VANCOUVER, BC – October 3, 2017 – Apartment and townhome activity is outpacing the detached home market across Metro Vancouver. This activity helped push total residential sales above the historical average in September.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in the region totalled 2,821 in September 2017, a 25.2 percent increase from the 2,253 sales recorded in September 2016, and a 7.3 percent decrease compared to August 2017 when 3,043 homes sold.
Last month’s sales were 13.1 percent above the 10-year September sales average.
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“Our detached homes market is balanced today, while apartment and townhome sales remain in sellers’ market territory,” Jill Oudil, REBGV president said. “If you’re looking to enter the market, as either a buyer or seller, it’s important to understand these trends and use this information to set realistic expectations.”
REBGV Stats Package, September 2017
REBGV Stats Centre Report – Vancouver West, September 2017
REBGV Stats Centre Report – Vancouver East, September 2017
REBGV Stats Centre Report – Metro Vancouver, September 2017
There were 5,375 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in September 2017. This represents a 12 percent increase compared to the 4,799 homes listed in September 2016 and a 26.6 percent increase compared to August 2017 when 4,245 homes were listed.
The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 9,466, a 1.2 percent increase compared to September 2016 (9,354) and a 7.5 percent increase compared to August 2017 (8,807).
“Detached homes made up 30 per cent of all sales in September and represented 62 per cent of all the homes listed for sale on the MLS®,” said Oudil. “This dynamic has slowed the pace of upward pressure that we’ve seen on detached home prices in our market over the last few years.”
For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for September 2017 is 29.8 percent. By property type, the ratio is 14.6 percent for detached homes, 42.3 percent for townhomes, and 60.4 percent for apartments.
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.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,037,300. This represents a 10.9 percent increase over September 2016 and a 0.7 percent increase compared to August 2017.
Sales of detached properties in September 2017 reached 852, a 27.9 percent increase from the sales recorded in September 2016 (666), a decrease of 33 percent from September 2015 (1,272), and a decrease of 32.9 percent from September 2014 (1,270). The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,617,300. This represents a 2.9 percent increase from September 2016 and a 0.1 percent increase compared to August 2017.
Sales of apartment properties reached 1,451 in September 2017, a 19.1 percent increase compared with the sales recorded in September 2016 (1,218), a 5.1 percent decrease from September 2015 (1,529), and a 22.1 percent increase from September 2014 (1,188). The benchmark price of an apartment property is $635,800. This represents a 21.7 percent increase from September 2016 and a 1.4 percent increase compared to August 2017.
Attached property sales in September 2017 totalled 518, a 40.4 percent increase compared to the sales recorded in September 2016 (369), a 4.8 percent decrease from September 2015 (544), and an 11.6 percent increase from September 2014 (464). The benchmark price of an attached home is $786,600. This represents a 14.5 percent increase from September 2016 and a 1.1 percent increase compared to August 2017.
*Editor’s Note: Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.
The real estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2016, 39,943 homes changed ownership in the Board’s area, generating $2.5 billion in economic spin-off activity and an estimated 17,600 jobs. The total dollar value of residential sales transacted through the MLS® system in Greater Vancouver totalled $40 billion in 2016.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 13,500 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.
Source: Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
