Marketing Focus: Should You Shift Effort to Selling Condos?

November 26th, 2018

There is one real estate opportunity that seems to only be growing in popularity: selling condos.

The Canadian condo market continues to boom. From 2016 to 2018, more than 14% of private mortgages came from condominiums.

In June 2018, residential construction starts across Canada surged to 248,000 units, driven by condos.

“While there has been some moderation in price growth and less speculative demand in the single-family home segment, prices for condominiums have continued to increase rapidly in some markets,” the Bank of Canada noted in its July 2018 Monetary Policy Report.

Condos have also benefitted from tougher mortgage rules and increased interest rates. As house prices have gone up, condos have remained the more affordable option. This means that not only are younger buyers opting for condos over traditional homes, but so are older buyers. For instance, some members of Generation X are choosing to move into condos for a smaller mortgage.

In 2017, three out of every four homes built were multi-family units, compared to 65% the decade before.

If you sell real estate in Canada, the signs are there that this is the time to consider selling condos, too.

Should you decide to join the condo market, or ramp up your efforts, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

  • Look at property details. Just like you would request a property report for a single-family dwelling, you should do the same for a condo. For instance, with a GeoWarehouse report you can see all condo units in a building, search by level, look up related PINs, access the full legal description, and more.
  • Don’t only consider constructed condos. Look also at pre-construction condos. New condo buildings are being constructed quickly, especially in larger urban areas like Toronto and Vancouver. Sell clients on making a decision early to beat the rush.
  • Condos aren’t just for younger buyers. As we mentioned above, condos used to be the millennials’ residence, but that’s not always the case these days. More and more older generations are choosing condos amid new mortgage rules, increased interest rates, or wanting to stay in an urban area. While millennials are certainly still a big market, they’re not the only market.
  • Look at what else the building offers. There may be additional assets included with a condo sale, like a parking space or storage lockers. Unlike a traditional dwelling type, a condo can come with other perks, too — security guards, an on-site gym, a luxury view, etc. Play up these features in your sales pitch.
  • Focus on unique features. Condos are a space sacrifice, especially if a potential buyer is used to a larger home. But because they are rising in popularity, there are many more options for comfortable condo living today, like urban agriculture, unique storage ideas, and two-in-one furniture items. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your staging.Access condo status certificates online. There is no need to request your condo status certificates by fax anymore. Instead, use a tool like GeoWarehouse to do it all online.

While the condo boom is continuing to thrive, it makes sense to take advantage if it’s in your area. GeoWarehouse can help you stay on top of the latest condo trends and access property information.

Learn more by calling 1-866-237-5937 or visit www.geowarehouse.ca.