Residential property sales in Metro Vancouver
February listing data show a continued reluctance among prospective home sellers to engage in Metro Vancouver’s housing market, leading to below-average sales activity. With sales remaining well-below historical norms, the number of available homes for sale in the region has continued inching upwards.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 1,808 in February 2023, a 47.2% decrease from the 3,424 sales recorded in February 2022, and a 76.9% increase from the 1,022 homes sold in January 2023.
Last month’s sales were 33% below the 10-year February sales average.
“It’s hard to sell what you don’t have, and with new listing activity remaining among the lowest in recent history, sales are struggling to hit typical levels for this point in the year. On the plus side for prospective buyers, the below-average sales activity is allowing inventory to accumulate, which is keeping market conditions from straying too deeply into sellers’ market territory, particularly in the more affordably priced segments.” — Andrew Lis, REBGV Director, Economics and Data Analytics
There were 3,467 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in February 2023. This represents a 36.6% decrease compared to the 5,471 homes listed in February 2022 and a 5.2% increase compared to January 2023 when 3,297 homes were listed.
The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 7,868, a 16.7% increase compared to February 2022 (6,742) and a 5.2% increase compared to January 2023 (7,478).
“While we continue to expect home price trends to show year-over-year declines for a few more months, current data and market activity suggest pricing is firming up. Some leading indicators suggest we may see modest price increases this spring, particularly if sales activity increases and mortgage rates hold steady,” Lis said.
“In the somewhat unusual market environment, we find ourselves in right now with higher mortgage rates, fewer sales, and inventory that is inching higher but remains far from abundant, working with a Realtor who understands your local market conditions and has experience navigating challenging markets is paramount.”
Sales-to-active listings ratio
For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for February 2023 is 23%. By property type, the ratio is 16.8% for detached homes, 30.1% for townhomes, and 25.8% for apartments.
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.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,123,400. This represents a 9.3% decrease over February 2022 and a 1.1% increase compared to January 2023.
Sales of detached homes in February 2023 reached 514, a 49.1% decrease from the 1,010 detached sales recorded in February 2022. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,813,100. This represents a 12% decrease from February 2022 and a 0.7% increase compared to January 2023.
Sales of apartment homes reached 928 in February 2023, a 49.9% decrease compared to the 1,854 sales in February 2022. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $732,200. This represents a 3% decrease from February 2022 and a 1.6% increase compared to January 2023.
Attached home sales in February 2023 totalled 366, a 34.6% decrease compared to the 560 sales in February 2022. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $1,038,500. This represents a 6.3% decrease from February 2022 and a 1.8% increase compared to January 2023.