Steve Flynn  RE/MAX Crest Realty- Burnaby 

Cell: 604.785.3977 |

Categories
RSS

Seasonally-adjusted Canadian retail sales fell by 1.2% in October to $50.9 billion, driven by lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers and at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers. Retail sales were down in 8 of 11 sub-sectors, representing 81% of retail sales. Regionally, 6 of 10 provinces reported declines in October, led by Ontario (-2%), Quebec (-1.7%) and Saskatchewan (-1.7%). In contrast, increases in retail sales were reported in Manitoba (1.1%) and Alberta (0.4%).

In B.C., seasonally-adjusted retail sales fell by 0.9% to $7.1 billion in October, driven by a decline in home furnishing sales and sales in sporting/hobby/books/music. Vancouver also reported a monthly decrease of 1.9% in sales. Compared to the same time last year, B.C. retail sales were down by 0.7% in October.



Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.



Read

Vancouver, BC – December 19, 2019. 


The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 6,616 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in November, an increase of 27.5 per cent from the same month last year. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $746,939, an increase of 5.5 per cent from November 2018. Total sales dollar volume was $4.94 billion, a 34.4 per cent increase from the same month last year. 

"After several months of strong gains, home sales are now firming around long-run averages," said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. "We expect 2020 will be a much more typical year for markets compared to the
volatility of recent years."

MLS® residential active listings in the province were down 6.6 per cent from November 2018 to 31,310 units, and down for a seventh straight month on a seasonally adjusted basis. Overall market conditions remain balanced with a sales-to-active listings ratio of 21 per cent.

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume was down 6 per cent to $50.23 billion, compared with the same period in 2018. Residential unit sales were 3.9 per cent lower at 72,106 units, while the average MLS® residential price was down 2.2 per cent year-to date at $696,574. 



Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.


Read

Canadian inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.2 per cent in November year-over-year, following a 1.9 per cent increase in the previous month. Excluding the impact of higher gasoline prices, national CPI rose by 2.3 per cent year-over-year. The Bank of Canada's three measures of trend inflation rose to average 2.2 per cent in November, which means the increase in prices have been relatively broad-based.

In B.C., CPI grew to 2.2 per cent year-over-year, matching growth in October. The rise was led by food, and clothing and footwear prices, while notable declines were reported in gasoline and recreation prices. 

Although the Bank of Canada has noted that inflation has been close to its target, the Bank will likely continue its cautious approach, as it continues to monitor other key economic indicators before deciding on a course of action in 2020.



Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.


 


Read

Canadian housing starts decreased by 0.3% in November to 201,318 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). The trend in national housing starts continues to be healthy, averaging about 219,000 units SAAR over the past six months. 

In BC, housing starts rose by 41% on a monthly basis to 48,840 units SAAR, largely due to a 59% increase in construction in the multi-unit segment in Vancouver, while single detached home construction was down by 13%. Compared to the same time last year, provincial starts were up by 22%.

Looking at census metropolitan areas in BC

-Housing starts in Vancouver were up by 78% in November at 27,688 units SAAR, following last month's lowest reported level of starts in 2019. The increase was driven entirely by the multi-unit segment. Compared to last year in November, housing starts in Vancouver were up by 26%. 

-In Victoria, housing starts were up by 9% on a monthly basis to 4,224 units SAAR. Compared to a year ago, housing starts were up by 44%.

-In Kelowna, housing starts decreased by 9% in November to 3,504 units SAAR. Year-over-year starts were down by 18% in the region. 

-Monthly housing starts in Abbotsford-Mission were down by 30% at 1,636 units SAAR. Compared to this time last year, new home construction was up by 154%.




Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.


Read

The Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 1.75 per cent this morning. In the statement accompanying the decision, the Bank noted that there is evidence that the global economy is stabilizing and that US recession concerns are waning, though trade conflicts remain the biggest threat to the Canadian economy.  The Bank expects modest growth in 2020 and for inflation to closely track its 2 per cent target.

With many central banks around the world lowering their policy rates,  why is the Bank of Canada holding firm? Simply, the Bank judges the potential of lower rates igniting a further accumulation of household debt as a greater risk to the Canadian economy than the risk from deteriorating global economic conditions.  Canadian policymakers have committed to bending the curve on the Canadian household debt-to-income ratio, through a combination of higher interest rates and stricter mortgage policy.

Balanced against the goal of restraining debt, the Bank sees the risk of a further disruption in global trade as manageable.  The outlook for Canadian economic growth is roughly in line with trend growth for the economy and inflation is expected to be well tethered to its 2 per cent target. As long as that outlook holds, we expect that the Bank will remain on the sidelines in 2020.



Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.


Read

After a quieter first half of 2019, home buyer activity has returned to more historically typical levels in Metro Vancouver*:

 

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 2,498 in November 2019, a 55.3 per cent increase from the 1,608 sales recorded in November 2018, and a 12.6 per cent decline from the 2,858 homes sold in October 2019.

 

Last month’s sales were four per cent above the 10-year November sales average. “We started to see more home buyer confidence in the summer and this trend continues today,” says Ashley Smith, REBGV president. “It’ll be important to watch home listing levels over the next few months to see if supply can stay in line with home buyer demand.” 

 

There were 2,987 detached, attached and apartment homes newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in November 2019. This represents a 13.7 per cent decrease compared to the 3,461 homes listed in November 2018 and a 26.7 per cent decrease compared to October 2019 when 4,074 homes were listed.

 

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 10,770, a 12.5 per cent decrease compared to November 2018 (12,307) and a 12 per cent decrease compared to October 2019 (12,236).

 

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for November 2019 is 23.2 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 17.2 per cent for detached homes, 24.9 per cent for townhomes, and 29.3 per cent for apartments. Generally, analysts say downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

 

“In today’s market, the intensity of home buyer demand depends on neighbourhood, property type, and price point,” Smith said. “To better understand the changing trends in your neighbourhood and property type of choice, it’s important to work with your local REALTOR®.”

 

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $993,700. This represents a 4.6 per cent decrease from November 2018 and a 1.3 per cent decrease over the past six months.

 

Sales of detached homes in November 2019 reached 825, a 59.9 per cent increase from the 516 detached sales recorded in November 2018. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,415,400. This represents a 5.8 per cent decrease from November 2018, a 0.5 per cent decrease over the past six months, and a 0.3 per cent increase compared to October 2019.

 

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,222 in November 2019, a 50.9 per cent increase compared to the 810 sales in November 2018. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $651,500. This represents a 3.8 per cent decrease from November 2018, a 1.9 per cent decrease over the past six months, and a 0.2 per cent decline compared to October 2019.

 

Attached home sales in November 2019 totalled 451, a 59.9 per cent increase compared to the 282 sales in November 2018. The benchmark price of an attached home is $772,800. This represents a 4.4 per cent decrease from November 2018, a 0.8 per cent decrease over the past six months, and a 0.2 per cent increase compared to October 2019.



Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, South Delta, Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Whistler.



Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.



Read
Categories:   Abbotsford West, Abbotsford Real Estate | Brentwood Park, Burnaby North Real Estate | Brighouse, Richmond Real Estate | Burnaby | Burnaby Real Estate | Burnaby South Real Estate | Cape Horn, Coquitlam Real Estate | Cariboo, Burnaby North Real Estate | Central BN, Burnaby North Real Estate | Central Coquitlam, Coquitlam | Central Coquitlam, Coquitlam Real Estate | Champlain Heights, Vancouver East | Champlain Heights, Vancouver East Real Estate | Cloverdale BC, Cloverdale Real Estate | Cloverdale BC, Surrey Real Estate | Cloverdale Real Estate | Coal Harbour, Vancouver West Real Estate | Coaquitlam | College Park PM, Port Moody Real Estate | Collingwood VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | Coquitlam | Coquitlam West, Coquitlam Real Estate | Downtown NW, New Westminster Real Estate | Downtown VW, Vancouver West | Downtown VW, Vancouver West Real Estate | Eagleridge, Coquitlam Real Estate | False Creek North, Vancouver West | Fraserview NW, New Westminster | Fraserview NW, New Westminster Real Estate | Fraserview VE, Vancouver East Real Estate | GlenBrooke North, New Westminster Real Estate | Grandview Surrey, Surrey Real Estate | Harrison Hot Springs Real Estate | Hastings, Vancouver East Real Estate | Highgate, Burnaby South Real Estate | Hockaday, Coquitlam Real Estate | January 2014 Sales in Greater Vancouver | Metrotown, Burnaby South Real Estate | New Horizons, Coquitlam Real Estate | New Westminster Real Estate | Port Moody | Port Moody Real Estate | Quay, New Westminster Real Estate | Queensborough, New Westminster Real Estate | Richmond Real Estate | Riverdale RI, Richmond Real Estate | Riverwood, Port Coquitlam Real Estate | Sapperton, New Westminster Real Estate | Simon Fraser Univer., Burnaby North Real Estate | Surrey | The Heights NW, New Westminster | The Heights NW, New Westminster Real Estate | Tsawwassen Central, Tsawwassen Real Estate | Uptown NW, New Westminster Real Estate | Uptown, New Westminster Real Estate | Vancouver | Vancouver East Real Estate | Videocast of January 2014 sales | Walnut Grove, Langley Real Estate | West Central, Maple Ridge Real Estate | West End VW, Vancouver West Real Estate | Whalley, North Surrey Real Estate | Whalley, Surrey Real Estate | Willoughby Heights, Langley Real Estate
Reciprocity Logo The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.