Home sales and listings continue to follow historical averages

In the first two months of 2014, the Greater Vancouver housing market has maintained the steady pace set throughout 2013.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 2,530 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in February 2014. This represents a 40.8 per cent increase compared to the 1,797 sales recorded in February 2013, and a 43.8 per cent increase compared to the 1,760 sales in January 2014.

Last month’s sales total mirrors the 10-year sales average for February of 2,547, with just 17 sales separating the two figures.

The sales-to-active-listings ratio currently sits at 18.9 per cent in Greater Vancouver, a 4.9 per cent increase from last month.

“Home buyer demand picked up in February, which is consistent with typical seasonal patterns in our housing market,” said Sandra Wyant, REBGV president.  “We typically see home buyers become more active in and around the spring months.”

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 4,700 in February. This represents a 2.8 per cent decline compared to the 4,833 new listings reported in February 2013 and a 12.1 per cent decline from the 5,345 new listings in January. Last month’s new listing count was 0.5 per cent below the region’s 10-year new listing average for the month.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the Greater Vancouver MLS® is 13,412, a 9.3 per cent decline compared to February 2013 and a 6.4 per cent increase compared to January 2014.

“With the market continuing to perform at a steady, balanced pace, it’s important for home sellers to ensure their homes are priced correctly for today’s conditions,” Wyant said.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $609,100. This represents a 3.2 per cent increase compared to February 2013.

Sales of detached properties in February 2014 reached 1,032, an increase of 46.6 per cent from the 704 detached sales recorded in February 2013, and a 6.3 per cent decrease from the 1,101 units sold in February 2012. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 3.5 per cent from February 2013 to $932,900.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,032 in February 2014, an increase of 35.8 per cent compared to the 760 sales in February 2013, and a 1.2 per cent increase compared to the 1,020 sales in February 2012. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 3.6 per cent from February 2013 to $373,300.

Attached property sales in February 2014 totalled 466, an increase of 39.9 per cent compared to the 333 sales in February 2013, and a 9.9 per cent increase from the 424 attached properties sold in February 2012. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 0.6 per cent between February 2013 and 2014 to $458,300.

Copyright Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. All rights reserved.

February 28, 2014

Effective May 1st, 2014, CMHC mortgage loan insurance premiums will be increasing. This change will affect:

• Owner-occupied homeowner;
• Self-employed homeowner; and
• 1 to 4 unit rental properties.

How much will this affect you? On average, the increased premiums will equate to an approximate $5 increase in monthly mortgage payments - so not very much at all. The premium increases are also not expected to have any material impact on the Canadian housing market.

If you'd prefer to save the extra $5 per month, get your mortgage application in before May 1st, 2014 with one of my Preferred Mortgage Specialists. Call or email today.

*Special thanks to Randy Chin of RBC for notifying me of this announcment.

*This post made with information referenced from today's CMHC release.

Government reduces tax burden on first-time buyers

First-time home buyers received some welcome news in today’s provincial budget.

The Liberal Government announced, effective February 19th, 2014, qualifying first-time buyers can buy a home worth up to $475,000 under the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) First-Time Home Buyers’ Exemption program. This is a significant increase where the previous threshold was $425,000.

In addition, homes priced $475,000 to $500,000 qualify for the continuiing partial exemption falling more in-line with B.C.'s housing prices, most notably in Metro Vancouver.

With this change, the government estimates 1,700 additional first-time buyers will annually be eligible to save up to $7,500 in PTT when buying their home.

These new exemptions are estimated to cost $8 million in lost tax revenue each year.

Together with BC Real Estate Association, the BC Real Estate Board has actively lobbied to make home ownership more affordable for first-time homebuyers. The increased limits in the threshold indicate these lobbying efforts on behalf of the public have paid off. Note that in 2008, as a result of industry lobbying, the provincial government increased the threshold to $425,000 from $375,000. And, in 2005, the government increased the threshold to $325,000 from $275,000.

The PTT is calculated at a rate of one per cent on the first $200,000 and two per cent on the remaining value of the purchase price.

Find out how the new exemption limits affect you by contacting me today at bob@bobsethi.com. 

For more on the Budget, http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2014/default.htm

Based on reporting from the real estate board of greater vancouver.