The Victoria Real Estate market has been very busy for us over the last few weeks. We have many new listings coming to the market and there are some good deals to be had out there.
British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC dipped 1.8 per cent to $8.9 billion during the first quarter, compared to the same period in 2007. Residential unit sales declined 13.5 per cent to 18,635 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province reached $478,423, up 13.5 per cent from the first quarter of 2007.
“The housing market lost some steam during the first quarter,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Eroding affordability has squeezed some potential buyers out of the market, while uncertainty about the duration and impact of a weak US economy and housing recession likely has some consumers sitting on the sidelines.”
“Despite weakness in the forest sector, economic fundamentals in the province remain strong and continue to underpin housing demand,” added Muir. “A 25 per cent increase in the number of homes for sale is providing home buyers with more selection and reducing the chances of competing bids on the same property.”
March MLS® residential sales volume fell 12.4 per cent to $3.48 billion compared to March 2007. Residential unit sales declined 22 per cent to 7,128 units in March, while the average MLS® residential price increased 12.3 per cent to $488,796 compared to March 2007.
For more information on the Victoria real estate market please feel free to contact us
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Victoria Real Estate - More Properties for Sale in Victoria BC
Real estate buyers in the Victoria area have a growing number of properties from which to choose. The total number of properties available for sale rose to 3,591 in March - a 17 per cent increase over March of last year. Victoria Real Estate Board President, Tony Joe, says the return to a balanced market is good news for both buyers and sellers. "With more properties available for sale, buyers now have a greater choice, but the continued demand for homes and steady prices mean sellers can anticipate strong interest in properties that are realistically priced." There were 707 sales through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March, down from the 833 sales in the same month a year ago but up 14 per cent from the 619 sales in February.
Joe added that prices remained steady last month, "Twenty-eight per cent of single family homes sold for under $450,000 while nearly 36 per cent of condominiums sold for under $275,000." At the higher end of the market, Joe noted that there were 20 sales in Greater Victoria and two sales on the Gulf Islands of over $1 million.
The average price of single family homes sold in March in Greater Victoria was $597,176; the median price was lower at $529,625. The six-month average for single family homes was $591,439. The average price of all condominiums sold in March was $328,734; the average for the last six months was $332,552. The median was again lower at $300,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $458,378; the six month average was $437,523. The median price was $411,500.
MLS® sales last month included 407 single family homes, 170 condominiums, 68 townhomes and 16 manufactured homes.
For more information on these statistics feel free to contact us of visit www.PropertiesinVictoria.com and click on Victoria Real Estate Market Update.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Joe added that prices remained steady last month, "Twenty-eight per cent of single family homes sold for under $450,000 while nearly 36 per cent of condominiums sold for under $275,000." At the higher end of the market, Joe noted that there were 20 sales in Greater Victoria and two sales on the Gulf Islands of over $1 million.
The average price of single family homes sold in March in Greater Victoria was $597,176; the median price was lower at $529,625. The six-month average for single family homes was $591,439. The average price of all condominiums sold in March was $328,734; the average for the last six months was $332,552. The median was again lower at $300,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $458,378; the six month average was $437,523. The median price was $411,500.
MLS® sales last month included 407 single family homes, 170 condominiums, 68 townhomes and 16 manufactured homes.
For more information on these statistics feel free to contact us of visit www.PropertiesinVictoria.com and click on Victoria Real Estate Market Update.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
BC Housing Sales Decline in February
British Columbia home sales fell in February for the second consecutive month. Is it a trend? It is hard to say this early into the year: however, there is a general slow down in the market.
Does this mean price reduction? I do not think so. It means that houses are taking a little longer to sell, more possibilities for buyers to chose from unlike a few years ago when there were more buyers then sellers. We are heading toward a more balance market, and I feel a more stable market. Not everything goes up for ever. You may be asking yourself if this mean that we will see a sell-off like the US. This I do not see as the fundamentals in Canada are sound and the economy, particularly in BC is very strong. This in conjunction with lowering interest rates in Canada will help to maintain a healthy market for 2008.
For more information on the recent sales in BC please read the article below from the British Columbia Real Estate Association.
Vancouver, BC – March 17, 2008. British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC rose 4.5 per cent to $3.26 billion in February, compared to the same month in 2007. Residential unit sales dipped 9.8 per cent to 6,822 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province reached $478,172 in January, up 15.8 per cent from February 2007.
“BC home sales fell for the second consecutive month, marking the slowest start to a year since 2003,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “While it’s still too early to call a trend, fewer home sales and an increase in active listings may be pulling the BC housing market toward balanced conditions.”
“Strong employment and wage gains over the last year continue to underpin housing demand,” said Muir. The number of unit sales recorded in the month was 13 per cent above the February average from 1998 to 2007. “However, continued erosion in housing affordability may be taking a toll on the ability-to-pay for some buyers.”
Additionally, a weak US economy and lower demand for BC lumber is negatively impacting BC’s forestry industries and local resource communities, while current economic volatility may also be impacting the confidence for some would-be buyers.
For more information, please contact:
Cameron MuirChief EconomistDirect: 604.742.2780Mobile: 778.229.1884Email: cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca
For more information on the market in Victoria feel free to contact us or long onto our website and click on the Victoria Real Estate Market Update.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Does this mean price reduction? I do not think so. It means that houses are taking a little longer to sell, more possibilities for buyers to chose from unlike a few years ago when there were more buyers then sellers. We are heading toward a more balance market, and I feel a more stable market. Not everything goes up for ever. You may be asking yourself if this mean that we will see a sell-off like the US. This I do not see as the fundamentals in Canada are sound and the economy, particularly in BC is very strong. This in conjunction with lowering interest rates in Canada will help to maintain a healthy market for 2008.
For more information on the recent sales in BC please read the article below from the British Columbia Real Estate Association.
Vancouver, BC – March 17, 2008. British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC rose 4.5 per cent to $3.26 billion in February, compared to the same month in 2007. Residential unit sales dipped 9.8 per cent to 6,822 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province reached $478,172 in January, up 15.8 per cent from February 2007.
“BC home sales fell for the second consecutive month, marking the slowest start to a year since 2003,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “While it’s still too early to call a trend, fewer home sales and an increase in active listings may be pulling the BC housing market toward balanced conditions.”
“Strong employment and wage gains over the last year continue to underpin housing demand,” said Muir. The number of unit sales recorded in the month was 13 per cent above the February average from 1998 to 2007. “However, continued erosion in housing affordability may be taking a toll on the ability-to-pay for some buyers.”
Additionally, a weak US economy and lower demand for BC lumber is negatively impacting BC’s forestry industries and local resource communities, while current economic volatility may also be impacting the confidence for some would-be buyers.
For more information, please contact:
Cameron MuirChief EconomistDirect: 604.742.2780Mobile: 778.229.1884Email: cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca
For more information on the market in Victoria feel free to contact us or long onto our website and click on the Victoria Real Estate Market Update.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Monday, 10 March 2008
Victoria Real Estate - Housing Starts Surprise
The latest housing starts were released last week and show a surprisingly strong performance that surprised more then a few. This along with the strong employment numbers that were released for February show a fairly resiliant Canadian economy.
On the surface it looks like Canada and the US are going in two different directions. The US heading down on poor economic numbers caused by the credit crunch, low consumer demand and some may say an unpopular war. Canada on the other hand, with the crippling high dollar taking its toll on the manfacture centre in central Canada is still adding more jobs to the work force, a fairly positive feeling from consumers, and strong demand for real estate. Will it last? That is the big question. Many say it can't maintain the pace without its largest trading partner buying up our commodities other than oil. Maybe Canada is just behind on the curve and all the gloom and doom that is out there will finally coming knocking on its door.
Our economy is definately on slow down and that may good. Allow a breather, but not a gasp before it ticks up again. I feel this may good for house prices in the long run. The slow down in rising prices may give a chance for real wages to catch up and that accompanied with low interest rates now and into the immediate future will definately keep the real estate market in Victoria ticking along as well as its economy. This will make it a more balanced market.
For more information on the latest housing starts feel free to contact us or read the latest article from the Globe and Mail by following this link
If you are looking for some hardworking and dedicated Real Estate Agents in Victoria BC, who put you first please do not hesitate to contact us.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
On the surface it looks like Canada and the US are going in two different directions. The US heading down on poor economic numbers caused by the credit crunch, low consumer demand and some may say an unpopular war. Canada on the other hand, with the crippling high dollar taking its toll on the manfacture centre in central Canada is still adding more jobs to the work force, a fairly positive feeling from consumers, and strong demand for real estate. Will it last? That is the big question. Many say it can't maintain the pace without its largest trading partner buying up our commodities other than oil. Maybe Canada is just behind on the curve and all the gloom and doom that is out there will finally coming knocking on its door.
Our economy is definately on slow down and that may good. Allow a breather, but not a gasp before it ticks up again. I feel this may good for house prices in the long run. The slow down in rising prices may give a chance for real wages to catch up and that accompanied with low interest rates now and into the immediate future will definately keep the real estate market in Victoria ticking along as well as its economy. This will make it a more balanced market.
For more information on the latest housing starts feel free to contact us or read the latest article from the Globe and Mail by following this link
If you are looking for some hardworking and dedicated Real Estate Agents in Victoria BC, who put you first please do not hesitate to contact us.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
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