VANCOUVER, BC – August 2, 2023 – Home prices across all home types in Metro Vancouver1 rose again in July, as strong sales figures continue to push up against low levels of housing inventory in the region.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales2 in the region totalled 2,455 in July 2023, a 28.9 per cent increase from the 1,904 sales recorded in July 2022. This was 15.6 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,909).
“While sales remain about 15 per cent below the ten-year average, they are also up about 30 per cent year-over-year, which is not insignificant,” Andrew Lis, REBGV’s director of economics and data analytics said. “Looking under the hood of these figures, it’s easy to see why sales are posting such a large year-over-year percentage increase. Last July marked the point when the Bank of Canada announced their ‘super-sized’ increase to the policy rate of one full per cent, catching buyers and sellers off guard, and putting a chill on market activity at that time.”
There were 4,649 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in July 2023. This represents a 17 per cent increase compared to the 3,975 homes listed in July 2022. This was 5.2 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (4,902).
The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 10,301, a four per cent decrease compared to July 2022 (10,734). This was 14.4 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (12,039).
Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for July 2023 is 24.9 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 16.5 per cent for detached homes, 32 per cent for townhomes, and 30.6 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.
“What’s interesting to see in the current market environment is that, while the Bank of Canada rate hike this July was only a quarter of a per cent, mortgage rates are now at the highest levels we’ve seen in Canada in over ten years,” Lis said. “Yet despite borrowing costs being even higher than last July, sales activity surpassed the levels we saw last year, which I think says a lot
about the strength of demand in our market and buyers’ ability to adapt to and qualify for higher borrowing costs.”
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,210,700. This represents a 0.5 per cent increase over July 2022 and a 0.6 per cent increase compared to June 2023.
Sales of detached homes in July 2023 reached 681, a 28.7 per cent increase from the 529 detached sales in July 2022. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,012,900. This represents a 0.6 per cent increase from July 2022 and a 1.1 per cent increase compared to June 2023.
Sales of apartment homes reached 1,281 in July 2023, a 20.7 per cent increase compared to the 1,061 sales in July 2022. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $771,600. This represents a 2.6 per cent increase from July 2022 and a 0.6 per cent increase compared to June 2023.
Attached home sales in July 2023 totalled 466, a 53.3 per cent increase compared to the 304 sales in July 2022. The benchmark price of an attached home is $1,104,600. This represents a 1.2 per cent increase from July 2022 and a 0.5 per cent increase compared to June 2023.
1. Editor’s Note: Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver 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. 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 roughly one to two per cent of total MLS® activity per month, are being included for completeness in our reporting.
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
SURREY, BC – After five months of successive increases, real estate sales in the Fraser Valley dropped in response to a combination of continued rising interest rates and the summer sales cycle.
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,368 sales in July on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), a decrease of 29.3 per cent below June, but still 37.8 per cent above July 2022.
July new listings, at 2,855, were also down by 16.6 per cent compared to last month but 19.7 per cent higher than July 2022 levels, and virtually on par with the ten-year average. Active listings continued to climb, increasing by 4.3 per cent over June, bringing the total inventory available for sale in the region to 6,199.
“Summer is typically a slower period for the real estate sector and the higher interest rates are contributing to the market slowdown,” said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “We’re seeing less traffic and fewer multiple offers as buyers and sellers put a pause on decisions and we expect this trend to continue until the fall cycle.”
The market for detached homes softened in July with a sales-to-active listings ratio of 17 per cent while demand for townhomes and apartments remained firm at 45 per cent and 36 per cent respectively. The market is considered balanced when the sales-to-active-listing ratio is between 12 per cent and 20 per cent.
Prices across all categories saw negligible increases compared to last month (see below).
“With rates at their highest levels in over 20 years and inflation still elevated, buyers and sellers are taking time to reevaluate their objectives,” said FVREB CEO Baldev Gill. “As housing options begin to take center stage on the Provincial agenda, consumers will want to consult a professional REALTOR® for a detailed picture of the market in their communities and to stay up to date on upcoming changes that may impact their decisions.”
On average, properties spent two to three weeks on the market before selling, with detached homes spending 22 days on the market, and townhomes and apartments moving slightly more quickly at 16 and 18 days, respectively.
MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity
VANCOUVER, BC – July 5, 2023 – Continuing the trend that has emerged in the housing market this year, the benchmark price for all home types in Metro Vancouver1 increased in June as home buyer demand butted up against a limited inventory of homes for sale in the region.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales2 in the region totalled 2,988 in June 2023, a 21.1 per cent increase from the 2,467 sales recorded in June 2022. This was 8.6 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (3,269).
“The market continues to outperform expectations across all segments, but the apartment segment showed the most relative strength in June,” Andrew Lis, REBGV’s director of economics and data analytics said. “The benchmark price of apartment homes is almost cresting the peak reached in 2022, while sales of apartments are now above the region’s ten-year seasonal average. This uniquely positions the apartment segment relative to the attached and detached segments where sales remained below the ten-year seasonal averages.”
There were 5,348 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in June 2023. This represents a 1.3 per cent increase compared to the 5,278 homes listed in June 2022. This was 3.1 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (5,518).
The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 9,990, a 7.9 per cent decrease compared to June 2022 (10,842) This was 17.4 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (12,091).
Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for June 2023 is 31.4 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 20.9 per cent for detached homes, 38.5 per cent for townhomes, and 39.4 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.
“Despite elevated borrowing costs, there continues to be too little resale inventory available relative to the pool of buyers in Metro Vancouver. This is the fundamental reason we continue to see prices increase month over month across all segments,” Lis said. “With the benchmark price for apartments now standing at $767,000, we repeat our call to the provincial government to adjust the $525,000 threshold exempting first-time home buyers from the Property Transfer Tax to better reflect the price of entry-level homes in our region. This is a simple policy adjustment that could help more first-time buyers afford a home right now.”
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,203,000. This represents a 2.4 per cent decrease over June 2022 and a 1.3 per cent increase compared to May 2023.
Sales of detached homes in June 2023 reached 848, a 28.3 per cent increase from the 661 detached sales recorded in June 2022. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,991,300. This represents a 3.2 per cent decrease from June 2022 and a 1.9 per cent increase compared to May 2023.
Sales of apartment homes reached 1,573 in June 2023, an 18.6 per cent increase compared to the 1,326 sales in June 2022. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $767,000. This represents a 0.5 per cent increase from June 2022 and a 0.8 per cent increase compared to May 2023.
Attached home sales in June 2023 totalled 547, a 17.6 per cent increase compared to the 465 sales in June 2022. The benchmark price of an attached home is $1,098,900. This represents a one per cent decrease from June 2022 and a 1.5 per cent increase compared to May 2023.
1. Editor’s Note: Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver 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. 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 roughly one to two per cent of total MLS® activity per month, are being included for completeness in our reporting.
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:
Manager, Communication and Editorial
mmoldowan@rebgv.org
SURREY, BC – The Fraser Valley real estate market saw strong sales activity in June with levels on par with the 10-year average for the month, amid on-going challenges with supply.
In June, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed 1,935 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), an increase of 51.1 per cent compared to June 2022 and a 13.1 per cent increase compared to May.
“As seen in recent months, prices continue to trend upward, with lack of supply and high demand for housing,“ said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “What we’re seeing is sales increasing, with buyers entering the market despite current financial implications of anticipated rate hikes.”
The Board received 3,424 new listings in June, an increase of 2.8 per cent compared to last year, and a decrease of 3.1 per cent compared to May 2023. The month ended with a total active inventory of 5,944, a 6.9 per cent increase compared to May, and 8.2 per cent less than June of last year.
“A number of factors are at play in the Fraser Valley market, from low supply to unprecedented interest rates – the highest in more than 20 years,” said Board CEO, Baldev Gill. “For those seeking to enter the market, whether buying or selling, only a professional REALTOR® can provide the expert guidance and advice to fully evaluate each clients’ needs, and to protect their interests.”
Across Fraser Valley in June, the average number of days to sell a single-family detached home was 21 and a townhome was 16 days. Apartments took, on average, 22 days to sell.
MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity
Single Family Detached: At $1,526,200, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home increased 2.3 per cent compared to May 2023 and decreased 7.4 per cent compared to June 2022.
Townhomes: At $845,400, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome increased 2.3 per cent compared to May 2023 and decreased 5.2 per cent compared to June 2022.
Apartments: At $552,200, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo increased 1.8 per cent compared to May 2023 and decreased 2.5 per cent compared to June 2022.
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.