Fraser Valley’s housing market cools in November - From your local Cloverdale Realtors

Fraser Valley's housing market cools in November

December, 03 2013 10:39:10 am, by FVREB 
Categories: Statistics

SURREY, BC – The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) recorded 986 property sales in November, an increase of 9 per cent compared to the 905 sales during the same month last year, however a decrease of 21 per cent compared to October’s 1,249 sales.

Month-over-month, the Board also received 24 per cent fewer new listings – 1,774 compared to 2,336 in October – but still an improvement over the 1,723 new listings received during November of 2012.

Ron Todson, president of the Board says, “We typically see a slowdown just before the holidays and this year it started a little sooner reflecting what we’re seeing in our overall economy.

“Similar to last November, sales are hovering at about 14 per cent off normal levels, but so are new listings. They’re down about 7 per cent compared to the 10-year average, so what we’re seeing is a slower but steady market keeping home prices in check and the average number of days to sale stable.”

For a detached home in the Fraser Valley, the average number of days to sell in November was 57, compared to last year’s 59 days. For townhomes, it was 58 days and apartments 78 compared to 70 and 74 in November 2012.

Prices for benchmark homes also remain steady showing nominal year-over-year increases or single-digit decreases. For single family detached homes, the benchmark price increased by 1.0 per cent in one year, going from $544,700 in November 2012 to $550,300 last month.

For townhouses, the benchmark price in November was $292,400, a decrease of 2.2 per cent compared to $298,900 during the same month last year. The benchmark price of apartments in the Fraser Valley in November was $196,200, a decrease of 3.3 per cent compared to $202,800 in November 2012.

Todson notes, “Those thinking of buying or selling may notice in our monthly statistics package that average prices in November are up or down substantially compared to the benchmark price.

“Talk to your REALTOR® who will explain that the volume of sales and the calibre of homes sold can dramatically skew average prices, which doesn’t happen with the benchmark price the most reliable of all pricing measurements.”

Since November 2012, the benchmark price in the Fraser Valley for all three residential property types combined is flat, having decreased by 0.4 per cent and over the last six months the price has decreased by 0.9 per cent.

If you want to know what’s happening with your local market and how it would affect the selling price of your home, give us a call.