Home Sales Increase in February – BCREA Stats

Vancouver, BC, March 13, 2009.

British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 53 per cent to $1.54 billion in February, compared to the same month last year. Residential unit sales fell 47 per cent to 3,653 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $421,023 in February, down 12 per cent from February 2008.

“After a weak start to the year, BC MLS® residential sales increased 17 per cent in February, on a seasonally adjusted basis,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. MLS® residential sales in the province climbed from a seasonally adjusted and annualized rate of 40,200 units in January to 47,000 units in February.

“It’s not surprising that home sales rebounded from January’s low level,” noted Muir. “Reduced home prices and mortgage interest rates have markedly increased affordability. The carrying cost of an average home in BC is approaching a three-year low.”

Year-to-date, MLS® residential sales declined 51 per cent to 5,768 units compared to the first two months of 2008. The average MLS® residential declined 11 per cent to $418,057, while MLS® residential dollar volume was down 56 per cent to $2.4 billion over the same period.

For the complete news release, including detailed statistics, follow this link: www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2009-02.pdf.