Metro Vancouver Market Update December 2020

Metro Vancouver housing market shows resilience in 2020

VANCOUVER, BC – January 5, 2021 – Strong December activity brought Metro
Vancouver’s* 2020 home sales total in line with the region’s long-term annual average.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the
region totalled 30,944 in 2020, a 22.1 per cent increase from the 25,351 sales recorded in 2019,
and a 25.7 per cent increase from the 24,619 homes sold in 2018.

Last year’s sales total was 2.8 per cent below the 10-year sales average.

“When the pandemic began in March, the housing market came to a near standstill. We knew,
however, that shelter needs don’t go away in times of crisis, they intensify,” Colette Gerber,
REBGV Chair said. “The real estate community worked closely with our regulatory bodies and
public health officials in the spring to ensure appropriate precautions and protocols were
implemented so BC REALTORS® could help residents safely meet their housing needs.”

Home listings on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver reached 54,305 in
2020. This is a 4.6 per cent increase compared to the 51,918 homes listed in 2019 and a 1.3 per
cent increase compared to the 53,614 homes listed in 2018.

Last year’s listings total was 2.7 per cent below the region’s 10-year average.

“After adapting to the COVID-19 environment, local home buyer demand and seller supply
returned at a steady pace throughout the summer, fall and winter seasons,” Gerber said. “Shifting
housing needs and low interest rates were key drivers of this activity in 2020. Looking ahead,
the supply of homes for sale will be a critical factor in determining home price trends in 2021.”

The MLS® HPI composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver
ends the year at $1,047,400. This is a 5.4 per cent increase compared to December 2019.

The benchmark price for apartments increased 2.6 per cent in the region last year. Townhomes
increased 4.9 per cent and detached homes increased 10.2 per cent.

December Summary

REBGV reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 3,093 in December 2020, a 53.4
per cent increase from the 2,016 sales recorded in December 2019, and a 0.9 per cent increase
from the 3,064 homes sold in November 2020.

Last month’s sales were 57.7 per cent above the 10-year December sales average and is the
highest total for the month on record.

“Robust December sales outpaced long-term averages in what’s traditionally the quietest month
of the year in real estate. This was part of an unusual seasonal pattern the market followed last
year, which can be attributed in large part to the pandemic,” Gerber says.

There were 2,409 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS®
in Metro Vancouver in December 2020. This represents a 51.7 per cent increase compared to the
1,588 homes listed in December 2019 and a 40.8 per cent decrease compared to November 2020
when 4,068 homes were listed.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is
8,538, a 0.8 per cent decrease compared to December 2019 (8,603) and a 23.2 per cent decrease
compared to November 2020 (11,118).

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for December 2020 is 36.2 per cent. By
property type, the ratio is 35.2 per cent for detached homes, 50.4 per cent for townhomes, and
33.1 per cent for apartments.

Generally, analysts say downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12
per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it
surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

Sales of detached homes in December 2020 reached 1,026, a 71.3 per cent increase from the 599
detached sales recorded in December 2019. The benchmark price for detached homes is
$1,554,600. This represents a 10.2 per cent increase from December 2019 and a one per cent
increase compared to November 2020.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,474 in December 2020, a 40 per cent increase compared to
the 1,053 sales in December 2019. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $676,500.
This represents a 2.6 per cent increase from December 2019 and is unchanged from November
2020.

Attached home sales in December 2020 totalled 593, a 62.9 per cent increase compared to the
364 sales in December 2019. The benchmark price of an attached home is $813,900. This
represents a 4.9 per cent increase from December 2019 and a 0.1 per cent decrease compared to
November 2020.