Pace of the Greater Victoria real estate market steady into spring
A total of 761 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this May, 27.5 per cent fewer than the 1,049 properties sold in May 2021 and a 7.6 per cent decrease from April 2022. Sales of condominiums were down 23.1 per cent from May 2021 with 250 units sold. Sales of single family homes decreased 31.7 per cent from May 2021 with 367 sold.
"The real estate market in Greater Victoria is returning to a steadier pace following the strange two years we experienced over the course of the pandemic," said 2022 Victoria Real Estate Board President Karen Dinnie-Smyth. "While inventory is still below historical levels for a spring market, it is now within our pre-pandemic five-year average, which is good news for buyers. The increase in inventory provides buyers with more options, and we are seeing market activity and price points differ within the unique neighbourhoods that make up Greater Victoria. During a changing market like the one we see now, it is more important than ever to have an expert on your side - whether you are buying or selling it's a great time to give your favourite REALTOR® a call."
There were 1,776 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service® at the end of May 2022, an increase of 30.1 per cent compared to the previous month of April and a 22.5 per cent increase from the 1,450 active listings for sale at the end of May 2021.
"Looking to the future of the market, the Board has reviewed the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) report which the government requisitioned to guide the deployment of their cooling-off plan," adds President Dinnie-Smyth. "We are aligned with BCFSA on the importance of consumer protection in real estate and see areas of the BCFSA report which reflect the Victoria Real Estate Board's and the British Columbia Real Estate Association's recommendations - specifically the concept of a five-day pre-offer period. However, the BCFSA report leaves detailed process and procedural questions unanswered. The government will need to do more consultation with industry stakeholders prior to implementation to ensure these changes are without negative consequences to consumers and to the market."
The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value* for a single family home in the Victoria Core in May 2021 was $1,168,800. The benchmark value for the same home in May 2022 increased by 23.8 per cent to $1,446,400, up from April's value of $1,424,900. The MLS® HPI benchmark value for a condominium in the Victoria Core area in May 2021 was $495,600 while the benchmark value for the same condominium in May 2022 increased by 27.9 per cent to $633,800, up from the April value of $630,200.
