Metro Vancouver Real Estate Market Update - January 2020
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
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Home sale activity up, supply down to start 2020
Home sale and price activity remained steady in Metro Vancouver* to start 2020 while home listing activity declined in January.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 1,571 in January 2020, a 42.4 per cent increase from the 1,103 sales recorded in January 2019, and a 22.1 per cent decrease from the 2,016 homes sold in December 2019.
Last month’s sales were 7.3 per cent below the 10-year January sales average.
“We’ve begun 2020 with steady home buyer demand that tracks close to the region’s long-term average,” Ashley Smith, REBGV president said. “Looking at supply, we’re seeing fewer homes listed for sale than is typical for this time of year. As we approach the traditionally more active spring market, we’ll keep a close eye on supply to see if the number of homes being listed is keeping pace with demand.”
There were 3,872 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in January 2020. This represents a 20.1 per cent decrease compared to the 4,848 homes listed in January 2019 and a 143.8 per cent increase compared to December 2019 when 1,588 homes were listed.
Last month’s new listings were 17.4 per cent below January’s 10-year average.
The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,617, a 20.3 per cent decrease compared to January 2019 (10,808) and a 0.2 per cent increase compared to December 2019 (8,603), and is 13.7 per cent below the 10-year January average.
For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for January 2020 is 18.2 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 11.6 per cent for detached homes, 22.6 per cent for townhomes, and 23.9 per cent for apartments.
Generally, analysts say 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.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,008,700. This represents a 1.2 per cent decrease over January 2019, a 1.4 per cent increase over the past six months, and a 0.8 per cent increase compared to December 2019.
Sales of detached homes in January 2020 reached 439, a 29.5 per cent increase from the 339 detached sales recorded in January 2019. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,431,200. This represents a 1.7 per cent decrease from January 2019, a one per cent increase over the past six months, and a 0.5 per cent increase compared to December 2019.
Sales of apartment homes reached 814 in January 2020, a 45.6 per cent increase compared to the 559 sales in January 2019. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $663,200. This represents a one per cent decrease from January 2019, a 1.5 per cent increase over the past six months, and a one per cent increase compared to December 2019.
Attached home sales in January 2020 totalled 318, a 55.1 per cent increase compared to the 205 sales in January 2019. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $782,500. This represents a 0.7 per cent decrease from January 2019, a 1.6 per cent increase over the past six months, and a 0.5 per cent increase compared to December 2019.
Editor's note
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.
Fraser Valley Real Estate Board
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Fraser Valley January home sales typical; new listings lagging
SURREY, BC – January’s property sales in the Fraser Valley came in 6 per cent above the 10-year average for the month, while new listings finished 11 per cent below historical norms.
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 974 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in January, a 21.9 per cent decrease compared to sales in December 2019, and a 24.2 per cent increase compared to the 784 sales in January of last year.
Of the 974 total MLS® sales of residential and commercial combined in the Fraser Valley, 363 were single family detached homes, 241 were townhouses, and 248 were apartments.
“Considering our record-shattering snow and cold, the pace of home sales remained surprisingly balanced in January,” said Darin Germyn, President of the Board. “Sales in our region have steadily improved since July of last year and January’s numbers remained consistent with that trend.”
There were 5,143 active listings available in the Fraser Valley at the end of January, an increase of 9.8 per cent compared to December 2019’s inventory and a decrease of 14.2 per cent year-over-year.
Additionally, 2,216 new listings were received by the Board for the month, a significant increase compared to December 2019’s intake of 948 new listings and a 15.1 per cent decrease compared year-over-year.
“Where the weather may have had an impact in January, is on our housing supply,” observed Germyn. “For certain property types, listings in the Fraser Valley are not keeping pace with sales. In areas of Surrey and Langley for example, for every two townhomes listed, one is selling. So, if you’re thinking of buying, talk to your REALTOR® about local market conditions to understand the variances”.
For the Fraser Valley region, the average number of days to sell an apartment in January was 49, and 47 for townhomes. Single family detached homes remained on the market for an average of 60 days before selling.
MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity
Single Family Detached: At $960,800, the Benchmark price for a single-family detached home in the Fraser Valley increased 0.7 per cent compared to December 2019 and, also increased 0.7 per cent compared to January 2019.
Townhomes: At $518,000, the Benchmark price for a townhome in the Fraser Valley in the Fraser Valley increased 0.6 per cent compared to December 2019 and decreased 0.8 per cent compared to January 2019.
Apartments: At $408,400, the Benchmark price for apartments/condos in the Fraser Valley increased 0.7 per cent compared to December 2019 and decreased 0.1 per cent compared to January 2019.