Bob Sethi, B.Comm | 604.273.2828

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HARPER'S CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT
TIGHTENING MORTGAGE RULES - AGAIN!
 
The Conservative Government is once again tightening rules for government-backed insured mortgages.  Changes which are leaving many in the industry puzzled given the positive market data concerning Canada's housing market and economy.  The effects of these new mortgage insurance rules will be watched closely by the housing industry and Canadian homebuyers.
 
If you've already bought, or are thinking of buying, you still have time to qualify on the existing rules.  Mortgage insurance applications received before June 21st, 2012 for binding purchase and sale agreements will be under the 'old' rules.  Applications received between June 21st, 2012 but before July 9th, 2012 that do not conform to the new rules must be funded by December 31st, 2012.  For full clarification I recommend you talk to a mortgage lending representative.  If you don't have one please let me know and I will recommend one for you.
 
Interested in reading the Government's official announcements?  See the following links:

Official press release made this morning @ http://www.fin.gc.ca/n12/12-070-eng.asp; and

FAQ’s regarding the specifics of the rule changes @ http://www.fin.gc.ca/n12/data/12-070_2-eng.asp.
 
I'll be posting more information as it becomes available.  Should you or anyone you know have any questions please feel free to contact me directly.
 
- Bob
 
 
 
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Spring activity remains balanced in the Greater Vancouver housing market

The number of properties listed for sale continued to increase in the Greater Vancouver housing market in May. The number of sales decreased year over year, but remained relatively constant compared to recent months.
  
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 2,853 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May 2012. This represents a 15.5 per cent decline compared to the 3,377 sales recorded in May 2011.
 
May sales were the lowest total for the month in the region since 2001 and 21.1 per cent below the 10-year May sales average of 3,617. However, sales have been constant throughout the spring months, with 2,874 sales in March and 2,799 sales in April.
 
“Home sellers have outpaced buyers in recent months, however, there continues to be an overall balance between supply and demand in our marketplace,” Eugen Klein, REBGV president said.
 
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 6,927 in May 2012. This represents a 16.8 per cent increase compared to May 2011 when 5,931 homes were listed for sale and a 14.4 per cent increase compared to April 2012 when 6,056 homes were listed for sale on the region’s MLS®.
 
Last month’s new listing total was 15.3 per cent above the 10-year average for listings in Greater Vancouver for May.
 
At 17,835, the total number of homes listed for sale on the region’s MLS® increased 7.9 per cent in May compared to last month and increased 21 per cent from this time last year.
 
“Our sales-to-active-listing ratio sits at 16 per cent, which is indicative of balanced market conditions,” Klein said. “As a result of this stability, home prices at the regional level have seen little fluctuation over the last six month.”
 
The MLS® HPI benchmark price* for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver currently sits at $625,100, up 3.3 per cent compared to May 2011 and up 2.4 per cent over the last three months. The benchmark price for all residential properties in the Lower Mainland** is $558,300, which is a 3 per cent increase compared to May 2011 and a 2.3 per cent increase compared to three months ago. 
 
Sales of detached properties on the MLS® in May 2012 reached 1,180, a decline of 24.8 per cent from the 1,570 detached sales recorded in May 2011, and a 6.1 per cent decrease from the 1,256 units sold in May 2010. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 5.1 per cent from May 2011 to $967,500.
 
Sales of apartment properties reached 1,156 in May 2012, a decline of 5.9 per cent compared to the 1,228 sales in May 2011, and a decrease of 14.6 per cent compared to the 1,354 sales in May 2010.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 1.7 per cent from May 2011 to $379,700.
 
Townhome property sales in May 2012 totalled 517, a decline of 10.7 per cent compared to the 579 sales in May 2011, and a 5.3 per cent decrease from the 546 townhome properties sold in May 2010. The benchmark price of a townhome unit increased 0.9 per cent between May 2011 and 2012 to $470,000.
 
*Editor’s Note: Benchmark prices underwent a re-calculation this month in order to more accurately reflect trends measured by the MLS® Home Price Index. There were no changes to the calculation of index values.
 
This re-calculation involved aggregating benchmark prices using the sales weighted approach for the reference period (i.e. January 2005) and thereafter linking movements in aggregate benchmark prices to their corresponding MLS® HPI.

Spotlight on Greater Vancouver home prices:
 
Detached 

Home price measure
May 2012
1 month change %
6 month change %
1 year change %
MLS® HPI benchmark price
$967,500
+0.4%
+3.4%
+5.1%
Average price
$1,073,018
-4%
-5.4%
-12.2%
Median price
$847,750
-3.7%
-0.03%
-5.4%

 
Townhome 

Home price measure
May 2012
1 month change %
6 month change %
1 year change %
MLS® HPI benchmark price
$470,000
-0.3%
+1.3%
+0.9%
Average price
$551,445
-4.9%
-2.1%
-0.2%
Median price
$505,000
-0.8%
-0.6%
+2.5%

 
Condominium 

Home price measure
May 2012
1 month change %
6 month change %
1 year change %
MLS® HPI benchmark price
$379,700
+1.1%
+3%
+1.7%
Average price
$460,761
+3.4%
+6.7%
-1.1%
Median price
$379,950
+1.3%
+4.1%
-1.3%

Copyright© real estate board of greater vancouver. all rights reserved.  The methodology, available at www.homepriceindex.ca, will be updated later this week.  **Lower Mainland: Includes areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.

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Bob Sethi, B.Comm
Office:604.273.2828
Fax:604.273.0685
RE/MAX Westcoast
#110-6086 Russ Baker Way
Richmond, BC
V7B 1B4 Canada

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