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SURREY, BC – The Fraser Valley real estate market saw an injection of supply in May as new listings surged by more than 40 per cent over April.

At 3,533, new listings were just below May 2022 levels (3,631) but slightly higher (2.7 per cent) than the ten-year average for the region. A welcome trend towards alleviating housing supply issues.

“Typically we would see an influx of inventory earlier in the spring sales cycle,” said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. The series of interest rate hikes during the latter half of 2022 had many sellers and buyers in a holding pattern for most of the year. What we’re seeing now is a recovery and adjustment to the new financing landscape.”

Active listings grew to 5,558, a 20 per cent increase over April, the highest month-over-month jump in more than a year.

The strong supply trend was met with healthy demand. In May, the Board processed 1,711 sales on its Multiple Listing Service®, a 10.1 per cent increase over last month and a 25.8 per cent jump over May of last year.

Prices continued to edge upward across all categories as buyer confidence grew, with the composite Benchmark price topping the one-million mark at $1.01 million, a level not seen since September 2022.

“It’s encouraging to see more typically cyclical activity this spring,” said FVREB CEO, Baldev Gill. “Inventory has been trending upwards since December 2022, providing more choice, which in turn will hopefully spur on even more listings. That said, with inflation tracking at elevated levels the potential for further rate hikes is very real. Buyers and sellers would be well-advised to work with real estate professionals to factor this into their decisions.”

Across the Fraser Valley in May, properties continued to move more quickly with each passing month: detached homes took, on average, 23 days to sell and apartments, 23. Townhomes moved more quickly, selling, on average, 18 days after listing.

MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity*

  • Single Family Detached: At $1,491,700, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home increased 2.5 per cent compared to April 2023 and decreased 12.7 per cent compared to May 2022.

  • Townhomes: At $826,200, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome increased 1.4 per cent compared to April 2023 and decreased 9.8 per cent compared to May 2022.

  • Apartments: At $542,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo increased 2 per cent compared to April 2023 and decreased 6.3 per cent compared to May 2022.

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SURREY, BC – As property sales continue to fall in the Fraser Valley and active listings continue to grow, the region is edging towards more balanced levels not seen since the pre-pandemic period.


Sales of all property types in May were 1,360, down 16.9 per cent from April’s 1,637; and down 53.9 per cent compared to May of 2021.


At the same time, active listings (the number of properties available for sale at a given moment during the month, in this case at the end of May) have more than tripled since December 2021. At the end of May, actives sat at 6,183, up 5.4 per cent year-over-year, and an increase of 14.8 per cent compared to April 2022.


The sales-to-active-listings ratio measures whether the market is balanced (12% to 20%) or favours either buyers (less than 12%) or sellers (greater than 20%). In May, the ratio for Fraser Valley all property types combined was 22 per cent, comparable to pre-pandemic conditions in early 2020. By comparison, during the pandemic, the ratio peaked at 92 per cent, indicating a strong seller’s market.


Since March, we’ve seen sales come down with an accompanying increase in inventory, subsequently restoring much-needed balance and cooling our heated market,” said Fraser Valley Real Estate Board President, Sandra Benz. “While still early, it suggests that as we gradually settle into a post-pandemic state of work and life, the big pandemic-era drivers – working from home and record low interest rates – may have run their course.”


In May, MLS® HPI Benchmark prices for all three main property types decreased month-over-month for the first time since September 2019.


“The softening of prices will be welcome news for homebuyers, especially in the face of rising mortgage rates,” said Fraser Valley Real Estate Board CEO, Baldev Gill. “The volatility we’ve witnessed over the past couple of years not only underscores the power of external events to affect the market but, in light of recent trends, the ability of the market itself, to adapt and trigger corrective mechanisms.”


MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity*


  • Single Family Detached: At $1,712,500, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home decreased 2.4 per cent compared to April 2022 and increased 26.2 per cent compared to May 2021.


  • Townhomes: At $918,900, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome decreased 1.4 per cent compared to April 2022 and increased 31.3 per cent compared to May 2021.


  • Apartments: At $581,400 the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo decreased 1.1 per cent compared to April 2022 and increased 30.0 per cent compared to May 2021.






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SURREY, BC – Fraser Valley’s extraordinary pandemic real estate market continued to break sales records – for the ninth consecutive month – while at the same time, reaching near‐historic levels of new listings in May.    


In May, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed 2,951 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), an increase of 267 per cent compared to May 2020 and a 2 per cent decrease compared to April. (Note that last year, the market was significantly restricted due to the lockdown.) The previous record high for sales in May for the Fraser Valley region was 2,911 in 2016.     


 Larry Anderson, President of the Board, said, “Demand hasn’t changed. What’s changed is supply. In the last three months, buyers have 40 per cent more inventory to look at in the Fraser Valley and it’s allowed them to take back a little control.   


“We’re seeing resistance to multiple offers and buyers adjusting their offers, or even waiting, because they have more selection. We’re a long way from a balanced market, but supply is helping us to head in the right direction.”


In May, the Board received the second‐highest volume of new listings ever; approaching May 2018 levels. The Board received 3,926 new listings in May, an increase of 78 per cent compared to last year, and a decrease of 22 per cent compared to April 2021. The month ended with total active inventory sitting at 5,868, a 3 per cent decrease compared to April, and 9 per cent less than May of last year.   


Baldev Gill, Chief Executive Officer of the Board, added, “In the context of BC’s Restart Plan, it’s important to remind consumers that for now, when it comes to working with a real estate professional or booking a private showing, it’s status quo. Currently, there is no easing of pandemic restrictions in the real estate sector and our Board does not anticipate new guidelines for several weeks. Your REALTOR® will continue to guide you safely through the buying and selling process, following all public safety protocols, for as long as necessary.”


Across Fraser Valley, in May, the average number of days to sell a single‐family detached home was 14 and a townhome was 12 days. Apartments took, on average, 20 days to sell.  


MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity


 Single Family Detached: At $1,323,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single‐family detached home increased 2.3 per cent compared to April 2021 and increased 33.6 per cent compared to May 2020.


 Townhomes: At $670,000, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome increased 2.7 per cent compared to April 2021 and increased 20.7 per cent compared to May 2020.


 Apartments: At $488,500, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo increased 2.0 per cent compared to April 2021 and increased 12.6 per cent compared to May 2020.

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Housing market activity picks up in the Fraser Valley as buyers and sellers adapt to the new environment

SURREY, BC – In May, Fraser Valley listings and property sales started to bounce back as REALTORS® helped their clients adjust to the new, necessary safety measures required to buy and sell a home during the provincial state of emergency due to COVID‐19.


The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed a total of 805 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, an increase of 17 per cent compared to sales in April and a decrease of 47 per cent compared to the 1,517 sales during May of last year.  


Chris Shields, President of the Board, observes, “This is an encouraging sign. Real estate is an essential service and it’s one of the most important economic drivers in BC’s economy.   


“Realtors and consumers deserve to be congratulated. It’s not easy to adapt quickly to physical distancing, virtual tools and strict personal safety protocols and yet we’re seeing more and more transactions happening daily as we all get more comfortable and confident with the new normal.”   


The Fraser Valley Board received 2,207 new listings in May, a 56 per cent increase compared to April’s intake of 1,416 new listings and a 38 per cent decrease compared to May of last year. May finished with 6,454 active listings, an increase of 8 per cent compared to April’s inventory and a decrease of 24 per cent year‐over‐year.


Shields adds, “Although our overall numbers remain significantly lower than seasonal norms, it’s to be expected. The market is resilient and as all of us continue to work together responsibly for the betterment of public safety, it will continue to improve.  


“It’s important for buyers to note that prices overall remain stable. We’re not seeing a lot of downward pressure on prices because for many areas there is a shortage of inventory. We’re even seeing multiple offer situations currently where buyers are paying asking price. When supply and demand stay in balance, prices remain relatively firm.”  


In May, the average number of days to sell an apartment was 38; 36 for townhomes and 31 for single family detached.


MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity

 Single Family Detached: At $990,400, the Benchmark price for a single‐family detached home in the Fraser Valley decreased 0.2 per cent compared to April and, increased 2.7 per cent compared to May 2019.

 Townhomes: At $555,000, the Benchmark price for a townhome in the Fraser Valley increased 0.4 per cent compared to April and increased 1.8 per cent compared to May 2019.

 Apartments: At $433,700, the Benchmark price for apartments/condos in the Fraser Valley decreased 1.0 per cent compared to April and increased 1.0 per cent compared to May 2019.

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Slight uptick in Fraser Valley property sales in May attributable to single family detached

SURREY, BC – The increase in home sales in the Fraser Valley in May compared to April is thanks to renewed interest in single family detached homes. Although total market activity remained well below historical norms – 18 per cent below the 10-year average – the sale of detached homes increased by 14.9 per cent in one month.


The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,517 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, a 9.7 per cent increase compared to sales in April 2019, and a 13.7 per cent decrease compared to the 1,758 sales in May of last year.


In looking at the three main residential property types, detached homes garnered 41.2 per cent of the market in May, up from 39.4 per cent in April. Attached homes garnered 58.8 per cent in May, compared to 60.6 per cent in April.


Darin Germyn, President of the Board, said of the market: "Buyers are recognizing that in the last three months, home prices have stopped declining and that in order to take advantage of the improvement in prices over the past year, now is a great time to consider making the purchase they held off on in the previous months.


"We're seeing buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines, act, because of better price opportunities and more selection. It's been four years since buyers had this much choice in the Fraser Valley."


There were 8,506 active listings available in the Fraser Valley at the end of May, an increase of 26.3 per cent compared to May of last year and an increase of 8.1 per cent compared to April 2019.


The Board received 3,542 new listings during the month, a 4.5 per cent increase compared to April 2019's intake of 3,391 new listings and a 10.7 per cent decrease year-over-year.


"Key to this market is pricing," continued Germyn. "We empathize with our clients on the challenges they face today to qualify to buy a home and we work with them to find the right property at a realistic price they can afford."


HPI® Benchmark Price Activity

  • Single Family Detached: At $964,200, the Benchmark price for a single family detached home in the Fraser Valley remained unchanged compared to April 2019 and decreased 5.9 per cent compared to May 2018.
  • Townhomes: At $522,500 the Benchmark price for a townhome in the Fraser Valley in the Fraser Valley increased 0.1 per cent compared to April 2019 and decreased 5.9 per cent compared to May 2018.
  • Apartments: At $416,800, the Benchmark price for apartments/condos in the Fraser Valley decreased 0.9 per cent compared to April 2019 and decreased 8.0 per cent compared to May 2018.
Full package:
http://www.fvreb.bc.ca/statistics/Package201905.pdf
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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.