Karel Palla & Darryl Sjerven : RE/MAX Select Realty : Archived blog posts for : April 2016

2016 RE/MAX Spring Market Housing Trends Report

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Karel Palla

Greater Vancouver:

The average residential sale price rose 24% in the first quarter of 2016 when compared with 2015.

Find out more in the 2016 RE/MAX Spring Market Trends Report:

Please just click on the image below to review the entire report.

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Bank of Canada Holds Key Rate

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Karel Palla

Bank of Canada Holds Key Rate

The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding the benchmark rate steady for the sixth straight time, noting that “the Canadian economy’s complex structural adjustment to the oil price shock is ongoing,” although “it does appear that the positive forces in the economy are starting to outweigh those that are negative.”

Growth in the global economy is expected to strengthen but with a weaker outlook than the Bank projected in January. The U.S. economy is also expected to regain momentum after a slow start in 2016. Inflation in Canada is evolving as anticipated. Taking into account all of these considerations, the Bank “judges that the overall balance of risks remains within the zone for which the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate.”

Great news if you’ve got a variable-rate mortgage, need a new mortgage, are renewing, or want to consolidate debt at the lowest cost funds. The next rate-setting day is May 25, 2016.

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March 2016 Metro Vancouver Home Sales Set An All-Time Record

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Karel Palla

March sales set an all-time record

Metro Vancouver home sales eclipsed 5,000 in March for the first time on record.

Residential property sales in the region totalled 5,173 in March 2016, an increase of 27.4 per cent from the 4,060 sales recorded in March 2015 and an increase of 24 per cent compared to February 2016 when 4,172 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 56 per cent above the 10-year sales average for the month.

"March was the highest selling month the REBGV has ever recorded,” Dan Morrison, REBGV president said. “Today's demand is broad based. Home buyers are active in neighbourhoods across our region."

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 6,278 in March 2016. This represents an increase of 5.2 per cent compared to the 5,968 units listed in March 2015 and an 8 per cent increase compared to February 2016 when 5,812 properties were listed.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 7,358, a 40.5 per cent decline compared to March 2015 (12,376) and a 0.8 per cent increase compared to February 2016 (7,299).

“Strong job and economic growth in our province, positive net migration and low interest rates are helping to drive this activity," Morrison said. The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $815,000. This represents a 23.2 per cent increase compared to March 2015.

Sales of detached properties in March 2016 reached 2,135, an increase of 24.8 per cent from the 1,711 detached sales recorded in March 2015. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 27.4 per cent from March 2015 to $1,342,500.

Sales of apartment properties reached 2,252 in March 2016, an increase of 38.4 per cent compared to the 1,627 sales in March 2015.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 18.8 per cent from March 2015 to $462,800.

March 2016 totalled 786, an increase of 8.9 per cent compared to the 722 sales in March 2015. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 20.1 per cent from March 2015 to $589,100.

Download the full stats package by clicking here.

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