Ongoing demand for Fraser Valley real estate saw overall sales reach the highest point for the month of October in the Board’s history. This is the fourth consecutive month of record-breaking or near-record activity for sales and new listings in the region.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 2,370 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in October, an increase of 48.9 per cent compared to the 1,592 sales in October of last year, and an 6.2 per cent increase month-over-month compared to the 2,231 sales in September.

The volume of new listings received by the Board in October dipped compared to September, however still ranked the highest for the month in the last decade and the fourth highest of all time. The Board received 3,081, a 12.3 per cent decrease compared to September’s intake and a 29.3 per cent increase compared to October 2019.

Chris Shields, President of the Board, observes, “The situation is unprecedented. We are in the middle of a pandemic and in many of our communities we are seeing a strong seller’s market for townhomes and single-family homes priced correctly. For example, in Langley, our current supply of detached homes would sell in 1.4 months if no new listings became available. And for Mission townhomes, we have zero months of inventory.

“If you’re thinking of buying or selling, seek expert advice because every neighbourhood and property type is unique.”

October finished with 6,872 active listings, a decrease of 6.8 per cent compared to September and a decrease of 7.1 per cent year-over-year. Last month’s active listings were 11.9 per cent below the ten-year average for October.

Baldev Gill, Chief Executive Officer of the Board, adds, “As our region faces a current surge in cases of COVID-19 and gatherings are being further restricted, it’s important to emphasize that the real estate industry – one of the first to adapt successfully to the necessary safety requirements – continues to be vigilant in order to contain the spread. REALTORS® are strongly encouraging their clients to embrace technology and avoid in-person activities.”

For the Fraser Valley region, the average number of days to sell an apartment in October was 36 days, and 27 days for townhomes. Single family detached homes remained on market for an average of 30 days before selling.

MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity

Single Family Detached: At $1,046,900 the Benchmark price for a single-family detached home in the Fraser Valley increased 1.4 per cent compared to September and, increased 9.9 per cent compared to October 2019.

Townhomes: At $569,200, the Benchmark price for a townhome in the Fraser Valley increased 0.3 per cent compared to September and increased 5.0 per cent compared to October 2019.

Apartments: At $434,600, the Benchmark price for apartments/condos in the Fraser Valley decreased by 0.5 per cent compared to September and increased 4.2 per cent compared to October 2019.

Find the October Statistics Package here.

Home sale and new listing activity remained at near record levels across Metro Vancouver in October.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 3,687 in October 2020, a 29 per cent increase from the 2,858 sales recorded in October 2019, and a 1.2 per cent increase from the 3,643 homes sold in September 2020.

Last month’s sales were 34.7 per cent above the 10-year October sales average and stands as the second-highest total on record for the month.

“Home has been a focus for residents during the pandemic. With more days and evenings spent at home this year, people are re-thinking their housing situation," Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair said. “Throughout this period, REALTORS® have been working to understand and adapt to the latest safety protocols so that they can continue to help the public meet their housing needs in a safe and responsible way.”

There were 5,571 detached, attached and apartment homes newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in October 2020. This represents a 36.7 per cent increase compared to the 4,074 homes listed in October 2019 and a 13 per cent decrease compared to September 2020 when 6,402 homes were listed.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 12,416, a 1.5 per cent increase compared to October 2019 (12,236) and a 5.2 per cent decrease compared to September 2020 (13,096).

“With demand on the rise, homes priced right for today’s market are receiving attention and, at times, garnering multiple offers," Gerber said. "To understand the market conditions in your neighbourhood and property type of choice, work with your local REALTOR® to assess the latest MLS® housing market information."

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for October 2020 is 29.7 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 30.9 per cent for detached homes, 43.5 per cent for townhomes, and 24.9 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.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,045,100. This represents a six per cent increase over October 2019 and a 0.4 per cent increase compared to September 2020.

Sales of detached homes in October 2020 reached 1,335, a 42.3 per cent increase from the 938 detached sales recorded in October 2019. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,523,800. This represents an 8.5 per cent increase from October 2019 and a 1.1 per cent increase compared to September 2020.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,570 in October 2020, a 13.4 per cent increase compared to the 1,384 sales in October 2019. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $683,500. This represents a 4.4 per cent increase from October 2019 and is unchanged compared to September 2020.

Attached home sales in October 2020 totalled 782, a 45.9 per cent increase compared to the 536 sales in October 2019. The benchmark price of an attached home is $813,000. This represents a 5.4 per cent increase from October 2019 and a 0.4 per cent increase compared to September 2020.

Download the October 2020 stats package