STRONG SALES VOLUMES CONTINUE THROUGH APRIL

STRONG SALES VOLUMES CONTINUE THROUGH APRIL

(Surrey, BC) – Property sales in the Fraser Valley soared in April compared to one year ago increasing by 37 percent.

There were 2,009 sales processed on the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April, compared to 1,470 in April of last year. These volumes rank third highest of all time for the month with the next best April in 2004 and prior to that in 1991.

“April was a very active market,” says Jorda Maisey, Board President. “The low cost of borrowing continues to attract first-time buyers and families looking to either downsize or upsize as they take advantage of the equity they’ve built up in their existing homes.”

Though there was a 2 per cent increase in new listings processed in April, as compared to April 2014, the increase was not enough to balance out the market. Total active inventory on the MLS® at month’s end was 8,384 properties, the lowest for the month of April in eight years.

As Maisey explains, what sellers are most looking for is a single family detached home, “In some of our areas, sixty to seventy per cent of inventory is selling. Depending on the location, some detached homes are selling in a matter of days, not weeks, which is why if you’re a buyer it’s so important to work with a professional who knows your neighbourhood and is networked with other REALTORS®.”

With demand high and available product slim, the benchmark price of single family detached homes continues to increase in most areas. In April, the MLS® HPI benchmark price of a detached home was $595,600, an increase of 5.2 per cent compared to April 2014 when it was $566,000.

The benchmark price of townhouses in April was $300,400, an increase of 0.6 per cent compared to $298,700 in April 2014. The benchmark price of apartments decreased year-over-year by 2.6 per cent, going from $196,300 in April 2014, to $191,200 last month.

Maisey adds, “For apartment owners, take heart, the condominium market in the Fraser Valley is improving. We are starting to see more activity at open houses and an increase in the number of sales; however, that market remains firmly in balance with plenty of selection and prices still flat or declining in certain areas.”

Full package:
http://www.fvreb.bc.ca/statistics/Package%20201504.pdf