Real Estate Information Archive

PRESS RELEASE

September 6, 2012

For Immediate Release

AUGUST RECORDS BUSIEST MLS® SUMMER MONTH

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MLS® Dollar Volume Just Shy of $300 Million

WINNIPEG – There was no let up in August as it not only outperformed July but turned in a well above average performance for this time of year. It was only 4% off the most active August on record in 2005. Dollar volume was the highest it has ever been for August with close to $300 million in real estate transactions. 36% of the entire inventory turned over and that was with a healthy dose of new listings coming on the market.

August MLS® unit sales decreased by less than 4% (1,241/1,290) while dollar volume was up almost 1% ($298.7 million/$296.6 million) in comparison to the same month last year.  Year-to-date MLS® sales are ahead by 2% (9,387/9,196) while dollar volume has increased 7% ($2.30 billion/$2.14 billion) compared to the same period last year.  Listings entered on the MLS® this year are also trending higher than previous years at this point in time.

“We are bucking a national trend which points to moderating local real estate markets,” said Shirley Przybyl, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “With the most active real estate months behind us now our MLS® sales are right in line with our best historic results for 8 months and still ahead of last year’s impressive pace.”

“If we have learned anything from what has happened in Winnipeg over the last few years it is one resilient housing market that continues to perform remarkably well.”

The most active price range for residential-detached sales continues to be the $250,000 to $299,999 price range with 22% of total sales. Although the next lower price range from $200,000 to $249,999 was close behind at 21%.  August 2012 showed how diverse WinnipegREALTORS® housing market is with house sales of $850,000 and $15,000.

Condominium sales activity is most prevalent in the $150,000 to $199,999 price range with 33% of total sales.

Average days on market for August residential-detached sales was 29 days, 3 days slower than last month and one day slower than August 2011. Average days on market for condominium sales was 34 days, a full week quicker than July, but 4 days slower than August 2011.

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,700 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 786-8854.

PRESS RELEASE

July 6, 2012

For Immediate Release

JUNE MLS® SALES AND DOLLAR VOLUME LEVEL OFF

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Sales Down 2%; Dollar Volume Even

WINNIPEG – After a spectacular May when sales went over 1,600 for the second time in WinnipegREALTORS® MLS® sales history, June sales and dollar volume activity settled down in comparison.  Even for previous Junes when sales in the past five years have surpassed 1,500 June 2012 fell back under the 1,500 mark. However a new June dollar volume record was still set eking out a slight gain over last June.

Based on a ten-year running average for June sales, 2012 sales are still very respectable with 3% more sales activity. The best June in 2008 of 1,564 sales is only better than 2012 by less than 5% so there is a lot to be said for consistency in the month of June.

New listings coming onto the market in June showed a 4% improvement over last June with close to 2,000 new listings. The overall inventory of 3,357 MLS® listings is up by a 1% margin over 2011 for this time of year.

June MLS® unit sales were down 2% (1,487/1,516) while dollar volume was up less than 1% ($369.4 million/$367.9 million) in comparison to the same month last year. Year-to-date MLS® unit sales are up 4% (6,921/6,660) while dollar volume has risen 10% ($1.70 billion/$1.55 billion) in comparison to the same period last year. The equivalent of three out of every four listing new to the MLS® market in June sold and that statistic a strong conversion rate.

For the first half of 2012, MLS® sales are off less than 1% from the record pace set in 2007 while dollar volume is well ahead of the highest previous total in 2011.

“At the midway point of the year we are outperforming our forecast by a few percentage points but still need to bear in mind there are six months to go and we are up against impressive third quarter monthly results in 2011,” said Shirley Przybyl, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “In my view consumer confidence is remaining firmly intact in our local market with Winnipeg being a rock of stability despite global economic uncertainty.”

For residential-detached sales in June, the most active price range was from $250,000 to $299, 999 with 24% of total sales. The three most active price ranges from $150,000 to $299,999 comprised 58% of total residential-detached sales. The highest sale price in June was $1,050,000. In stark contrast the lowest sale price was $29,000.

44% of all condominium sales in June fell within the $150,000 to $199,999 price range.  Both the $100,000 to $149,999 and $200,000 to $249,999 price ranges had 17% each of total condo sales. The average days on market for condominium sales was 27 days, one day faster than last month and five days slower than June 2011.

The average days on market for residential-detached sales was 24 days, the same pace as last month and one day off June 2011.    

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,700 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 786-8854.