BC Home Sales Continue at Moderate Pace

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that the dollar volume of homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 14.6 per cent to $2.7 billion in October compared to the same month last year. A total of 5,276 MLS® residential unit sales were recorded over the same period, down 10 per cent from October 2011. The average MLS® residential price was $508,292, down 5.1 per cent from a year ago.

"While consumer demand was stronger in October on a provincial basis, home sales continue to trend below last year’s level,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Tighter mortgage credit regulation has moderated housing demand on the South Coast."

“However, an increase in residential sales was recorded in the Okanagan, Kootenay, Chilliwack and BC Northern board areas,” added Muir.

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume declined 18.2 per cent to $31.1 billion, compared to the same period last year. Residential unit sales declined 10.5 per cent to 59,946 units, while the average MLS® residential price was 8.6 per cent lower at $518,321.