relentless demand from 2020 continues into January
With the housing market momentum generated in the second half of 2020 carrying right through the winter holidays and into 2021, January set a record for MLS sales. In turn, the number of homes available for sale has dwindled.
housing, with year-over-year detached and townhome inventory down 31% and 21%, respectively, while condo listings were 18% higher. Having said that, January’s supply of condo listings was still 2% lower than the past-decade average for the month (detached and townhome supply were lower by 42% and 28%, respectively), so in a longer-term context the availability of condos remains limited at the margin. The month-to-date data for February tell a similar tale, with the housing market’s foundation being buttressed by a regional economy that boasts the lowest unemployment rate among major Canadian metro areas and employment that has continued to recover (albeit at a slowing rate) against a backdrop of job losses at the national level. The relatively strong performance of our local economy is something we can all feel good about; here’s to hoping we achieve more balance in our housing market at some point in 2021.
surprising), with total MLS sales surpassing 4,000 for the first time in any previous January in this market’s history (somewhat surprising). To put a finer point on it, January’s sales count of 4,003 was 4% higher than the previous January high, reached in 2016; it was 57% greater than the past- decade January average; and it was 62% higher than the count from this time last year (January 2020). Notably, buyers continued to pursue homes of all types, with year-over-year sales counts up by 48% for condos, 63% for townhomes, and by 78% for detached homes. Relentless resale demand has worked to significantly constrain supply (inventory), with the 12,112 total MLS listings in January down 12% versus last year and 25% versus the past-decade January average. This was wholly driven by ground-oriented
The transition from one year to another is often accompanied by a renewed sense of optimism and hope for (positive) change, and this was perhaps never truer than when we watched the calendar flip from 2020 to 2021. Indeed, there was (and is) much to feel good about here in the early stages of 2021, including the initial wave of Covid-19 vaccinations being administered, our economy’s continued recovery, and the feeling that we are a little closer to the day when we can interact with our friends, family, and co-workers in ways we haven’t for almost a whole year now. Of course, not everything has changed or is expected to change in the near term, and this includes the housing market dynamics that were established in this region midway through 2020. More specifically, home buyers in the Vancouver Region remained very active in the first month of 2021 (not
Copyright © 2020 rennie group of companies. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the rennie group of companies. Current as of February 6, 2021. All data from Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley & Rennie. While the information and data contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. rennie group of companies does not assume responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies. The recipient of the information should take steps as the recipient may deem necessary to verify the information prior to placing any reliance upon the information. The information contained within this report should not be used as an opinion of value, such opinions should and can be obtained from a rennie and associates advisor. All information is subject to change and any property may be withdrawn from the market at any time without notice or obligation to the recipient from rennie group of companies. E.&O.E. 3
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online