Housing market cools

Home buyer demand continues to decline across the Metro Vancouver housing market.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), which includes the Sunshine Coast, reports that residential property sales in the region totalled 2,833 in May 2018, a 35.1-per-cent decrease from the 4,364 sales recorded in May 2017, and a 9.8 per cent increase compared to April 2018 when 2,579 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 19.3 per cent below the 10-year May sales average.

“With fewer homes selling today compared to recent years, the number of homes available for sale is rising,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said. “For home sellers to be successful in today’s market, it’s important to price your property competitively given the shifting dynamics we’re experiencing.”

There were 6,375 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in May 2018. This represents a 5.5 per cent increase compared to the 6,044 homes listed in May 2017 and a 9.5 per cent increase compared to April 2018 when 5,820 homes were listed.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,094,000. This is an 11.5 per cent increase over May 2017 and a 0.2 per cent increase compared to April 2018.  Submitted