RSS

Number of Listings Rise to Start Off the Spring Season!

VANCOUVER, B.C. – April 6, 2010

A steady influx of new listings has helped create a balanced ‘typical spring’ housing market in the Greater Vancouver region.
 
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that new listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 7,004 in March 2010. This represents a 60%increase compared to March 2009 when 4,385 new units were listed, and a 52.1% increase compared to February 2010 when 4,606 properties were listed on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). At 13,538, the total number of property listings on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) increased 19% in March compared to last month, but remains 7.6% below this time last year.
 
“The total number of homes listed for sale on our MLS® is at its highest level in 10 months, which translates into more options and variety for those looking to buy during the traditionally busy spring period,” Jake Moldowan, REBGV president said.
 
Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 3,137 in March 2010, a 38.5% increase compared to March 2009, a 4.7% increase over March 2008, and a 12.4% decrease compared to March 2007. The current figure also represents a 26.8% increase compared to the 2,473 sales recorded in February 2010.
 

“With a sales-to-listing ratio of 23%, we see a healthy balance between buyer demand and seller supply in the marketplace,” Moldowan said.

 
Over the last 12 months, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver increased 20.3% to $584,435 from $485,845 in March 2009. This price is 2.8% above the previous high point in the market in May 2008 when the residential benchmark price sat at $568,411.
 
Sales of detached properties in March 2010 reached 1,336, an increase of 49% from the 897 detached sales recorded in March 2009 and a 19.7% increase from the 1,116 units sold in March 2008. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 23.3% from March 2009 to $800,341, but declined 0.6% compared to last month when the benchmark price was $800,796.
 
Sales of apartment properties in March 2010 reached 1,252, an increase of 28.3% compared to the 976 sales in March 2009 and a decline of 8.6% compared to the 1,370 sales in March 2008.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 17.3% from March 2009 to $395,507 and is up 1.2% compared to last month when the benchmark price was $390,899.
 
Attached property sales in March 2010 totalled 549, an increase of 40.1% compared to the 392 sales in March 2009 and a 7.4% increase from the 511 attached properties sold in March 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 17.3% between March 2009 and 2010 to $493,263, but declined 0.5 % compared to last month when the benchmark price was $495,496.
 
Read

Buyer Demand Remains Strong While Home Listings Increase

Greater Vancouver home sales remained strong last month, with the second highest number of residential sales ever recorded for the month of September.

 
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 3,559 in September 2009, an increase of 3.4 per cent from the 3,441 sales recorded in August 2009, and an increase of 124.5 per cent compared to September 2008 when 1,585 sales were recorded.

 

“As homes sales in Greater Vancouver continued at an elevated pace in September it’s encouraging to see that more homes were listed on the MLS® in the month than any other so far this year,” Scott Russell, REBGV president said.

 
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 5,764 in September 2009. This represents a 6.2 per cent decline compared to September 2008 when 6,142 new units were listed, but a 26.8 per cent increase compared to August 2009 when 4,544 properties were listed on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Greater Vancouver.
 
At 12,596, the total number of property listings on the MLS® increased 5.5 per cent in September compared to last month and declined 36 per cent from the 19,852 homes listed for sale during the buyer’s market that was experienced at this time last year.

 

“During this period of renewed demand in our marketplace, home values have gradually recovered from the declines that occurred in 2008,” said Russell.

Since the beginning of the year, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 13 per cent to $547,092 from $484,211, while home prices compared to Septembers 2008 levels are up 1.6 per cent.

 
Sales of detached properties increased 160.6 per cent to 1,423 from the 546 detached sales recorded during the same period in 2008. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties increased 2.1 per cent from September 2008 to $741,632.
 
Sales of apartment properties in September 2009 increased 94.9 per cent to 1,489, compared to 764 sales in September 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 1.5 per cent from September 2008 to $374,686.
 
Attached property sales in September 2009 are up 135.3 per cent to 647, compared with the 275 sales in September 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 0.4 per cent between Septembers 2008 and 2009 to $466,276.
 
Read

Prime Drops .25%
The Bank of Canada has dropped rates by another .25% and the Banks and other lenders are following by decreasing their prime rates. This means great news, again, for variable rate holders. The buzz is that prime rate will stay at this level for another 14 months. The longer term rates are staying low with no signs of increasing. All rates are great these days.
 
Bank Prime Rate 2.25%
Term
Best
Bank Posted
1 year
3.00%
4.20%
3 year
3.69%
4.90%
5 year
3.69%
5.45%
10 year
5.25%
7.15%
25 year
9.15%
9.75%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bold numbers denote change from last posted rates. 
  
Variable mortgage from Prime +.75%...TODAY at 3.00%!
 

Courtesy of

Laura Stein - The Mortgage Centre
Telephone: 604-657-6535 ext 22
2

www.mortgagecents.ca

 

Call Laura today and tell her Lyn sent you!

Read

Property Sales Strengthen in Current Market Cycle

A news release from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
 
VANCOUVER, B.C. - April 2, 2009.
The Metro Vancouver housing market experienced a movement away from volatility and toward stability to start the spring season.

 

Home sales in March 2009 returned to levels witnessed at the beginning of the decade, with 2,265 sales recorded across Metro Vancouver for the month, a 53 per cent increase over February but a 24.4 per cent decrease over March 2008, when 2,997 sales were recorded.

 

Since 1999, March sales have increased 31 per cent, on average, over the month of February. March 2009 marks the second consecutive month that sales have outperformed the ten-year average for this

month-over-month comparison.

 
"There’s more confidence in the housing market today than we were seeing late last year. Sales activity is rising to more typical levels given the season, and the number of homes being listed for sale is
levelling off," said Scott Russell, president of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV).
 
New residential listings on the MLS® declined 22 per cent in March 2009 to 4,385 compared to

March 2008. This is the fifth month in a row that new listings have decreased year-over-year and the third consecutive month where those declines exceeded 20 per cent. Despite these trends, total active listings at the end of March 2009 had still reached 14,579, a 19 per cent increase compared to the end of March 2008.

 
"REALTORS® are seeing an increasing level of interest from first-time buyers who are attracted to

low interest rates, good supply of housing, greater affordability, and a considerably lower overall cost of servicing a mortgage compared to recent years," Russell said.

 

Sales of detached properties in March 2009 declined 19.6 per cent to 897 from the 1,116 units sold during the same period in 2008. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties declined 15.1 per cent from March 2008 to $649,342.

 
Sales of apartment properties declined 28.8 per cent last month to 976, compared to the 1,370 sales in March 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 13.5 per cent from March 2008 to $337,099.
 
Attached property sales in March 2009 decreased 23.3 per cent to 392, compared with the 511 sales during the same month in 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit declined 11.2 per cent between March 2008 and 2009 to $420,563.
 
To see the news release in its entirety, including graphs and charts, go to http://www.rebgv.org/sites/default/files/REBGV%20Stats%20Package_April%202009.pdf
 
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,400 REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®. For more information on real estate, statistics and buying or selling a home contact a local REALTOR® or visit www.rebgv.org.
 
Read

Royal LePage Foresees
National Home Prices Declining Three Percent This Year
 

January 6, 2009 - THE CANADIAN PRESS

 
TORONTO - The average price of a house in Canada is likely to decline by three per cent this year, according to Royal LePage Real Estate Services (TSX:BRE.UN). The number of residential resale transactions is forecast to decline 3.5 per cent nationally, though the country's largest realty operator expects that there will still be local warm spots.
 
The forecast issued today follows a "significant reset" in 2008 - which Royal LePage predicted a year ago would see a 3.5 per cent average increase across the country.

 

In the event, preliminary numbers show a 1.1 per cent decline for 2008. Royal LePage says this came as "emotional reaction to recent economic and political instability did much to dampen consumer confidence during the latter part of 2008, causing a marked slowdown in house sales activity."

However, it predicts that "a more rational understanding of the issues" along with government corrective measures will cause activity to pick up in the latter half of 2009.

 
Overall, Royal LePage sees "only modest price and unit sales corrections." Nationally, the average house price is forecast to dip to $295,000, off from $304,000 in 2008, which in turn was down from $307,265 in the peak year of 2007.
 
"While Canada's housing market is anticipated to continue to move through a period of adjustment over the next six months, we should expect modestly lower home prices, not a U.S.-style collapse, which was brought on by a structural failure of the entire American credit system," stated Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper. "Most consumers are not aware that nationally, Canadian housing market activity peaked in 2007 and has been adjusting lower since. We are well into this inevitable cyclical correction."
 
In spite of the cooling trend on a national level, price and activity gains are still anticipated in some provinces, the Royal LePage report added. In mid-sized cities where prices remain below the national average, such as Regina and Winnipeg, prices are expected to increase moderately. Meanwhile, the steepest decline is forecast for Canada's most expensive city, Vancouver - "a natural cyclical reaction to an extended period of high price appreciation."
Read

Residential Housing Price Decline

Creates Buying Opportunities

 
Housing price reductions across Greater Vancouver over the last six months have eliminated price gains witnessed in the first quarter of 2008.

 

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential benchmark prices, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, declined 8.8 per cent between May and October 2008, resulting in a 3.9 per cent year-to-date price reduction for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver between Octobers 2007 and 2008. In May 2008, the overall residential benchmark price was $568,411, compared to $518,668 in October 2008.

 

“Home sales are not keeping pace with the positive economic conditions in BC,” said REBGV president, Dave Watt. “That’s a direct result of a loss of consumer confidence in the overall market. Accordingly, today’s housing market is characterized by moderating home prices and wide selection. It’s definitely a buyer’s market.”

 

Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 55 per cent in October 2008 to 1,364 from the 3,028 sales recorded in October 2007.

 

Active listings totalled 19,257 in October 2008, a three per cent decline from the 19,852 active listings reported in September 2008. New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased one per cent to 4,867 in October 2008 compared to October 2007, when 4,819 new units were listed.

 

Sales of detached properties in October 2008 declined 56.5 per cent to 493 from the 1,133 sales recorded during the same period in 2007. The benchmark price for detached properties declined 4.7 per cent from October 2007 to $695,962. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for a detached property in Greater Vancouver has declined 9.8 per cent.

 

Sales of apartment properties in October 2008 declined 52.7 per cent to 647, compared to 1,368 sales in October 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 3.5 per cent from October 2007 to $358,359. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for an apartment property in Greater Vancouver has declined eight per cent.

 

Attached property sales in October 2008 are down 57.5 per cent to 224, compared with the 527 sales in October 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit declined 1.4 per cent in Greater Vancouver between October 2007 and 2008 to $448,152. Since May 2008, the benchmark price for an attached property in Greater Vancouver has declined 6.4 per cent.
 
Click here to see Listing and Sales Activity Summary for October 2008.
 
Click here to see Greater Vancouver Average Price Graph for October 2008.
Read

As property listings continue to outpace sales, Greater Vancouver housing prices have drawn back the last two months from the record highs experienced in early 2008 according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

Since May 2008, housing prices, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, across each residential category have declined. Detached properties in Greater Vancouver declined 2.3 per cent through June and July 2008, while attached were down 1 per cent and apartment properties 2 per cent over the same period.

The overall benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has declined 2.1 per cent since the end of May 2008, from $568,411 to $556,605 in July 2008.
 “We’re seeing more price reductions in properties listed on the market, which is having a levelling impact on the housing price increases experienced at the end of last year and into the first quarter of 2008,” said Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president, Dave Watt. “There was a slight decline in the total active listings on the market in July compared to June, which is a welcomed departure from recent trends.”
 
Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 43.9 per cent in July 2008 to 2,174 from the 3,873 sales recorded in July 2007. New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 24 per cent to 6,104 in July 2008 compared to July 2007, when 4,924 new units were listed. 
Sales of detached properties in July 2008 declined 44.2 per cent to 827 from the 1,483 units sold during the same period in 20070. The benchmark price for detached properties is up 5.4 per cent from July 2007 to $753,165.
 
Sales of apartment properties declined 42.3 per cent last month to 966, compared to 1,674 sales in July 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 4.7 per cent from July 2007 to $381,687.
Attached property sales in July 2008 decreased 46.8 per cent to 381, compared with the 716 sales in July 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 5.7 per cent between July 2007 and 2008 to $473,953.
 
The Real Estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,600 REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®. For more information on real estate, statistics, and buying or selling a home, contact a local REALTOR® or visit www.realtylink.org.
Read

BC will outperform most other provinces in economic and job growth during the next two years.
 
Existing home sales will decline slightly as mortgage carrying costs rise in response to higher home prices and mortgage rates. Income and population growth stemming from tight labour markets will put upward pressure on existing home sales, lessening the decline.
 

BC will outperform most other provinces in economic and job growth during the next two years. This relative strength will translate into a high level of existing home sales, housing starts and house

prices.

 
Move-up buyers and people downsizing their residences will keep the number of resale transactions above the ten-year average. Existing home sales will decline during the next two years in response to high home prices, a rise in mortgage rates in 2009, and slower job growth.
 

High home prices will result in more homes being listed for sale. This increase in supply will slow growth in the provincial average MLS® price from the double-digit pace of the past four years. Centres where the local economy is more diversified and homeownership demand remains strong will record double-digit price gains again in 2008.

 
Fewer homes will be started as tight resale market conditions ease and potential homebuyers are more able to satisfy their housing needs in established neighbourhoods. Single-detached home starts will trend lower, as builders balance the high cost of land and building materials with what price conscious homebuyers will pay. Multiple-unit starts will account for the lion’s share of new home construction. With demand shifting to denser housing forms, more than sixty per cent of starts will be in multiple-unit housing developments. The large number of projects already in the construction pipeline in Vancouver and Kelowna will ensure multiple-unit starts will be at high levels.
 
Mortgage rates are expected to trend marginally lower throughout 2008, but will be  within 25-50 basis points of their current levels. For 2009, posted mortgage rates will begin to drift up slightly as the year progresses. For 2008 and 2009, the one-year posted mortgage rate is forecast to be in the 6.50-7.50 per cent range, while three and five-year posted mortgage rates are forecast to be in the 6.75-7.50 per cent range.
 
Exerpts from CMHCs Housing Market Outlook - British Columbia Region Highlights - Second Quarter 2008. For complete report, visit http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/esub/65442/65442_2008_Q02.pdf.

Read

Growing Supply Helps Stabilize Market Conditions
From the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.
 
VANCOUVER, B.C. – June 3, 2008
 
The Greater Vancouver housing market continued its re-balance between sales and listings last month. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 30.7 per cent in May 2008 to 3,002 from the 4,331 sales recorded in May 2007.

 

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 20.2 per cent to 7,390 in May 2008 compared to May 2007, when 6,149 new units were listed. New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 20.2 per cent to 7,390 in May 2008 compared to May 2007, when 6,149 new units were listed.


“With more property listings and a decline in the number of sales, prices are not increasing as rapidly, now down to single digits overall, which is good news from an affordability standpoint,” said REBGV president, Dave Watt.  “The housing market is at a balanced state, sellers have more competition and buyers have more selection to choose from."
 
Sales of detached properties in May 2008 declined 33.4 per cent to 1,203 from the 1,805 sales recorded during the same period in 2007. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties rose 8.4 per cent from May 2007 to $771,250.
 
Sales of apartment properties declined 30.5 per cent last month to 1,244, compared to 1,789 sales in May 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 8.7 per cent from May 2007 to $389,668.

 

Attached property sales in May 2008 decreased 24.7 per cent to 555, compared with the 737 sales in May 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 9 per cent between May 2007 and 2008 to $478,931.

 

Bright spots in Greater Vancouver in May 2008 compared to May 2007:

 
Attached:

Coquitlam                                           up 45.2 per cent (45 units sold from 31)

Apartments:

New Westminster                               up 13.6 per cent (100 units sold from 88)

 

The Real Estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2007, 38,050 homes changed hands in the Board's area generating $1.065 billion in spin-offs. Total dollar volume of residential sales set a new record at $22.25 billion and total dollar volume of all sales set a record at $22.77 billion.
 
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,500 REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®.
Read
Categories:   2008 vancouver | 2009 Budget | 2009 market | 2009 Real Estate Market | 2010 real estate market | animation | banning | BC Property Assessments | BC Property Transfer Tax | BC; British Columbia | Best Real Estate Agent | book illustrator | Brentwood Park | Brentwood Park, Burnaby North | Brentwood Park, Burnaby North Real Estate | Burnaby East Real Estate | Burnaby North | Burnaby North Real Estate | Burnaby South | Burnaby South Real Estate | buy | buyer | Buyers | buying | canadian real estate market | Capitol Hill BN | Capitol Hill BN, Burnaby North Real Estate | cell phones | Central Pt Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam Real Estate | childrens books | Chilliwack | Class of the Titans | Clayton, Cloverdale | Coal Harbour, Vancouver West Real Estate | Collingwood VE | Collingwood VE, Vancouver East | Collingwood VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | condos | Consumer Savings | Coquitlam West, Coquitlam Real Estate | Deer Lake | Deer Lake Place | Deer Lake Place, Burnaby South | Deer Lake Place, Burnaby South Real Estate | Deer Lake, Burnaby South | Deer Lake, Burnaby South Real Estate | Downtown NW, New Westminster Real Estate | Downtown VE | Downtown VE, Vancouver East | Downtown VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | Downtown VW | Downtown VW, Vancouver West | Downtown VW, Vancouver West Real Estate | Downtown, Vancouver West Real Estate | driving | Dunbar, Vancouver West Real Estate | east side condos | eco-friendly | Edmonds BE | Edmonds BE, Burnaby East Real Estate | electrical | Fairview VW, Vancouver West Real Estate | False Creek, Vancouver West Real Estate | FINTRAC | first | First-time buyers | Fraser VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | Fraserview VE | Fraserview VE, Vancouver East | Fraserview VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | Fraserview, Vancouver East Real Estate | free reports | FSBO | George of the Jungle | Georgia Straight | GlenBrooke North, New Westminster Real Estate | Government Road, Burnaby North Real Estate | Grandview VE | Grandview VE, Vancouver East | Grandview VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | Grandview Woodland, Vancouver East Real Estate | grants | green | Hamilton, North Vancouver Real Estate | Hastings | Hastings East | Hastings East, Vancouver East | Hastings East, Vancouver East Real Estate | Hastings Sunrise, Vancouver East Real Estate | Hastings, Vancouver East | Hastings, Vancouver East Real Estate | Highgate, Burnaby South Real Estate | Home Inspections | Home owners | home renovations | Homeowners | houses | Housing | housing costs | housing forecast | HST | insulation | Killarney VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | Kip and Zara | Kitsilano | Kitsilano, Vancouver West | Kitsilano, Vancouver West Real Estate | Knob and Tube Wiring | Laura Stein | law | listings | Lyn Hart | Macdonald Realty | Macdonald Realty Ltd. | Main Street | Main, Vancouver East Real Estate | mar | market | market value | Meadow Brook, Coquitlam Real Estate | Mercer Report | Metrotown, Burnaby South Real Estate | Montecito, Burnaby North Real Estate | mor | mort | mortgage rates | mortgage rules | Mount Pleasant VE | Mount Pleasant VE, Vancouver East | Mount Pleasant VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | Mount Pleasant VW | Mount Pleasant VW, Vancouver West | Mount Pleasant VW, Vancouver West Real Estate | New Listings | New Westminster | New Westminster Real Estate | non resident buying and selling | North Shore Pt Moody, Port Moody Real Estate | Northlands, North Vancouver Real Estate | old houses | Open houses | outlook | Port Moody Centre, Port Moody Real Estate | Property Transfer Tax | public opens | Pucca | quality of living | Quay, New Westminster Real Estate | Queensborough, New Westminster Real Estate | quick sale | real | real estate | Real Estate Fees | real estate investors | real estate market | real estate market predictions | real estate market report | rebates | Renfrew VE | Renfrew VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | reports | Roche Point, North Vancouver Real Estate | sales | Sapperton | Sapperton, New Westminster | sel | sell | seller | sellers | selling your home | selling, home staging, real estate, interior design | Silver Valley, Maple Ridge Real Estate | South Marine, Vancouver East Real Estate | South Slope | South Slope, Burnaby South | South Slope, Burnaby South Real Estate | statistics | Studio B | Tax Credit | telemarketing | telephone soliciting | texting | Uptown NW | Uptown NW, New Westminster | Uptown NW, New Westminster Real Estate | vanc | Vancouver | vancouver condos | Vancouver East | Vancouver East Real Estate | Vancouver Heights, Burnaby North Real Estate | Vancouver Real Estate blog | Vancouver real estate market | Vancouver West | Vancouver West Real Estate | Victoria VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | West End NW, New Westminster Real Estate | West End VW | West End VW, Vancouver West | West End VW, Vancouver West Real Estate | Whalley, North Surrey Real Estate | Yaletown, Vancouver West Real Estate
Reciprocity Logo The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.