Around Town: Homes for sale in VIREB area drop to historic lows
Inventory levels of single-family homes in the VIREB (Vancouver Island Real Estate Board) area dropped to a historic low in August, dipping to 1,394, a 38 per cent decrease from one year ago and down from July’s 1,577 available listings. The last time inventory was this low occurred in 2005 when the supply of single-family homes for sale dropped to 1,629 units. VIREB began tracking inventory levels in 1999.
The inventory of single family homes, like these custom built homes at The Ridge in Courtenay on Vancouver Island, is at an historic low on Vancouver Island.
In August 2016, 624 single-family homes sold on the MLS® System compared to 439 last August, an increase of 42 per cent. Month over month, sales of single-family homes rose slightly from July, which saw 605 unit sales. Apartment sales also increased significantly from one year ago, with 118 units selling last month, an 87 per cent increase from the 63 units sold in August 2015. More townhouses sold last month as well: 63 compared to 54 in August 2015, an increase of 17 per cent.
Robust housing sales throughout the province, particularly in the southern half, continue to be driven by a solid economic foundation consisting of consumer confidence, strong retail sales, and employment growth of three per cent.
Although a moderating trend in activity and prices is occurring in the Vancouver market, that slowdown is not affecting the VIREB area thus far. Market conditions in Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland appear to be experiencing some backlash from the Foreign Buyer Tax introduced at the beginning of August, although prices have not dropped significantly.
Contact: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board
Email: communications@vireb.com
Phone: 250.390.4212
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