Commercial real estate investment activity was down in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) last year from 2023 and, after a brief spate of optimism in the fall and early winter, a series of issues continue to concern the market today.
“We were a little bit more optimistic in November compared to now, especially with the Bank of Canada perhaps not being as aggressive with lowering interest rates,” Altus Group vice-president of data solutions and client delivery Ray Wong told RENX.
“I think interest rates will still fall, but maybe not at that same pace. And even though inflation is in the target range, the challenge going forward is potential tariffs from the U.S. and whether or not this decrease in immigration will impact our growth.”
Investment activity was up last year in Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa, but things are lagging in the GTA and Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe region.
Wong said much of that can be attributed to large bid-ask spreads between buyers and sellers, a lack of available product, and relatively high Bank of Canada bond rates.
“I think people will be watching over the next few months to give themselves a little bit more confidence to get re-engaged in the market,” Wong said. “But I think, in between now and then, there still will be some opportunistic investors and probably some owners that will have to sell based on certain market conditions.”
Investors today are most interested in food-anchored retail strips, suburban rental apartments, industrial properties and regional malls, and there’s not enough of them available at attractive prices.
Industrial had the highest transaction volume total of any sector in the GTA at $5.55 billion during 2024, followed by:
Wong said GTA office leasing activity was up from 2023, particularly for class-A space, partly due to return-to-office mandates from some technology firms and financial institutions. Demand also remains for space in AA and A office buildings.
“I think the market fundamentals are there but you’re probably not going to see a huge rebound in office rental rates just because there’s still a lot of availability,” Wong observed, noting that most office building owners don’t have to sell because they’re still covering their costs despite higher vacancies and lower rents.
Some office and retail properties are seen as conversion, intensification or redevelopment plays.
Canadian private investors accounted for the highest share of GTA acquisition volume with $8.44 billion. Developers were responsible for $2.93 billion, users for $2.02 billion, Canadian public investors for $1.09 billion, foreign public investors for $711.1 million, institutions for $466.7 million, governments for $385.6 million, foreign private investors for $68 million and builders for $41.2 million.
“For certain assets, I think we’re still going to have foreign buyers step up, but I think they might be a little bit cautious,” Wong predicted. “Foreign buyers are looking on a global basis and there’s probably some monies that are targeted for Canada, but they’re also looking for the right asset that makes a difference in the marketplace or helps their overall portfolio.”
Owner-users became more active in industrial acquisitions because there was less competition from investors.
There may be challenges for some owners to hold on to vacant land this year unless interest rates come down faster, Wong believes.
These were the 10 largest (dollar value) CRE transactions of 2024 in the GTA, according to Altus Group.
1. Brookfield Properties acquired a Toronto apartment building at 77 Davisville Ave. and the nearby three-tower Village Green Apartments at 55 Maitland St., and 40 and 50 Alexander St., encompassing 1,188 units, from Greenrock for $437.18 million on Sept. 5.
2. Prologis, a San Francisco-based REIT specializing in logistics properties, acquired a 12-year-old, 1.34-million-square-foot industrial building on 79.25 acres at 8450 Boston Church Rd. in Milton from Sycamore Partners for $361 million on Aug. 28. It will continue to serve as a RONA distribution centre through a 15-year leaseback.
3. Prologis also acquired 1.62 million square feet of industrial space on 90.2 acres on Steeles Avenue East and Melanie Drive in Brampton from Canadian Tire Corporation for $258.1 million on Dec. 13. Canadian Tire is leasing back the distribution centre temporarily but the long-term plan is for Prologis to redevelop.
4. George Brown College and Halmont Properties Corporation acquired a 15-year-old, 484,477-square-foot multi-tenanted office building on 2.43 acres at 25 Dockside Dr. in Toronto from H&R REIT for $232.5 million on April 15. Existing leases, including the largest one to main tenant Corus Entertainment, will be honoured. George Brown plans to gradually incorporate academic functions into the space.
5. Starlight Investments acquired apartment buildings at 120 Torresdale Ave. and 300 Antibes Dr. in North York, encompassing 618 units, from Oxford Properties for $216.3 million on Sept. 25.
6. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Brookfield and Halmont acquired a 75 per cent interest in a 21-year-old, 20-storey, 477,000-square-foot multi-tenanted office building on 0.89 acres at 2 Queen St. E. in Toronto from Alberta Investment Management Corporation and CPP Investments for $161.25 million on Dec. 2. It will provide TMU with 4.5 floors of office space.
7. Liberty Development Corporation acquired 8.26 acres of high-density residential land at 7700 Bathurst St. in Vaughan from The Torgan Group for $136 million on Feb. 1. The site is home to Promenade Village Shoppes. There’s no development application for it yet but it’s adjacent to Liberty’s current development site for Promenade Park Towers, which consists of two towers with a combined 761 residential units and retail at grade.
8. Starlight and BGO acquired a new 227-unit apartment building on 2.47 acres at 1475 Whites Rd. in Pickering from Pine Ridge Tower Ltd. for $127.1 million on Nov. 5.
9. Solmar Development Corp. acquired 98.21 acres of low-density residential land at 12561 Centreville Creek Rd. in Caledon from an individual for $125 million on June 27. There are no development applications in place but Solmar previously acquired an adjacent 98.8-acre site at 12494 The Gore Rd. for $16.5 million in 2018 and a 26.7-acre site for $9 million in 2020.
10. Giampaolo Investments Ltd. acquired 97.88 acres of medium-density residential land at 2055 Bovaird Dr. W. and 9980 Mississauga Rd. in Brampton for $122.5 million on Feb. 22. The site, occupied by a golf driving range and a gas station, was purchased from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in a distress sale. The developer proposes a mix of high-rise and medium-density housing.
Source Renx.ca. Click here for the full story.
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Toronto Commercial Properties
Stephen & Mariya Lilly
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RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd., Brokerage
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RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
630 Danforth Ave
Toronto, ON M4K 1R3
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RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
785 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
M4M 1H5
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RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
685 Sheppard Avenue East
Suite 401
Toronto, ON
M2K 1B6
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The Beach Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
2277 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
M4E 1G5
Office: (416) 699-9292
Fax: (416) 699-8576
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RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
968 College Street
Toronto, ON
M6H 1A5
Office: (416) 531-9680
Fax: (416) 531-0154
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RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
170 Merton Street
Toronto, ON
M4S 1A1
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Fax: 416-486-6988
Richmond Hill Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
9555 Yonge Street, Suite 201
Richmond Hill, ON
L4C 9M5
Office: (905) 883-4922
Fax: (905) 883-1521
Newmarket Office
RE/MAX Hallmark York Group Realty Ltd.
25 Millard Ave West Unit B
Newmarket, ON
L3Y 7R5
Office: (905) 727-1941
Fax: (905) 841-6018
Ajax Office
RE/MAX Hallmark First Group Realty
314 Harwood Ave. South, Suite 200
Ajax, ON
L1S 2J1
Office: (905) 683-5000
Fax: (905) 619-2500
Pickering Office
RE/MAX Hallmark First Group Realty
1154 Kingston Road
Pickering, ON
L1V 1B4
Office: (905) 831-3300
Fax: (905) 831-8147
Whitby Office
RE/MAX Hallmark First Group Realty
304 Brock Street South, 2nd Floor
Whitby, ON
L1N 4K4
Office: (905) 668-3800
Fax: (905) 430-2550
Oakville Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
515 Dundas Street West
Oakville, ON
L6m 4M2
Office: 905-257-7500
Bayfield Head Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty
152 Bayfield Street
Barrie, ON
L4M 3B5
Office: (705) 722-7100
Toll Free: (866) 606-2429
Fax: (705) 722-5246
Caplan Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty
112 Caplan Avenue
Barrie, ON
L4N 9J2
Office: (705) 722-7100
Toll Free: (866) 606-2429
Fax: (705) 735-6980
Caplan Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty
112 Caplan Avenue
Barrie, ON
L4N 9J2
Office: (705) 722-7100
Toll Free: (866) 606-2429
Fax: (705) 735-6980
Innisfil Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty
2095 Thompson Street
Innisfil, ON
L9S 1T1
Office: (705) 431-7100
Toll Free: (888) 822-2606
Fax: (705) 431-7667
Alliston Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty
20 Victoria St W Box 108
Alliston, ON
L9R 1T9
Office: (705) 435-5556
Toll Free: (866) 936-3500
Fax: (705) 435-5356
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RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty
22 Queen St S Box 636
Tottenham, ON
L0G 1W0
Office: (905) 936-3500
Toll Free: (866) 936-3501
Fax: (905) 936-5356
Bradford WG Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty
4-450 Holland Street
Bradford, ON
L0G 1W0
Office: (905) 778-0292
Toll Free: (866) 606-2429
Fax: (705) 722-5246
Innes Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
Unit# 200 4366 Innes Road
Ottawa, ON
K4A 3W3
Office: (613) 590-3000
Carling Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
Unit# 101 2255 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K2B 7Z5
Office: (613) 596-5353
Ottawa Downtown Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
344 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1W1
Office: (613) 563-1155
Ottawa Central Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
610 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1S 4E6
Office: (613) 236-5959
Kanata Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
700 Eagleson Road
Ottawa, ON
K2M 2G9
Office: (613) 663-2720
Fax: (613) 592-9701
Richmond Office
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
6159 Perth Street
Ottawa, ON
K0A 2Z0
Office: (613) 838-4040
Fax: (613) 596-4495
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RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
100-1073 Greenbank Rd
Ottawa, ON
K2J 4H8
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513 Westney Road South
Ajax, ON
L1S 6W8Office: 905-683-5000
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Alliston
20 Victoria St W Box 108
Alliston, ON
L9R 1T9Office: 705-435-5556
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Angus
2 Summerset Place
Angus, ON
L0M 1B2Office: 705-424-7200
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Re/Max Hallmark Trends Group Realty
15004 Yonge Street
Aurora, ON
L4G 1M6Office: 905-727-1941
Fax: 905-841-6018
Aurora
15004 Yonge Street
Aurora, ON
L4G 1M6Office: 905-727-1941
Fax: 905-841-6018
Re/Max Hallmark Lind Group Realty Ltd.
15105 Yonge Street
Aurora, ON
L4G 1M3Office: 905-841-0000
Fax: 905-727-2230
Re/Max Hallmark Peggy Hill Group Realty
374 Huronia Rd.
Barrie, ON
L4N 8Y9Office: 705-739-4455
Fax:
Bayfield
152 Bayfield Street
Barrie, ON
L4M 3B5Office: 705-722-7100
Fax: 705-722-5246
Caplan
112 Caplan Avenue
Barrie, ON
L4N 9J2Office: 705-722-7100
Fax: 705-735-6980
Chilton Team
152 Bayfield Street
Barrie, ON
L4M 3B5Office: 705-722-7100
Fax: 705-722-5246
Bradford WG
450 Holland Street Unit 4
Bradford, ON
L3Z 0G1Office: 905-778-0292
Fax: 705-722-5246
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2095 Thompson Street
Innisfil, ON
L9S 1T1Office: 705-431-7100
Fax: 705-431-7667
Re/Max Hallmark Ciancio Group Realty
190 Main Street Suite 203
Markham, ON
L3R2G9Office: 647-247-6000
Fax: 647-429-6100
Bayview Village
685 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 401
North York, ON
M2K 1B6Office: 416-494-7653
Fax: 416-494-0016
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4366 Innes Road Suite 200
Ottawa, ON
K4A 3W3Office: 613-590-3000
Fax: 613-590-3050
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2255 Carling Avenue Suite 101
Ottawa, ON
K2B 7Z5Office: 613-596-5353
Fax: 613-596-4495
O'Connor
344 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1W1Office: 613-563-1155
Fax: 613-563-8710
Bronson
610 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1S 4E6Office: 613-236-5959
Fax: 613-236-1515
Richmond
6159 Perth Street
Ottawa, ON
K0A 2Z0Office: 613-838-4040
Fax: 613-596-4495
Greenbank
100-1073 Greenbank Rd
Ottawa, ON
K2J 4H8Office: 613-596-5353
Fax: 613-596-4495
Kanata
105-700 Eagleson Rd.
Ottawa, ON
K2M 2G9Office: 613-663-2720
Fax: 613-592-9701
RE/MAX Hallmark Pilon Group Realty
4366 Innes Road Suite 200
Ottawa, ON
K4A 3W3Office: 613-909-8100
Fax: 613-590-3079
RE/MAX Hallmark Jenna & Co. Group Realty
2255 Carling Avenue, Suite 101A
Ottawa, ON
K2B 7Z5Office: 613-596-4300
Fax: 613-596-4495
Re/Max Hallmark Jacki Lam Group Realty
1154 Kingston Road
Pickering, ON
L1V 1B4Office: (905) 831-3300
Fax: (905) 831-8147
Pickering
1154 Kingston Road
Pickering, ON
L1V 1B4Office: 905-831-3300
Fax: 905-831-8147
Richmond Hill
9555 Yonge Street, Suite 201
Richmond Hill, ON
L4C 9M5Office: 905-883-4922
Fax: 905-883-1521
Riverdale
724 Pape Avenue
Toronto, ON
M4K 3S7Office: 416-462-1888
Fax: 416-464-3135
The Beach
2277 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
M4E 1G1Office: 416-699-9292
Fax: 416-699-8576
Yonge
3434 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
M4N 2M9Office: 416-489-3434
Fax: 416-489-5445
College
968 College Street
Toronto, ON
M6H 1A5Office: 416-531-9680
Fax: 416-531-0154
Mount Pleasant
723 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, ON
M4S 2N4Office: 416-486-5588
Fax: 416-486-6988
Leslieville
785 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
M4M 1H5Office: 416-465-7850
Fax: 416-463-7850
Re/Max Hallmark Batori Group Inc.
357 Eglinton Ave W
Toronto, ON
M5N1A3Office: 416-485-7575
Fax: 416-484-4448
Re/Max Hallmark Ari Zadegan Group Realty
3434 Yonge Street Suite 101
Toronto, ON
M4N2N9Office: 416-489-4287
Fax: 416-352-0118
Re/Max Hallmark Estate Group Realty Ltd
2277 Queen Street East Suite A
Toronto, ON
M4E1G5Office: 416-699-2992
Fax: 416-699-8576
Re/Max Hallmark Bibby Group Realty
723 Mount Pleasant Road Suite 105
Toronto, ON
M4S2N4Office: 416-481-0888
Fax: 416-486-6988
Re/Max Hallmark Corbo & Kelos Group Realty Ltd
785 Queen St. East Suite 301
Toronto, ON
M4M1H5Office: 416-462-4787
Fax: 416-463-7850
Re/Max Hallmark Elite Group Realty
685 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 401-11
Toronto, ON
M2K1B6Office: 416-494-8557
Fax: 416-494-7653
Re/Max Hallmark Emerson Group Realty Ltd
2277 Queen Street East Suite 104
Toronto, ON
M4E1G5Office: 416-690-2727
Fax: 416-699-8576
Re/Max Hallmark Francis Group Realty
785 Queen St. East Suite 7
Toronto, ON
M4M1H5Office: 416-466-1888
Fax: 416-463-7850
Re/Max Hallmark Fraser Group Realty
685 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 401-47
Toronto, ON
M2K1B6Office: 416-494-7686
Fax: 416-494-0016
Re/Max Hallmark Joy Verde Group Realty
723 Mount Pleasant Road Suite 104
Toronto, ON
M4S2N4Office: 416-481-5666
Fax: 416-486-6988
Re/Max Hallmark Kathy McLachlan Group Realty Ltd
723 Mount Pleasant Road Suite 103
Toronto, ON
M4S2N4Office: 416-486-6565
Fax:
Re/Max Hallmark Montano Group Realty
785 Queen St. East Suite 201
Toronto, ON
M4M1H5Office: 416-424-3038
Fax: 416-465-7850
Re/Max Hallmark Pierre Carapetian Group Realty
785 Queen St. East
Toronto, ON
M4M1H5Office: 416-424-3434
Fax: 416-465-7850
Re/Max Hallmark Richards Group Realty Ltd
2241 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
M4E1G1Office: 416-699-0303
Fax: 416-699-8576
Re/Max Hallmark Yu Group Realty Ltd
685 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 401-19
Toronto, ON
M2K1B6Office: 416-494-9858
Fax: 416-494-0016
Muskoka
C/O Yonge St. Office (3434 Yonge Street)
Toronto, ON
M4N 2M9Office: 416-489-3434
Fax: 416-489-5445
Re/Max Hallmark Jamie Dempster Group Realty
685 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 401
Toronto, ON
M2K1B6Office: (416) 494-7653
Fax: (416) 494-0016
Tottenham
22 Queen St S Box 636
Tottenham, ON
L0G 1W0Office: 905-936-3500
Fax: 905-936-5356
Re/Max Hallmark Lino Arci Group Realty
3420 Major Mackenzie Dr Suite 103
Vaughan, ON
L4H4J6Office: 416-479-1550
Fax: 416-913-2044
Whitby
304 Brock Street South
Whitby, ON
L1N 4K4Office: 905-668-3800
Fax: 905-430-2550
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