Chestnut Park’s Real Estate Market Update | Muskoka, January-December 2020
Chestnut Park’s Real Estate Market Update | Muskoka, January-December 2020
JANUARY 22, 2021
It would have been impossible a year ago to predict, no, even image the way the Muskoka and area recreational waterfront marketplace would unfold. Expectations were high that 2020 would perform well. As in recent, previous years, the concern was supply – would the available inventory throughout the year be sufficient to meet demand?
It was a year ago that an unheard of virus was spreading in China. By March, it had arrived, and in force. By late March the Province was in lockdown, a situation we are re-experiencing as this report is being prepared. The March lockdown had a stunning and immediate impact not only on the Muskoka and area recreational market but on all markets, rural and urban. But market stasis was only temporary. By the end of April the real estate industry, as well as buyers and sellers, would begin to adjust to the new order – more virtual viewings, virtual staging of properties, protective equipment (masks, gloves, sanitizers) for buyers, sellers and agents, and viewing protocols –and with that adjustment, sales of recreational waterfront properties skyrocketed.
By the end of 2020, almost 4,000 waterfront properties were reported sold for the region. This represented a significant gain of almost 45 percent as compared to 2019, and it surpassed the previous annual record for waterfront sales that was set in 2016. The chart below dramatically shows the increase in 2020 sales compared to 2019.
2019 – 2020 Sales
Ironically, the inventory shortages that were anticipated did not materialize. In the District of Muskoka, 1,409 waterfront properties came to market in 2020. During 2019, 1,403 came to market. A number of the waterfront properties that came to market, and ultimately sold, were properties that had been previously listed, in 2019 and in some cases 2018, without success. The incredible demand for recreational properties generated by the pandemic, and corresponding rising prices, brought these properties back to market.
Sales in the Muskoka Lakes region increased by 53 percent as compared to 2019, from 673 waterfront properties sold to 1,027 this year. This market performance was consistent throughout the region. In Lake of Bays waterfront property sales increased by over 42 percent. Haliburton water property sales saw an even more dramatic increase, jumping by more than 79 percent year-over-year. Prices increased correspondingly. The lowest price increases were in the Muskoka Lakes region. This is no doubt due to the already high price point for properties in the region, particularly on Muskoka’s three big lakes, Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau, and Joseph. The chart below sets out the listing and sales activity on Muskoka’s big three lakes. Clearly the best market performance since 2017.
Average sale prices throughout the region continued their upward trajectory, a pattern that started in 2018. The increase in average sale price was higher in those sub-markets with lower price-points. For example, waterfront property average sale prices in the Haliburton area increased by almost 30 percent compared to prices last year. In 2019, the average sale price for waterfront properties was approximately $570,000. By the end of 2020 that same property now sells for more than $720,000. With listings declining over the same period by almost 5 percent, and demand skyrocketing as a result of the pandemic, the pressure on prices was unprecedented.
Similar pressures drove sales and prices in the District of Muskoka, as well as in Lake of Bays/Huntsville and the other popular lakes around Lake of Bays (Mary Lake, Fairy Lake, Peninsula, and Lake Vernon). In the District of Muskoka average sale prices increased by over 20 percent to approximately $1,250,000, while in the face of declining inventory sales increased by over 50 percent.
Price point did not stop the increase of average sale prices on Muskoka’s three big lakes (Rosseau, Joseph and Muskoka). As heady as those prices were at the beginning of 2020, they continued to rise throughout the year:
The average price increase for properties sold on Lake Rosseau was more than 26 percent, and the average sale price for properties sold on Lake Joseph can only be described as eye-popping. Overall the average sale prices for all properties sold on Muskoka’s big lakes is now approximately $3,200,000, 23 percent more than it was at the end of 2019.
While many other industries and businesses suffered or were shuttered in 2020 due to the economic devastation of the pandemic, the real estate industry thrived. So it is with great humility that we report that Chestnut Park and its sales representatives had their best year on record. Chestnut Park’s sales representatives were involved in 312 property ends totaling more than $550 million in dollar volume – a 50 percent increase in sales volume and an 87 percent increase in the amount of real estate dollar volume sold compared to 2019. A truly astonishing year.
Looking forward to 2021 much of a recreational real estate landscape is very similar to what it was during the year under review. Mortgage interest rates remain at all-time historical lows. Demand, due to buyers’ need and desire to escape dense urban centers for more space and associated safety remains intense. Buyers have saved more capital than ever and are very eager to spend. Equity markets are at record-breaking levels. All these socio-economic factors point to a strong waterfront market for 2021. If there are concerns, they revolve around average prices – throughout the region they have reached record levels – and inventory. So many properties were absorbed by the robust demand in 2020 that there may not be enough new waterfront properties coming to market in 2021 to meet what no doubt will be a demand not dissimilar to what we witnessed in 2020.
Stay Tuned!
Chris Kapches – CEO and President
This entry was posted on January 29, 2021 by Jim and Iris
“Thank you for the memorable sales and closing experience of finding the cottage of our dreams. A perfect fit for our needs.”
I & E – Lake Muskoka cottage buyers
“Jim and Iris Gardiner were both amazing to deal with. A truly professional team. They shared a great deal of knowledge with us and really shed important light regarding potential Island Cottage ownership – all the pros and cons. Not only did they sell our existing cottage in 24 hours for much higher than our asking price they helped us find our new slice of paradise on Lake Muskoka in a very tight market. We are thrilled with our new cottage and love being on Eilean Gowan Island! We would highly recommend either Jim or Iris for any of your Real Estate needs!”
J & D – Sold on Echo Lake and bought on Lake Muskoka
Jim did me a favor 20 years ago and I wanted to return the favor – I approached him and Iris at the cottage show and, even though I already had a real estate agent, he recommended a cottage property that I purchased and enjoyed for those 20 years. I therefore, tracked him down and had him be our agent in selling that property. Our priority was to find new owners that would be friendly and fit in well with the neighbors and Jim and Iris found the perfect couple Jim and Iris made the entire sale most enjoyable. The experience was so smooth and enjoyable that the sellers, the buyers and the real estate agents all got together for supper the following summer at our old cottage!
K & L – Lake Muskoka
It is with great pleasure and appreciation for me to recommend the services of Jim Gardiner and the entire Gardiner Team. Jim’s awareness of community by-laws and market related activities extracted incremental value for us when we were finalizing the purchasing agreement.
JB – Mirror Lake
Just want to tell you that you did a fine job for me on the cottage sale on Lake Muskoka. The sale has removed a huge load from my shoulders. Iris, just a note to thank you again. Money is in the bank!!!!!!
Lesley-Anne Goodfellow