An increase in home buyer demand put Greater Vancouver in the upper reaches of a balanced real estate market in May.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 3,286 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May 2014. This represents a 14 per cent increase compared to the 2,882 sales recorded in May 2013, and a 7.7 per cent increase compared to the 3,050 sales in April 2014.

Last month’s sales were 6.5 per cent below the 10-year sales average for May of 3,514.

The sales-to-active-listings...

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released today its results for the first quarter of 2014. Net income for the quarter was $406 million, up 7% year-over year. Insurance-in-force at quarter-end was $555 billion, a reduction of $2 billion from the 4^th quarter of 2013. The increase in net income is mainly attributable to higher earnings from investments and lower insurance claims expenses, both a result of improved economic conditions.

Total insured volumes ($) for the three months ended 31 March 2014 increased by 14 per cent compared to the same period...

According to CMHC’s second quarter 2014 Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition¹, economic and demographic fundamentals continue to be supportive of new building activity. However, builders are expected to continue to adjust activity, particularly with respect to multi-units, in order to manage inventory levels.

“Builders are expected to continue to manage their starts activity in order to ensure that demand from buyers seeking new condominium units is first channeled toward unsold completed units or unsold units that are currently under construction,” said Mathieu Laberge, Deputy...

According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national home sales activity was up on a month-over-month basis in April 2014.

Highlights:

• National home sales rose 2.7% from March to April.
• Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity stood 0.3% below April 2013 levels.
• The number of newly listed homes climbed 2.9% from March to April.
• The Canadian housing market remains in balanced territory.
• The national average sale price rose 7.6% on a year-over-year basis in April.
• The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) rose 5.0% year-over-year in April.

The number of home sales...

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2014 Second Quarter Housing Forecast today.

BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are forecast to increase 5.2 per cent to 76,700 units this year, before increasing a further 6.7 per cent to 81,800 units in 2015. The five-year average is 75,400 unit sales, while the ten-year average is 84,800 unit sales. A record 106,300 MLS® residential sales were recorded in 2005.

“BC Home sales are expected to trend higher this year and in 2015, as stronger economic conditions...

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 7,730 residential sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April, up 12 per cent from April 2013. Total sales dollar volume was $4.3 billion, an increase of 19 per cent compared to a year ago. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $561,613, up 6.3 per cent from the same month last year.

“BC home sales trended higher in April as the typically robust spring market unfolds,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Rising...

Housing starts in Canada were trending at 183,515 units in April compared to 184,602 in March, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR)¹ of housing starts.

“In April, the trend in housing starts was essentially stable at 183,515 units. This is in line with CMHC’s analysis indicating that the new home construction market in Canada is headed for a soft landing in 2014,” said Mathieu Laberge, Deputy Chief Economist. “Over the remainder of the year, builders are...

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) today released its 2013 Annual Report, focusing on how the Corporation contributes to market efficiency, a sound and stable housing finance system for Canada, increased housing quality and sustainability, while continuing to deliver federal investments in assisted housing.

“CMHC’s 2013 Annual Report details how CMHC’s mortgage loan insurance and securitization activities have promoted the stability of the housing market and the financial system,” said Evan Siddall, President and Chief Executive Officer of CMHC. “The quality...

Home buyers and sellers became more active in the Greater Vancouver housing market in April. 

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 3,050 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April 2014. This represents a 16.1 per cent increase compared to the 2,627 sales recorded in April 2013, and a 15.5 per cent increase compared to the 2,641 sales in March 2014. 

Last month’s sales were 5.2 per cent below the 10-year sales average for April of 3,217.
The sales-to-active-listings...

April 24, 2014 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan—Some Canadian sectors and regions are hot and some are not, but all will ultimately reap the benefits of the country’s rich resource endowment, even as some difficult adjustments take place, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz said today in Saskatoon.
Canada has been adjusting to two major economic shocks in recent years, Governor Poloz told members of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership. One shock is the aftermath of the financial crisis, which lowered global demand, hindering all sectors. The other is a rise in oil prices that...

April 16, 2014– The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent.
Inflation in Canada remains low. Core inflation is expected to stay well below 2 per cent this year due to the effects of economic slack and heightened retail competition, and these effects will persist until early 2016. However, higher consumer energy prices and the lower Canadian dollar will exert temporary upward pressure on total CPI inflation, pushing it closer to the 2 per cent target...

April 25, 2014 – As part of the review of its mortgage loan insurance business, CMHC is discontinuing its Second Home and Self-Employed Without 3rd Party Income Validation mortgage insurance products effective May 30, 2014. Self-employed Canadians can still qualify for CMHC insured financing through CMHC homeowner products with a validation of their income using traditional methods.
“CMHC helps Canadians meet their housing needs and contributes to the stability of the housing market and finance system” said Steven Mennill, Senior Vice-President,...

April 15, 2014.  TheBritish Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 6,661 residential sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March, up 16.8 per cent from March 2013. Total sales dollar volume was $3.7 billion, an increase of 21.5 per cent compared to a year ago. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $562,316, up 4 per cent from the same period last year.

"While home sales are up from a year ago, consumer demand in the province has largely been treading water over the first quarter,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA...

OTTAWA, April 8, 2014 — Housing starts in Canada were trending at 184,476 units in March compared to 191,126 in February, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR)¹ of housing starts.

“In March, the trend in housing starts declined below 190,000 units for the first time in six months, reflecting a decrease in multiple unit starts. Lower starts activity over the remainder of the year compared to 2013 is anticipated as builders continue to adjust activity in order to manage...

March home sales in Greater Vancouver outpaced last year’s total yet lagged the region’s historical average for the month.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 2,641 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March 2014. This represents a 12.5 per cent increase compared to the 2,347 sales recorded in March 2013, and a 4.4 per cent increase compared to the 2,530 sales in February 2014.

Last month’s sales were 17.2 per cent below the 10-year sales average for March of 3,190.

The sales-to-a...

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Halifax, Nova Scotia—Demographic forces and the hangover from the global financial crisis together are putting limits on economic growth, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz said today in Halifax.
“A period of subdued growth after a financial crisis can still be regarded as cyclical, in the sense that it will eventually prove to be temporary,” Governor Poloz told members of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. “But the global economy may not be just suffering through a hangover from the financial crisis. There are other, longer-term forces at work as well.”
In his speech,...

March 17, 2014 

According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national home sales activity was little changed in February 2014 on a month-over-month basis.

Highlights:

• National home sales edged up 0.3% from January to February.
• Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity stood 1.9% above February 2013 levels.
• The number of newly listed homes edged up 0.6% from January to February.
• The national average sale price rose 10.1% on a year-over-year basis in February.
• The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) rose 5.1% year-over-year in February.

The number of home...

March 17, 2014

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 5,578 residential sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in February, up 24.9 per cent from February 2013. Total sales dollar volume was $3.4 billion, an increase of 43.1 per cent compared to a year ago. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $611,688, up 15.4 per cent from the same period last year.

 “Consumer demand was much stronger in February compared to a year ago, but edged lower compared to...