New reality for home buyers in BC shapes real estate market this summer

Has the real estate market on the Sunshine Coast fallen off a cliff?! Is the end nigh?!! I certainly don’t think so.

I believe we are seeing buyers and sellers adjusting to some new realities “out there”. Usually change is accompanied by confusion or, at least, a wait and see attitude by those active in the market.  We see this on the buyer’s side, clearly, by the lack of completed deals.  When we add the time of year to the mix, and the fact that many are simply opting for the beach and vacation mode over house hunting and selling, then we see the slow down as being even more pronounced. I believe we’ll see a big jump in activity over the month of August and into September as many folks who are deferring their purchase today will only wait “so long”.

Let’s see how July 2022 real estate stats break out:

Fully Detached home sales

Fully Detached home sales – were down by 87% in dollar volume to $10,050,000 and down 88% in unit sales to 9 units sold in July.  Our inventory climbed 41%, compared to the same time last year, giving us 261 available homes on market.  This means our sales success ratio (the amount of sales versus the available inventory) was 3.5%…this is deep into buyers’ market territory if we extrapolate this continuing.

Year to date is a bit more rosy with only a 23% reduction in dollar volume to $406,400,000 and a 34% reduction in unit sales to 342 homes sold.

The average price for a detached home so far in 2022 has risen 16% to $1,188,000.

Condo and Townhome sales

Condo and Townhome sales – were down 94% to $480,000 in dollar volume and down 94% in unit sales to 1 unit sold in July.  Our inventory fell 23% to 50 available attached homes on market.  This means our sales success ratio is 2%.

Year to date we see dollar volume is down by 31% to $60,800,000 and unit sales are down by 34% to 113.

The average price for a condo or town home is up 14% to $640,000.

Land only sales

Land only sales – were down 91% in dollar volume to $700,000 and down 85% in unit sales to 2 lots sold in July.  Our inventory decreased by 37% to 76 available units resulting in a sales success ratio of 2.5%.

Year to date we have seen a decrease in dollar volume by 25% to $61,500,000 and unit sales by 39% to 100 lots sold so far in 2022.

The average price for a piece of bareland has risen by 22% to $615,000.

Home Sellers

Home Sellers – Competitive pricing is more important than ever.  To get a sale done in 2022 may require a deeper cut to your asking price than you first imagined.  If you have bought recently this can have a concerning, negative impact. However, if you bought prior to 2020 then you are likely still in a very good position when it comes to equity.  My thoughts are that you deal with any deferred maintenance on your home and sharpen your pencil with regard to your bottom line and “what you need” to move forward.

Home Buyers

Home Buyers – This is a great market for you to achieve the kind of deal you want! Within reason one can create favourable terms through an offer on the “right one”.  On that note, don’t let the lack of action frighten you.  If you find “the perfect place” (and they are out there), don’t flounder around with indecision.  You know what you want so if you find it, buy it. Just do it on your terms. If you are looking but also “waiting and seeing” you will likely miss out and regret the indecision/fear.

External Factors Pressurize Home Buying

With regard to external factors we see the Bank of Canada raise interest rates again when they meet again September 7th. Presently prime sits at 2.5% (with consumer prime around 4.7%). We will also see the BC Government introduce the buyer cooling off period as law moving forward on January 1, 2023.  Rather late and certainly inane tinkering with BC citizens’s ability to transact with one another….The cooling off period will amount to 3 business days and, if a buyer backs out of a deal during that time, they will be on the hook for a 2.5% penalty (think $2,500 on a million dollar home).

 

There are many other factors at play and this legislation raises questions around the process of buying and selling. I will have answers as our industry is informed by government….

For market stats call your realtor. For market intelligence call Russ Qureshi at ReMax City Realty 604-741-7119 or russ@coastlifestyles.ca

dad and daughter cooking bbq

Real estate market adjusting to interest rates hike, increased inventory and relaxed buyer demand

Sunshine Coast Real Estate Statistics for June, 2022

All segments of the residential market are down again this month.  Fully detached homes suffered the shallowest dip with condos/town homes and land only seeing a very significant slowdown in action.

Let’s break it out and see how the market is adjusting to rising interest rates, increased inventory and relaxed demand from buyers.

Fully detached homes suffering from an interest rate hike from Bank of Canada

Fully detached homes dollar volume is down 11% to $56,500,000 and unit sales are down 18% to 50 homes sold last month.  Inventory is up by 24% over last year to 245 available homes for sale. With the increase in inventory, our sales success ratio (the amount of sales versus available inventory) is 20%. This, despite it being much slower, is still an excellent sales success ratio and shows that we are on the cusp of a balanced market.

Year to date we are down 12% in dollar volume to $396,000,000 and down 25% in unit sales to 333 homes sold in 2022 so far.

The average cost of a detached home is up 17% from last year to $1,190,000.

Increased inventory in the condo and townhome segment

Condo and Townhome dollar volume is down 57% to $4,303,000 and unit sales are down 66% to 6 units sold.  Inventory is down 21% to 44 available attached homes for sale. With the decrease in inventory for this segment of the market our sales success ratio is in balanced territory at 14%.

Year to date we are down 27% in dollar volume to $60,300,000 and unit sales are down 39% to 93.

The average cost of an attached dwelling is up 15% to $645,000.

Land only properties hit the hardest

Land only property sales are the worst hit with dollar volume down by 73% to $1,700,000 and unit sales own 68% to 5 empty lots sold in June.  Inventory is down 39% to 74 available lots making our sales success ratio for this segment of the market 7%….a buyer’s market by any measure.

Year to date we are down in dollar volume by 18% to $60,750,000 and unit sales are down by 35% to 98 lots sold in 2022 so far.

The average price for land only property is up 25% to $620,000.

Home Sellers must be aggressive to attract attention

Home Sellers should make sure your home is “show ready”, including curb appeal, with no deferred maintenance issues for buyers.  After coming out of a two year+ high value, seller’s, market you should also be prepared to price your home aggressively in comparison to your local competition.

Home Buyers interest rate increase eating away at market-slide gains

Home Buyers should lock in your best rate for 90 – 120 days today.  We should expect another big jump in the prime rate when the Bank of Canada meets again on July 13th. For those of you playing the waiting game hoping to see less expensive prices…think twice… Even a .5% hike in the prime can result in loosing (over the amortization period) any amounts you might save waiting/hoping for the market to slide down.  Instead, lock in your best rate and negotiate the deal you want today.  This would make for a much better chance at a positive outcome.

For market information call your realtor. For market intelligence call Russ!

Russ Qureshi
Coast Lifestyles Network – ReMax City Realty
604.741.7119
russ@coastlifestyles.ca

man sittiing on the floor with computer-w

Prime rate of Canada and consumer protection in BC produce cooling effect on the real estate market

Sunshine Coast Real Estate Snap Shot

All segments of the Sunshine Coast Real Estate market have shrunk both in dollar volume and unit sales. At the time of writing this report, the Bank of Canada had just announced another .50% increase in the prime rate with warnings of more increases to come.  The British Columbia Financial Services Authority has made its’ recommendations to the Provincial Government with regard to consumer protection measures the government wishes to implement. Interestingly, they clearly said the recommendations would likely have unintended consequences and do very little for housing affordability. The latter will have an even more pronounced cooling effect on the market, at least temporarily, while the industry, and Buyers and Sellers, adapt to the new rules. Meanwhile, let’s see how last month rolled out.

Detached homes sales are down in dollar volume by 22% compared to last year’s $66,600,000, and unit sales are down by 35% to 55 homes sold in May.  The number of available listings is up 16% to 212…This means our sales success ratio is 26%. While we still consider this sales success ratio a “seller’s market”…,with the increase in inventory and reduction in sales, this percentage has halved since last month.  Year to date shows us down 12% in dollar volume to $340,000,000 and unit sales down 26% to 283 homes sold in 2022 so far.  The average home price is up by 19% to $1,200,000.

Condos and Town Homes are down in dollar volume by 28% to $11,525,000 and unit sales by 33% to 20 homes sold in May.  The number of available listings is down 22% to 39 condos and/or townhomes available for sale.  This means our sales success ratio is 51%!  This segment of the market, due to lack of inventory, continues to be a sellers’ market.  Year to date, we see that dollar volume is down 24% to $56,000,000, and unit sales are down 35% to 87 homes sold so far in 2022. The average condo/townhome price is up by 15% to $644,000.

Land only is down 67% in dollar volume to $5,150,000 and down 68% in unit sales to 9 land-only properties sold in May.  Inventory is down significantly from last year.  47%, to be exact, to bring available inventory to 65 lots.  This means the sales success ratio for this segment of the market is 14% putting it firmly in “balanced market” territory.  Year to date, we see dollar volume down by 12% to $59,000,000 and unit sales down 31% to 93 lots sold in 2022.  The average price for a piece of land is up 26% to $635,000.

I’ve noticed fewer multiple offer scenarios playing out, and sellers are starting to negotiate off their asking price!  The soft spot seems to be between 1.3 million and 2 million. Lower than that is brisk, and surprisingly, the higher end continues to chug along very nicely.

For market information contact your realtor. For market intelligence contact Russ Qureshi at ReMax City Realty @ 604-741-7119 or russ@coastlifestyles.ca

wild ride-west coast beach-man running with dog

Sunshine Coast property market on a wild ride this spring

Sunshine Coast Real Estate Statistics for April 2022

 

All segments of the market, with the exception of Land Only properties, have realized a small downturn in unit sales but are still seeing gains over last year in terms of dollar volume.  We are at an “in between” stage right now with some properties continuing to enjoy the “wild ride” of heavy attention – then multiple offers, and some properties are being ignored by the market entirely… Lets see how it breaks out:

 

Detached residential sales are up in dollar volume by 8% to $94,750,000 yet down in unit sales by 10% to 72 homes sold compared to April last year.  Our available inventory, while up overall, is still down 10% from this time last year to 153 detached homes available.  This means our sales success ratio is 47%. This sales success ratio is down 5% from last month but still astronomical when one understands it is considered a seller’s market at a ratio above 20%.  Year to date we see that dollar volume is down 9% to $273,325,000 and unit sales are down 23% to 228 homes sold.  Despite the slackening demand the average home price is still up 19% over last year to $1,199,000.

 

Condo and townhome sales are down in dollar volume by 47% to $8,781,000 and down in unit sales by 56% to 13 homes sold in April.  The available inventory is dead even from last month at 50 units.  Therefore, our sales success ratio is 26%….this is a marked drop from last month where the sales success ratio was 64%!!! Yet, it is still a sellers’ market. Year to date dollar volume is down 23% to $44,491,000 and unit sales are down 34% to 67 units sold so far this year.  As with detached homes, despite the slackening demand the average condo/town home price is up 19% to $660,000.

 

Land only sales are a bright spot for sales this month with dollar volume up 47% over last month to $22,050,000 and unit sales are up 12% to 28 units sold.  This weird discrepancy is accounted for by the sale of a 6 acre piece in Sechelt for 8.7 million.  Available inventory is way, way down by 55% to 57 available lots.  Therefore, the sales success ratio for this segment of the market is 49%…!  Year to date we see dollar volume is up 3% to $54,000,000 and unit sales are down 20% to 84 units sold. The average price of a piece of bare land, although skewed somewhat by last month’s high value sale previously mentioned, is up 30% to $642,000.

 

Overall, the statistics show us that the market is continuing the trend of higher prices and lack of inventory. Thrown into the mix is a pronounced slackening of demand from buyers. So, we start seeing several months in a row now where dollar volume continues to set records while unit volume continues to decrease slightly.  I have certainly seen a slowdown in demand through the lens of my own business. A 50 basis point jump in the overnight rate (with many more to come it seems), buyer fatigue and, it would seem, a general lack of urgency on the part of buyers is starting to play a significant role.  Add to this the recently legislated “cooling off period” enacted by the Provincial Government (as yet without specifics and, IMHO, without merit) and we will continue to see a downturn in unit sales…..

 

As strange and unique as this market is and has been (and no doubt will continue to be) I am keeping my eyes and ears open so I can advise you properly when you need to buy or sell. For market stats call your realtor, for market intelligence call Russ Qureshi at 604-741-7119 or email at russ@coastlifestyles.ca

Get ready for a cooling-off period for home sales in BC

All segments of the real estate market on the Sunshine Coast BC are down both from last year and year to date.  Inventory is still low but, thankfully, increasing.  Other considerations are the variables of the Bank of Canada raising rates (in a big way) and the Provincial Government legislating a cooling-off period for buyers.  Get ready for the negative effects of the legislation on both home sellers and buyers.  Externalities aside, let’s see how the market stats break out:

Detached home sales

Detached home sales are down 22% in dollar volume to $82,600,000, and unit sales are down 33% to 70 homes sold in March (that is still a lot of home sales!).  Inventory, while creeping upward, is still down 10% from last year at 133 homes for sale.  The sales success ratio is 52%…a seller’s market, to be sure.

Year to date, we are down in dollar volume by 16% to $177,800,000, and unit sales are down 29% to 155 homes sold in 2022.

The average price for a detached home on the Coast (dollar volume/sales) is $1,147,000.  The median price (the price of the home that sold in the middle) was $1,050,000..it’s rare that the average matches so closely to the median.

Townhome and condo sales

Townhome and condo sales are actually up in dollar volume, over March last year, by 24% to $18,800,000, and unit sales are even at 27 condos and townhomes sold.  Inventory is down 19% to 42 available units for sale.  The sales success ratio is 64%…very slanted toward sellers.

Year to date tells a different story, with total dollar volume down by 13% to $35,700,000 and unit sales are down by 28% to 54 condos and townhomes sold so far this year.

The average price for condo/townhome so far this year (total dollar volume/total sales) is $659,000.  The median value (the home that sold in the middle) was $649,000.

Land only sales

Land only sales are down in dollar volume by 46% to $10,380,000 and unit sales by 42% to 20 lots sold in March.  Total inventory in this segment of the market is down 51% to 64 available properties putting the sales success ratio at 30%.

Year to date, we see dollar volume is down by 14% to $31,900,000 and unit sales are down 30% to 56 bare land properties sold so far in 2022.

The average price for land-only is $570,000, and the median price last month was $485,000.

 

Demand is slowing even before any significant rise in the prime rate and before the provincial government announces a cooling-off period for home buyers.  My prediction is that moving forward into spring, the real estate market in BC will continue to see fewer sales matched with less inventory.

 

Home-Buyers should stay the course by being financially prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or cash on hand, before going to look at homes.  The right properties get snapped up very quickly.  Take heart, offers are coming to the table with inspection and financing conditions.

 

Home-Sellers should be nimble with timing and price because navigating rate hikes and government announcements will require skill over the coming months.

 

For market statistics call a REALTOR®.  For market intelligence call Russ Qureshi at 604-741-7119.

February real estate market posts higher home prices across the Sunshine Coast

February shows a slight slowdown in sales volume in both the detached home and condo/townhome market segments. Land only was up for sales volume in a big way, and prices are significantly higher across the board. Let’s see how it all breaks out:

 

Fully Detached home sales suffered a 10% decline in dollar volume to $61,100,000 and a 30% reduction in unit sales to 49 homes sold in February. Inventory is down by 33% to 88 detached homes available on Sunshine Coast. This means our success ratio (the number of sales versus available inventory) is at 55%, keeping the market in the hands of sellers. Year-to-date sales show us down 11% in dollar volume to $92,250,000 and down in unit sales by 24% to 85 homes sold in 2022 so far. The average price for a home (total dollar volume divided by units sold) in 2022 is up 18% to $1,120,000. The median price for a house (the price of the middle home sold) was $1,100,000.

 

Condo and townhome sales are down in dollar volume by 36% to $11,500,000 and down in unit sales by 40% to 18 condos and townhomes sold in February. Inventory in this market segment is down only 2% to 45 available units. However, based on this, our sales success ratio is still 40% keeping it a seller’s market. Year-to-date sales volume is down 34% to $17,900,000, and unit sales are down by 43% to 27. The average price for a condo/townhome (total dollar volume divided by units sold) is up 5% to $613,000, and the median price (the price of the middle home sold) was $650,000.

 

Land-only sales were the only market segment that was up over last year. Dollar volume was up 30% to $14,125,000 and down in units sold by 16% to 20 lots sold in February. Land-only inventory is down 57% to 56 available units. This means that, for the first time in my 20 year career, the closing ratio is at 35% and signifies a seller’s market. Year-to-date sales volume is up 22% to $21,500,000, and unit sales are down 21% to 36 lots sold so far in 2022.   The average price for a piece of land (total dollar volume divided by units sold) is up 56% to $597,000, and the median price (the price of the middle property sold) was $501,000. Two high-value sales, one on Gambier for 2.5 million and another in Sechelt for 1.8 million, will skew these averages….

 

February is traditionally a much slower month for sales on the Sunshine Coast. That said, while we see a slowdown in demand, inventory is still not keeping pace – resulting in ever-higher prices. While strategies for purchasing and selling are often custom to the individual, this is more true than ever now. To succeed in this market, one needs to assess motivations carefully, timing and value propositions for both yourself and the person at the other end of the transaction…..for more clarity on that, please get in touch.

 

For market statistics contact any realtor. For market intelligence contact Russ Qureshi and Coast Lifestyles Network!

take a coffee break

Real Estate Market Taking a Breather, for Now

Sunshine Coast Real Estate Sales Statistics for January 2022

 

Leading off the year, real estate unit sales in January 2022 on the Sunshine Coast, BC, took a breather due to low inventory.  Notably, the Bank of Canada did not raise the interest rates but may play catch up in March.  Therefore, now is a good time for home buyers to lock in an interest rate for the next 120 days.

 

Let’s dive into the stats:

 

As we get through the first month of 2022 with no market-shaking surprises, we see the market has been continuing in a robust way.  Inventory continues to be the greatest deciding factor in value across all market segments.

 

Detached home sales reached $34,175,000 in dollar volume, which is 12% lower than last year at this time.  Unit sales are down 14% to 36 homes sold in January.  The total available homes for sale are 74, down 42%.  This means our sales success ratio (the number of sales versus the available inventory) is 49%….The average price (dollar volume divided by units sold) for a home in January was $950,000.  The median price (what the middle home sold for) was $862,000.

 

Condo and townhome sales reached $5,141,000 in dollar volume, which is 46% lower than last year at this time.  Unit sales were down 50% to 9 condos or townhomes sold in January.  The total number of available homes in this segment of the market is 36, which is down 42%.  This means our sales success ratio is 25%.   The average price for a condo or townhome was $510,000, and the median price was $525,000.

 

Land only sales reached $7,400,000 in dollar volume, which is 9% higher than last year at this time.  Unit sales are down 23% to 16 lots sold in January.  The total available lots are 58, which is down 56% from last year.  This means our sales success ratio is 28%.  The average price for a lot was $462,000, and the median price was $449,000.

 

The statistics for the first month of this year seem to show the real estate market taking, what might be termed as, a breather…..Prices are up, but the slower pace of unit sales reflects the low inventory.  This month, a notable (non) event was the Bank of Canada holding steady with the present overnight lending/interest rate.  Economists expected at least a nominal rate hike to rein in the rapid inflation we are experiencing.  This did not happen, which left many scratching their heads in disbelief.  The next BOC announcement on rates will occur on March 2nd.  We will likely see them playing “catch up” at that point.  If you’re a buyer, lock in your best interest rate now for 120 days if possible.

 

For market statistics call your realtor.  For market intelligence call Russ Qureshi with Coast Lifestyles Network!

man at desk smiling

Sunshine Coast Real Estate Market Review for December and a 2021 Synopsis

Home sales volume fell across the board on the Sunshine Coast in December.  Although demand has tapered off a bit, the main culprit for lower volumes has been the lack of available inventory…there is less inventory now than at any point in my 19-year career. A less significant factor has been the extreme weather (both rain and snow) keeping buyers at bay…so to speak. Let’s see how it breaks out:

 

Fully detached home sale

Fully detached home sales were down a modest 10% to $55,300,000 and unit sales were down 26% to 46 homes sold in December.  Available inventory is down 41% to 73 homes for sale, therefore the sales success ratio (the number of sales versus the available inventory) was 63% maintaining a pronounced Seller’s Market!

 

Year to date shows 2021 to be the highest volume year ever recorded on the Sunshine Coast.  Dollar volume was up 35% to $874,400,000 and unit sales were up 6% to 823 homes sold.

 

That average price for a home (total dollar volume divided by total sales) on the Sunshine Coast in 2021 was up 27% to $1,062,000. The median price for a home this year (the price of the home that sold in the middle) was $899,000.

 

Condos and Townhome sales

Condos and Townhome sales were down 32% in dollar volume to $5,850,000 and 39% in unit volume to 11 attached homes sold in December. Available inventory is down 44% to 36 units, therefore the sales success ratio (the number of sales versus the available inventory) was 31% maintaining a Seller’s Market.

 

Year-to-date shows dollar volume up over 2020 by 32% to $147,800,000 and unit sales up 22% to 260.

 

The average price for a condo or townhome (total dollar volume divided by total sales) was $568,500. The median price this year (the price of the home that sold in the middle) was $525,000.

 

Land only sales

Land only sales are down in dollar volume by 59% to $3,700,000 and unit sales are down by 52% to 10 lots sold in December. The available inventory is down 51% compared to last year at this time, therefore, the sales success ratio (the number of sales versus the available inventory) was 14%….this puts this segment market in Balanced Territory.

 

Year-to-date numbers paint a more accurate picture of the overall land-only market.  Dollar volume is up over 2020 by 104% to $126,300,000 and unit sales are up 34% to 237 lots sold in 2021.

 

The average price for a lot in 2021 was up 51% to $532,000 while the median price was $399,000.

2021 in Review – There were several factors that produced these year-to-date volume and value results:

 

  • Continued demand/migration to the Sunshine Coast – although this has tapered off a bit, the Covid – 19 Pandemic continues to be a driving force in folks’ thoughts about where they want to live and what they are willing to do to get there.
  • Continued low-interest rates, despite the more demanding federal stress test, was one factor that made paying more easier than originally thought.
  • The slow reduction of available inventory created a situation where prices rose in a very significant way. Even toward the end of the year, where demand was slowing down, the amount of inventory was so drastically reduced that prices continued to rise.

 

What will 2022 bring – there are several potential factors that will make the coming year continue to be a competitive market for buyers:

 

  • A promised interest rate increase from the Bank of Canada (BOC). With inflation conservatively at 4%, the BOC will raise the prime rate. How much is the question?  I think we will see several modest increases…but, even a ½ percent, makes a noticeable difference in monthly payments.
  • There will be another rush to buy when the increase is announced as everyone who locked in a rate for 90 or 120 days will now be in a hurry to purchase before the lock-in expires.
  • Inventory will continue to be the most significant factor when it comes to price in 2022. I think we will see fewer transactions, due to inventory, and higher prices.

 

Buyers – lock in a low rate asap and be prepared to devote significant resources, both in time and capital, to finding your home.  Pick a realtor you like because it’s going to get intense.

 

Sellers – make sure you have somewhere to go and a reason to go there! It’s not a good idea to simply sell because you can get “top dollar”. Buying back into the same market will almost guarantee a loss.  However, if you have a plan to downsize, move to a different market, or cash in equity and move up to that dream home then the 2022 market will help you realize that plan.

 

For a no-nonsense, sensible approach to selling your home call me, Russ Qureshi, REALTOR®, to get the job done.  Enjoy the benefit of my market intelligence now and call 604-741-7119 or send me an email at russ@coastlifestyles.ca Visit my website at www.coastlifestyles.ca

 

 

jump on the bed

Housing demand eases as inventory drops while prices remain high

The Sunshine Coast real estate market is realizing our seasonal slowdown. Fully detached and Land only properties are down a wee bit from last year’s totals, and the Condo/Townhome market is up! Let’s see how it breaks out:

Fully detached sales are down 7% in dollar volume to $68,750,000, with unit sales down 33% to 55 homes sold in November.  This stat shows the increase in value of each unit and how significant that has been over the recent past. 

It’s interesting to note, too, that we are only down $1,000,000 from last month’s dollar volume (approximately 1.3% lower), but we sold 8 fewer homes (approximately 12% less).  The available inventory is down 40% to 104 homes for sale…Therefore the sales success ratio (the number of sales versus the available inventory) is 53% keeping the detached market in sellers’ hands. 

Year to date, we are still up in total dollar volume by 40% to $820,000,000 and up 9% in unit sales to 777. 

November’s average sale price (total dollar volume divided by total sales) was $1,250,000, while the average sale price year to date is $1,054,000. 

Condos and Townhome sales are up in dollar volume by 18% to $12,350,000, and unit sales were down by 3% to 23 homes sold last month. As with the detached stat, this clearly illustrates the increase in value. 

Compared to last month, we are up 34% in dollar volume! The available inventory for the market segment is down 55% to 37 homes. Therefore, the sales success ratio (the number of sales versus the available inventory) is 51% keeping the attached market in sellers’ hands.

Year to date, we are up in dollar volume by 35% to $141,975,000 and unit sales by 25% to 249 condos or townhomes sold so far this year. 

November’s average sale price is $612,000, while the average price year to date is $570,000.

Land only sales are down in dollar volume by 5% to $7,700,000 and unit sales by 41% to 14 lots sold in November.  We are up 49% in dollar volume and up 40% in unit sales compared to last month. 

The available inventory for land is down 49% to 86 available units.  Therefore, the sales success ratio is 16%, giving this market segment some balance.

Year to date, we are up in dollar volume by 132% to $123,000,000, and units sales are up 46% to 227 lots sold in 2021 so far.

November‘s average price is $550,000, while the average year-to-date price is $540,000.

While demand eases, inventory continues to drop, causing prices to remain high and continue to climb in many cases.

Sellers are in control, but realizing a quick offer at or over the asking price requires thoughtful planning and preparation.

Buyers need to be prepared to act quickly and robustly to acquire the property they want…..there are rumours of increased interest rates next year that would affect the market strongly.  There are also rumours of the Provincial Government implementing a “cooling off” period for buyers (one of the strangest “sounds good” ideas I’ve heard in my career) in 2022.  More on both of those potential eventualities in my 2021 year-end review coming in early January. 

For market statistics, call your realtor. For market intelligence, call Russ Qureshi at Coast Lifestyles Network 604-741-7119.

walk in fall forest

Low inventory and home-buyer demands keep housing prices buoyant this fall

Sunshine Coast Real Estate Statistics for October 2021

 

The Sunshine Coast real estate market continues with a trend toward settling down from last year’s highs. Inventory remains exceedingly low however and this is keeping prices up even with average demand from buyers.

 

Let’s see how it breaks out:

 

Detached home sales are down for dollar volume in October by 22% compared to last year to $69,850,000 and unit sales are down 39% to 63 homes sold.  Our sales success ratio (the number of sales versus available inventory) is 55%! We consider it a seller’s market when this ratio is above 20%….so, with only 115 homes presently available, the competition can be fierce.  Compared with LAST MONTH we are down in dollar volume by $8,000,000 and unit sales by 7 homes which can be considered quite normal for this time of year.

Year-to-date we are still up in dollar volume by 62% to $680,500,000 and unit sales by 26% to 659 homes sold so far this year.

The median price for a home on the Coast is $860,000.

The average price for a home on the Sunshine Coast this year is $1,032,000.

 

Condo and Townhome sales are down in dollar volume by 40% to $9,800,000 and unit sales are down 41% to 20 homes sold. Our sales success ratio (the number of sales versus available inventory) is still 38%.  With inventory levels in this segment of the market falling by 13% in one month to 53 units available we are still seeing control within the seller’s hands. Compared with LAST MONTH we are up in dollar volume by 15% and unit sales by 25%.

Year-to-date we are ahead in dollar volume by 37% to $126,900,000 and unit sales by 27% to 225 units sold so far this year.

The median price for a condo or townhome on the Coast is $515,000.

The average price for a condo or townhome on the Sunshine Coast this year is $564,000. 

 

Land only sales – are down 53% in dollar volume to $3,900,000 and unit sales are down 56% to 10 units sold in October. Our sales success ratio (the number of sales versus available inventory) is 11% bringing this segment of the market on the buyer’s side. Month over month inventory remains relatively unchanged but sales are down last month by approximately 50% in both dollar volume and units sold.

Year-to-date dollar volume is still up by 157% to $115,000,000 and unit sales are up 62% to 213 units sold.

The median price for bare land on the Coast is $421,000.

The average price for land-only is $540,000.  

 

The real estate market on the Sunshine Coast seems to be in the process of normalized fall/shoulder season by slowing down with less inventory and sales across all segments. That said, the inventory is way down so prices, while varying over the previous month’s sales, continue to remain relatively high and the market is a seller’s market with the exception of land only.

 

Home Sellers – move-in ready is what buyers want so make sure your home shows well with all deferred maintenance completed prior to listing.

 

Home Buyers – be ready when you see the one you want! Be truly preapproved (paperwork done and only an appraisal needed on the purchase) and be ready to prioritize the purchase visit over other plans if you want that “new listing”.

 

For market information call a realtor. For market intelligence call Russ Qureshi at 604-741-7119 or email russ@coastlifestyles.ca