Vancouver real estate sales up 44.9% in February

February saw a steady home buyer demand and a reduced home seller supply across Metro Vancouver. The latest data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) stated that 2,150 homes were sold in February 2020, a 44.9-per-cent increase year-over-year. On a month-over-month basis, sales decreased by 22.1 per cent. Last month’s sales, based on the 10-year February sales average, were down 15.6 per cent.

“Home buyer demand again saw strong year-over-year increases in February while the total inventory of homes for sale struggled to keep pace. This was most pronounced in the condominium market,” REBGV President Ashley Smith commented in the real estate board of Greater Vancouver’s release.

Vancouver Housing Market Sees Increase In Home Listings

There were 4,002 homes newly listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver in February 2020, representing a 2.8 per-cent increase to the 3,892 homes listed in February 2019 and a 3.4 per-cent increase from January 2020 when 3,872 homes were listed.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 9,195, which is a 20.7 per-cent decrease compared to February 2019 and a 6.7 per-cent increase compared to January 2020.

“Our Realtors are reporting increased traffic at open houses and multiple offer scenarios in certain pockets of the market. If you’re considering listing your home for sale, now is a good time to act with increased demand, reduced competition from other sellers, and some upward pressure on prices,” says Smith.

The sales-to-active listings ratio for all property types for February 2020 is 23.4 per-cent, broken down into ratios of 17.3 per-cent for detached homes, 26.9 per-cent for townhomes, and 28.4 per-cent for apartments.

Vancouver Housing Prices

The MLS® Home Price Index benchmark price for all Metro Vancouver residential properties is currently $1,020,600, which represents a 0.3 per-cent increase over February 2019 and a 2.7 per-cent increase over the past 6 months.

Vancouver Housing Market Outlook 2020

In its 2020 Housing Market Outlook, RE/MAX calls for home prices in Vancouver East to rise by 8 per cent in 2020, to $1,120,313, while prices in Vancouver West are expected to rise by 4 per cent, to $2,187,363. This expectation is based on an increase in buyer confidence returning to the market, as well as continued population growth and price increases.

Vancouver Market Stats Archive

Vancouver real estate prices and sales up in January, inventory down

Vancouver real estate prices continue to rise despite a decline in home listing activity. The latest data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) stated that 1,571 homes were sold in January 2020, a 42.4-per-cent increase year-over-year. On a month-over-month basis, sales decreased by 22.1 per cent. Last month’s sales, based on the 10-year January sales average, were down 7.3 per cent.

“We’ve begun 2020 with a steady home buyer demand that tracks close to the region’s long-term average. Looking at supply, we’re seeing fewer homes listed for sale than is typical for this time of year,” REBGV President Ashley Smith commented in the real estate board of Greater Vancouver’s release earlier today. “As we approach the traditionally more active spring market, we’ll keep a close eye on supply to see if the number of homes being listed is keeping pace with demand.”

Despite the rise in real estate prices year-over-year, the benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver has decreased 1.2 per-cent year over year, coming in at $1,008,700 in January 2020. The sales of detached homes reached 439, an increase of 29.5 per cent from January 2019 with the benchmark price for detached homes is $1,431,200. This number reflects a 1.7 per cent decrease year over year. The benchmark price for apartments is $663,200, based on the 814 homes that were sold in January 2020. This number reflects a 45.6 per cent increase in sales year over year, while the benchmark price shows a 1 per cent decrease from January 2019. Attached home sales in January 2020 came to 318, a 55.1 per cent increase year over year, while the benchmark price of an attached unit is $782,500, a 0.7 per cent decrease from January 2019.

The sales-to-active listings ratio for January 2020 is 18.2 per cent for all property types. Breaking this down into property types, the ratio is 11.6 per cent for detached homes, 22.6 per cent for townhomes, and 23.9 per cent for apartments. Analysts generally say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio drops below 12 per cent for an extended length of time. Home prices often see upward pressure when that ratio surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

In its 2020 Housing Market Outlook, RE/MAX calls for home prices in Vancouver East to rise by 8 per cent in 2020, to $1,120,313, while prices in Vancouver West are expected to rise by 4 per cent, to $2,187,363. This expectation is based on an increase in buyer confidence returning to the market, as well as continued population growth and price increases.