Conditions in the Greater Vancouver housing market continued to favour buyers in August. Since April, prices have edged down slightly as the number of sales and the number of properties coming on to the market have been declining.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,202 in August 2010. This represents a 36 per cent decline from the 3,441 sales in August 2009, the second highest selling August ever recorded, and a 2.4 per cent decline compared to July 2010.
From a wider perspective, last month’s residential sales represent a 40.4 per cent increase over the 1,568 residential sales in August 2008, a 34.9 per cent decline compared to August 2007’s 3,384 sales, and a 26.6 per cent decline compared to August 2006’s 2,998 sales.
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined 17.5 per cent to 3,750 in August 2010 compared to August 2009 when 4,544 new units were listed. Total active listings in Greater Vancouver currently sit at 15,421, a 6.1 per cent decline from last month and a 29 per cent increase from August 2009.
“We’re seeing moderate demand, low interest rates and a healthy but slowing stream of supply in our marketplace, all variables that favour those looking to purchase a home,” Jake Moldowan, REBGV president said. “The last few months have also shown some stability when it comes to price fluctuations in the region, which is a welcome trend after reaching record highs in April.”
Since spring, housing prices have decreased 2.8 per cent compared to the all-time high reached in April when the residential benchmark price was $593,419. Over the last 12 months, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver increased 6.9 per cent to $576,597 in August 2010 from $539,600 in August 2009.
“Canada remains an attractive destination for foreign buyers, a fact that continues to affect activity in the Greater Vancouver housing market,” Moldowan said.
Sales of detached properties in August 2010 reached 893, a decrease of 34.7 per cent from the 1,367 detached sales recorded in August 2009 and a 66.9 per cent increase from the 535 units sold in August 2008. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 8.5 per cent from August 2009 to $795,076.
Sales of apartment properties reached 935 in August 2010, a decline of 36.1 per cent compared to the 1,464 sales in August 2009 and an increase of 26.4 per cent compared to the 740 sales in August 2008.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 4.5 per cent from August 2009 to $385,968.
Attached property sales in August 2010 totalled 374, a decline of 38.7 per cent compared to the 610 sales in August 2009 and a 27.6 per cent increase from the 293 attached properties sold in August 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 6.6 per cent between August 2009 and 2010 to $489,511.
8月份大温地区房地产市场仍然是对买房者有利。自4月份以来，随着成交量和新上市房屋数量的持续下降，房价也略有下滑。
大温地区房地产协会（REBGV）报告显示8月份大温地区住房交易总量为2,202套。这与2009年的3,441套——历史上成交量第二高的8月——相比下降了36%，，也比2010年7月下降了2.4%。
从更广的角度来看，上月的住房成交量与2008年8月的1,568套相比代表了40.4%的增长，比2007年8月的3,384套下降了34.9%，也比2006年8月的2,998套下降了26.6%。
2010年8月新挂牌上市的独立屋，连结屋和公寓比2009年8月的4,544套下降了17.5%至3,750套。大温地区目前活跃状态的挂牌待售房屋共有15,421套，比上月减少6.1%，比2009年8月上升了29%.
“我们现在看到的是温和的需求，低利率，和健康但缓慢进入市场的房屋供应，所有的一切都对有买房打算的人有利。”REBGV总裁Jake Moldowan说，“过去的几个月本地区的房价也出现稳定的迹象，这是在４月份房价达到顶峰后一个受欢迎的趋势。”
从春季以来，房价已经从历史最高纪录的４月份的$593,419的基准价格下降了2.8%。在过去12月里，MLSLink®房屋价格指数（HPI）发布的大温地区2010年8月份所有住房的基准价格从2009年8月的$539,600上升了6.9%至$576,597。
“加拿大仍然是对国外购买者有吸引力的投资目的地，这个事实也继续影响着大温地区的房产市场的活动。”Moldwan 说。
2010年8月独立屋的成交量达到893套，与2009年8月的1,367套相比下降了34.7%，比2008年8月的536套则上升了66.9%。独立屋的基准价格从2009年8月的$795,076上升了8.5%。
公寓房的成交量在2010年8月达到935套，比2009年8月的1,464套下降了36.1%，但比2008年8月的740套上升了26.4%。公寓房的基准价格比2009年8月的$385,968上升了4.5%。
连结屋的成交量在2010年8月共计374套，与2009年8月的610套相比下降了38.7%，但比2008年8月的293套的成交量增加了27.6%。连结屋的基准价格在2009年8月和2010年8月间上涨了6.6%至$489,511。
