“BC home sales climbed higher for the first time in 18 months on a year-over-year basis in July,” said BCREA Chief Economist Cameron Muir. Housing demand has also trended higher since March, rising 21 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis. “Households appear to be adjusting to the tighter credit environment as the shock of the B20 stress test dissipates.”

Looking back at the market results for June, there has been an overall decline in home sales and prices while the supply of homes continued to accumulate in Metro Vancouver. As per the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), there were 2,077 residential homes sold in June 2019 which is a 14.4% decline from the 2,425 homes in May 2019. Sales were 34.7% below the 10-year June sales average, which is the lowest total for the month since 2000.

“We’re continuing to see an expectation gap between home buyers and sellers in Metro Vancouver,” said Ashley Smith, REBGV president. “Sellers are often trying to get yesterday’s values for their homes while buyers are taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach.”

There were 4,751 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on MLS® last month which is a 10% decrease compared to June 2018 and an 18.9% decrease compared to May 2019. Overall, there is a total of 14,968 listings on MLS® which is a 25.3% increase compared to June 2018 and a 1.9% increase compared to May 2019.

“Home buyers haven’t had this much selection to choose from in five years,” Smith said. “For sellers to be successful in today’s market, it’s important to work with your local REALTOR® to make sure you’re pricing your home for these conditions.”

For June 2019, the sales-to-active listings ratio is 13.9% for all property types. Broken down, it is 11.4% for detached homes, 15.8% for townhomes and 15.7% for apartments. The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver dropped 9.6% from the same month last year to $998,700. This is the first time since May 2017 that the composite benchmark dropped below the $1 Million mark.

Detached Homes: 746 units sold (2.6% decrease from June 2018). The benchmark price decreased by 10.9% from June 2018 and increased by 0.1% from May 2019 to $1,423,500.

Apartments: 941 units sold (24.1% decrease from June 2018). The benchmark price decreased by 8.9% from June 2018 and decreased by 1.4% from May 2019 to $654,700.

Attached Homes: 390 units sold (6.9% decrease from June 2018). The benchmark price decreased by 8.6% from June 2018 and decreased by 0.6% from May 2019 to $774,700.

For all your real estate needs, contact our office at info@wesellvancouver.ca or alternatively, at 604-716-6155.

Based on projections for the remainder of the year, MLS® residential sales are expected to decline 9% to 94,200 units compared to 103,700 units in 2017. As well, 2019 and 2020 forecasts predict sales to decrease to 94,000 and 84,800 units, respectively.

The Lower Mainland - Southwest region of the province (which includes the Greater Vancouver Area, the Fraser Valley and Chilliwack) constitutes ~60% of the housing demand in BC. Housing demand fell sharply in the first four months of 2018 as a result of tighter mortgage qualifications. There was minimal impact on home prices as a result of the slower housing demand.

The type of housing market varies depending on housing type. The detached market in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley is showing a balanced market whereas the attached and apartment markets remain significantly undersupplied. 

While the housing market is slowing in growth, it is still continuing to be supported by a strong economy. Looking at the health of BC's economy has been promising. The economy has expanded at an above-trend growth rate for four consecutive years resulting in increased interprovincial migration, employment growth and overall strong consumer confidence. Early 2018 data has been consistent with the interpretation that the "BC economy will continue to produce the remarkable economic and employment growth enjoyed since 2014".

Currently, there are over 60,000 residential units under construction in BC. The increase in new home completions coupled with the slowing housing demand will result in trending most BC markets towards balanced conditions this year, and lead to less upward pressure on home prices.

For a more detailed look at the housing and economic forecast, click here. For all your real estate needs, contact our offices at 604-801-6654 or alternatively at info@wesellvancouver.ca.

Source: British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA)

The announcement of Canada's first National Housing Strategy was announced by Justin Trudeau on November 22, 2017, which promises $40 billion of investment in affordable homes.

Prime Minister Trudeau said, “We need to change our approach to housing and stop thinking about housing as a problem. Housing is actually a solution. It’s the best tool we have for some really significant challenges, whether that’s for health, crime, climate change, unemployment, or reconciliation... Affordable housing has made all the difference for folks from all walks of life. But in recent decades, our housing stock has aged and the federal government’s role has diminished.”

This strategy is making housing a priority and the $40 Billion investment, spread over a 10-year period, will be funded jointly by the federal, provincial and territorial governments. It addresses a large range of challenges and covers the entire housing continuum.

With this joint investment, there are targets that this strategy hopes to attain which include 100,000 new housing units created, 300,000 existing units repaired and renewed, 300,000 households supported through the Canada Housing Benefit amongst others seen below.

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

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.

We've got a streetfront retail space available in a highly desirable area in the heart of Chinatown which has seen an influx of new developments. Vancouver\'s Chinatown is universally appealing to tourists and locals alike with its rich culture, striking heritage buildings and world-renowned delicacies. This location is in walking distance to Gastown, Strathcona and the Downtown Core and is in close proximity to transit hubs.

The subject property boasts a unique layout with character storefront, exposed cement bricks, 16ft ceilings and polished concrete floors. This newly and extensively renovated unit is exposed to high vehicle and pedestrian traffic and has prominent signage opportunities which is perfect for a retailer, cafe, office or fitness studio! The unit also includes an enclosed board room, storage room, kitchenette and two individual washrooms. The space can also be accessed through a grade level loading door at the rear of the space.

Contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca for additional information.

Listing: https://spacelist.ca/p/bc/vancouver/161_e_pender_st/main_floor 

Price of a typical composite Greater Vancouver home rises above the million-dollar mark for first time at $1,019,400. In July, there were 2,960 home sales in the Greater Vancouver area. Across all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for July 2017 is 32.2% – still a strong seller’s market, but an easing-off compared with June’s 45.5%. 

“Housing demand is inconsistent across the region right now. Pockets of the market are still receiving multiple offers and others are not. It depends on price, property type, and location,” said Jill Oudil, REBGV president. “For example, it’s taking twice as long, on average, for a detached home to sell compared to both townhomes and condominiums.”

As of July 2017, the benchmark price for detached properties is $1,612,400. This is a slight 1.9% increase compared with July 2016 and a rise of 1.5% in the month since June 2017. The benchmark price of an attached unit such as a townhouse or rowhome is $763,700 – 11.9% higher than July 2016 and a rise of 2.4% over June. The price of a typical condo-apartment in Greater Vancouver has risen to $616,600 – an 18.5% year over year increase and a 2.7% lift in a single month. 

Source: REW.ca

For detailed information on benchmark prices broken down by area and property type, take a look at the statistics package put out by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver here. For all your real estate needs, contact Amalia Liapis at 604-618-7000 or alternatively at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca.

The British Columbia government is reviewing the foreign buyers’ tax in the Vancouver area and the interest-free loan program to first-time homebuyers to determine whether they have helped improve affordability, BC's new housing minister says. A year ago, the Liberal government implemented a 15% tax on foreign nationals purchasing property in Metro Vancouver in an effort to cool skyrocketing house prices. This tax isn’t applied to commercial properties, only residential properties.

Selina Robinson and BC Finance Minister, Carole James, will review real estate transaction data to determine whether the 15% foreign tax should be kept, revised or scrapped altogether. The data will be analyzed in order to determine whether it has been beneficial in housing affordability.

“I don’t know that we have any plans to eliminate it,” Robinson said of the 15 per cent foreign buyers’ levy, nearly a year after the previous Liberal government introduced it for Metro Vancouver. “There’s certainly enough data that would help us to understand its value, and so, we have to look at that data.”

According to data from the B.C. Ministry of Finance, during the period of June 10 - August 1, 2016, 13.2% of all property transfer transactions in Metro Vancouver were involving foreign buyers. Once the foreign tax took effect, that figure fell to 2.6% during the period of August 2 - December 31, 2016. Figures recently released revealed that the government took in $102 million in revenue from the implementation of the foreign buyers' tax between August 2, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

In the months after the tax, there were signs of cooling in Vancouver’s housing market, with the number of transactions falling. However, there have been signs that the market may be rebounding, as prices continue to creep up. The Multiple Listing Service composite benchmark price for all properties in Metro Vancouver was $998,700 in June, an increase of 7.9% from the same month last year.

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

The City of Vancouver has a desire to redevelop the Cambie Corridor and launched the three-phase planning program in 2009 with the purpose of guiding long-term, transit-oriented growth. The Cambie Corridor is located in central south Vancouver and encompasses approximately 2,471 acres. This area extends 6km from West 16th Avenue to the Fraser River and is bordered by Oak Street and Ontario Street. The Cambie Corridor has roughly the same population as the West End, but five times the land area. 4 out of the 9 Canada Line stations are within the Cambie Corridor. Map view can be found below.

Source: City of Vancouver, Cambie Corridor Phase 3 Community Profile

Currently, Phase 3 is underway by building on the plan, focusing on land use and new housing opportunities while remaining within close proximity to the Canada Line stations. On June 12, 2017, the City announced that there are 11,500 new homes planned for the Cambie Corridor, of which more than 4,000 are intended to be "affordable" homes, including social and rental units that are linked to residents' incomes.

“The third phase of the Cambie Corridor Plan is the first of many exciting steps that puts the City’s Housing Strategy into action with vision for the neighbourhood that delivers a housing mix that meets peoples’ needs,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. “I’ve heard loud and clear that people want a mix of housing – rental, townhomes and row houses – near schools, parks and transit in Vancouver’s low-density neighbourhoods. This plan for the Cambie Corridor provides that and more.”

According to the City, the new interim 10-year housing targets will create housing that is "based on what people can afford, in new locations, and in housing forms that will meet the needs of our diverse population". These housing targets will be refined throughout the fall and will form part of the final Housing Vancouver Strategy.

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 Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has useful tools for homebuyers to get a better understanding of the housing market.

Mortgage Calculator

Some homebuying tools the CMHC has includes the Debt Service Calculator which gives homebuyers the opportunity to evaluate their current financial situation in order to determine how much they can comfortably afford to spend on a mortgage. Another tool is the Mortgage Payment Calculator that calculates the mortgage amounts and their frequency. For a look at more tools, click here.

Ready Set Home

This mobile app put out by the CMHC allows homebuyers, especially first-time homebuyers, to make informed choices during the homebuying process. This is available to iOS, Android and Blackberry.

Housing for Newcomers

This resource provides information for newcomers in regards to renting or purchasing a home in Canada.

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

FOR LEASE - 161 East Pender Street || Main Floor Retail / Office Space
The main floor collides modern design with subtle cultural elements to bring together this beautiful space. This unit is exposed to high vehicle and pedestrian traffic and has prominent signage opportunities. The subject property boasts a unique layout with character storefront, exposed cement bricks, 16ft ceilings, polished concrete floors and a brand new HVAC system.

The unit also includes an enclosed board room, storage room, kitchenette, and two individual washrooms. The space can also be accessed through a grade level loading door at the rear of the space.

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. 

FOR SALE -- Corner two-bedroom and den unit at Kensington Gardens by Westbank for $660,000. This space includes a spacious balcony, Miele/Blomberg appliances, Corian countertops, wide-plank hardwood floors, Grohe fixtures and expansive windows with North/West views. This development features five star amenities which include an elevated courtyard with BBQ area and outdoor fireplaces, lounge, swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna/steam and hot tub!

More Details - Kensington Gardens Unit For Sale

We're so excited to have LEASED a space for Joanna Keller Beautique, a beauty salon specializing in eyelash extensions, makeup application, hair styling and much more. We welcome you to the neighbourhood!

We still have the retail level and top floor available at the Silk Building. For all your commercial sales & leasing needs, contact us at amalia@wesellvancouver.ca or at 604-618-7000. We look forward to working with you in finding a space that perfectly suits your business needs!