Category: B.C. Real Estate News

An interesting article from the Vancouver Sun.

“Real estate markets are cyclical but despite their ups and downs, home prices in Metro Vancouver have appreciated, on average, more than five per cent every year for the last 30 years.”

“That’s the good news that is inherent in investing in a home. If you are buying to live in your home, you couldn’t be making a better investment.”

Read the whole story here:

Link

Fewer Homes Being Added to the Market (BC Real Estate Association)

Vancouver, BC – September 12, 2008. British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 49 per cent to $2.2 billion in August, compared to August 2007. Residential unit sales were down 47 per cent to 5,175 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $421,685, down 4.1 per cent from August 2007.

“Fewer home sales and larger inventories have tilted most BC housing markets in favour of homebuyers,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “However, a significant decline in new listings last month may be a signal that potential home sellers are now taking a wait and see approach.”

New MLS® residential listings in August fell 22 per cent from July on a seasonally adjusted basis, the second largest month-over-month decline in 25 years.

Compared to July, nearly 2,000 fewer active MLS® residential listings were available in the province, a decline of 3 per cent. “Home seller fatigue is now a possibility, as slower demand and competition among sellers lessen the chance of a timely sale,” added Muir.

Year-to-date MLS® residential sales dollar volume in the province declined 22 per cent to $25.4 billion compared to the same period last year. Transactions declined 27 per cent to 54,635 units, while the average residential price increased 7 per cent to $465,132 over the same period.