Real Estate Information Archive

~~PRESS RELEASE

August 7, 2015

For Immediate Release

  

JULY NOT QUITE AS SPRY AS 2014

-  -              -
MLS® Sales Down 6%

 

WINNIPEG - It is no easy feat to overtake a record July set in 2014. Nonetheless, July 2015 sales were still brisk. At nearly 1,400 sales, they are 6% higher than the 10-year sales average and third highest for this month ever. If not for condominium sales lagging behind in July as well as this year-to-date, July 2015 would have narrowed the gap in MLS® sales from last July and been even more impressive.

 

Residential-detached sales continue to perform well in comparison to 2014. They are only down 2% from last July and are up 3% year-to-date.  On the other hand, condominium sales are off 22% in July and 17% for the year.

 

“We are a little bit surprised by how condominium sales are not rebounding from a slow start this year,” said WinnipegREALTORS® president Dave MacKenzie. “One thing I know for sure is it has nothing to do with lack of supply. With 939 condo listings available at the end of July, it is over double what was available at the end of July 2013 and up 35% from last July.” 

 

July’s MLS® dollar volume at $384 million is just 1% down from July 2014 despite sales being 6% higher that year. Year-to-date dollar volume is 1% ahead of 2014 at $2.17 billion. Year-to-date MLS® sales of 7,896 are down less than 1% from 2014.

 

“Overall our sales are very consistent with last year,” said MacKenzie. “Although you always need to appreciate and understand not all MLS® areas and property types, or sales and listings within our different price ranges behave the same way. This is why you need to be talking to a REALTOR® about your specific market needs and how the current market is affecting you.”

 

While affordability remains a hallmark of Winnipeg’s real estate market, July results show first-time buyers were not as active compared to last year. In examining the three key affordable house price ranges from $150,000 to $299,999, there were 80 fewer residential-detached sales. This number represents a 13% decrease from July 2014.

 

Condominium sales showed a similar downward result for the two price ranges from $150,000 to $249,999 with 23 fewer sales from 2014. However the next higher price range from $250,000 to $299,999 showed an increase of six sales over last year.

 

But we must remember that MLS® sales in 2014 set records, so this year’s numbers are still healthy.

 

“We should never be complacent about our market being more affordable than other major markets in the country.” said Mackenzie.  “Issues we have identified such as land transfer taxes, property taxes and other costs of home ownership affect Manitobans’ ability to purchase a property.”

 

The most active price range in July for residential-detached was $250,000 - $299,999 (22% of sales), followed by the $300,000-$349,999 (16%) and $200,000-$249,999 (16%). Another 22% of sales were split evenly in the $150,000 - $199,999 and the $350,000-$399,999.

 

Average days on market for residential-detached sales was 33 days, 5 days slower than July 2014. The highest priced residential-detached sale was $1,431,000 and the least expensive sale was $30,000.

 

The busiest condo price range in July was $150,000 - $199,999 (29% of sales), followed by the $200,000 -$249,999 (22%) and the $250,000 - $299,999 (18%). Days on market for condo sales was 41 days compared to 34 days last year with the highest priced condo selling for $880,000 and the lowest priced sale at $87,500.

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,880 real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, and financial members active in the Greater Winnipeg Area real estate market.  Its REALTOR® members adhere to a strict code of ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) designed exclusively for REALTORS®. WinnipegREALTORS® serves its members by promoting the benefits of an organized real estate profession.  REALTOR®, MLS® and Multiple Listing Service® are trademarks owned and controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association and are used under licence.

For further information, contact Peter Squire at (204) 786-8854.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaila Wise

WinnipegREALTORS®
Administrative Assistant, Public Affairs
Phone: 204-786-8854  Ext. 219
Fax: 204-784-2343
Website: www.winnipegrealtors.ca
Email: swise@winnipegrealtors.ca
Fighting for Homebuyers
www.2muchltt.com

~~PRESS RELEASE

 

July 9, 2015

For Immediate Release

 

  

AMONG THE BEST JUNE SALES PERFORMANCES ON RECORD

 

-              -              -

June MLS® Sales Eclipse 1,500

WINNIPEG   - Since 2007 when for the first time June sales surpassed 1,500, this level has become the new benchmark upon which June is judged.  At 1,509 MLS® unit sales in June, over 1,500 sales have occurred three times after 2007 including last year when there were 1,515 sales. There is only a 55 unit sales difference or over 3% higher sales activity in the record-setting June 2008.

Not much difference on a year-to-date basis either.  Year-to-date sales are running less than 1% ahead of last year with 6,502 sales. This total is only off 7% from 2007, which at the halfway mark and year end holds the highest unit sales level in WinnipegREALTORS® 112-year history.  

This reinforces why Winnipeg’s real estate market may lack the excitement of other housing markets because it’s so steady and stable in generating similar results every year.

“In all honesty, our Winnipeg market can be quite boring due to how  remarkably close the month end numbers are in comparison to the same month  the year before,” said WinnipegREALTORS® president David MacKenzie.  “I will take that result any day over the uneven swings which occur in some other major Canadian markets.”

A byproduct of this stability is more affordable house prices. In RBC’s most recent housing affordability report  which has been compiled since 1985 and-captures Manitoba’s proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home at market values , condos fared better with bungalows and two-storey homes going up marginally. In conclusion, RBC says “affordability measures remain remarkably close to long-term averages”. Sound familiar?

Speaking of average house prices, they are very much in line with last year at the half-way mark of 2015.

 

 

There is no breakout like this for condominium sales; however, the year-to-date average sale price of $241,029 is up over 1% from the same period in 2014.

As indicated in the 2015 annual MLS® forecast, a plentiful listing supply will ensure well balanced market conditions prevail and therefore keep a lid on increasing house and condominium prices. 13,728 listings have been entered on the MLS® this year, an increase of 14% over 2014. Based on brisk sales activity in June, there is an inventory of approximately four months going into July.

Reflecting how prices are being kept in check is the similar dollar volume this June compared to last June. Dollar volume eked out an ever so slight edge over 2014 (less than 1%) with a record-setting $416 million for this month and one of the highest monthly totals on record. Year-to-date dollar volume of nearly $1.8 billion is up less than 2% over the same period in 2014. It is the highest level on record for the first six months.

Owing to a healthy supply of MLS® listings and historically low mortgage rates, buyers are continuing to capitalize on choice and rates or choice rates if the property they have long sought after is available for sale. Demand is holding up well too with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 5.6 % and continued population growth fuelled by strong immigration. Manitoba’s real GDP is expected to grow 2.3% in 2015, making it the third best among provinces and above the national average of 1.8%.

“Given the outstanding selection of listings available throughout the city and entire capital region, it behooves buyers to see for themselves and call their REALTOR® for their expert advice,” said MacKenzie. “REALTORS® know the market and can give you quick access to new MLS® listings. Your chances of finding what you want have never been better – resale or new properties.”

MLS® property type breakdown shows condominium sales in June were only down 6% in comparison to last June. This is a vast improvement over some earlier months such as February and April when they were well off last year’s sales activity.

“We surveyed our real estate brokers recently and the majority of them felt the introduction of the new Condominium Act on February 1, 2015 had some impact on sales,” said MacKenzie. “Everyone involved in the condominium sales process is adjusting to the new requirements of the Act so our expectations are to see sales numbers perform better in the second half of 2015. Let’s not forget either an increased supply of affordable residential-detached homes competes directly with condominiums.”

Year-to-date sales show residential-detached units up 5% while condominiums have decreased 15%.

The most active price range in June for residential-detached sales was $250,000 - $299,999 (23% of sales), followed by the $200,000 - $249,999 range (15%) and the $300,000 - $349,999 range (15%). Another 22% of sales were split evenly in the $150,000 - $199,999 and the $350,000 - $399,999 ranges.

Average days on market was 29 days, 4 days slower than June 2014. The highest priced residential-detached sale was $1,165,000 and the least expensive sale was $32,000.

The most active price range for condos was $150,000 to $199,999 (35% of sales) followed by the $200,000 to $249,999 range (18%) and the $250,000 to $299,999 range (16%). Days on market for condos was 49 days, compared to 41 days last year with the highest priced condo selling for $655,000 and the lowest priced sale at $57,000.

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,880 real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, and financial members active in the Greater Winnipeg Area real estate market.  Its REALTOR® members adhere to a strict code of ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) designed exclusively for REALTORS®. WinnipegREALTORS® serves its members by promoting the benefits of an organized real estate profession.  REALTOR®, MLS® and Multiple Listing Service® are trademarks owned and controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association and are used under licence.

For further information, contact Peter Squire at (204) 786-8854.

 

 

Shaila Wise

WinnipegREALTORS®
Administrative Assistant, Public Affairs
Phone: 204-786-8854  Ext. 219
Fax: 204-784-2343
Website: www.winnipegrealtors.ca
Email: swise@winnipegrealtors.ca
Fighting for Homebuyers