SURREY, BC – Home sales in the Fraser Valley increased for the first time in five months following a sizable interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada in October.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board recorded 1,330 sales in October, up 35 per cent from September, and 37 per cent year-over-year.

“After waiting it out on the sidelines for a number of months, buyers seem to be finally responding to the series of successive rate cuts by the Bank of Canada,” said Jeff Chadha, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “Whether this is an indication of further sales trends, remains to be seen, especially as the feds eye a possible additional cut before year-end.”

New listings declined in October, down 5 per cent to 3,194, but increased 26 per cent year-over-year. Overall inventory dipped in October to 8,799, down three per cent from September, but up 34 per cent over last year. Rising sales and steady inventory levels have the Fraser Valley in a balanced market with a sales-to-active ratio of 15 per cent. The market is considered to be balanced when the ratio is between 12 per cent and 20 per cent.

“October’s healthy sales boost is a welcome development for buyers and sellers alike,” said Baldev Gill, CEO of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “The coming weeks and months will shed more light on whether buyer optimism has returned now that the cycle of interest rate cuts is in full swing.”

Across the Fraser Valley in October, the average number of days to sell a single-family detached home was 34, while for a condo it was 32. Townhomes took, on average, 29 days to sell.

Benchmark prices in the Fraser Valley dipped for the seventh straight month in October, with the composite Benchmark price down 0.7 per cent to $971,700.

MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity

• Single Family Detached: At $1,488,000, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home decreased 0.9 per cent compared to September 2024 and decreased 0.6 per cent compared to October 2023.

• Single Family Detached: At $1,488,000, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home decreased 0.9 per cent compared to September 2024 and decreased 0.6 per cent compared to October 2023.

• Apartments: At $543,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo decreased 0.3 per cent compared to September 2024 and increased 0.1 per cent compared to October 2023.
  

VANCOUVER, BC – November 4, 2024 – After months of tracking approximately twenty per cent below the ten-year seasonal average, Metro Vancouver home sales surged more than 30 per cent year-over-year in October.

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales registered on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in the region totalled 2,632 in October 2024, a 31.9 per cent increase from the 1,996 sales recorded in October 2023. This was 5.5 per cent below the 10- year seasonal average (2,784).

“Typically, reductions to mortgage rates boost demand, and the strong October sales numbers suggest buyers may finally be responding to lower borrowing costs after waiting on the sidelines for months,” Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics said. “To some market watchers, this rebound may come as a surprise, but with four consecutive rate cuts from the Bank of Canada – and more likely to come on the horizon – it was only a matter of time until signs of renewed strength in demand showed up.”

There were 5,452 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in October 2024. This represents a 16.9 per cent increase compared to the 4,664 properties listed in October 2023. This was 20 per cent above the 10- year seasonal average (4,545).

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 14,477, a 24.8 per cent increase compared to October 2023 (11,599). This total is also 26.2 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (11,475).

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for October 2024 is 18.8 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 13.4 per cent for detached homes, 22.5 per cent for attached, and 22.2 per cent for apartments.

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“While the strength in October's numbers is encouraging, one data point does not make a trend," Lis said. "Recent data shows that market conditions have been decidedly balanced, with prices easing over the past few months. With the recent uptick in sales however, the attached and apartment segments are now tilting toward a seller’s market with the detached segment not far behind, suggesting the recent period of price moderation may be nearing an end."

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is $1,172,200. This represents a 1.9 per cent decrease over October 2023 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to September 2024.

Sales of detached homes in October 2024 reached 724, a 25.5 per cent increase from the 577 detached sales recorded in October 2023. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,002,900. This represents a 0.3 per cent increase from October 2023 and a 1 per cent decrease compared to September 2024.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,393 in October 2024, a 33.4 per cent increase compared to the 1,044 sales in October 2023. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $757,200. This represents a 1.6 per cent decrease from October 2023 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to September 2024.

Attached home sales in October 2024 totalled 501, a 40.7 per cent increase compared to the 356 sales in October 2023. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,108,800. This represents a 0.4 per cent increase from October 2023 and a 0.9 per cent increase compared to September 2024.

Editor’s Note:
1. Areas covered by Greater Vancouver REALTORS® include: Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, South Delta, Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Whistler.

2. On February 12, 2024, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver changed its organizational name to Greater Vancouver REALTORS®.

Greater Vancouver REALTORS® is an association representing more than 15,000 REALTORS® and their companies. The association provides a variety of member 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.gvrealtors.ca.

For more information please contact:

Mark Moldowan
Manager, Communication and Editorial
Greater Vancouver
REALTORS®
604.730.3153
mmoldowan@gvrealtors.ca

VANCOUVER, BC – November 2, 2023 – An increase in newly listed properties is providing more choice to home buyers across Metro Vancouver1 , but sales remain below long-term averages.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential sales2 in the region totalled 1,996 in October 2023, a 3.7 per cent increase from the 1,924 sales recorded in October 2022. This total is 29.5 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,832) for October.

“With properties coming to market at a rate roughly five per cent above the ten-year seasonal average, there seems to be a continuation of the renewed interest on the part of sellers to participate in the market that we’ve been watching this fall,” Andrew Lis, REBGV’s director of economics and data analytics said. “Counterbalancing this increase in supply, however, is the fact sales remain almost 30 per cent below their ten-year seasonal average, which tells us demand is not as strong as we might expect this time of year.”

There were 4,664 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in October 2023. This represents a 15.4 per cent increase compared to the 4,043 properties listed in October 2022 and is 4.8 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (4,449) for the month.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 11,599, a 12.6 per cent increase compared to October 2022 (10,305). This change is also 0.6 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (11,526).

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for October 2023 is 17.9 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 12.9 per cent for detached homes, 20.9 per cent for attached, and 21.5 per cent for apartments.

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“With more supply in the form of resale inventory, and weaker demand in the form of slower sales, we’ve seen market conditions overall adjust towards more balanced conditions. It’s noteworthy that the multifamily segment remains more active than the detached segment at this time,” Lis said. “While the highest borrowing costs we’ve seen in over a decade continue to constrain affordability, a silver lining for buyers is that price increases have abated with these more balanced market conditions, meaning purchasing power is holding steady for the moment.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,196,500. This represents a 4.4 per cent increase over October 2022 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to September 2023.

Sales of detached homes in October 2023 reached 577, a 0.7 per cent decrease from the 581 detached sales recorded in October 2022. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,001,400. This represents a 5.8 per cent increase from October 2022 and a 0.8 per cent decrease compared to September 2023.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,044 in October 2023, a 4.9 per cent increase compared to the 995 sales in October 2022. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $770,200. This represents a 6.4 per cent increase from October 2022 and a 0.2 per cent increase compared to September 2023.

Attached home sales in October 2023 totalled 356, a 6.6 per cent increase compared to the 334 sales in October 2022. The benchmark price of a townhouse3 is $1,100,500. This represents a 6 per cent increase from October 2022 and a 0.2 per cent increase compared to September 2023.

Editor’s Notes: 

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

2. REBGV is now including multifamily and land sales and listings in this monthly report. Previously, we only included detached, attached, and apartment sales, and these additional categories, which typically account for less than one to two per cent of total MLS® activity per month, are being included for completeness in our reporting.

3. In calculating the MLS® HPI, Altus Group uses a narrower definition of “attached” properties than is used by REBGV in our “attached” statistics, preferring to use “townhouse” as their benchmark property.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 15,000 REALTORS® and their companies. The Board provides a variety of member 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.

For more information please contact:

Craig Munn
V.P., Communication and Events Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
604.730.3146
cmunn@rebgv.org

SURREY, BC – Property sales and new listings in the Fraser Valley fell again in October as consumers continued to put home buying and selling decisions on hold in the face of elevated interest rates.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board recorded 970 transactions on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in October, a drop of 12 per cent from the previous month and the fourth consecutive decrease since the 12-month high of 1,935 sales recorded in June.

At 2,535, new listings also fell again, decreasing by 11 per cent from September and by 28 per cent since peaking in May at 3,533.

“What we’re seeing in the Fraser Valley and indeed across the province is the impact of sustained high interest rates on the overall market,” said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “This has been the case since the latter half of the year so far, and we anticipate the trend will continue until we start to see some downward movement in the policy rate.”

Active listings in October were 6,580, up by less than 1 per cent over last month and up by 17 per cent over October 2022. The sales-to-active listings ratio was 15 per cent, creating balanced conditions in the overall market, with detached houses dipping into buyers’ market territory at 12 per cent. The market is considered balanced when the ratio is between 12 per cent and 20 per cent.

“As the market continues to adjust to the new rate realities, pricing and financing strategies become critical,” said FVREB CEO, Baldev Gill. “A knowledgeable professional REALTOR®, armed with the latest comparative market data and neighbourhood insights, can be the key to determining optimal market timing.”

Overall benchmark prices continued to slide for the third month in a row, losing 1.4 per cent compared to September. See below for price changes by housing category. 

MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity

• Single Family Detached: At $1,503,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home decreased 1.5 per cent compared to September 2023 and increased 4.8 per cent compared to October 2022.

• Townhomes: At $845,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome decreased 0.4 per cent compared to September 2023 and increased 4.7 per cent compared to October 2022.

• Apartments: At $545,400, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo decreased 0.1 per cent compared to September 2023 and increased 3.7 per cent compared to October 2022.

SURREY, BC – Demand for Fraser Valley real estate remained solid in October with overall sales the third highest on record.  

The Board processed a total of 1,938 property sales on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in October, an increase of 3.9 per cent compared to September and a decrease of 18.2 per cent compared to the same month last year.   

Larry Anderson, President of the Board, said, “What we’re seeing is a combination of above‐average sales with below‐average new listings which is placing strong upward pressure on home prices, for all residential categories, month‐over‐month.

“It is a very challenging time, particularly for buyers. I empathize with clients who have been trying to buy a home for more than a year without success after multiple attempts. Now, more than ever is the time when buyers and sellers alike must rely on their REALTOR® to guide and advise them in considering all available options, including a change in community or even property type.”

After rebounding slightly in September, new listings decreased in October. The Board received 2,188 new listings, a decrease of 29.0 per cent compared to last year, and a decrease of 6.6 per cent compared to September 2021. The month ended with a total active inventory of 3,447, which is a 9.6 per cent decrease compared to September, and a 49.8 percent decrease compared to October 2020.    

Baldev Gill, Chief Executive Officer of the Board, said, “Fraser Valley is a top destination currently in BC for buyers looking for relatively affordable family‐sized homes. Townhomes and single‐family homes are selling on average within two to four weeks in our region, with buyers keenly watching the market for new listings.”

Across the Fraser Valley, in October, the average number of days to sell a single‐family detached home was 28 and a townhome was 18 days. Apartments took, on average, 27 days to sell.  

MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity

 Single Family Detached: At $1,396,700, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single‐family detached home increased 2.5 per cent compared to September 2021 and increased 33.4 per cent compared to October 2020.

 Townhomes: At $720,500 the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome increased 1.9 per cent compared to September 2021 and increased 26.6 per cent compared to October 2020.

 Apartments: At $514,200 the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo increased 1.9 per cent compared to September 2021 and increased 18.3 per cent compared to October 2020.