News: Vancouver Real Estate Market

The Bank of Canada announced on October 25th it would be holding its key lending rate at 5.0%, the second consecutive hold since two quarter-point increases were made over the summer. Since March of last year, the central bank has imposed an unprecedented number of rate hikes in an effort to reduce pandemic-fueled inflation, taking interest rates from historic lows to a more than two-decade high. While approximately three quarters (74%) of Canadian mortgage holders currently have a fixed-rate agreement...

As we near the end of summer, higher borrowing costs have begun to permeate the Greater Vancouver housing market in predictable ways, with price gains cooling and sales slowing along the typical seasonal pattern. 

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 2,296 in August 2023, a 21.4 per cent increase from the 1,892 sales recorded in August 2022. This was 13.8 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,663). ...

Home prices across all home types in Metro Vancouver 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 sales 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...

A new study from Royal LePage has found that homeowners who can afford 20% down payments are much better off in the long run than renters.

In fact, buying a home in Canada with an uninsured mortgage puts homeowners ahead of renters in 91% of cases analysed.

"Canadians strongly value homeownership for many reasons. Not only is it a great source of pride, it is likely the largest and most significant financial investment most people will ever make," Karen Yolevski, chief operating officer of Royal LePage...

Highlights:

• 14% of homeowners in Greater Vancouver, 13% in the Greater Toronto Area and 12% in the Greater Montreal Area own more than one property
• More than 40% of secondary property owners in the greater regions of Vancouver and Toronto, and 21% in the Greater Montreal Area, used equity from their primary residence to make the purchase
• 65% of secondary property owners in Greater Vancouver, 64% in the Greater Toronto Area and 35% in the Greater Montreal Area, are collecting rental income, at least...

Survey Highlights:

• 40% of boomer homeowners have at least half of their net wealth in real estate
• 52% of boomer homeowners would prefer to renovate their current property over moving
• 17% of boomer homeowners currently own more than one property
• 64% of boomer homeowners are mortgage-free
• 25% of boomers say they have or would assist a child financially to buy a home

TORONTO, June 30, 2021 – According to a recent Royal LePage survey of boomers in Canada, defined by StatsCan as having been born...

Highlights:

• 75% of first-time homebuyers in Toronto and 69% in Vancouver reported feeling worried that they would not have a large enough down payment to purchase a home (68% and 58% in 2019, respectively)
• In Montreal, 63% of survey respondents felt worried about the size of their down payment before purchasing their first home, in line with the national average of 62%
• First-time homebuyers in all regions, with the exception of Alberta and the Prairies, reported higher rates of anxiety compared to...

Royal LePage Survey: Nearly half of Canadians aged 25 to 35 own their home; one quarter of these homeowners have purchased a property since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

52% say remote work has increased likelihood of moving further from employer

Highlights:

• 68% of non-homeowners aged 25 to 35 intend to purchase a home within five years
• 72% of cohort feels confident in their short-term financial outlook
• 40% of cohort saw their savings grow since mid-March
• Royal LePage survey includes national,...

• Price of detached homes continue to outpace condominiums as Canadians trade location for square footage
• Despite strong push toward the suburbs, Toronto and Montreal single-family homes see double-digit price gains in city centres
• Median price of a two-storey home in Greater Vancouver rises 8.8% as buyers prioritize square footage
• Out-of-region buyers spur Maritimes’ home prices, as option of remote work and demand for large, affordable properties grows
• Aggregate...