Category: B.C. Real Estate News

British Columbia Real Estate News Stories And Articles

BCREA: BC Real Estate Statistics and Housing Market Update for February 2014

B.C. Real Estate News, Kamloops Real Estate Statistics

BCREA: BC Real Estate Statistics and Housing Market Update for February 2014. I have included the BC Real Estate Association’s report for this month. BCREA Chief Economist Cameron Muir discuss the January 2014 statistics and how the cancellation of the Federal Immigrant Investor Program will impact the housing market. See video below and full article from BCREA is included below the video.

Strongest January Residential Sales Since 2010
Muted Impact Expected From Cancelled Investor Immigrant Program

Vancouver, BC – February 14, 2014.  The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 4,244 residential sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in January, up 24.5 per cent from January 2013. Total sales dollar volume was $2.4 billion, an increase of 36.8 per cent compared to a year ago. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $565,036, up 9.9 per cent from the same period last year.

MLS Residential Sales BC January 2014 Real Estate

“Residential sales activity in the province posted the strongest January since 2010,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Consumer demand has recovered from last year’s lower levels and is now trending at the long-term average.” The ten-year average for January is 4,276 unit sales.

“Stronger economic conditions are expected to underpin a modest uptick in home sales later this year,” added Muir.

The demise of the federal Immigrant Investor Program is expected to have little impact on the Metro Vancouver housing market. “The only impact we foresee is less pressure on the inventory of detached homes in Vancouver’s West Side, Richmond and West Vancouver,” said Muir.

The number of investor immigrant landings peaked at 5,876 in 2008 before declining to just 2,644 in 2012, with a similar number expected for 2013. These numbers include spouses and dependents. The total number of added households is estimated to be between 900 and 1,000 per year since 2011.

CMHC British Columbia Housing Market Outlook 2014 and 2015

B.C. Real Estate News

CMHC Canadian Mortgage and Housing CorporationVICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Feb. 6, 2014) – According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) First Quarter Housing Market Outlook British Columbia Highlights report, housing starts in British Columbia are forecast to total 27,800 homes in 2014 and remain at that level in 2015.

“While the level of housing starts is projected to remain the same on an annual basis this year and next, expect a slight shift toward single-detached housing starts as the economy and labour market gain traction,” noted Carol Frketich, CMHC’s BC Regional Economist. “Single-detached housing starts are forecast to increase this year and next while multiple housing starts are expected to remain relatively unchanged.”

Existing home sales through the Multiple Listings Service (MLS) are forecast to total 76,000 units in 2014 and 77,300 units in 2015. The average home price is forecast at $542,500 in 2014 and $547,100 in 2015. Last year’s upward trend in the average home price is expected to lead to increased new listings in 2014. With the increased supply of existing homes for sale providing more choice to homebuyers, the average home price is forecast to grow at a pace slower than the general rate of inflation.

Click here to review the CMHC Housing Market Reports

For more information, visit CMHC.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

Housing Demand to Trend Higher, BCREA 2014 First Quarter Housing Forecast Update

B.C. Real Estate News
MLS Residential Sales BC January 2014

Click to enlarge

Vancouver, BC – January 30, 2014. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2014 First Quarter Housing Forecast Update today.

BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are forecast to increase 4.8 per cent to 76,450 units this year, before increasing a further 7 per cent to 81,800 units in 2015. The five-year average is 75,400 unit sales, while the ten-year average is 84,400 unit sales. A record 106,300 MLS® residential sales were recorded in 2005.

“Housing demand in the province has nearly fully recovered from the 2012 downturn,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Over the next year, BC will be the beneficiary of more robust global economic growth, led by a resurgent US economy and a favourable exchange rate. The resulting boost in employment will help underpin the housing market.”

“Home prices are not expected to climb much higher than the overall inflation rate as housing starts are expected to keep pace with consumer demand, added Muir. The average MLS® residential price is forecast to increase 1.8 per cent to $547,300 this year and a further 1.7 per cent to $556,800 in 2015.

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