Last month, there was steady home buyer demand with a decrease in home seller supply across Metro Vancouver. According to the Real Estate Board (REBGV), there were 2,150 residential home sales last month which is a 44.9% increase from the same month last year and a 36.9% increase from last month. However, February 2020 sales were 15.6% below the 10-year February sales average.

“Home buyer demand again saw strong year-over-year increases in February while the total inventory of homes for sale struggled to keep pace,” Ashley Smith, REBGV president said. “This was most pronounced in the condominium market.”

There has been a 2.8% increase in MLS listings compared to February 2019 for detached, attached and apartment homes on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in February 2020 which brings it to 4,002 units. This also represents a 3.4% increase compared to last month.

There has been a 20.7% decrease compared to February 2019 and a 6.7% increase compared to January 2020 for numbers of homes currently listed for sale.

"Our Realtors are reporting increased traffic at open houses and multiple offer scenarios in certain pockets of the market. If you’re considering listing your home for sale, now is a good time to act with increased demand, reduced competition from other sellers, and some upward pressure on prices," says Smith.

The sales-to-active listings ration for last month is 23.4% across all property types. A breakdown of this ratio is as follows:

- Detached Homes - 17.3%
- Townhomes - 26.9%
- Apartments - 28.4%

For all residential properties in Metro Vancouver, the MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price is currently at $1,020,600 which is a 0.3% increase in comparison to February 2019 and a 2.7% increase over the past six months.

A breakdown of February 2020 sales is as follows:

- Detached Homes - There were 685 sales which is a 52.9% increase from February 2019. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,433,900 which is a 0.7% decrease from February 2019 and a 1.9% increase over the past six months.

- Apartment Homes - There were 1,061 sales which is a 39.8% increase from February 2019. The benchmark price for an apartment property is $677,200 which is a 0.9% increase from February 2019 and a 3.6% increase over the past six months.

- Attached Homes - There were 404 sales which is a 45.8% increase from February 2019.The benchmark price of an attached home is $785,000 which is a 0.6% increase from February 2019 and a 1.7% increase over the past six months.

Source: Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV)

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports a 27% decline in residential unit sales from the same month last year (as per MLS®) which is a total of 4,533 residential unit sales recorded. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $678,625, a 9.3% decline from February 2018. Total sales dollar volume was $3.08 Billion, a 33.8% decline from the same month last year.

“Prospective homebuyers continue to be sidelined by the mortgage stress test,” said Brendon Ogmundson, BCREA Deputy Chief Economist. “As a consequence, and despite a strong BC labour market, sales remained slow in February.”

Total MLS® residential active listings increased 36.5% to 30,891 units compared to the same month last year. The ratio of sales to active residential listings declined from 27.4% to 14.7% over the same period.

“Falling mortgage rates should provide some relief for homebuyers, providing a small boost to affordability heading into the spring,” added Ogmundson.

As per the Real Estate Board of Vancouver, the February statistics for Metro Vancouver can be seen below.

The Metro Vancouver* housing market saw increased supply and below average demand in February. The REBGV reports that home sales in the region saw a 32.8% from the same month last year (1,484 units in February 2019). Last month's sales were 42.5% below the 10-year February sales average.

"For much of the past four years, we’ve been in a sellers’ market. Conditions have shifted over the last 12 months to favour buyers, particularly in the detached home market. This means that home buyers face less competition today, have more selection to choose from and more time to make their decisions." -- Phil Moore, REBGV president

* Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.

Each year, every owner of a residential property in Vancouver is required to submit a property status declaration to determine if their property is subject to the tax. Only one declaration is required per property. Properties deemed empty will be subject to a tax of 1% of the property’s 2018 assessed taxable value. 

February 4th is coming up soon which is the deadline for your 2018 property status declaration.

Each year, every owner of residential property in Vancouver is required to submit a property status declaration to determine if their property is subject to the Empty Homes Tax. Failure to declare by February 4, 2019, will result in your property being deemed vacant and subject to a tax of 1% of its assessed taxable value.

 There will be no extended declaration submission deadline in 2019. For more details, click here.

The real estate market has recovered from the foreign-buyer tax lull that was introduced a year ago with the second-hottest August on record. Last month, there were 3,043 home sales in the Greater Vancouver area which is 2.80% and 22.30% higher than July 2017 and August 2016, respectively. Below you will find a comparative chart that depicts the Greater Vancouver residential sales from 2015 to present.

Once again, demand is outpacing supply with the number of listings declining month over month and year over year. It is a seller's market for August 2017 with a sales-to-active listings ratio of 34.6%. Looking at this ratio by property type, it is 16.3% for detached homes (buyer's market) and 44.8% for townhomes and 76.3% for condominiums (strong seller's markets). Home prices are on the rise which is primarily attributed to the townhome and condo sector. The MLS® composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver is 1% higher than July at $1,029,700.

“First-time home buyers have led a surge this summer in demand in our condominium and townhome markets,” said Jill Oudil, REBGV president. “Homes priced between $350,000 and $750,000 have been subject to intense competition and multiple offers across the region.”

The benchmark price for single-family homes are now $1,615,100 which is a 2.2% increase compared to August 2016. As for attached units, the benchmark price is now $778,300 which is a 12.8% increase compared to August 2016. Lastly, the benchmark price for condos are now $626,800 which is a 19.4% increase compared to August 2016.

For all your real estate needs, contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca.

While it has been an ongoing trend that demand has been outpacing supply, residential sales have not been slowing down. In the latest market stats released mid-June by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), there continues to be a month-over-month surge in residential sales. There has been a 26% increase in sales from April 2017 to May 2017 with a total of 12,402 residential home transactions. If it weren't for the low supply, 20-year low as a matter of fact, sales figures may even be higher than actual figures. This amount is 8% lower than May 2016 when the market was hot.

As you can see below, as a result of 9 of 11 real estate boards in BC having a home sales to active listings ratio above 20%, this has resulted in a seller's market. The BCREA states that anything greater than 20% for a sustained period is a seller's market. The Greater Vancouver region, the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack and Victoria all have seen ratios of over 50%.

Source: British Columbia Real Estate Association

In May 2017, MLS® recorded a total of 12,402 residential unit sales and an average MLS® residential price in BC of $752,536 which is a 7.9% decrease and 4.2% increase, respectively, from the same period last year. Total sales dollar volume amounted to $9.33 Billion which is a 4% decrease from May 2016. 

For a detailed look at residential statistics for May 2017, read our previous blog here. For all your real estate needs, contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca.

Following suit with previous months, housing demand is still continuing to outpace supply. In May 2017, MLS® recorded a total of 12,402 residential unit sales and an average MLS® residential price in BC of $752,536 which is a 7.9% decrease and 4.2% increase, respectively, from the same period last year. Total sales dollar volume amounted to $9.33 Billion which is a 4% decrease from May 2016. 

“Market conditions have tightened considerably this spring as an upturn in consumer demand has not been accompanied by a rise in homes listed for sale,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “The supply of homes for sale in the province has fallen 50 per cent over the past five years.

There is a shortage of housing supply in the entire southern portion which consequently results in upward pressure on home prices. Total active listings has decreased by 11.1% in comparison to May 2016 and totals 28,404 units. The ratio of home sales to active listings was over 20% in 9 of the province's 11 real estate boards and over 50% in Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack and Victoria.

Below you will find a comparative chart showing May 2017 and May 2016 figures for average residential price, active listings, sales-to-active listings, dollar volume and residential units sold in BC. (Click to enlarge photo).

For all your real estate needs, contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca.

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) saw a 23.9% decrease in residential unit sales in comparison from April 2016 to April 2017 (9,865 units recorded by MLS®). Comparing to the same period last year, total sales dollar volume was $7.19 Billion which is a 25.4% decrease and the average MLS® residential price in BC has seen a 2% bringing it down to $728,955.

“BC home sales are on an upward trend this spring, led by a sharp increase in consumer demand in the Lower Mainland,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist.  

Home inventories are at a 20-year low. Currently, the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of home sales has seen a significant increase in relation to the five-year SAAR for April. (89,000 to 106,000 units). SAAR is a rate adjustment that attempts to remove seasonal variations in the data.

There was a 17% decrease in the supply of homes available for sale in comparison to April 2016 figures. Adjusted for seasonal variations, active residential listings have seen a 50% decline since 2012 and are now at their lowest level in over 20 years. Due to the imbalance between supply and demand, demand is driving home prices higher in most regions.

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume was down 31.8 per cent to $21.3 billion, when compared with the same period in 2016. Residential unit sales declined 25.0 per cent to 30,757 units, while the average MLS® residential price was down 9.2 per cent to $692,220.

Source: British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA)

We're not just selling a home, we're selling the community. With a walk score of 86, it's no doubt that our newest listing at 808-2220 Kingsway Street is in a prime location. Take a look at our community profile to see what's in the area! Contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca for more details. Additional information can be found here. 

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More Details - Kensington Gardens Unit For Sale

In March, the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) recorded 9,826 residential unit sales which is a 21.8% decrease in comparison to the same period last year. The total sales dollar volume also saw a decrease of 30% bringing it to $6.79 Billion and the average MLS® residential price saw a decrease of 10.5% bringing it to $690,597 compared to March 2016.

"Consumer demand continues to normalize following blockbuster home sales in 2016," says Brendon Ogmundson, BCREA Economist. "However, the supply of homes available for sale has not recovered and is still declining in many markets around the province."

Although the average price in BC was down year-over-year due to a shift in the composition of sales, home prices in most markets are being pushed higher due to severe supply constraints. This is particularly true for the Victoria region, which currently has less than two months of inventory for sale, as well as for the apartment and townhouse market in the Lower Mainland.

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume was down 34.7 per cent to $14.1 billion, when compared with the same period in 2016. Residential unit sales declined 25.5 per cent to 20,893 units, while the average MLS® residential price was down 12.4 per cent to $674,856.

For all your real estate needs, contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca.

Source: British Columbia Real Estate Association

Last month saw a 31.7% decrease in residential unit sales of 6,580 units recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in comparison to the same period last year. The total sales dollar volume also saw a decrease of 39.7% bringing it down to $4.53 Billion. 

"Consumer demand has returned to a more typical level over the first two months of the year," says Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "While the home sales have declined nearly 32 per cent from the extraordinary performance of a year ago, last month's activity reflected the average for the month February since the year 2000."

As for the average MLS® residential price in the province, it also saw an 11.7% decrease which brought it down to $688,117. A main factor driving the average price down is that there was a decline in the proportion of provincial sales originating from the Vancouver region. There has been a 7% decline in BC home sales occurring in the REBGV area (44% to 37%) from the same period last year.

Year-to-date, there has been a decrease of 38.5% in BC residential sales dollar volume bringing it down to $7.3 Billion. Additionally, there has been a decrease of 28.5% in residential unit sales to 11,067 units and a decrease of 14.1% in the average MLS® residential price to $660,943.

For all your real estate needs, contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively, at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca.

Source: British Columbia Real Estate Association

For all your real estate needs, contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively, at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca.

Premier Christy Clark has recently announced a new loan program called the BC Home Owner Mortgage and Equity (HOME) Partnership Program that will assist first-time home buyers by contributing to your personal down payment. The government will lend the buyer funds equal to the down payment up to $37,500, or 5% of the purchase price. This new loan would be granted to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have never previously owned a property and is only applicable to residences with a maximum purchase price of $750,000. This will be an interest-free and payment-free loan for the first five years. After that period, buyers can then either repay their loan or enter into monthly payments at current interest rates. These loans will become due after 25 years, which is the typical length of most mortgages.

Applications will be accepted on January 16, 2017 and the program comes to an end on March 31, 2020. Additional information can be found here.

As mentioned previously, this program is for first-time homebuyers. All individuals applying that have a registered interest on title must reside in the home. In addition, you will find other requirements as seen below.

Eligibility Requirements:
   » Have been a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for at least five years 
   » Have resided in British Columbia for at least one year immediately preceding the date of application
   » Be a first-time buyer who has not owned an interest in a residence anywhere in the world at any time
   » Use the property as their principal residence for the first five years
   » Purchase a home that has a purchase price of $750,000 or less (excluding taxes and fees)
   » Obtain a high-ratio insured first mortgage on the property for at least 80% of the purchase price
   » Have a combined, gross household income of all individuals on title not exceeding $150,000
   » Have saved a down payment amount at least equal to the loan amount for which the buyer applied

As of February 19, 2014, the BC Government has implemented a tax break for first-time home owners and can be used in conjunction with the BC HOME Partnership Program. The First Time Home Buyers’ Program reduces or eliminates the amount of property transfer tax paid on your first home. We blogged about this back in 2014 and you can view it here. Our blog outlines both homeowner and property requirements.

For all your real estate needs, contact the WeSellVancouver team at 604-801-6654 or alternatively at info@wesellvancouver.ca. We look forward to hearing from you!

We're not just selling a home, we're selling the community. With a walk score of 96, it's no doubt that our newest listing at 503-610 Victoria Street is in a prime location. Take a look at our community profile to see what's in the area! Contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca for more details. Additional information can be found here. 

Our last blog was on the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver's residential statistics for Vancouver East. Today, we'll be looking at Vancouver West. As you can see, year over year, the three property types have seen a decrease in unit sales. However, if we were to compare on a monthly basis, from October 2016 to November 2016, there has been a decrease in sales for detached properties and condos of 11.54% and 1.66%, respectively, and an increase of 54.17% for townhomes.

As for the MLS HPI Benchmark Price, there has been an increase across the board when comparing between 2015 and 2016 in the months of October and November, which is a similar trend for Vancouver East. When comparing October 2016 figures with November 2016 figures, there are mixed results. There was a 1.36% decrease for detached properties, 0.91% increase for condominiums and a 3.07% decrease for townhomes.

For a look at the MLS HPI Benchmark Price over a 10-year span, click here. For all your real estate needs, contact the WeSellVancouver team at info@wesellvancouver.ca or alternatively at 604-801-6654.

Beautiful city and water views from this spacious 630SF one bed and one bath unit in the heart of Downtown New Westminster. This property is in a prime location just steps away from transit hubs, restaurants, shopping, gyms and more! Asking Price: $330,000.00. More details here.

Contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca for additional information on this property!

Wondering what the residential sales statistics for Vancouver East are for October and November? Take a look below for a comparative analysis for detached properties, condominiums and townhomes. As you can see, for the most part, there has been a drop in sales when comparing year over year. If we were to look at the change from October 2016 to November 2016, we can see that sales have actually gone up. The sales increase percentages are as follows: 19.7% increase for detached properties, 35.78% for condos and 5.26% for townhomes.

While the one-year changes for the benchmark price have seen an increase across the board, it's a different story when comparing October 2016 figures with November 2016 figures. There has been a decrease for detached properties, condos and townhomes of 2.83%, 2.71% and 0.71%, respectively. 

For a look at the MLS HPI Benchmark Price over a 10-year span, click here. Stay tuned - our next blog will take a look at Vancouver West! For all your real estate needs, contact the WeSellVancouver team at info@wesellvancouver.ca or alternatively at 604-801-6654.