Attached are the Sales and Listings Stats updated to the end of June 2019. While the story might be that sales in June have dropped off from May, the market is back in decline—the actual fact is June has only outperformed May only 7 times in the last 25 years. We shouldn’t be surprised to see the market in Greater Vancouver perform any differently this year.
There were 2,098 homes sold of all types in Greater Vancouver in June this year compared with 2,467 sales in June last year and 3,953 homes sold in June 2017. This was 39 per cent below the 10-year average for June and the lowest amount of sales in the month of June since 2000 at the same number. The first six months of 2019 saw 10,992 homes sold in Greater Vancouver, the lowest amount for the first half of the year since 1998. There were 751 Detached Houses sold in June 2019 (36 per cent of total sales) compared to 771 in June 2018 (31 per cent of total sales); 390 townhomes sold in June 2019 (19 per cent) compared to 419 in June 2018 (17 per cent); and 941 apartments sold in June 2019 (45 per cent) compared to 1,240 in June 2018 (50 per cent). Detached homes made up a larger percentage of homes sold, continuing a trend that is showing price adjustments in detached homes are attracting buyers into that part of the market. Richmond was one of the best performing markets in June, with sales matching those of June, and detached and townhouse sales exceeding the numbers for May.
As for supply in the market, there was a decrease in the number of new listings in June compared to May. There were 4,861 new listings in June in Greater Vancouver, down 19 per cent from May 2019, down 15 per cent from June last year and down 17 per cent from June 2016. The number of new listings in June 2019 were 15 per cent below the 10-year average for June. Active Listings are at 15,770 for month end, up 25 per cent compared to June 2018, and only up 2 per cent compared to May 2019—the growth of active listings is slowing. Supply continues to be an issue as many Sellers are reluctant to come to market knowing that prices are adjusting and that buyers are more conscious of the advantage they have currently. Properties priced for today’s market are selling and, in some situations, we are seeing multiple offers—albeit at a more controlled pace in terms of subjects being included and in some cases most or all offers below the list price. There are a number of listings included in this 15,770 that are land assembly properties (look at any busy street throughout the region for multiple signs or “Land Assembly Opportunity” signs. That and the number of long-standing listings on the market of properties not priced according to today’s market conditions are creating these multiple offers. Demand continues to build up as buyers and sellers hold off on making moves that they want or need to make, not for investment reasons but lifestyle changes. It’s almost as if the efforts to stem “speculation” in the market have created speculators out of all buyers and sellers!
While still at low sales levels, it is the second month in a row where sales exceeded 2,000 homes sold in a month in Greater Vancouver. While not robust, there is more activity happening and while the wait and see game continues, and so many try to understand how we got here, many people just want to buy or sell. And while many think real estate in Vancouver is or should fall off a cliff, even the government can’t stem the tide of demand enough to do that and unless there is a serious discussion on the supply side, what has come down quickly thanks to government intervention can go back up quickly when housing continues to be a scarce resource. With the State of Oregon effectively banning single family zoning and allowing for increased up zoning in all cities of more than 10,000 people, the government there has recognized that the need to address housing affordability is a bigger conversation than just taxing demand.
“We’re continuing to see an expectation gap between home buyers and sellers in Metro Vancouver,” Ashley Smith, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver president said. “Sellers are often trying to get yesterday’s values for their homes while buyers are taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach. Home buyers haven’t had this much selection to choose from in five years.”
East of the Fraser River, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,306 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® in June, a decrease of 10.1 per cent compared to 1,452 sales in June of last year, and a 13.9 per cent decrease compared to sales in June 2018. At the end of June there 8,516 Active Listings, which is an increase of 19.3 per cent compared to the same time last year and a 0.1 per cent compared to the end of May 2019. There were 2,810 new listings in June, a decrease of 20.7 per cent compared to May 2019 and a 10.5 per cent decrease compared to June of last year. “This has created a great opportunity for buyers in the Fraser Valley. Inventory overall is growing; prices of benchmark or typical homes, have decreased 6 to 10 per cent over the past year and interest rates are still holding firm” said Darin Germyn, Fraser Valley Board President. “There is tremendous variation in the market depending on the property type and location. It’s currently a buyer’s market for detached homes in South Surrey/White Rock; but is leaning towards a sellers’ market for townhomes in Langley.”
Summing up the Numbers
Greater Vancouver: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 2,098—down from 2,669 (21%) in May 2019, down from 2,467 (15%) in June 2018, down from 3,953 (47%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 15,770 compared to 12,652 (up 25%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 19% to May 2019, down 11% compared to June 2018 and down 17% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 8 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market with Attached still showing some signs of multiple offers) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 43% compared to 45% in June 2018.
Vancouver Westside Residential: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 355—down from 460 (23%) in May 2019, down from 458 (23%) in June 2018, down from 644 (45%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 2,779 compared to 2,346 (up 18%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 15% to May 2019, down 9% compared to June 2018 and down 18% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 8 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market with Attached still showing some signs of multiple offers) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 40% compared to 47% in June 2018.
Vancouver Eastside Residential: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 215—down from 328 (34%) in May 2019, down from 282 (24%) in June 2018, down from 451 (52%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 1,435 compared to 1,375 (up 4%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 21% to May 2019, down 22% compared to June 2018 and down 24% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 7 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market with Attached still showing some signs of multiple offers) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 44% compared to 45% in June 2018.
North Vancouver Residential: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 202—down from 257 (21%) in May 2019, up from 199 (2%) in June 2018, down from 298 (32%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 1,030 compared to 800 (up 29%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 20% to May 2019, down 1% compared to June 2018 and down 3% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 5 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market with Attached still showing some signs of multiple offers) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 49% compared to 48% in June 2018.
West Vancouver Houses: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 43—down from 71 (39%) in May 2019, down from 54 (20%) in June 2018, down from 92 (47%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 764 compared to 784 (down 3%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 23% to May 2019, down 24% compared to June 2018 and down 22% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 18 Month’s Supply (Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 24% compared to 23% in June 2018.
Richmond Residential: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 270—down from 271 (0%) in May 2019, down from 308 (12%) in June 2018, down from 503 (46%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 2,369 compared to 1,787 (up 33%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 18% to May 2019, down 10% compared to June 2018 and down 27% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is steady at 9 Month’s Supply (Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 43% compared to 44% in June 2018.
Burnaby East: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 19—down from 25 (24%) in May 2019, down from 26 (27%) in June 2018, down from 36 (47%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 161 compared to 143 (up 13%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were the same as May 2019, the same compared to June 2018 and June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 8 Month’s Supply (Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 38% compared to 52% in June 2018.
Burnaby North: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 100—down from 123 (19%) in May 2019, down from 107 (7%) in June 2018, down from 208 (52%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 670 compared to 476 (up 41%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 18% to May 2019, down 10% compared to June 2018 and down 11% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 7 Month’s Supply (Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 43% compared to 41% in June 2018.
Burnaby South: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 121—down from 131 (8%) in May 2019, down from 121 in June 2018, down from 207 (42%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 872 compared to 576 (up 51%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 18% to May 2019, up 8% compared to June 2018 and down 15% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 7 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 45% compared to 49% in June 2018.
New Westminster: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 97—down from 127 (24%) in May 2019, down from 141 (31%) in June 2018, down from 196 (51%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 577 compared to 370 (up 56%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 26% to May 2019, down 13% compared to June 2018 and down 18% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 6 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 48% compared to 61% in June 2018.
Coquitlam: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 177—down from 205 (14%) in May 2019, down from 178 (1%) in June 2018, down from 323 (45%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 1,159 compared to 888 (up 31%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 26% to May 2019, down 14% compared to June 2018 and down 19% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 7 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 46% compared to 40% in June 2018.
Port Moody: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 42—down from 62 (32%) in May 2019, down from 48 (12%) in June 2018, down from 90 (53%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 266 compared to 219 (up 21%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 31% to May 2019, down 19% compared to June 2018 and down 26% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 6 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 48% compared to 40% in June 2018.
Port Coquitlam: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 77—down from 132 (42%) in May 2019, down from 108 (29%) in June 2018, down from 177 (64%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 381 compared to 292 (up 30%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 6% to May 2019, down 19% compared to June 2018 and down 11% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 5 Month’s Supply (Balanced Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 44% compared to 44% in June 2018.
Ladner: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 33—down from 41 (20%) in May 2019, down from 38 (13%) in June 2018, down from 45 (27%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 207 compared to 171 (up 21%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 19% to May 2019, down 1% compared to June 2018 and up 17% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 6 Month’s Supply (Balanced to Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 47% compared to 54% in June 2018.
Tsawwassen: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 35—down from 38 (8%) in May 2019, down from 42 (17%) in June 2018, down from 54 (35%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 310 compared to 252 (up 23%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 16% to May 2019, up 13% compared to June 2018 and down 4% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 9 Month’s Supply (Buyer’s Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 44% compared to 60% in June 2018.
Pitt Meadows: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 24—down from 40 (40%) in May 2019, the same at 24 in June 2018, down from 83 (71%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 130 compared to 100 (up 30%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 22% to May 2019, down 21% compared to June 2018 and down 31% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 5 Month’s Supply (Balanced Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 51% compared to 40% in June 2018.
Maple Ridge: Total Units Sold in June 2019 was 132—down from 171 (23%) in May 2019, down from 136 (2%) in June 2018, down from 250 (47%) in June 2017; Active Listings are at 868 compared to 623 (up 39%) at this time last year; New Listings in June 2019 were down 21% to May 2019, up 2% compared to June 2018 and down 10% compared to June 2017; Month’s Supply of Total Residential Listings is up to 7 Month’s Supply (Balanced Market) and a Sales to Listings Ratio of 46% compared to 48% in June 2018.