TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/11/13 -- Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 3,648 rental condominium apartment transactions through the TorontoMLS system in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 13 per cent from the 3,234 transactions recorded during the same period in 2011. The number of units listed for rent at some point during the fourth quarter was up by close to 18 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

"The number of rental transactions through the TorontoMLS system has been growing quite strongly over the past year, as many renter households are attracted to investor-held condominium apartments and townhomes that offer modern finishes and amenities in popular areas throughout the Greater Toronto Area," said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Ann Hannah.

One-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments accounted for the vast majority of transactions. The average one-bedroom rent was up by more than four per cent annually in the fourth quarter to $1,626. The average two-bedroom rent was up by almost two per cent to $2,088.

"The rental market became better supplied in the fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2011 as growth in listed units outpaced growth in sales. With strong new condominium apartment completions over the past year, investors with a longer term investment horizon chose to rent their units rather than sell," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

"While the condo rental market became better supplied in the fourth quarter, there are no indications of oversupply, given that rent increases continued at or above the rate of inflation. Furthermore, the condo vacancy rate reported by CMHC for 2012 only edged upward by one tenth of one per cent compared to 2011," continued Mercer.

Rental Market Summary Tables: Fourth Quarter 2012           
                                                            
Apartments                                                  
                     All Bedroom Types        Bachelor      
                                                       Avg. 
                      Listed    Leased    Leased       Rent 
                    ------------------- --------------------
Q4 2012                7,161     3,648        81  $   1,359 
Q4 2011                6,090     3,234        65  $   1,257 
Yr./Yr.% Chg.           17.6%     12.8%     24.6%       8.2%
                                                            
Townhouses                                                  
                     All Bedroom Types        Bachelor      
                                                       Avg. 
                      Listed    Leased    Leased       Rent 
                    ------------------- --------------------
Q4 2012                  617       254         2  $     975 
Q4 2011                  537       233         1  $   1,375 
Yr./Yr.% Chg.           14.9%      9.0%    100.0%     -29.1%

Rental Market Summary Tables: Fourth Quarter 2012                           
                                                                            
Apartments                                                                  
                       One-Bedroom        Two-Bedroom       Three-Bedroom   
                                 Avg.               Avg.               Avg. 
                     Leased      Rent   Leased      Rent   Leased      Rent 
                    ------------------ ------------------ ------------------
Q4 2012               1,982  $  1,626    1,486  $  2,088       99  $  2,327 
Q4 2011               1,740  $  1,558    1,336  $  2,049       93  $  2,312 
Yr./Yr.% Chg.          13.9%      4.3%    11.2%      1.9%     6.5%      0.6%
                                                                            
Townhouses                                                                  
                       One-Bedroom        Two-Bedroom       Three-Bedroom   
                                 Avg.               Avg.               Avg. 
                     Leased      Rent   Leased      Rent   Leased      Rent 
                    ------------------ ------------------ ------------------
Q4 2012                  33  $  1,338       77  $  1,881      142  $  1,880 
Q4 2011                  23  $  1,318       83  $  1,788      126  $  1,970 
Yr./Yr.% Chg.          43.5%      1.5%    -7.2%      5.2%    12.7%     -4.6%

Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They are governed by a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Over 35,000 TREB Members serve consumers in the Greater Toronto Area. The Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada's largest real estate board.

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