CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN FRASER VALLEY’S HOUSING MARKET
(Surrey, BC) – Buyers and sellers continued to show greater confidence in the market last month as home sales on the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) edged closer to typical levels.
The Board processed 1,258 sales in August, an increase of 17 per cent compared to the 1,073 sales in August of last year however, the volume remains 13 per cent below the 10-year average for the month.
Ron Todson, President of the Board, explains, “The best way to describe our market currently is one of continued, modest improvement as buyers and sellers become more confident.
“In the last month in the Fraser Valley, we’ve seen an increase in sellers willing to accept an offer subject to another sale, we’re seeing fewer deals collapse and we’re seeing more move-up buyers, either improving on the size or quality of their existing home. These are all indicators of a return to a more typical, stable market.”
In terms of inventory, the Board received 2,353 new listings in August, a decrease of 2 per cent compared to the 2,406 new listings received during the same month last year – leaving the volume of active properties at 10,127 a decrease of 2 per cent compared to August 2012.
Todson says, “An important measure of the balance between housing supply and demand is the number of months it would take to sell our existing inventory. We’re currently sitting at eight months’ supply in the Fraser Valley, indicating a balanced market, which is also being reflected in the stability of home prices.
“Home prices generally remain unchanged or down slightly from a year ago; however, do check with your local REALTOR® if you’re in need of specific values because the range between property type and community can be sizeable.”
In August, 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 $298,200, a decrease of 1.6 per cent compared to $303,000 in August 2012 and the benchmark price of apartments was $203,900, 1.3 per cent less than in August 2012 when it was $206,600.
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The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is an association of 2,795 real estate professionals who live and work in the BC communities of North Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Abbotsford, and Mission. The FVREB marked its 90-year anniversary in 2011.
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