Even concerns that Canada is on the verge of a recession did nothing to dampen demand for homes in June as the spring buying spree – and prices – hit new records.

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Home sales were up 18.4 per cent from June of 2014 and the average sale price hit a record $639,184, up 12.3 per cent year over year, according to figures released by the Toronto Real Estate Board Tuesday.

Almost 12,000 detached houses, semis, townhouses and condos changed hands in June.

Leading the pack in terms of strongest sales growth were homes at the two ends of the spectrum – with condo sales up 22.4 per cent across the GTA and unrelenting demand for high-end homes driving much of the 18.3 per cent sales growth in detached houses.

The average price of a detached house was up 14.2 per cent, year over year, to an average of $1.052 million in the City of Toronto. That compared to $738,016 in the 905 regions, with demand – and prices – likely to surge, yet again, if the Bank of Canada drops interest rates further, as some economists anticipate.

Even the much-watched condo sector – where new supply has helped keep affordability in check – saw prices increase 6.3 per cent in June.

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As first-time buyers rush to what remains, for now, the most affordable housing type in the region, the average sale price of even a condo in the 416 region continues to edge closer to half a million.

The average sale price of a condo in the City of Toronto climbed to $418,599 in June, up 7 per cent over a year ago, says TREB.

That compared to more restrained price growth in the 905 regions of 4.6 per cent, where the average price of a suburban condo ended June at $324,388.

While new listings increased an encouraging 6.7 per cent in June over a year ago, demand remained so strong that overall active listings were down more than 13 per cent. Even the average days on market before a sale dropped 13.6 per cent, to 19 days from 22 a year ago, reflecting a market where sellers remain in control and most buyers just can’t get a break.

“It is important to point out that our region continues to grow in response to our diverse economic, ethnic and cultural bases,” noted new TREB president Mark McLean in a statement.

“The GTA consistently receives international accolades as one of the best places in the world to live and do business.”

But also driving up the numbers were sales of pricier houses which “have accounted for a greater share of overall transactions this year compared to last year,” said TREB’s director of market analysis, Jason Mercer.

If those multi-million dollar sales were factored out, price growth across the GTA would be averaging closer to the MLS Composite Benchmark, which was up 8.9 per cent, rather than 12.3 per cent, he noted.

Townhouses remain the new go-to form of low-rise housing across the GTA for those who have found the price of detached houses way beyond their reach after more than a decade of largely unrelenting price growth, according to the figures.

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Sales of townhouses were up 21.2 per cent in the City of Toronto and 18.4 per cent in the 905 regions. The average sale price of a townhouse hit $539,259 in the city, up 10.8 per cent over a year ago, compared to $459,004 in the suburban regions, up 14 per cent year over year.

Semi-detached home sales were up just 1.8 per cent in Toronto and 10.6 per cent in the 905 regions. Average sale prices of semis climbed 13.2 per cent in the city, to an average price of $761,819 in June, while 905 semis saw price growth of 10.7 per cent, to an average transaction price of $496,740.