Episode 10 – Toronto Under Construction with CMHC’s Dana Senagama
On this episode of Toronto Under Construction we welcome Dana Senagama. Dana is CMHC’s Principal Market Analyst responsible for the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to joining CMHC, Dana worked at the International Monetary Fund and the Corporate Head Office of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Dana has a MA in economics from the University of Sussex and a BA Honours in economics from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom. Dana joins the podcast to discuss CMHC’s Housing Market Outlook, a special Summer 2020 report that focuses on Canada’s major real estate markets and how they’ve been (and will be) affected by COVID-19.
After a successful career in London (and growing up in Africa), Dana moved to the GTA, so she has some experience in dense urban areas. We kick off this episode discussing the difference between London and Toronto and how the markets differ. “The biggest distinction is that, when you live in Europe, renting is pretty much the norm. But buying… you don’t really aspire to it. In Canada, it’s the next step, you graduate, you get a job and you buy a house. That wasn’t so much the plan when you live in a city like London. I think it’s because of the costs involved” says Dana.
As the Principal Market Analyst for CMHC (Canada’s Mortgage and Housing Corporation), Dana jumps into to sharing more about her role, and what she’s in charge of in terms of Ontario’s housing market, with a specific look at the GTA.
CMHC 2020 Special Housing Outlook
CMHC just released their 2020 Special Edition Housing Outlook to build on its provincial market outlook published on May 27, which also forecasts that the market will feel the effects of COVID until 2022. Ben and Steve dive into the report and ask Dana to share and expand on her predictions on the market. Some of the highlights we discuss are:
- The -9 to -18% number in the CMHC report looks at an 18-24 month horizon for the country (peak to trough) for price growth/price decline – it’s not an annual number.
- In Toronto we will see a vast range of -7 to -18% from peak to trough.
- Short-term prices to hold (2020 forecast pricing to increase 1%-6%)
- Long-term prices to see a decline (2021 forecast pricing to decline up to 12%)
- The concern for CMHC is that there is unemployment due to COVID-19 (the primary driver of the housing market) and we are likely to see more over the next few months
- The issue is the uncertainty with the pandemic, we don’t know when it’s going to end, or if there will be a second wave
- Dana explains that the role of CMHC is “to give you the best information, based on what we know and the data that we have. Base on that we do expect things to slow down.”
- Even with immigration, Dana suggests there is still a delayed entrance into homeownership – “Immigrants don’t land here and buy a house right away.”
- Ultimately what is going to slow price growth down is the increase in supply, particularly in the short-term rental market (investors listing their properties due to short term regulations) and the condo market (25,000 new units being completed each year for the next two years).
- The biggest hit will be to the condominium apartment market or condo pricing.
- Low-rise supply is tight in this market, that’s going to make it less severe for the price shock.
- Dana explains that these factors are why CMHC’s forecast is looking at a decline moving into next year.
During our last episode, Barbara Lawlor reflected on CMHC’s report and mentioned she doesn’t agree with their position as “supply has dwindled, and demand has not been met.” You can listen to that episode here.
“2017 Real Estate Bubble”
Ben segues into talking about the “2017 Bubble” and asks Dana about her 2017 forecasts and the intended consequences of the government regulations put in place. We also discuss CMHC’s changes to their mortgage insurance policy and how they are safeguarding Canadian’s entering homeownership.
Lastly we touch on being a female economist in the real estate industry, student housing and a program that Dana was involved with at York University, and CMHC’s vision of Housing For All by 2030.
Episode 10 is another loaded episode! Thank you to Dana Senagama for sharing your insights into the market and what’s to come for Toronto! Tune in to Episode 10, you don’t want to miss it!
Click Here to Listen on Apple Podcasts
Click Here to Listen on Spotify
Click Here to Listen on PodBean
Follow Us On Twitter @BenMyers29 and @TheOneStevieC
Interested in being a guest on our podcast? Send us an email.