Fox Marin Featured in Livabl: New Home Prices Expected to Remain Strong Despite Pandemic Uncertainty

Publication: Livabl
Date: September 1, 2020
Topic: GTA pre-construction market, investor sentiment, and pandemic-era housing trends

About This Feature

Ralph Fox, Broker of Record and Managing Partner at Fox Marin Associates, was featured in Livabl discussing how uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic was shaping expectations for the GTA’s new construction housing market heading into the fall of 2020.

The article explored how developers, investors, and buyers were navigating rapidly changing market conditions while trying to anticipate the long-term effects of the pandemic on housing demand, pricing, and investment activity across the region.

Quotes from Livabl

“I think there’s still a lot of uncertainty going into the fall, and I think [residential] developers will be watching to see what’s happening before they necessarily put the foot on the gas pedal.”

“I think investors typically think long-term, and I think most of the investors who are looking at making these types of investments are trying to think of what life will be like and what the demand will be like in three, four, five, six years.”

“But I do think there does seem to be a consensus in the real estate investment world that this whole COVID situation, as unfortunate as it is, won’t last forever.”

— Ralph Fox, Broker of Record, Fox Marin

Fox Marin’s Perspective on the Market

Fox Marin’s perspective is that while the pandemic created significant short-term uncertainty across the housing market, long-term confidence in Toronto real estate fundamentals remained strong among many investors and developers.

The article highlighted how developers were proceeding cautiously heading into the fall market, closely monitoring buyer activity and consumer confidence before accelerating new project launches. While some successful pandemic-era launches demonstrated continued demand for pre-construction housing, uncertainty surrounding virtual sales environments and evolving market conditions caused many developers to remain measured in their approach.

Ralph Fox also emphasized that investors within the pre-construction market typically make decisions with a long-term horizon rather than reacting solely to short-term market volatility. Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, many investors continued evaluating opportunities based on what housing demand and urban growth might look like several years into the future when projects would eventually be completed.

The article further explored how buyer preferences were beginning to shift during the pandemic. Features such as balconies, outdoor space, smaller buildings, and value opportunities outside Toronto’s downtown core were becoming increasingly attractive as buyers reconsidered how and where they wanted to live.

From Fox Marin’s perspective, the pandemic was influencing market behaviour and buyer priorities, but it had not fundamentally weakened long-term confidence in the GTA housing market.

Why This Matters

The early months of the pandemic introduced an unprecedented level of uncertainty into Toronto’s housing market, forcing developers, investors, and buyers to reassess both short-term risks and long-term opportunities.

For investors and buyers, the article highlighted the importance of balancing immediate market conditions with broader long-term housing trends. While uncertainty may temporarily influence activity levels and purchasing behaviour, long-term demand drivers such as population growth, urban development, and housing supply constraints continue to shape the GTA market over time.

The article also reflected how rapidly buyer priorities were evolving during the pandemic, with increased focus on livability, outdoor access, flexibility, and value emerging across multiple housing segments.

As market conditions continue to evolve, strategic planning, adaptability, and a long-term perspective remain increasingly important when navigating Toronto’s real estate market successfully.

Read the full article on Livabl