RBC study finds homebuying intentions still strong

Opportunity awaits— two-in-three Canadians think it's a buyer's market
TORONTO, March 4, 2009 — According to the 16th Annual RBC Homeownership Survey, 65 per cent of Canadians think it's a buyers market right now and more than a quarter of Canadians (27 per cent) say they intend to purchase a home over the next two years, up four points from 23 per cent in 2008 - the largest single year increase since 2001. Additionally, almost half (48 per cent) indicate it makes sense to buy a home now versus waiting until next year.
The RBC survey found that younger Canadians are most likely to spark an upsurge in home sales. In the under 35 group, 48 per cent said they plan to buy, which is up sharply from 36 per cent last year. Renters also appear to be saying they are tired of paying someone else's mortgage payment, with 38 per cent planning to become homeowners in the next two years.
"The current economic environment does not appear to have dampened Canadians' overall confidence in the housing market," said Karen Leggett, head, Home Equity Financing, RBC Royal Bank. "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 homebuyers this year."
A large majority of Canadians (83 per cent) remain positive that homeownership is a good investment. While the proportion is down slightly from 85 per cent in 2008 and from the all time high of 90 per cent in 2006, it is 10 points stronger than it was a decade ago (72 per cent).
Among those who intend to buy, three-in-ten say favourable housing price is a major reason driving their decision. In a marked change from last year, 54 per cent of Canadians believe housing prices will be lower in 2009, up from 31 per cent in 2008. Similarly, the study showed 14 per cent of Canadians believe their home has lost value in the last two years. Of these, most (54 per cent) think it will take three-to-five years for their home to recover its value.
"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," added Leggett.
The primary reason stated by homeowners not planning to purchase a home is that they are content with the home they have (60 per cent). Job loss/employment factors (eight per cent) as well as general concerns about the economy (six per cent) also influenced people's decisions not to buy a home.
RBC is the largest residential mortgage lender in Canada. As the country's number one source of financial advice on homeownership, RBC conducts consumer surveys as one way to provide insight to Canadians about the marketplace in which they live.
These are some of the findings of an RBC poll conducted by Ipsos Reid between January 6 to 9, 2009. The online survey is based on a randomly selected representative sample of 2,026 adult Canadians. With a representative sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within ±2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 2006 Census data.