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April 2015

 

     

Five Spring Cleaning Hacks

Spring is here and that means it's time to start your spring cleaning. But it doesn't have to be the bane of your existence this year! Here are a few hacks that will help you get through that cleaning faster.

Read more... (MacBlog)

 

 

March Market Infographics

The spring market means a lot of listings, sales and overall activity. It's a good time to check in on your local real estate market and these handy infographics compare activity with this same time last year.

If you have questions about the status of the current market, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Abbotsford

 

Burnaby

Bowen Island

 

Gulf Islands

Cloverdale

 

Coquitlam

Ladner

 

Langley

Maple Ridge

 

Mission

New Westminster

 

North Delta

North Surrey

 

North Vancouver

Pitt Meadows

 

Port Coquitlam

Port Moody

 

Richmond

South Surrey/White Rock

 

Squamish

Surrey

 

Tsawwassen

Vancouver Downtown

 

Vancouver East

Vancouver West

 

West Vancouver

Whistler

 

Victoria

 

 

VIDEO Housing squeeze leads many young families to opt for condo living

As young professionals start thinking of starting a family, the norm has been to trade the downtown condo for a larger home with a spacious yard and a white picket fence.

But that dream is remaining just that - a dream for many who are squeezed out of pricey housing markets in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.

Violeta Coriea and her husband are raising their two kids, who are both under five, in a 700 sq.foot apartment...

Watch the video and read more... (CBC News)

 

 

VIDEO Central Okanagan housing market bounces back

The real estate market saw a sluggish start to the year, but that all changed quickly. Last month was one of the best in recent history. Industry experts say a combination of low mortgage rates and a growing economy are encouraging first-time buyers to make the big purchase.

Compared to the same time last year, total residential sales went up by more than 45 per cent, while sales of single-family homes soared by 68 per cent.

Watch the video and read more... (Global News)

 

     

 

Lower Mainland News

Metro Vancouver home buyers out in force in March (REBGV)

March property sales climb in the Fraser Valley (FVREB)

Buying Vancouver homes with loan from the Bank of Mom and Dad (Vancouver Courier)

Vancouver house prices break down Main Street's dividing line (The Globe and Mail)

Rising prices impact affordability in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows (Maple Ridge Times)

Squamish to Burnaby - a 'great commute' for an affordable lifestyle (CBCNews)

Victoria & Vancouver Island News

Another Busy Month for the Victoria Real Estate Market (VREB)

Strong Sales Kick Off the Spring Housing Market on Vancouver Island (VIREB)

Okanagan News

Baby Boomers Snapping up Real Estate in the Okanagan (Kelowna Now)

Okanagan Leads Canada in Bumping Up Housing Sales (Kelowna Now)

 


 

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Metro Vancouver home buyers out in force in March


Demand continued to rise across Metro Vancouver's housing market in March.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 4,060 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March 2015. This represents a 53.7 per cent increase compared to the 2,641 sales recorded in March 2014, and a 32.6 per cent increase compared to the 3,061 sales in February 2015.

Last month’s sales were 26.8 per cent above the 10-year sales average for the month.

"We're seeing strong competition amongst home buyers today. This is leading to more multiple offer situations and some upward pressure on home prices,” Darcy McLeod, REBGV president said. “For sellers, this means that it's taking less time, on average, for your home to sell if you have it priced correctly for today's market."
   
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 5,968 in March. This represents a 13 per cent increase compared to the 5,281 new listings reported in March 2014.
   
Last month’s new listing count was 4.7 per cent higher than the region’s 10-year new listing average for the month.
   
The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the REBGV MLS® is 12,376, a 14.5 per cent decline compared to March 2014 and a 4 per cent increase compared to February 2015.

“The number of homes for sale today is below what’s typical for this time of year,” McLeod said. “If you’ve been considering putting your property on the market, these market conditions indicate that now may be a good time to list.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $660,700. This represents a 7.2 per cent increase compared to March 2014.

The sales-to-active-listings ratio in March was 32.8 per cent. This is the highest that this ratio has been in Metro Vancouver since July 2007.

Sales of detached properties in March 2015 reached 1,711, an increase of 53.3 per cent from the 1,116 detached sales recorded in March 2014, and an 83.4 per cent increase from the 933 units sold in March 2013. The benchmark price for a detached property in Metro Vancouver increased 11.2 per cent from March 2014 to $1,052,800.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,627 in March 2015, an increase of 47.1 per cent compared to the 1,106 sales in March 2014, and an increase of 65.7 per cent compared to the 982 sales in March 2013. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 3.3 per cent from March 2014 to $390,200.

Attached property sales in March 2015 totalled 722, an increase of 72.3 per cent compared to the 419 sales in March 2014, and a 67.1 per cent increase from the 432 attached properties sold in March 2013. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 4.9 per cent between March 2014 and 2015 to $484,900.

*Editor’s Note:  Areas covered by Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.

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Reciprocity Logo The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.