released in a survey<\/a> conducted by Nanos Research for the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA). The report, which surveyed 1,073 Ontario residents that are currently active in the real estate market, examined how COVID-19 is impacting consumer perceptions.<\/p>\n\n\u201cConsumers are adapting during this extraordinary time, and their willingness to embrace new tools tells us that the Canadian dream of home ownership remains strong, even during the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Sean Morrison, president of OREA, in the report.<\/p>\n
While 1 in 3 Ontario buyers said that they are not open to buying a property sight-unseen, younger homebuyers are the most keen when it comes to purchasing virtually. The report found that 47 percent of participants who said that they were open or somewhat open to buying a home virtually were between the ages of 18 to 34 years old.<\/p>\n
Of the 42 percent of buyers who said that they would be open to purchasing a home they\u2019d only seen virtually, about 8 in 10 of those individuals reported that it would be important for them to hire a realtor to help with their purchase.<\/p>\n
Staying at home during lockdown has left some home shoppers yearning for extra space \u2014 1 in 4 buyers have reportedly changed their preferences in a new home, with 28 percent of prospective purchasers now craving a bigger property with more space, and 25 percent of buyers looking for a home with more outdoor space.<\/p>\n
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