Gather the latest information on the real estate market in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, and Canada-wide with our Gillette and Associate Market Updates

Category: Real Estate Updates

Homeowners of B.C. – Speculation Tax Reminder

A friendly reminder to our clients! You would have received your “declaration” package in the mail mid-January to mid-February and a prompt to claim an exemption from the speculation and vacancy tax. We understand during these current exceptional events our country and the world is experiencing, it may have been put off or forgotten. We would like to this time to remind you that you have until March 31st to claim your exemption.

Market Conditions Starting to Reflect Seasonal Norms

As 2019 winds up we are witnessing conditions that reflect seasonal norms. 2020 will see a tightening of inventory which will balance supply and demand. With more clarity, interest rates projected to hold, we expect this momentum and sustained demand to carry through into 2020 and the latest outlook from the Conference Board of Canada forecasts real GDP growth of 1.8% for 2020 and 1.9% in 2021.

November 2019 Market Update

Reviewing the market across Canada helps give me a pulse on our local market as many buyers I work with come from out of Nanaimo. In this report, I have included a few more national statistics with home sales in the Canadian MLS® Systems staying somewhat steady in October which followed a string of monthly increases that began in March.

August 2019 Market Update

Sales of single-family homes in July board-wide rose by three per cent year over year and were 12 per cent higher than in June. Last month, 453 single-family homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System compared to 406 the previous month and 438 in July 2018 with an increase in townhouse sales by 22 per cent. Some areas remain active and even brisk at specific price points.

Slower Than Average Spring Housing Market Continues

Sales of single-family homes in May board-wide dropped by 12 per cent but rose by 11 per cent from April. Last month, 459 single-family homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System compared to 412 the previous month and 519 in May 2018. Sales of apartments dipped by seven per cent year over year while townhouse sales increased by 19 per cent. The British Columbia Real Estate Association reports that on a seasonally adjusted basis, sales in the VIREB area are close to 2014 levels, and current market conditions are expected to continue into the fall.

Guideline B-20 Continues to Dampen Housing Sales

Guideline B-20 Stress test continues to impact housing sales in BC but Vancouver Island is a bit more sheltered. The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, which stretches from North of the Malahat on Vancouver Island, reported sales of single-family homes in February dropped by 28% year over year but were up 10% from January.