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Metro Vancouver home sales were down in May while inventory continues to increase
The number of transactions on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) declined in May compared to what is typical for this time of year in Metro Vancouver(1). This shift has allowed the inventory of homes available for sale to continue to accumulate with over 13,000 homes now actively listed on the MLS® in the region.
The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR)(2) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,733 in May 2024, a 19.9 percent decrease from the 3,411 sales recorded in May 2023. Last month’s sales total was also down 19.6 percent from the 10-year seasonal average for May (3,398).
The surprise in the May data is that sales have come in softer than what we’d typically expect to see at this point in the year, while the number of newly listed homes for sale is carrying some of the momentum seen in the April data. It’s a natural inclination to chalk these trends up to one factor or another, but what we’re seeing is a culmination of factors influencing buyer and seller decisions in the market right now. It’s everything from higher borrowing costs to worries about the economy, to policy interventions imposed by various levels of government.
There were 6,374 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in May 2024. This represents a 12.6 percent increase compared to the 5,661 properties listed in May 2023 and a seven percent increase compared to the 10-year seasonal average (5,958).
The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 13,600, a 46.3 percent increase compared to May 2023 (9,293). This total is also up 19.9 percent above the 10-year seasonal average (11,344).
Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for May 2024 is 20.8 percent. By property type, the ratio is 16.8 percent for detached homes, 25.1 percent for attached, and 22.5 percent for apartment properties.
Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 percent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when they surpass 20 percent over several months.
With market trends now tilting back toward more balanced conditions, as the number of new listings outpaces the number of sales, we should expect to see slower price growth over the coming months. Up until recently, prices were climbing modestly across all market segments. But with rising inventory levels and softening demand, buyers who’ve been waiting for an opportunity might have more luck this summer, even if borrowing costs remain elevated.
The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,212,100. This represents a 2.3 percent increase over May 2023 and a 0.5 percent increase compared to April 2024.
Sales of detached homes in May 2024 reached 846, an 18.9 percent decrease from the 1,043 detached sales recorded in May 2023. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,063,400. This represents a 5.9 percent increase from May 2023 and a 1.4 percent increase compared to April 2024.
Sales of apartment homes reached 1,338 in May 2024, a 22.7 percent decrease compared to the 1,730 sales in May 2023.
The benchmark price of an apartment home is $776,200. This represents a 2.2 percent increase from May 2023 and a 0.3 percent decrease compared to April 2024.
Attached home sales in May 2024 totalled 523, a 14 percent decrease compared to the 608 sales in May 2023. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,145,600. This represents a 5.2 percent increase from May 2023 and a 0.9 percent increase compared to April 2024.
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