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Home sales and listings just below 10-year average
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 2016 has been anything but a normal year for the Metro Vancouver housing market, supply and demand totals have returned to more historically normal levels over the last few months,” said Dan Morrison, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president. New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 3,147 in November 2016. This represents a decrease of 20.9 per cent compared to the 3,981 units listed in October 2016 and a 7.2 per cent decrease compared to November 2015 when 3,392 properties were listed. Last month’s new listing count was 1.2 per cent below the region’s 10-year new listing average for the month. The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,385, an 8.3 per cent decrease compared to October 2016 (9,143) and a 3.6 per cent increase compared to November 2015 (8,096). The sales-to-active listings ratio for November 2016 is 26.4 per cent. This is up two per cent from last month (24.4 per cent). Downward pressure on home prices can occur when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices can experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months. “Demand, relative to supply, for detached homes is lower right now than demand for townhomes and apartments,” Morrison said. “This is causing prices to remain stable, or flat, for townhomes and apartments, while detached homes are seeing modest month-over-moth declines.” The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $908,300. This represents a 1.2 per cent decrease compared to last month and a 20.5 per cent increase compared to November 2015. Sales of detached properties in November 2016 reached 638, a decrease of 2.1 per cent from the 652 detached sales recorded in October 2016 and a 52.2 per cent decline over November 2015. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,511,100. This represents a 2.2 per cent decline compared to last month and a 23 per cent increase compared to November 2015. Sales of apartment properties reached 1,200 in November 2016, an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to the 1,178 sales in October 2016 and a 22.7 per cent decrease compared to November 2015.The benchmark price of an apartment property is $512,100. This is unchanged from last month and is an 18 per cent increase compared to November 2015. Attached property sales in November 2016 totalled 376, a decrease of 6.7 per cent compared to the 403 sales in October 2016 and a 40.9 per cent decline compared to November 2015. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $667,100. This represents a 0.3 per cent decrease compared to last month and a 23 per cent increase compared to November 2015. |
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Karel Palla & Darryl Sjerven
City of Vancouver Approves Empty Homes Tax
The City of Vancouver has approved an Empty Homes Tax aimed at boosting rental rates in our city’s incredibly hot market.
All non-principal residences left unoccupied for at least six months of the year will be subject to a 1% tax on the assessed value of the property, as of 2017.
The new tax is aimed at tackling affordability issues and increasing rental supply in Vancouver, where it is becoming impossible to even find a place to rent, let alone buy.
According to the City, more than 22,000 homes in Vancouver were found to be unoccupied or occupied by temporary residents on Census Day in May 2011.
Meanwhile, this year the City found 10,800 homes were not occupied, and concluded that put a strain on a housing market that’s already stretched to capacity.
There will be some exemptions on which land and homes are subject to the tax, including .
- -properties are undergoing major renovations, under construction or in redevelopment...
RE/MAX 2016 Spotlight on Luxury Properties Report
Check out the RE/MAX 2016 Spotlight on Luxury Report!
Sales of homes priced over $1 million were up year-over-year in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Victoria and Oakville in the rst nine months of 2016. In the Greater Toronto Area and Vancouver, Canada’s largest high-end housing markets, sales of $3 million-plus homes saw signi cant increases, of 86 per cent in the GTA and 41 per cent in Vancouver.
While Vancouver sales of $1 million properties were up by three per cent overall, single-family home sales in that range declined by seven per cent year-over-year. One factor contributing to this decrease is the foreign buyer tax implemented by the provincial government in August, which has resulted in slowing demand for single-family detached homes from o -shore buyers. Additionally, higher inventory of luxury homes may be lessening buyers’ sense of urgency.
Click on the icon below to read the full report.
Home Sale and Listing Activity Below Historical Averages in October but Prices Are Up 25% Compared To Last Year
Home sale and listing activity dip below historical averages in October
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 market conditions compounded by a series of government interventions this year have put home buyers and sellers in a holding pattern,” Dan Morrison, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president said. “Potential buyers and sellers are taking a wait-and-see approach to try and better understand what these changes mean for them.”
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 3,981 in October 2016. This represents a decrease...
September 2016 Real Estate Stats. - Home Buyers and Sellers Face Changing Market Dynamics
Home buyers and sellers face changing market dynamics
Metro Vancouver* home sales dipped below the 10-year monthly sales average last month. This is the first time this has occurred in the region since May 2014.
Metro Vancouver home sales totalled 2,253 in September 2016, a decrease of 32.6 per cent from the 3,345 sales recorded in September 2015 and a decrease of 9.5 per cent compared to August 2016 when 2,489 homes sold.
Last month’s sales were 9.6 per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month.
“Supply and demand conditions differ today depending on property type,” Dan Morrison, REBGV president said. “We’re seeing more demand for condominiums and townhomes today than in the detached home market.”
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 4,799 in September 2016. This represents a decrease of one per cent compared to the 4,846 units listed in September 2015 and an 11.8 per cent increase compared...
Federal Government Changes Mortgage Insurance Rules
Federal government changes mortgage insurance rules
The federal government announced regulation changes for new government-backed insured mortgages today. Effective October 17, 2016, insured homebuyers will have to qualify at the posted five-year qualifying rate. Previously, only variable rate mortgages and mortgages with terms less than five years were subject to a higher qualifying rate.
The qualifying rate is updated weekly and available on the Bank of Canada website. The current rate is 4.64 per cent, about 200 basis points higher than the best bank offered rates.
To qualify for mortgage insurance, a homebuyer's debt servicing ratio must be no higher than:
• Gross Debt Service – 39 per cent of household income, including mortgage payment, taxes, and heating costs.
• Total Debt Service – 44 per cent of household income, including mortgage payment, taxes, heating costs, and all other debt payments
These changes will apply to new mortgage...
British Columbia Housing Demand Remains Strong
BC Housing Demand Remains Strong Despite Fewer Vancouver Home Sales
Vancouver, BC – September 13, 2016. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that 8,945 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in August, up 1.5 per cent from the same month last year. Total sales dollar volume was $5.1 billion in August, down 6.7 per cent compared to the previous year. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $569,393, a decline of 8.1 per cent compared to the same month last year.
"Strong housing demand across most regions of the province offset slowing home sales in Vancouver last month," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "The newly introduced 15 per cent foreign buyer tax combined with the 3 per cent property transfer tax on homes over $2 million brought in earlier this year, slowed demand at the top end of the market in Vancouver last month."
"The decline in the average home price was due to a change...
Metro Vancouver House Sales in August 2016 Return to Typical August Levels
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Metro Vancouver home sales return to typical August levels
VANCOUVER, BC – September 2, 2016 – For the second straight month, home buyer demand in Metro Vancouver* moved off of the record-breaking pace seen earlier this year and returned to more typical levels.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Metro Vancouver totalled 2,489 in August 2016, a decline of 26 per cent compared to the 3,362 sales in August 2015; 10.2 per cent less than the 2,771 sales in August 2014; and one per cent less than the 2,514 sales in August 2013. August 2016 sales also represent a 22.8 per cent decline compared to last month’s sales.
From a historical perspective, last month’s sales were 3.5 per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month.
“The record-breaking sales we saw earlier this year were replaced by more historically normal activity throughout July and August,” Dan Morrison, REBGV president said. "Sales have been trending downward in Metro Vancouver for a few months. The new foreign buyer tax appears to have added to this trend by reducing foreign buyer activity and causing some uncertainty amongst local home buyers and sellers.
“It’ll take some months before we can really understand the impact of the new tax. We'll be interested to see the government's next round of foreign buyer data."
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 4,293 in August 2016. This represents an increase of 0.3 per cent compared to the 4,281 units listed in August 2015 and an 18.1 per cent decrease compared to July 2016 when 5,241 properties were listed.
The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver is 8,506, a 21.9 per cent decline compared to August 2015 (10,897) and a 1.9 per cent increase from July 2016 (8,351).
The sales-to-active listings ratio for August 2016 is 29.3 per cent. This is indicative of a seller’s market.
Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it reaches the 20 to 22 per cent range in a particular community for a sustained period.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $933,100. This represents a 31.4 per cent increase compared to August 2015 and a 4.9 per cent increase over the last three months.
“In aggregate, we continue to see an imbalance between supply and demand in most communities. However, we’re also seeing fewer detached sales in the highest price points and fewer detached home sales relative to all residential sales,” Morrison said. “This is causing average sale prices to show a decline in recent months, while benchmark home prices remain virtually unchanged from July.”
The average price is the simplest home price measure to explain but is not the most accurate since it may be skewed by the mix of properties. More high-end or low-end sales will skew the number up or down. Based on the Consumer Price Index, MLS HPI® benchmark prices are a more reliable and stable indicator of typical home prices across regions over time.
Sales of detached properties in August 2016 reached 715, a decrease of 44.6 per cent from the 1,290 detached sales recorded in August 2015. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 35.8 per cent from August 2015 to $1,577,300. This represents a 4.2 per cent increase over the last three months.
Sales of apartment properties reached 1,343 in August 2016, a decrease of 10.1 per cent compared to the 1,494 sales in August 2015.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 26.9 per cent from August 2015 to $514,300. This represents a 6.1 per cent increase over the last three months.
Attached property sales in August 2016 totalled 431, a decrease of 25.4 per cent compared to the 578 sales in August 2015. The benchmark price of an attached home increased 31.1 per cent from August 2015 to $677,600. This represents a 7.1 per cent increase over the last three months.
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July 2016 Metro Vancouver Homes Sales Moderated to Typical Levels
Home sales move off of record-breaking pace in July
Metro Vancouver* homes sales resembled more typical levels in July.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in the region totalled 3,226 in July 2016, a decrease of 18.9 per cent from the 3,978 sales recorded in July 2015 and a decrease of 26.7 per cent compared to June 2016 when 4,400 homes sold.
This is the first time since January that home sales in the region have registered below 4,000 in a month.
“After several months of record-breaking sales activity, home buyer demand returned to more historically normal levels in July,” Dan Morrison, REBGV president said.
Last month’s sales were 6.5 per cent above the 10-year sales average for the month.
“Home sale activity showed some moderating signs in late June and this carried into July,” Morrison said. “We’ll wait and watch over the next few months to see if this marks the return...
British Columbia Government Introduces 15 Per Cent Foreign Buyer Tax To Take Effect August 2nd
Clarification on the foreign buyer tax
We’ve had questions regarding who'll be exempt from this tax. You’ll be exempt from paying the new tax if you:
• Are a Canadian citizen, even if you live abroad; or
• Are legally classified as a “permanent resident” - someone who’s been given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada, but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents will have a valid permanent resident card issued by the Canadian government. Click here for more information on permanent residency.
We’ve also clarified this information in the below article we sent you earlier today.
Government to introduce a 15 per cent foreign buyer tax effective August 2
The provincial government will implement a 15 per cent foreign buyer tax on all residential transactions effective August 2, 2016. The tax will be added to the Property Transfer Tax and will apply to all residential properties purchased by foreign nationals or...
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