Residential property sales in Metro Vancouver

Strong December activity brought Metro Vancouver’s 2020 home sales total in line with the region’s long-term annual average.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 30,944 in 2020, a 22.1% increase from the 25,351 sales recorded in 2019, and a 25.7% increase from the 24,619 homes sold in 2018.

Last year’s sales total was 2.8% below the 10-year sales average.

“When the pandemic began in March, the housing market came to a near standstill. We knew, however, that shelter needs don’t go away in times of crisis, they intensify. The real estate community worked closely with our regulatory bodies and public health officials in the spring to ensure appropriate precautions and protocols were implemented so realtors could help residents safely meet their housing needs.” – Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair

Home listings on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver reached 54,305 in 2020. This is a 4.6% increase compared to the 51,918 homes listed in 2019 and a 1.3% increase compared to the 53,614 homes listed in 2018.

Last year’s listings total was 2.7% below the region’s 10-year average.

“After adapting to the COVID-19 environment, local home buyer demand and seller supply returned at a steady pace throughout the summer, fall and winter seasons,” Gerber said. “Shifting housing needs and low-interest rates were key drivers of this activity in 2020. Looking ahead, the supply of homes for sale will be a critical factor in determining home price trends in 2021.”

The MLS® HPI composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver ends the year at $1,047,400. This is a 5.4 % increase compared to December 2019.

The benchmark price for apartments increased by 2.6% in the region last year. Townhomes increased by 4.9% and detached homes increased by 10.2%.

December summary

Residential property sales in Metro Vancouver

REBGV reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 3,093 in December 2020, a 53.4% increase from the 2,016 sales recorded in December 2019, and a 0.9% increase from the 3,064 homes sold in November 2020.

Last month’s sales were 57.7% above the 10-year December sales average and are the highest total for the month on record.

“Robust December sales outpaced long-term averages in what’s traditionally the quietest month of the year in real estate. This was part of an unusual seasonal pattern the market followed last year, which can be attributed in large part to the pandemic.” – Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair

There were 2,409 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in December 2020. This represents a 51.7% increase compared to the 1,588 homes listed in December 2019 and a 40.8% decrease compared to November 2020 when 4,068 homes were listed.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,538, a 0.8% decrease compared to December 2019 (8,603) and a 23.2% decrease compared to November 2020 (11,118).

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for December 2020 is 36.2%. By property type, the ratio is 35.2% for detached homes, 50.4% for townhomes, and 33.1% for apartments.

Sales-to-active listings ratio

Generally, analysts say downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12% for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20% over several months.

Sales of detached homes in December 2020 reached 1,026, a 71.3% increase from the 599 detached sales recorded in December 2019. The benchmark price for detached homes is $1,554,600. This represents a 10.2% increase from December 2019 and a 1% increase compared to November 2020.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,474 in December 2020, a 40% increase compared to the 1,053 sales in December 2019. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $676,500. This represents a 2.6% increase from December 2019 and is unchanged from November 2020.

Attached home sales in December 2020 totalled 593, a 62.9% increase compared to the 364 sales in December 2019. The benchmark price of an attached home is $813,900. This represents a 4.9% increase from December 2019 and a 0.1% decrease compared to November 2020.