British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 new speculation tax on out-of-province buyers will likely convince a wave of owners to sell their vacation properties, pushing down home prices, said a forecast from Royal LePage.

By the end of September, the real estate company is expecting the average price of a recreational home in B.C. to reach $531,333, a 2.8 per cent drop from last year91裸聊视频檚 average of $546,444.

Under B.C.91裸聊视频檚 speculation regulations, owners outside the province will be taxed 0.5 per cent this year, but next year will see the rate climb to 2 per cent for foreign investors and 1 per cent for Canadian citizens and permanent residents not living in B.C. but owning properties in the province.

Royal LePage concluded the tax would spark a price dip in B.C.91裸聊视频檚 recreational housing sector after surveying 200 real estate advisors who specialize in such properties between May 15 and June 1.

About 55 per cent of B.C. respondents said they think the tax will 91裸聊视频渨eaken momentum within the region and keep sales activity from reaching its true potential,91裸聊视频� while 40 per cent thought it would impact prices.

Royal LePage chief executive Phil Soper said the tax has already weakened demand for B.C. vacation homes from Albertans, which he considers 91裸聊视频渢he biggest buying cohort outside of the province.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檇 think with a strong economy and so much availability, you would see a stronger recreational property market in B.C., but it has been balanced by the recent regulations,91裸聊视频� he said.

He and his company also predicted a 0.9 per cent dip in recreational home prices in Manitoba and a 7.5 per cent fall in prices in Atlantic Canada, bringing the average price in the region to $228,754.

Soper said he attributes Manitoba91裸聊视频檚 expected decrease to an increase in supply, but said he expects it to be a 91裸聊视频渟hort-term blip91裸聊视频� because Winnipeg has been one of the most stable recreational markets over the last few years.

He said Atlantic Canada91裸聊视频檚 predicted drop stems from a lot of young graduates 91裸聊视频� a group that tends to buy homes more fervently 91裸聊视频� moving out of the province and a boom in people choosing to renovate instead of move.

The country as a whole was expected to fare much better, said Soper and Royal LePage, which is forecasting a 5.8 per cent increase in national recreational home prices. That would bring the average up to $467,764 from $442,239 previously.

Ontario and Alberta could also experience sharp spikes in recreational pricing.

Royal LePage said Ontario recreational home prices will average $535,885, up 10.4 per cent from last year, while Alberta91裸聊视频檚 will hit $770,100, a 8.9 per cent increase.

Alberta, said Soper, will benefit from an 91裸聊视频渆xodus91裸聊视频� of people looking away from B.C. for recreational properties and will see price increases because of improved employment opportunities and strong oil prices that drive activity in the market.

He said that Ontario91裸聊视频檚 recreational market will be driven by large numbers of people moving into the province and by an expected decrease in inventory levels and an increase in sales activity.

Plus, he said Gen Xers and retiring Baby Boomers, who are increasingly turning to recreational properties as 91裸聊视频渁 reasonable alternative91裸聊视频� to their current homes, will also spark a price hike in the market.

The Canadian Press

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