According to the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, signs of stability in Fraser Valley create opportunities for home buyers and sellers.
House prices in the Fraser Valley posted a slight but positive bump in February after nearly a year of month-over-month decreases. Similarly, sales, though still trending lower than normal, also recorded their first monthly gain since October.
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed 898 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® in February, an increase of 43.5 per cent over January but still only half as many as were recorded a year ago.
February new listings were also up, by 5.7 per cent over last month to 1,938 but 48.2 per cent lower than this time last year. Active listings grew by 7.0 per cent over January and by 16.3 per cent over February 2022.
The composite Benchmark price in February was $946,700 and though relatively flat compared to January with a negligible gain of 0.5 per cent, it reverses the price slide the market has been experiencing since April 2022. Further, while well below the record prices posted at that time, it is still more than 36 per cent higher than pre-pandemic February 2020.
“In recent months, the level of uncertainty regarding rates and prices has negatively impacted inventory and that’s kept a lot of clients on the sidelines,” said Sandra Benz, President of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “Together with a growing consensus suggesting that a pause on rate hikes is imminent, the positive signals from the market give families something to build on and plan for. As that starts to happen we expect to see sales pick up slowly but steadily heading into spring.”
With a sales-to-active listings ratio of 20 per cent, the overall market was once again in balance, however the ratio for townhomes was higher at 36 per cent, indicating a seller’s market for this category. The market is considered in balance when the ratio is between 12 per cent and 20 per cent.
“All indications suggest that the market is on track to re-establish a level of stability, which is encouraging for both demand and supply sides,” said Baldev Gill, Chief Executive Officer of the Board. “With solid opportunities for properties that are appropriately priced, investing in the expertise of a professional REALTOR® should be the first decision buyers and sellers make to ensure the best local strategies before jumping back into the market.”
Properties spent between 7 and 12 fewer days on the market compared to last month, another sign that the market may be picking up. Across Fraser Valley in February, the average number of days to sell a single-family detached home was 36 and a townhome was 33 days. Apartments took, on average, 32 days to sell.
Find all the infographics related to the February Market Statistics by visiting the Facebook Album.
Abbotsford
Cloverdale
Langley
Mission
North Delta
North Surrey
Surrey Central
White Rock / South Surrey
Looking for more information about the real estate market in specific neighbourhoods in Surrey, Langley and Fraser Valley?
Macdonald Realty has offices in North Delta, White Rock/South Surrey, and Langley. Please email [email protected] or call 1.877.278.3888 to be matched with a REALTOR® working in your area.
MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Benchmark Price
Average and median home prices are often misinterpreted, are affected by change in the mix of homes sold, and can swing dramatically from month to month (based on the types and prices of properties that sold in a given month). The MLS® HPI overcomes these shortcomings and uses the concept of a benchmark home, a notional home with common attributes of typical homes in a defined area. Visit housepriceindex.ca for more information.
This blog post is based on market data provided by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) fvreb.bc.ca
