Fraser Valley Market Gets Its Groove Back

News Release: August 2, 2013

FRASER VALLEY HOUSING MARKET GETS ITS GROOVE BACK 

Buyers and sellers in the Fraser Valley took advantage of the record breaking hours of sunshine in July as both sales and listings on the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) experienced a noticeable lift.

The Board processed 1,456 sales in July, an increase of 5 per cent compared to the 1,393 sales in July of last year and 10 per cent more than were processed in June. By historical comparison, sales in July ranked sixth going back to 2004. For over a year, monthly sales in Fraser Valley have been trending at 10-year lows.

Ray Werger is the President-elect of the Board. “Buoyancy during the summer is rare at the best of times and yet I’ve just experienced the busiest July in my 20 plus years as a REALTOR®. To jump from the worst June in 10 years to a slightly below average July may not sound unusual or unexpected but it was.

“We’re likely experiencing some pent-up demand coming off some very slow winter months, tiny changes in mortgage rates are always incentive for many buyers, and let’s not underestimate our glorious weather. For our buyers and sellers, a return to a normal, balanced market is welcome news.”

In July, Fraser Valley’s sales-to-active-listings ratio – a comparison of sales and inventory that measures the health of the market – was 14 per cent for all property types and 18 per cent for single family detached homes and townhomes indicating stability in the marketplace.

The Board received 2,777 new listings in July – 5 per cent fewer than received during the same month last year, but 6 per cent more than were received in June – leaving the volume of active properties at 10,428 a decrease of 4 per cent compared to July 2012.

In July, the benchmark price of single family detached homes in the Fraser Valley was $551,000, virtually on par with $551,400 during the same month last year. For townhouses, the benchmark price was $297,800, a decrease of 1.8 per cent compared to $303,400 in July 2012 and the benchmark price of apartments was $202,000, 2 per cent less than in July 2012 when it was $206,200.

Werger adds, “Year over year, prices are stable or down slightly, however the six month trend is showing one to two per cent increases for all property types; again underlying the return to an average or typical housing market.”