“We delivered this growth in a market that is starting to show signs of slowing after the rapid growth of prices and volumes last year,” Bissada said. “Reports from the Canadian Real Estate Association indicate that sales volumes for the first three months of the year have moderated from the record levels of 2021. We believe this is healthy for the long-term sustainability of the housing market.
“We’re also seeing upward pressure on interest rates for the first time since the start of the pandemic,” Bissada added. “The bank has made it clear they will take necessary actions to keep inflation in check and maintain price stability.” Bank of Canada senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers reinforced the central bank’s mission to tamp down inflation with rising rates, acknowledging that while the hiking cycle may put a strain on borrowers, inflation is currently putting a strain on everyone.
“Housing price growth is unsustainably strong in Canada,” Rogers said in a May 3 speech before the Women in Capital Markets conference. “It would not be a bad thing for the economy for the growth in housing prices to moderate a bit and we do expect that to happen as rates go up. It needs to happen.”• Email: