SURREY, BC — House prices in the Fraser Valley posted a slight but positive bump in February after nearly a year of month-over-month decreases. Similarly, sales, though still trending lower than normal, also recorded their first monthly gain since October.
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed 898 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® in February, an increase of 43.5 per cent over January but still only half as many as were recorded a year ago.
February new listings were also up, by 5.7 per cent over last month to 1,938 but 48.2 per cent lower than this time last year. Active listings grew by 7.0 per cent over January and by 16.3 per cent over February 2022.
“Buyers are continuing to find opportunities in the Fraser Valley, even in the face of lower inventories,” said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “With prices remaining strong, we expect to see inventories increase over the coming months as sellers seek to capitalize on price growth after sitting out for so long.”
The Board received 2,478 new listings in April, off by 3.2 per cent compared to March, and down by 31.6 per cent compared to last year. The month ended with a total active inventory of 4,632, a 2.2 per cent increase over March, and 14 per cent less than April 2022.
“Our members are starting to see a rise in multiple offers on properties as the spring market kicks in,” said Board CEO, Baldev Gill. “With the heightened activity, many homeowners are asking: is now the right time to buy or sell? There is no simple — or single — answer to this question, but a wise first step would be to consult with a professional REALTOR® to determine the best path to meet your personal objectives.”
Low inventories helped nudge prices upward with the composite Benchmark price up by 2.8 per cent to $992,000 and single-family detached homes up by nearly four per cent, month-over-month.
Across Fraser Valley in April, the average number of days to sell a single-family detached home was 25 days and a townhome was 23 days. Apartments took, on average, 26 days to sell.
MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity
Single Family Detached: At $1,442,900, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home increased 3.8 per cent compared to March 2023 and decreased 17.8 per cent compared to April 2022.
Townhomes: At $808,000, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome increased 1.7 per cent compared to March 2023 and decreased 13.3 per cent compared to April 2022.
Apartments: At $530,200, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo increased 1.6 per cent compared to March 2023 and decreased 9.8 per cent compared to April 2022.
