Canadian Mortgage Broker News - BCREA forecasts moderate rise in home sales

Canadian Mortgage Broker News - BCREA forecasts moderate rise in home sales
Wednesday, 10 November 2010


The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its Fall Housing Forecast 2010, forecasting BC Multiple Listing Service (MLS) residential sales to decline 12 per cent from 85,028 units in 2009 to 74,950 units this year, before increasing six per cent to 79,700 units in 2011.

“Consumers are responding to a double-dip in mortgage interest rates,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “While housing demand waned in the province through the spring and summer, the added purchasing power from low borrowing costs combined with gradual improvement in the BC economy has trended home sales higher in recent months.”

“A moderate increase in BC home sales is expected next year coinciding with employment and population growth,” added Muir. “However, the 79,700 unit sales that are forecast for 2011 are well below the ten-year average of 85,500 units.” A record 106,300 MLS residential sales were recorded in 2005.

The average MLS residential price is forecast to climb seven per cent to $498,500 this year and remain relatively unchanged in 2011, albeit declining by one per cent to $495,600.