Vigorous Housing Demand Unabated in August, BCREA

Vancouver, BC – September 11, 2015. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 8,811 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in August, up 20 per cent from the same month last year. Total sales dollar volume was $5.5 billion, a 32.8 per cent increase in comparison to the previous year. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $619,881, up 10.6 per cent from August 2014.

MLS Residential Sales September 2015“Housing demand continued at an elevated level in August,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “More homes were sold in BC during the first eight months of the year than in the entire 12 months of 2012.” A total of 67,637 residential transactions were recording in 2012, compared to 70,617 year-to-date in August.

“Many BC regions are now exhibiting sellers’ market conditions, with home prices rising well above the overall consumer price index,” added Muir. Eight of the 11 BC real estate boards recorded a higher average home price than a year ago.

The year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume increased 35.9 per cent to $44.3 billion, when compared with the same period in 2014. Residential unit sales climbed by 22.4 per cent to 70,617 units, while the average MLS® residential price was up 11.1 per cent to $627,008.

Housing Market Update (September 2015)

BC Home Sales to Reach 100,000 Units in 2015: BCREA 2015 Third Quarter Housing Forecast Update

Vancouver, BC – August 18, 2015. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2015 Third Quarter Housing Forecast Update today.

BC MLS Sales 2015 3rd QuarterFor only the third time in BC, Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are expected to reach 100,000 units in 2015. Housing demand has not been this robust since 2007 when 102,800 homes traded hands. A record 106,300 MLS® residential sales were recorded in 2005.

“While rock-bottom mortgage interest rates and BC’s nation leading economic growth are underpinning demand, consumer confidence is the key driver of the near record activity,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist.

Strong consumer demand has drawn down the inventory of homes for sale to their lowest level in nearly eight years. As a result, sellers’ market conditions are prevailing in many communities and causing home prices to be pushed higher. The average MLS® residential sales price in the province is forecast to climb 10 per cent to $626,000 this year.  An increase in new construction activity and a higher proportion of condominium purchases is expected to limit growth in the average home price to 2.5 per cent in 2016.

 

Elevated Home Sales Point to Strong Consumer Confidence, BCREA

Vancouver, BC – August 13, 2015. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 10,247 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in July, up 20.7 per cent from the same month last year. Total sales dollar volume was $6.2 billion, a 33.9 per cent increase in comparison to the previous year. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $608,294, an 11 per cent increase since last July.

MLS Residential Sales August 2015“Consumer confidence is brimming in the fastest growing economy in the country,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Broad-based consumer demand continues to push BC home sales higher in every region except the more resource dependent northern markets.”

“Tighter market conditions are driving home prices higher as supply struggles to keep up with demand,” added Muir.  The Fraser Valley experienced the strongest average price growth, climbing 13.5 per cent year-over-year to $571,700 on the strength of strong demand in the single-detached market.

The year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume increased 36.4 per cent to $38.8 billion, when compared with the same period in 2014. Residential unit sales climbed by 22.7 per cent to 61,806 units, while the average MLS® residential price rose 11.1 per cent to $628,025.

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