According to the February report by Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), home listings continue to increase in the Metro Vancouver housing market, while home buyer activity remains below historical averages. The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver shows about 55% increase compared to January 2018.

    Residential home sales in the region totaled in January 2019, decreased by almost 40% compare to the same month in 2018. Last month’s sales were the lowest January-sales total since 2009.

    Sales-to-active listings ratio for January 2019 were approximately 7% for detached homes, 12% for townhomes and 14% condominiums. Generally, downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period.

    This explains the more pronounced price adjustment that we have been experiencing in the past few months for single detached homes compare to townhomes and apartments.

    Today’s market conditions are largely the result of the mortgage stress test that the federal government imposed at the beginning of last year,” Moore said. “This measure, coupled with an increase in mortgage rates, took away as much as 25 per cent of purchasing power from many home buyers trying to enter the market.