Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Results from the 16th annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, which analyzed 309 different housing markets in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and China, were recently released.
Included in those 309 markets, 92 major metropolitan cities and three mega-cities of more that 10 million residents (London, Los Angeles, and New York City) were evaluated. Surprising to many Canadians was that two of Canada’s cities ranked in the Top Five Most Unaffordable Cities in the World: Vancouver as #2 and Toronto as #5.
According to the Vancouver MLS, the benchmark price for detached homes in Vancouver was $1,621,200 and the average single family home in Toronto sold for $1,371,191 in February 2021. Housing prices in both cities have been surged forward by low inventory and very low interest rates, with sellers seeing their homes spending only days on the market and often selling above asking price.
Many Canadian downsizers are trading in their urban homes and flocking to smaller cities, where housing is much more affordable, and looking to the easy management of condos or townhomes. For example, townhomes and condos on Vancouver Island, a popular Canadian retirement region, had benchmark prices of $466,200 and $325,000, respectively, in 2020.
What does this mean for Puerto Vallarta? Canadian buyers who have paid off the mortgage on their home in Canada or have sufficient equity in the home, are now in an envious position because in selling their Vancouver or Toronto home they can not only downsize to a popular location in Canada to enjoy their summers, but they can also easily afford a winter property in Puerto Vallarta.
Essentially, home prices in urban centers in Canada are now so high, that many buyers can afford two properties, a summer property in Canada and a warm tropical home in winter, all without requiring any home financing and often with liquid equity left over.
Additionally, with Puerto Vallarta now known as a year-round destination, snowbirds can easily rent their Vallarta home when not in use, generating income in their retirement years. And though prices for homes in Puerto Vallarta are often expressed in USD, the Canadian dollar has shown increasing strength in the last year, rising from a March 2020 low of 70 cents on the dollar to a current rate of 80 cents, and all real estate closings in Mexico are finalized in Mexican Pesos, against which the Canadian dollar has historic strength.
Canadian buyers from Toronto and Vancouver have an exceptional opportunity to now have the best of both worlds for retirement living, and with direct flights from 16 cities in Canada, you’re just an easy journey away from one of those worlds to the other.
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Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region’s representative for “The Leading Agents of the World” and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office – Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S.
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