More Canadians Plan To Buy A Home: Study Conducted By Ipsos Reid

Here is an article written by Becky Rynor of the Financial Post. She summarizes a survey conducted by Ipsos Reid that details Canadians’ feelings about the current real estate market. It would be interesting to find out how Kamloops residents feel about the current real estate market here in our city.  I would love to hear your opinion. Read below for the full article.

Most Canadians believe it is a home buyers market, with more first-timers planning on purchasing their own homes, according to a study released today by Royal Bank of Canada. “The current economic environment does not appear to have dampened Canadians’ overall confidence in the housing market,” says Royal Bank spokeswoman Karen Leggett. “Canadians continue to have an overwhelming belief in the long-term value of a home and we’re seeing this in the buying intentions of many first time home buyers this year.”

In its 16th annual RBC home ownership survey, 65% of Canadians said they believe it’s a buyer’s market, with 27% saying they intend to buy a new home over the next two years. RBC says that’s up from 23% in 2008.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Reid, shows that almost half of respondents, 48%, said it makes sense to buy a home now instead of waiting until next year.

Younger Canadians, those under 35 years old, are most likely to spark an upsurge in homes sales, with 48% saying they plan to buy a home. That’s up sharply from 36% last year. And even renters want to get in on the action: 38% of them want to buy in the next two years.

“Low mortgage rates and favourable housing prices are influencing home purchase intentions this year and may be the reason why more Canadians are poised to purchase over the next two years,” RBC says.

A large majority of Canadians, 83%, remain positive that home ownership is a good investment. That is down slightly from 85% in 2008 and from the all-time high of 90% in 2006. Fifty-four percent of respondents said they believe house prices will be lower in 2009, a substantial change from 31% in 2008.

Nationally, respondents in Alberta expressed most interest (35%) in buying. Quebec was lowest at 22%. Those in British Columbia believed most that now is a buyer’s market (78%), compared with Saskatchewan/Manitoba, where only 34% believe so.

In Ontario, home-buying intentions have increased over past year, with 30% saying they are likely to purchase a home within the next two years. That’s up from 21% in 2008.

The online survey of 2,026 adults was conducted between Jan. 6 and 9, 2009. Ipsos Reid said the results are accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.