MARKET MOMENTUM CONTINUES FOR FRASER VALLEY REAL ESTATE

SURREY, BC – Homebuyers showed no signs of slowing down last month as Fraser Valley REALTORS® experienced their second busiest November on record.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,766 property sales on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in November compared with 1,136 in 2014, an increase of 55 per cent. The previous high of 2,154 sales was set in November, 1989.

Jorda Maisey, President of the Board, says, “November is not normally this busy. We’ve experienced our usual, seasonal dip in the number of new listings, but we’re just not seeing a decline in the demand.

“If you’ve been thinking about selling your home to capitalize on any equity you’ve acquired, now is a very good time.”

The Board received 1,854 new listings last month, 14 per cent fewer than were received in October and 6 per cent more than were received during November of last year. Last month’s total inventory in the Fraser Valley was 5,761 active listings; 31 per cent less than were available during November 2014.

Maisey says, “Our housing inventory overall hasn’t been this low since spring of 2006, however it’s important to emphasize that conditions vary depending on property type. Ground‐oriented homes are the highest in demand currently with about one out of every two active listings selling. For apartments, one in five is selling, so condo shoppers will find more selection and have greater negotiating power on price when it comes time to buy.”

The MLS® Home Price Index benchmark price of a detached home in November was $659,700, an increase of 14.7 per cent compared to November of last year when it was $575,400. The MLS® HPI benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses increased 6.7 per cent going from $298,900 in November of last year to $318,800 last month. The benchmark price of apartments was $207,100, an increase of 9.3 per cent compared to $189,400 in November 2014.

Maisey adds, “We understand that it is challenging buying a home in a market this competitive and that’s why we’re here, to help our buyers develop a successful strategy to secure the best home for them at a price they can afford.”

Bank of Canada rate update

From BCREA Economist Cameron Muir:

Bank of Canada Interest Rate Decision - December 2, 2015

The Bank of Canada announced this morning that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 0.5 per cent. In the press release accompanying the decision, the Bank noted that inflation is in line with its outlook with total CPI inflation near the bottom of the Bank's 1 to 3 per cent target range while core inflation remains close to 2 per cent.  On growth, the Bank cited ongoing and complex adjustments in the Canadian economy to low commodity prices, but expects growth to move above potential (usually estimated to be about 2 per cent) in 2016. 
 
Absent a substantial recovery in global commodity prices, the Canadian economy will more than likely grow near its long-term trend rate over the next two years. That rate of growth will keep inflation relatively anchored at or below its 2 per cent target.  A baseline scenario of economic growth above 2 per cent, paired with low inflation and steady job growth should keep the Bank of Canada sidelined over the medium run. However, several quarters of steady growth following the oil price shock of late 2014 may convince policymakers that the economy is no longer in need of the monetary stimulus injected into the economy via two rate cuts in early 2015. If so, the Bank may shift back to a tightening bias with a potential rate increase late next year or in early 2017.