{"id":37314,"date":"2025-05-15T11:29:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T15:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoocasa.com\/blog\/?p=37314"},"modified":"2025-05-29T11:09:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T15:09:40","slug":"crea-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoocasa.com\/blog\/crea-april-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a Spring Freeze as Canadian Home Sales Stagnate in April: CREA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 2025 marked another subdued month for Canadian home sales, continuing the trend of quiet markets that have persisted since 2022. With many buyers still sitting on the sidelines and waiting for more decisive interest rate movement, national home sales slipped 9.8% compared to April 2024. Month-over-month, there was little change. Sales activity across Canadian MLS Systems edged down by just 0.1% from March, a modest movement that highlights the ongoing hesitation among buyers navigating high borrowing costs and economic uncertainty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This spring is shaping up to be one of the quietest in recent memory, with activity levels in April closely resembling those seen in late 2022 and much of 2023. In fact, this month ranks among the slowest of April markets in the past five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt this point, the 2025 Canadian housing story would best be described as a return to the quiet markets we\u2019ve experienced since 2022, with tariff uncertainty taking the place of high interest rates in keeping buyers on the sidelines,\u201d said Shaun Cathcart, CREA\u2019s Senior Economist. \u201cGiven the increasing potential for a rough economic patch ahead, the risk going forward will be if an average number of people trying to sell their homes turns into a large number of people who have to sell their homes, and that\u2019s something we have not seen in decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home prices have also softened. The national average sale price dipped to $679,866 in April, down 3.9% year-over-year. The MLS Home Price Index (HPI), which adjusts for seasonality and housing composition, also fell by 1.2% from March and sits 3.6% below last year\u2019s level. While some markets show signs of stability, the overall picture remains one of cautious optimism, with buyers and sellers waiting to see what comes from the next Bank of Canada rate announcement on June 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sales Activity on the Rise in Key Quebec Markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While many regions across Canada saw slower sales this spring, several cities in Quebec bucked the trend with notable year-over-year gains in April 2025. Sherbrooke CMA led the way with a 13.6% increase in residential sales, reaching 251 transactions. The Montreal CMA also saw strong growth, with 5,126 homes sold, up 10.4% from April 2024. Quebec CMA followed closely behind, recording 1,091 sales, marking a 12.1% increase year-over-year. These figures suggest that buyer demand in parts of Quebec is steady, even as national numbers show a broader market slowdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New Listings Surge in Sherbrooke, Calgary, and Hamilton-Burlington<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Several markets also experienced a significant uptick in new listings this April, helping to boost inventory levels heading into the summer. Sherbrooke CMA saw a 32% increase in residential listings, with 330 homes added to the market. In Calgary<\/a>, sellers also brought out more properties. A total of 5,227 new listings were recorded, a 15.1% year-over-year increase. Hamilton-<\/a>Burlington<\/a> also saw momentum, with 2,019 new listings representing a 14.7% gain compared to April 2024. This rise in inventory may offer some much-needed balance in local markets, especially as buyers remain cautious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n