Residential property sales in Metro Vancouver
Housing demand in Metro Vancouver continues to outpace historical averages with November sales eclipsing 3,000 for the first time since 2015.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 3,064 in November 2020, a 22.7% increase from the 2,498 sales recorded in November 2019, and a 16.9% decrease from the 3,687 homes sold in October 2020.
Last month’s sales were 24.6% above the 10-year November sales average and were the second-highest total in this period.
“Homebuyer demand has been at near-record levels in our region since the summer. This is putting upward pressure on home prices, particularly in our detached and townhome markets.” – Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair
There were 4,068 detached, attached and apartment homes newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in November 2020. This represents a 36.2% increase compared to the 2,987 homes listed in November 2019 and a 27% decrease compared to October 2020 when 5,571 homes were listed.
The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 11,118, a 3.2% increase compared to November 2019 (10,770) and a 10.5% decrease compared to October 2020 (12,416).
“The supply of homes for sale are a critical factor in understanding home price trends,” Gerber said. “The total number of homes for sale in Metro Vancouver is lagging behind the pace of demand right now. This trend favours home sellers in today’s market.”
For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for November 2020 is 27.6%. By property type, the ratio is 27.9% for detached homes, 40.1% for townhomes, and 23.9% 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.
Within the region, the Sunshine Coast saw the largest increase in year-over-year demand with 106 home sales in November 2020, an 82.8% increase over November 2019 (58).
“While demand remained elevated across the region, home buyer activity was particularly focused in more remote areas like the Sunshine Coast, Gulf Islands, and Squamish,” Gerber said. “The rise of work-from-home arrangements and physical distancing policies is causing some home buyers to opt for less densified areas.”
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,044,000. This represents a 5.8% increase over November 2019 and a 0.1% decrease compared to October 2020.
Sales of detached homes in November 2020 reached 1,061, a 28.6% increase from the 825 detached sales recorded in November 2019. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,538,900. This represents a 9.4% increase from November 2019 and a 1% increase compared to October 2020.
Sales of apartment homes reached 1,371 in November 2020, a 12.2% increase compared to the 1,222 sales in November 2019. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $676,500. This represents a 3.4% increase from November 2019 and a 1% decrease compared to October 2020.
Attached home sales in November 2020 totalled 632, a 40.1% increase compared to the 451 sales in November 2019. The benchmark price of an attached home is $814,800. This represents a 5.6% increase from November 2019 and a 0.2% increase compared to October 2020.
