Vancouver, BC - June 19, 2019.

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2019 Second Quarter Housing Forecast today.

Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province are forecast to decline 9 per cent to 71,400 units this year, after recording 78,346 residential sales in 2018. MLS® residential sales are forecast to increase 14 per cent to 81,700 units in 2020. The 10-year average for MLS® residential sales in the province is 84,300 units.

The shock to affordability from restrictive mortgage policies, especially the B20 stress test, will continue to limit housing demand in the province this year, said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. However, a relatively strong economy and favourable demographics are likely creating pent-up demand in the housing market.

The inventory of homes for sale has climbed out of a cyclical low, leading to balanced market conditions in many areas and buyer's market conditions in some communities and across some products types. Current market conditions are expected to provide little upward pressure on home prices this year, with the average annual residential price forecast to remain essentially unchanged, albeit down 2 per cent to $697,000. Modest improvement in consumer demand is expected to unfold though 2020, pushing the average residential price up 4 per cent to $726,000.

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission.