March home sales and new listings set records
Home
buyer and seller activity reached unprecedented levels across Metro Vancouver*
in March.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that
residential home sales in the region totalled 5,708 in March 2021, a 126.1 per
cent increase from the 2,524 sales recorded in March 2020, and a 53.2 per cent
increase from the 3,727 homes sold in February 2021.
Last month’s sales were 72.2 per cent above the 10-year March sales average and is the highest monthly sales total ever recorded in the region.
“In March, residents bought and listed homes across our region at levels not
seen before,” Taylor Biggar, REBGV Chair said. “This surge in activity is
increasing upward pressure on prices. We’re beginning to see double-digit price
gains for single-family homes and townhomes over the last 12 months.”
Demand was most pronounced in rural and suburban areas. Delta – South saw a
195.8 per cent increase in sales over 2020 – the largest increase in Metro
Vancouver. This was followed by Whistler, which experienced a 194.7 per cent
increase, and Squamish, which saw a 188.6 per cent increase in sales.
There were 8,287 detached, attached and apartment homes newly listed for sale
on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in March 2021. This
represents an 86.8 per cent increase compared to the 4,436 homes listed in
March 2020 and a 64.2 per cent increase compared to February 2021 when 5,048
homes were listed.
The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro
Vancouver is 9,145, a 4.8 per cent decrease compared to March 2020 (9,606) and
a 9.4 per cent increase compared to February 2021 (8,358).
This is 18.6 per cent below the 10-year March total listings average.
“While we did see a record number of listings enter the market last month, the
demand in today’s market isn’t allowing that new supply to accumulate. As a
result, the overall inventory of homes for sale decreased compared to last
year,” said Biggar.
For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for March 2021 is
62.4 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 52.9 per cent for detached homes,
79.9 per cent for townhomes, and 65.4 per cent for apartments.
Generally, analysts say downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio
dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often
experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.
“Today’s activity can be attributed, in part, to an economy that’s recovering,
historically low interest rates, high demand for space, and increased household
savings,” Biggar said.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential
properties in Metro Vancouver is $ 1,123,300. This represents a 9.4 per cent
increase over March 2020 and a 3.6 per cent increase compared to February 2021.
Sales and benchmark prices by property type
Sales of detached homes in March 2021 reached 1,965, a 130.6 per cent increase
from the 852 detached sales recorded in March 2020. The benchmark price for a
detached home is $1,700,200. This represents a 17.9 per cent increase from
March 2020 and a 4.9 per cent increase compared to February 2021.
Sales of apartment homes reached 2,697 in March 2021, a 128.8 per cent increase
compared to the 1,179 sales in March 2020. The benchmark price of an apartment
is $715,800. This represents a 3.7 per cent increase from March 2020 and a 2.6
per cent increase compared to February 2021.
Download the March stats package
Note: Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, South Delta, Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Whistler.