VANCOUVER, B.C. – January 5, 2010 – After beginning the year at near record low sales levels, buyers’ confidence in the Greater Vancouver housing market quickly returned, allowing for significant and sustained increases in the number of residential property sales for much of 2009.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that total unit sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in 2009 reached 35,669, a 44.8 percent increase from the 24,626 unit sales recorded in 2008, but a 6.3 percent decline from the 38,050 residential sales in 2007.
The number of homes listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Greater Vancouver declined 15.5 percent in 2009 to 52,869 compared to the 62,561 properties listed in 2008.
“Low interest rates, an economy emerging from recession and continuing to improve, and consumer confidence led to the resurgence experienced in the Greater Vancouver housing market in 2009,” Scott Russell, REBGV president said. “Home sales neared or passed monthly records in Greater Vancouver throughout the latter half of 2009. In fact, last month’s home sales rank as the third highest selling December in the 90-year history of our organization.”
Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,515 in December 2009, an increase of 172.2 percent from the 924 sales recorded in December 2008, and an 18.4 per cent decline compared to November 2009 when 3,083 home sales occurred.
The residential benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for Greater Vancouver increased 16.2 percent to $562,463 between Decembers 2008 and 2009.
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,153 in December 2009. This represents a 38.9 percent increase compared to the 1,550 new units listed in December 2008 and a 41.1 percent decline compared to November 2009 when 3,653 properties were listed.
“The number of homes listed for sale on our MLS® has been in decline in Greater Vancouver for eight of the last nine months, which results in upward pressure on home prices and less selection for buyers to choose from,” Russell said.
Total active listings in Greater Vancouver currently sit at 8,939, a decrease of 41 percent from December 2008, and a decrease of 19 percent from November 2009 (see graph on page two for more detail).
Sales of detached properties in December 2009 increased 159.2 percent to 902, compared to 348 sales in December 2008. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 18.3 percent to $766,816 compared to December 2008.
Sales of apartment properties in December 2009 increased 176.7 percent to 1,154, compared to 417 sales in December 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 14.8 percent since December 2008 to $382,573.