May Brings Much-Needed Lift to Fraser Valley Housing Market

SURREY, BC – On the heels of a quiet April, Fraser Valley home sales saw a modest but encouraging uptick in May — a sign that buyer confidence may slowly be returning to the market.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board recorded 1,183 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, up 13 per cent from April. Despite the increase, sales were 22 per cent below May 2024 levels and 36 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average.

Overall inventory continues to build, with active listings up six per cent in May to 10,626, an increase of 34 per cent year-over-year and 54 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average. New listings increased seven per cent from April to May, reaching 4,007.

…

2148 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Buyers Remain Hesitant as Inventory Builds

May 2025 saw inventory levels across Metro Vancouver reach another ten-year high, while home sales registered on the MLS® remained muted.

Residential Sales Statistics

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,228 in May 2025, an 18.5% decrease from the 2,733 sales recorded in May 2024. This was also 30.5% below the 10-year seasonal average of 3,206.

“While there are emerging signs that sales activity might be turning a corner, sales in May were below the ten-year seasonal average, which suggests that some buyers are still sitting on the sidelines or are being especially selective,” said Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics.

…

2786 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Canadian real GDP rose by 0.1 per cent in March, after declining by 0.2 per cent in February. Goods-producing sectors rose 0.2 per cent, while service-producing industries increased by 0.1 per cent.

Sectoral growth was led by:

  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (2.2 per cent)
  • Construction (0.5 per cent)
  • Retail trade (0.8 per cent)

Output for the offices of real-estate agents and brokers fell by 4.5 per cent month-over-month. Preliminary estimates suggest that real GDP by industry increased by 0.1 per cent in April.

Q1 2025 Performance

Real GDP increased by 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, registering an annualized growth rate of 2.2 per cent.

Household spending growth slowed to 0.3 per cent, leading to…

555 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

GST Relief for First-Time Home Buyers: What You Need to Know

The Canadian government has rolled out a major initiative to help first-time buyers step into homeownership: the First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate (FTHB GST Rebate). This move aims to ease the financial pressure of buying a new home and boost construction across the country.

What Is the FTHB GST Rebate?

As of May 27, 2025, qualifying first-time home buyers are eligible for:

  • 100% GST rebate on new homes priced up to $1 million.
  • Partial rebate for homes between $1 million and $1.5 million (e.g., a $1.25M home gets a 50% rebate).
  • No rebate for homes priced over $1.5 million.

In total, this rebate is expected to return $3.9 billion in tax relief to Canadians over the next…

1206 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Vancouver’s skyline is a breathtaking blend of glass towers, mountain views, and oceanfront living. And at the pinnacle of these iconic buildings? Penthouses — the crown jewels of luxury real estate. But despite their exclusivity, scoring a great deal on Vancouver penthouses for sale isn’t a myth. It’s a game of timing, preparation, and smart strategy.

Whether you’re a first-time luxury buyer, an investor, or looking for that dream high-rise residence, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about finding value in Vancouver’s high-end penthouse market — without compromising on your dream.

Why Vancouver Penthouses Are Worth the Investment

Before diving into how to get a deal, it's important to understand why Vancouver…

302 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Purchasing a home is a significant milestone, but it doesn't have to break the bank. With strategic planning and informed decisions, buyers can save substantial amounts during the home buying process. Here are five effective tactics to help you retain more of your hard-earned money.

1. Enhance Your Credit Score Before Applying for a Mortgage

Your credit score plays a pivotal role in determining the interest rate on your mortgage. A higher score can lead to lower interest rates, translating to significant savings over the life of your loan. For instance, improving your score from 650 to 750 could reduce your interest rate by up to 1%, potentially saving you thousands.

Action Steps:

  • Review your credit report for inaccuracies and dispute…

170 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Vancouver, BC – May 14, 2025. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that 6,453 residential unit sales were recorded in Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems in April 2025, down 14.6 per cent from April 2024. The average MLS® residential price in BC in April 2025 was down 6.1 per cent at $942,884 compared to $1,003,638 in April 2024.

The total sales dollar volume was $6.1 billion, a 19.7 per cent decrease from the same time the previous year. BC MLS® unit sales were 27 per cent lower than the ten-year April average.

“Regional activity continued to diverge in April with more expensive regions experiencing a larger drop in sales activity,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “Uncertainty regarding trade and…

230 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Abundant Listings and Stable Prices Not Enough to Drive April Sales in the Fraser Valley

SURREY, BC – Home buyers in the Fraser Valley are enjoying a selection of homes for sale not seen in more than a decade. The growing inventory of more than 10,000 active listings means, in many cases, that buyers have time, selection, and price negotiation on their side.

“There’s definitely a surge of activity in the market — buyers are out viewing homes and attending open houses,” said Tore Jacobsen, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “What’s noticeable in the current market is the level of choice. A buyer might see a home they like and then have an opportunity to tour five or ten more just like it, without feeling rushed to make an immediate…

769 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Spring Market Brings Abundance of Opportunity for Buyers

VANCOUVER, BC – May 2, 2025 – The slowdown in home sales registered on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver* that began early this year continued in April, with sales down nearly 24 per cent year-over-year.

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,163 in April 2025, a 23.6 per cent decrease from the 2,831 sales recorded in April 2024. This was 28.2 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (3,014).

“From a historical perspective, the slower sales we’re now seeing stand out as unusual, particularly against a backdrop of significantly improved borrowing conditions, which typically helps to boost sales,” said Andrew Lis,…

994 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 2.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in March, down from a 2.6 per cent increase in February. Month-over-month, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI was unchanged in March.

The overall slowdown in headline CPI is largely driven by lower gasoline prices, with the CPI excluding gasoline rising by 2.5 per cent in March.

Shelter price growth continues to cool, as mortgage interest costs were up 7.9 per cent, marking the nineteenth consecutive month of deceleration. Similarly, rent was up 5.1 per cent year-over-year in March, down from 5.8 per cent in February.

In British Columbia, consumer prices rose 2.6 per cent year-over-year, down from 3.0 per cent in February.

The Bank…

951 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post