Seasonality, interest rates temper sales in the Fraser Valley
SURREY, BC – After five months of successive increases, real estate sales in the Fraser Valley dropped in response to a combination of continued rising interest rates and the summer sales cycle.
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,368 sales in July on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), a decrease of 29.3 per cent below June, but still 37.8 per cent above July 2022.
July new listings, at 2,855, were also down by 16.6 per cent compared to last month but 19.7 per cent higher than July 2022 levels, and virtually on par with the ten-year average. Active listings continued to climb, increasing by 4.3 per cent over June, bringing the total inventory available for sale in the region to 6,199.
“Summer is typically a slower period for the real estate sector and the higher interest rates are contributing to the market slowdown,” said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “We’re seeing less traffic and fewer multiple offers as buyers and sellers put a pause on decisions and we expect this trend to continue until the fall cycle.”
MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity
Single Family Detached: At $1,543,300 the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home increased 1.1 per cent compared to June 2023 and decreased 3.1 per cent compared to July 2022.
Townhomes: At $850,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome increased 0.6 per cent compared to June 2023 and decreased 2.7 per cent compared to July 2022.
Apartments: At $555,500, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo increased 0.6 per cent compared to June 2023 and increased 0.8 per cent compared to July 2022.
