News: Vancouver Real Estate Market

While the Metro Vancouver market ended 2023 in balanced market territory, in January conditions began shifting back in favor of sellers as the pace of newly listed properties did not keep up with the jump in home sales.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that in the region residential sales totaled 1,427 in January 2024, a 38.5% increase from the 1,030 sales recorded in January 2023. This was 20.2% below the 10-year seasonal average (1,788).

“It’s hard to believe that...

In September 2020 the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totaled 3,643. This is a 56.2% increase from the 2,333 sales recorded in September 2019 and a 19.6% increase from the 3,047 homes sold in August 2020.

"We've seen robust home sale and listing activity across Metro Vancouver throughout the summer months," Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair said. "This increased activity can be attributed, in part, to lower interest rates and changing housing...

In August 2020, residential home sales in the region totaled 3,047 according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). This is a 36.6% increase from the 2,231 sales recorded in August 2019 and a 2.6% decrease from the 3,128 homes sold in July 2020.

"People who put their home buying and selling plans on hold in the spring have been returning to the market throughout the summer," Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair said. "Like everything else in our lives these days, the uncertainty COVID-19 presents...

In July 2020, the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reported a total of 10,090 residential unit sales recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). This showed an increase of 26.6% from the same month last year. The average MLS® residential price in BC was $770,810, a 12.9% increase from $682,702 recorded the previous year. Total sales dollar volume in July was $7.8 billion, a 43% increase over 2019.

"The strong recovery in sales activity continued in July," said BCREA...

In July 2020, residential home sales in the region totaled 3,128 according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). This represents a 22.3% increase from the 2,557 sales recorded in July 2019 and a 28% increase from the 2,443 homes sold in June 2020.

"We're seeing the results today of pent up activity, from both home buyers and sellers, that had been accumulating in our market throughout the year," Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair said. "Low-interest rates and limited overall supply are also...

Royal LePage revises Canadian home price forecast upwards to 2.3% by year-end 2020, as low rates and pent-up demand face limited housing supply.

What does this mean for Greater Vancouver?

In the second quarter, the aggregate price of a home in Greater Vancouver increased by 1.9% year-over-year to $1,109,069. Based on housing type, the median price of a standard two-storey home in Greater Vancouver increased by 3.7% year-over-year to $1,455,027 in the second quarter. During the same period, the median...

Residential home sales in the region totalled 2,443 in June 2020 accroding to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). This is a 17.6% increase from 2,077 sales recorded in June 2019 and a 64.5% increase from the 1,485 homes sold in May 2020.

"REALTORS® continue to optimize new technology tools and practices to help their clients meet their housing needs in a safe and responsible way," Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair said "Over the last three months, home buyers and sellers have become...

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) has released its 2020 Second Quarter Forecast. According to the release, a 21% decline in Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales to approximately 61,000 units this year, after recording 77,347 residential sales in 2019. MLS® residential sales are forecast to increase by 45.3% to 88,500 units in 2021.

"The bright outlook for 2020 home sales has been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession," said Brendon Ogmundson,...

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver today is $1,028,400 according to The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). This is virtually unchanged from April 2020, a 1.4% increase over the last three months, and a 2.9% increase compared to May 2019.

"Home prices have been stable during the COVID-19 period," Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair said. "While we're seeing a variety of long-term projections for the market, it's critical to...

The Contract of Purchase and Sale (CPS) is one of the key documents used in a real estate transaction. The attached video created by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) will help you understand and answer some of the common questions, such as:

• When does the process begin and when is the Contract of Purchase and Sale used?
• What do the terms in the contract mean?
• What information is included in the Contract of Purchase and Sale?

If you want to know more about the CPS form, feel free...

According to the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), there was a total of 3,284 residential units recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April 2020. This is a decline of 50.8% from April 2019.

The average MLS® residential price in BC was $737,834, a 7.8% increase from $684,430 recorded the previous year. Total sales dollar volume in March was $2.4 billion, a 46.9% decrease over 2019.

"We expected to see a sharp drop in sales for April as we confronted the COVID-19...

In April 2020, the residential home sales in the region totaled 1,109 as per the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV). This is a 39.4% decrease from the 1,829 sales recorded in April 2019 and a 56.1% decrease from the 2,524 homes sold in March 2020.

"Predictably, the number of home sales and listings declined in April given the physical distancing measures in place," Colette Gerber, REBGV’s president-elect said. "People are, however, adapting. They’re working with their Realtors...

Canada's aggregate home prices are predicted to grow 1% by the end of 2020 in a best-case scenario. If the restrictions remain in place through late summer, a national home price decrease of 3% is expected by the end of 2020. In the first quarter of 2020, the aggregate home price in Canada climbed 4.4% year-over-year.

Where does Greater Vancouver stand in all of this?

During the first quarter of 2020, the aggregate price of a home in Greater Vancouver decreased by 2.1% year-over-year to $1,083,166...

In the past 40 years, the Canadian economy has had three recessions, each of them different in cause, depth, and duration. The 2020 COVID-19 recession is said to be deep, but will not last long when compared to past recessions. The one glaring similarity throughout these recessions is how the BC housing market has both endured and recovered successfully.

According to the current forecast, the Canadian economy is said to contract approximately by 4% in the first quarter of 2020, followed by a startling...

The BC Temporary Rental Supplement (BC-TRS) Program aims at offering up to $500 a month to assist renters and landlords during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is part of the province's $5 billion action plan and payments are made directly to the landlords of eligible households. Tenants should inform their landlords that they are applying for the BC-TRS.

What do you need to know about the program?

• The program will be a temporary rental supplement for April, May and June 2020.
• Applicants will only have...

In March 2020, the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), reported a total of 6,717 residential unit sales recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). This is a 17.2% increase from March 2019. The average MLS® residential price in BC was $789,548, a 15.1% increase from $685,592 recorded the previous year. The total sales dollar volume showed an increase of 35%, to $5.3 billion over 2019.

"Provincial housing markets started the month very strong before the COVID-19 pandemic...

The beginning of March saw a steady buyer demand in Metro Vancouver's housing market and a levelling off of activity as the month went on and concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak intensified.

According to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), residential home sales in the region totalled 2,524 in March 2020, a 46.1% increase from the 1,727 sales recorded in March 2019, and a 17.4% increase from the 2,150 homes sold in February 2020.

Sales from last month were 19.9% below the 10-year...

The residential home sales in the region reached 2,150 in February 2020, a 44.9% increase when compared to the 1,484 sales that were recorded in February 2019, and a 36.9% increase from the 1,571 homes sold in January 2020 as reported by The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV).

Last month's sales were 15.6% below the 10-year February sales average.

"Home buyer demand again saw strong year-over-year increases in February while the total inventory of homes for sale struggled to keep pace,"...

The aggregate price of a home in Canada increased 2.2% year-over-year to $648,544 in the fourth quarter of 2019 as reported by the Royal LePage House Price Survey. As we have seen in the third quarter, potential buyers are continuosly coming back to the real estate market.

Buyers stayed in the sidelines during the first half of 2019, trying to guage the potential impact of the federal mortgage stress test."The federal government has signaled that changes could come to the mortgage stress test mechanism...

The median prices of luxury homes in Greater Vancouver decreased by 6.7% year-over-year to $5,394,594 during the twelve-month period ending January 31, 2020. There was also a deacrese of 4.4% in Luxury apartment-style condominiums to $2,411,773.

Greater Vancouver luxury homes were showing year-over-year declines in median prices for both houses and condominiums over the twelve-month period. Since October 2019, a significant boost in luxury unit sales were observed and this is moving the market towards...

In January 2020, a total of 4,426 residential units were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), as reposted by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). This was an increase of 23.7% when compared to 3,579 units sold in January 2019.

The total sales dollar volume was $3.2 billion in January, which is a 35% increase over 2019. The average MLS® residential price in BC was $725,370, a 9.1% increase from $664,633 recorded the previous year.

"Housing markets in BC are...

According to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), the residential home sales in the region hit 1,571 in January 2020. This is a 42.4% increase from the January 2019 sales of 1,103 and a 22.1% decrease from the December 2019 sales of 2,016.

The sales were at 7.3%, which was 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...

What does it mean for B.C.?

The Greater Vancouver market saw signs of heading towards recovery in the fourth quarter, after a year-over-year decline. There was a 4.8% decrease in the aggregate price of a home in Greater Vancouver year-over-year to hit $1,107,719 in the fourth quarter of 2019. The aggregate price of a home in the third quarter of 2019, had decreased 5.2% compared to the same time last year.

Greater Vancouver's real estate market was fairly balanced in the fourth quarter according to...

The Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) recorded a total of 77,331 residential unit sales in 2019, a decrease of 1.5% from the 78,516 units sold in 2018 as reported by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). Furthermore, the total sales dollar volume was $54.2 billion, a 3% decrease from 2018. The previous year saw an average annual MLS® residential price at $711,564, when compared to $700,460, a decrease of 1.6%.

According to the BCREA Cheif Economist Brendon Ogmundson, "Housing...

What does this mean for us?

Greater Vancouver house prices will see a stabilization in 2020. The aggregate prices for homes is forecasted to hit $1,125,200, an increase if 1.5% in 2020. For two-storey homes the prices are expected to rise to $1,460,700, a rise of 1.25% year-over-year. Median prices for condominiums is also said to rise to $666,900, a 3.0% increase by the end of next year.

According to Randy Ryalls, Managing Broker, Royal LePage Sterling Realty, "Sales have picked up significantly...

According to the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) report, there were 6,616 residential unit sales recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in November. This showed an increase of 27.5% from the same month last year. The MLS® recorded an average residential price in the province at $746,939, an increase of 5.5% from November 2018. The total sales volume saw a 34.4% increase to reach $4.94 billion, compared to the same month last year.

"After several months of strong...

There has been a pickup in home sale activity in the Metro Vancouver housing market.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales of detached, attached and apartment properties reached 2,858 in October 2019, a 45.4% increase from the 1,966 sales recorded in October 2018, and a 22.5% increase from the 2,333 homes sold in September 2019.

Sales for last month were 9.8% above the 10-year October sales average."Home buyers have more confidence today than we saw...

April 04, 2018 - The desire of some well-meaning British Columbians for government to drive down the price of homes through demand-side policy may sound practical at first blush. However, when you consider the broad and deep economic toll that a negative shock to home prices would exact on both homeowners and renters, it quickly becomes apparent that such an approach is at best, a mug’s game. BCREA Economics analysis* shows that even a relatively modest negative price shock will produce significant...

VANCOUVER, BC – April 4, 2018 – Home buyers and sellers were less active in Metro Vancouver* throughout the first quarter of 2018.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 2,517 in March 2018, a 29.7 per cent decrease from the 3,579 sales recorded in March 2017, and a 14 per cent increase compared to February 2018 when 2,207 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 23 per cent below the 10-year March sales...

VANCOUVER, BC – March 2, 2018 – Metro Vancouver* home sales dipped below the longterm historical average in February.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in the region totalled 2,207 in February 2018, a nine per cent decrease from the 2,424 sales recorded in February 2017, and a 21.4 per cent increase compared to January 2018 when 1,818 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 14.4 per cent below the 10-year February...

VANCOUVER, BC – February 2, 2018 – Attached and apartment homes are in demand across Metro Vancouver* while detached home buyers are facing less competition today.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 1,818 in January 2018, a 19.4 per cent increase from the 1,523 sales recorded in January 2017, and a 9.8 per cent decrease compared to December 2017 when 2,016 homes sold.

Last month’s sales...

Vancouver, BC – January 12, 2018. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 103,763 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® ) across the province in 2017, a decline of 7.5 per cent from a record 112,211 unit sales in 2016. The average MLS® residential price in BC was $709,579 in 2017, up 2.7 per cent from the previous year. Total sales dollar volume was $73.63 billion, down 5.1 per cent from 2016.

"Robust...

 While competition within the region's condominium market stiffened, two-storey home values came back to life during the quarter, posting strong year-over-year gains New Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions' rules boost price appreciation and sales activity in the region's overheated entry-level market

 VANCOUVER, January 10, 2018 – According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey1 released today, exceptionally low inventory levels and growing demand fueled home price...

VANCOUVER, BC – January 3, 2018 – After reaching record levels in 2015 and 2016, Metro Vancouver* home sales returned to more historically normal levels in 2017. Home listings, on the other hand, came in several thousand units below typical activity.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that sales of detached, attached and apartment properties reached 35,993 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® ) in 2017, a 9.9 per cent decrease from the 39,943...

Affordability issues and mortgage regulations spur activity in the region’s entry-level market

Price gap between condominiums and two-storey homes continues to narrow, benefiting move-up buyers

 VANCOUVER, October 12, 2017 – According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey 1 released today, sales activity and consumer confidence across the Greater Vancouver residential real estate market continued to recover in the third quarter of 2017. While home price appreciation softened in the...

VANCOUVER, BC – September 5, 2017 – Competition for condominiums and townhomes pushed Metro Vancouver* home sales above typical levels in August.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in the region totalled 3,043 in August 2017, a 22.3 per cent increase from the 2,489 sales recorded in August 2016, and a 2.8 per cent increase compared to July 2017 when 2,960 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 19.6 per cent above...

Greater Vancouver Home Price Appreciation Dips to Single-Digit Gains in Second Quarter of 2017 

Low inventory coupled with an uptick in buyers maintain the region's seller's market

VANCOUVER, July 13, 2017 – According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey1 and Market Survey Forecast released today, the aggregate price of a home in Greater Vancouver rose 2.6 per cent year-over-year to an aggregate 2 price of $1,181,309 – a marked slowdown from the double-digit year-over-year home...

 Vancouver, BC – July 13, 2017. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 11,671 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® ) in June, down 9.6 per cent from the same period last year. Total sales dollar volume was $8.47 billion, down 5.6 per cent from June 2016. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $725,778, a 4.4 per cent increase from the same period last year.

"Although home...

VANCOUVER, BC – July 5, 2017 – The imbalance between supply and demand in the condominium market is creating home buyer competition across Metro Vancouver*.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in the region totalled 3,893 in June 2017, an 11.5 per cent decrease from the 4,400 sales recorded in June 2016, an all-time record, and a decrease of 10.8 per cent compared to May 2017 when 4,364 homes sold.

Last month’s...

 Vancouver, BC–June 13, 2017. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 12,402 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® ) in May, down 7.9 per cent from the same period last year. Total sales dollar volume was $9.33 billion, down 4.0 per cent from May 2017. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $752,536, a 4.2 per cent increase from the same period last year.

"Market conditions...

 June 2, 2017 - Residential property sales in the region totalled 4,364 in May 2017, a decrease of 8.5 per cent from the 4,769 sales in May 2016, an all-time record, and an increase of 22.8 per cent compared to April 2017 when 3,553 homes sold.

Last month's sales were 23.7 per cent above the 10-year May sales average and is the thirdhighest selling May on record.

"Demand for condominiums and townhomes is driving today's activity," Jill Oudil, Real Estate Board of Greater...

VANCOUVER, BC – February 2, 2017 – Home sales and listings trends are below long-term averages in the Metro Vancouver* housing market. This is due largely to reduced activity in the detached home market.

Residential property sales in the region totalled 1,523 in January 2017, a 39.5 per cent decrease from the 2,519 sales recorded in January 2016 and an 11.1 per cent decrease compared to December 2016 when 1,714 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 10.3 per cent below...

Vancouver, BC – January 13, 2017. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a record 112,209 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in 2016, an increase of 9.5 per cent from the previous year. Total sales dollar volume was a record $77.6 billion, up 18.8 per cent from 2015. The average MLS® residential price in the province climbed 8.6 per cent to $691,144 on an annual basis in 2016.

“Broad-based consumer...

VANCOUVER, BC – December 2, 2016 – Home buyer and seller activity remains near historical averages in the Metro Vancouver* housing market.

Residential home sales in the region totalled 2,214 in November 2016, a decrease of 0.9 per cent from the 2,233 sales recorded in October 2016 and a decrease of 37.2 per cent compared to November 2015 when 3,524 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 7.6 per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month.

“While...

VANCOUVER, BC – November 2, 2016 – Reduced home sale and listing activity are changing market dynamics in communities across Metro Vancouver*.

Residential property sales in the region totalled 2,233 in October 2016, a 38.8 per cent decrease from the 3,646 sales recorded in October 2015 and a 0.9 per cent decrease compared to September 2016 when 2,253 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 15 per cent below the 10-year October sales average.

“Changing...

Home buyers remain active across Metro Vancouver despite a reduced supply of homes for sale.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in *Metro Vancouver reached 3,646 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in October 2015. This represents a 19.3 per cent increase compared to the 3,057 sales recorded in October 2014, and a 9 per cent increase compared to the 3,345 sales in September 2015.

Last month's sales were 36.2 per...

VANCOUVER, B.C. - October 2, 2015 - Conditions continue to favour home sellers across *Metro Vancouver's housing market. 

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Metro Vancouver reached 3,345 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in September 2015. This represents a 14.5 per cent increase compared to the 2,922 sales recorded in September 2014, and a 0.5 per cent decrease compared to the 3,362 sales in August 2015. Last...

Metro Vancouver* home buyers spent the summer months searching for their next home. Between June and August, home sales were between 25 and 30 per cent above the ten-year sales average.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Metro Vancouver reached 3,362 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in August 2015. This represents a 21.3 per cent increase compared to the 2,771 sales recorded in August 2014, and a decrease of 15.5...

Metro Vancouver home sales were more than a third above the 10-year average in July, while the number of homes listed for sale continues to trend below recent years.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Metro Vancouver* reached 3,978 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in July 2015. This represents a 30 per cent increase compared to the 3,061 sales recorded in July 2014, and a decrease of 9.1 per cent compared to the...