region," said Jeff Nethercott, 2018 LSTAR President. "It's a statistic the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) says represents conditions in the marketplace that favour sellers (a ratio between 40% and 60% is generally consistent with a balanced market). In London, the sales-to-new listings ratio was 119.7%, while in St. Thomas it was 100.0%."
December also saw average home sales price make steady gains in LSTAR’s jurisdiction. In London, the average sales price was $375,782, up 13.4% from last December, while it was $304,079 in St. Thomas, an increase of 0.7% from December 2017.
|
City |
December Average Sale Price |
|---|---|
| London | $375,782 |
| St.Thomas | $304,079 |
"Looking at specific areas, London South (which also includes data from the west side of the city) had an average sales price of $421,044 in December, up 16.2% compared to the same period last year and achieving its highest average sales price in the last 10 years," Nethercott said. "In London North, the average sales price was $426,831, up 16.6% from December 2017, while in London East it was $284,100, up 7.0% compared to last December."
"Overall, it was a very solid year for home resales in London and St. Thomas," Nethercott said. "The activity in 2018 performed well above the 10-year average, despite the record low inventory levels seen in the marketplace the entire year. As we kick off 2019, I believe home sales will continue to be strong and be a driving force to the local economy."
The following chart is based on data taken from the CREA National MLS® Report for November 2018 (the latest CREA statistics available). It provides a snapshot of how average home prices in London and St. Thomas compare to other major Ontario and Canadian centres.
According to a research report1, one job is created for every three real estate transactions and approximately $53,000 in ancillary spending is generated each time a home changes hands in Ontario. "We can't underestimate the impact the business of real estate has on all the communities LSTAR passionately serves," Nethercott said. "Based on the total home resales for 2018, this translates into creating approximately 3,200 jobs and generating potentially more than $519 million – a half billion dollars – back into the local economy."
The London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) exists to provide its REALTOR® Members with the support and tools they need to succeed in their profession. LSTAR is one of Canada's 15 largest real estate associations, representing over 1,700 REALTORS® working in Middlesex and Elgin Counties, a trading area of 500,000 residents. LSTAR adheres to a Quality of Life philosophy, supporting growth that fosters economic vitality, provides housing opportunities, respects the environment and builds good communities and safe neighbourhoods and is a proud participant in the REALTORS Care Foundation’s Every REALTOR™ Campaign.
*These statistics are prepared for LSTAR by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and represent a data snapshot taken on January 1, 2019, based on processed home sales activity between December 1 and 31, 2018.
1 Economic Impacts of MLS® System Home Sales and Purchases in Canada and the Provinces, Altus Group Consulting, 2013.
