Greater Vancouver is experiencing a dynamic autumn real estate market, with the highest
number of sales ever posted on the Multiple Listing Service for October. The Real Estate Board of Greater
Vancouver (REBGV) reports that sales of detached, attached and apartment properties increased by 31.4 per cent to 3,765 units sold in October 2003, compared to 2,866 sales in October 2002.
“Market activity is up in general as consumers continue to take advantage of low interest rates,” says Bill
Binnie, REBGV president. “Condominium sales are significant. First time homebuyers and seniors moving from the family home, in particular, are choosing to purchase condos. These two groups see this as the right time to make these lifestyle changes.”
According to Multiple Listings Service data, sales of apartment properties increased 63 per cent in October 2003 to 1,689 sales compared to 1,036 sales in October 2002. The benchmark price of an apartment property in Greater Vancouver, calculated by the Board’s Housing Price Index, is $209,340, up 16.4 per cent from one year ago.
Sales of attached properties increased 25.5 per cent in October 2003 to 542 units sold compared to 432 units in October 2002. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $286,710, up 17.2 per cent from October 2002.
Sales of detached properties totaled 1534, an increase of 26.2 per cent compared to 1,398 sales in October 2002. The benchmark price of a detached home increased to $444,890, up 15.3 per cent from a year ago.
Bright spots in Greater Vancouver in October 2003 compared to October 2002:
DETACHED:
Coquitlam up 17.7% (166 units sold, up from 141)
Port Coquitlam up 67.4% (77 units sold, up from 46)
Vancouver East up 10% (254 units sold, up from 233)
Vancouver West up 21.6% (186 units sold, up from 153)
West Van/Howe Sound up 30.4% (73 units sold, up from 56)
ATTACHED:
Coquitlam up 45.9% (54 units sold, up from 37)
Richmond up 47.1% (125 units sold, up from 85)
Vancouver West up 36.5% (71 units sold, up from 52)
APARTMENTS:
Burnaby up 25.9% (146 units sold, up from 116)
Coquitlam up 29.8% (74 units sold, up from 57)
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows up 92.9% (27 units sold, up from 14)
New Westminster up 24.1% (72 units sold, up from 58)
North Vancouver up 21.8% (95 units sold, up from 78)
Richmond up 20.8% (145 units sold, up from 120)
Vancouver East up 100.9% (140 units sold, up from 67)
Vancouver West 99.3% (891 units sold, up from 447)