I get asked about the value of real estate in areas to the north and east of Durham Region on a regular basis. Yes, the Durham market has been very strong in recent years, but how do adjacent districts compare, and which area will do well heading into the future?

This article will look at the performance of MLS residential home sales in Durham Region, Kawartha Lakes (Lindsay), Peterborough  and Northumberland (Cobourg, Port Hope).

Statistics are from the Canadian Real Estate Association.

First, here is a map of the district boundaries:

Next, let's take a look at average price charts for each district with monthly stats since 2007.  I will use figures from April of each year for comparison purposes.  On each chart, that is the fourth bar to the right of the hash mark above January on the legend.

Durham Region

The average residential resale home price in Durham was about 230,000 in 2007, and 515,000 in 2016.

Kawartha Lakes

The average price here was about $220,000 in April, 2007 and $315,000 in April, 2016.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas

In this district, the average price in April, 2007 was about $215,000, and in 2016 was about $305,000.

Northumberland

For Northumberland, April of 2007 average was approximately $245,000, and in April 2016 was about $340,000.

Comparing the Numbers

Looking at the charts, we can see that all areas showed increases, but the rate of increase is what sets things apart. Note that in April 2007, the areas all had similar average prices, with Northumberland having the highest average price. 

In Durham, the average increased by $285,000, or 123.9%.  Per year, that works out to 13.8% annually.

In the Kawartha Lakes district, the average gain was $90,000, or 43.2%. The average annual gain is just 4.8%.  Similar results for both other districts - in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, the average increased $90,000 - 41.9% or 4.7% annually.  In Northumberland, the average gained $95,000 or 38.8% - 4.3% annually.

Why the big difference?

What makes Durham Region's results so much different? There are a number of major factors that contribute to the market demand here versus the outlying areas:

• Proximity to Toronto - Durham Region is largely within commuting distance to the city. There are more people living in this area and working in the city than can manage the commute from further out.

• Local Jobs - Many of the manufacturing plants that used to be in outlying areas have either shut down or downsized.  This has had impact in Durham as well, most notably in the automotive sector, but the other factors have helped to mitigate this impact here.

• Housing prices in Toronto, York and Peel regions - With an average detached home selling for over $1.25 million in Toronto, over $1.1 million in York Region and almost $800,000 in Peel Region, Durham is still the most affordable region in the GTA, with an average detached home price of about $575,000.  (All figures from April 2016 TREB stats)

• Immigration to the GTA - Over 100,000 new immigrants come into the GTA each year. Most of these people are skilled and educated, and are seeking housing. While many may start out with a rental or purchase a condo apartment, these people are a driving force in the residential market. Take another look at the housing prices, and this additional demand makes Durham a high-demand alternative to the higher prices in the west and north GTA.  According to Ontario's Ministry of Finance projections, the GTA will be the fastest growing region in the province, accounting for over 68% of the province's population growth (from 6.6 million in 2015 to 9.5 million in 2041).
   
• Population growth in Durham Region - According to Durham Region's planning department, the population in the region is currently around 666,000, and is expected to grow to 734,900 by 2020, with the largest increases happening in the municipalities in the south of the region, bordering on Lake Ontario.

What about the future?