VANCOUVER, B.C. – July 3, 2014 – The Greater Vancouver housing market enters the summer season with home buyer activity on the rise.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 3,406 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in June 2014. This represents a 28.9 percent increase compared to the 2,642 sales recorded in June 2013, and a 3.7 percent increase compared to the 3,286 sales in May 2014.

Last month’s sales were 0.6 percent above the 10-year sales average for June of 3,386.

“Competition amongst home buyers today is as strong as it’s been in the region since 2011,” Ray Harris, REBGV president said.

The sales-to-active-listings ratio currently sits at 21.3 percent in Greater Vancouver, which is the highest this measure has been since June 2011.

“Over the last three years, we’ve seen changes in demand yet home prices at the regional level have remained relative stability,” Harris said. “While these numbers provide high level trends, it’s important to know that changes in prices always vary depending on neighbourhood and property type. Consult your local REALTOR® for information on trends in your area of choice.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $628,200. This represents a 4.4 percent increase compared to June 2013.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 5,339 in June. This represents a 9.5 percent increase compared to the 4,874 new listings in June 2013 and a 10.1 percent decline from the 5,936 new listings in May. Last month’s new listing count was 2.6 percent below the region’s 10-year new listing average for the month.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Greater Vancouver is 16,011, a 7.4 percent decline compared to June 2013 and a 0.4 percent decrease compared to May 2014.

Sales of detached properties in June 2014 reached 1,462, an increase of 32.7 percent from the 1,102 detached sales recorded in June 2013, and a 58.7 percent increase from the 921 units sold in June 2012. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 6.2 percent from June 2013 to $976,700.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,308 in June 2014, an increase of 22.5 percent compared to the 1,068 sales in June 2013, and a 27.5 percent increase compared to the 1,026 sales in June 2012. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 2.4 percent from June 2013 to $378,000.

Attached property sales in June 2014 totalled 636, a 34.7 percent increase compared to the 472 sales in June 2013, and a 53.3 percent increase over the 415 attached properties sold in June 2012. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 3.1 percent between June 2013 and 2014 to $471,200.

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