The Vancouver region’s detached-housing market has turned hot again. 

The average price for detached houses sold in Greater Vancouver reached a record of $1,830,956 in May, up 5 per cent from the same month in 2016 and just surpassing the previous high of $1,826,541 in January 2016.

While the market for detached homes cooled in the second half of 2016, condos and townhouses experienced a short lull before continuing on a tear, smashing former highs. The average price for condos sold in Greater Vancouver last month hit a record of $656,919, up 15.1 per cent from a year earlier, and the average price for townhouses jumped 7.4 per cent to a new high of $858,994

Last month, Greater Vancouver’s benchmark residential price reached a new high of $967,500, up 8.8 per cent from one year earlier and a 54.7-per-cent surge compared with three years ago. The industry’s benchmark price depicts typical properties sold.

Over all for various housing types, residential sales in the region totaled 4,364 last month, down 8.5 per cent from May 2016. Still, last month’s transactions marked the third-highest volume for May, ringing in 23.7-per-cent higher than the 10-year sales average for May. A record high of 5,173 properties changed hands in March 2016.

Sales volume for detached properties began falling in April 2016. Sales in the detached category fell for 10 consecutive months, but the trend changed in February, with transactions rising month over month in Greater Vancouver.

In the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s territory, sales in May fell 7 per cent year-over-year while the price for various housing types last month averaged $740,280, up 1.7 per cent from a year earlier.

The price for detached houses sold in Langley last month averaged more than $1-million, up 12.2 per cent from May 2016.

If you or anyone you know has questions about the real estate market in a specific neighborhood, feel free to contact me at any time.

Demand for condominiums and townhomes continues to drive the Metro Vancouver* housing market.

Residential property sales in the region totalled 3,553 in April 2017, a 25.7 per cent decline compared to April 2016 when 4,781 homes sold and a 0.7 per cent decrease from the 3,579 sales recorded in March 2017.

April sales were 4.8 per cent above the 10-year average for the month.

For the first four months of the year, condominium and townhome sales have comprised a larger percentage of all residential sales on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver. Over this time, they’ve accounted for 68.5 per cent, on average, of all residential sales. This is up 10 per cent from the 58.2 per cent average over the same period last year.

Demand has been increasing for months and supply is not keeping pace. This dynamic is causing prices to increase and making multiple offer scenarios the norm.  

Until more entry level, or ‘missing middle’, homes are available for sale in our market, we’ll likely continue to see prices increase.

Over the last three months, the benchmark price of condominiums has seen the largest increase in the region at 8.2 per cent, followed by townhomes at 5.3 per cent, and detached homes at 2.8 per cent.

Home buyers that are looking to get into the market are facing fierce competition.

VANCOUVER, BC – April 4, 2017 – A shortage of residential property listings coupled with strong demand, particularly for condos and townhomes, continued to impact Metro Vancouver’s housing market in March.

Residential property sales in the region totalled 3,579 in March 2017, a decrease of 30.8 percent from the 5,173 sales recorded in record-breaking March 2016 and an increase of 47.6 percent compared to February 2017 when 2,425 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 7.9 percent above the 10-year sales average for the month.

“While demand in March was below the record high of last year, we saw demand increase month-to-month for condos and townhomes,” Jill Oudil, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president said. “Sellers still seem reluctant to put their homes on the market, making for stiff competition among home buyers.”

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 4,762 in March 2017. This represents a decrease of 24.1 percent compared to the 6,278 units listed in March 2016 and a 29.9 percent increase compared to February 2017 when 3,666 properties were listed.

This is the lowest number of new listings in March since 2009.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 7,586, a 3.1 percent increase compared to March 2016 (7,358) and a 0.1 percent decrease compared to February 2017 (7,594).

The sales-to-active listings ratio for March 2017 is 47.2 percent, a 15-point increase over February. Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 percent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 percent over several months.

“Home prices will likely continue to increase until we see more housing supply coming on to the market,” Oudil said.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $919,300. This represents a 0.8 percent decrease over the past six months and a 1.4 percent increase compared to February 2017.

Sales of detached properties in March 2017 reached 1,150, a decrease of 46.1 percent from the 2,135 detached sales recorded in March 2016. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,489,400. This represents a 5.0 percent decrease over the past six months and a one percent increase compared to February 2017.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,841 in March 2017, a decrease of 18.3 percent compared to the 2,252 sales in March 2016.The benchmark price of an apartment property is $537,400. This represents a 5.2 percent increase over the past six months and a 2.1 percent increase compared to February 2017.

Attached property sales in March 2017 totalled 588, a decrease of 25.2 percent compared to the 786 sales in March 2016. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $685,100. This represents a 1.3 percent increase over the past six months and a 1.4 percent increase compared to February 2017.

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