Here are the latest real estate market statistics from Macdonald Realty on the Greater Vancouver listings and sales in February 2023. Find all the infographics by visiting the Facebook Album.
Below average home sales allow inventory to inch upwards.
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 have 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 per cent decrease from the 3,424 sales recorded in February 2022, and a 76.9 per cent increase from the 1,022 homes sold in January 2023.
Last month’s sales were 33 per cent 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,” said Andrew Lis, REBGV’s director, economics and data analytics. “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.”
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 per cent decrease compared to the 5,471 homes listed in February 2022 and a 5.2 per cent 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 per cent increase compared to February 2022 (6,742) and a 5.2 per cent 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. In fact, 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.”
*Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, South Delta, Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Whistler. Check out the infographics of Squamish, Sunshine Coast and Whistler, HERE.
Bowen Island
Burnaby East
Burnaby North
Burnaby South
Ladner
Maple Ridge
New Westminster
North Vancouver
Pitt Meadows
Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam
Port Moody
Richmond
Tsawwassen
Vancouver East
Vancouver West
West Vancouver
Looking for more information about the real estate market in specific neighbourhoods in the Greater Vancouver?
Macdonald Realty has offices across the Greater Vancouver. Please email macrealty@macrealty.com or call 1-877-278-3888 to be matched with a REALTOR® working in your area.
MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Benchmark Price
Average and median home prices are often misinterpreted, are affected by change in the mix of homes sold, and can swing dramatically from month to month (based on the types and prices of properties that sold in a given month). The MLS® HPI overcomes these shortcomings and uses the concept of a benchmark home, a notional home with common attributes of typical homes in a defined area. Visit www.housepriceindex.ca for more information.
This blog post is based on market data provided by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) www.rebgv.org
