Market Update
Market Activity Offers Relief for Homebuyers
VANCOUVER, B.C. – July 3, 2008 –Increased property listings and moderating home prices have eased the Greater Vancouver housing market into a buyer’s phase. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 42.9 per cent in June 2008 to 2,425 from the 4,244 sales recorded in June 2007.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 18.3 per cent to 6,546 in June 2008 compared to June 2007, when 5,533 new units were listed.

“Although housing prices, on a year-over-year comparison, continue to show single-digit percentage increases, we are beginning to see more price reductions in properties listed on the market today,” said REBGV president, Dave Watt. “Homes priced at a competitive level continue to sell quickly, but it is important for people to accurately identify their home’s value when putting it on the market.”

Sales of detached properties in June 2008 declined 43.4 per cent to 918 from the 1,623 units sold during the same period in 2007. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties rose 7 per cent from June 2007 to $765,654.

Sales of apartment properties declined 42.7 per cent last month to 1,057, compared to 1,846 sales in June 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 7.8 per cent from June 2007 to $388,722.

Attached property sales in June 2008 decreased 41.9 per cent to 450, compared with the 775 sales in June 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 7.6 per cent between June 2007 and 2008 to $476,585.

Statistics from the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board.

Best mortgage rates available
AS OF JULY 3, 2008
1yr 2yr 3yr 4yr 5yr 7yr 10yr
6.65 6.65 6.65 6.99 7.15 n/a n/a
Listing and sales activity summary
LOCATION LISTINGS SALES MEDIAN
Coquitlam
Detached 326 105 $654,000
Attached 83 45 $460,000
Apartments 224 77 $295,000
Port Coquitlam
Detached 125 53 $540,000
Attached 60 37 $399,900
Apartments 89 41 $252,000
Port Moody / Belcarra / Anmore
Detached 65 33 N/A
Attached 57 25 $469,500
Apartments 83 47 $346,750