QUIET DECEMBER CLOSES OUT THE YEAR

NANAIMO, BC – Last month, 200 single-family homes sold in the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) area, a 10 percent decrease from one year ago and a drop of 18 percent from November. Sales of condo apartments in December came in at 35, declining by 53 percent year over year and dropping by 36 percent from November. In the row/townhouse category, 27 units changed hands in December, down 46 percent from one year ago and 41 percent from November.

Inventory continues to build over what was available in December 2021, but active listings did drop from November 2022. Year-over-year listings of single-family homes rose to 895 from 223 one year ago but dipped by 25 percent from the previous month. VIREB’s inventory of condo apartments was 248 in December 2022, up from 67 listings one year ago and down by 13 percent from November. There were 229 row/townhouses for sale last month compared to 56 one year ago and 266 in November.

“December sales activity reflected a typical end-of-year market, which is usually slower during the holiday season,” says Erica Kavanaugh, 2022 VIREB Chair. “REALTORS® are reporting that some clients are taking a wait-and-see approach, opting to wait until spring, which typically sees more interest from buyers and an uptick in listings.”

Policy changes affecting the Real Estate Industry in 2023

Two notable policy changes affecting the real estate industry take effect this month, although their potential impact on VIREB’s housing market is unknown. The Home Buyer Rescission Period (HBRP) launched in British Columbia on January 3. This provincial policy gives buyers the right to withdraw from a purchase agreement within three business days of an accepted offer. On the federal level, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by the Non-Canadians Act (colloquially known as the Foreign Buyer Ban) went into effect on January 1. This legislation bans non-Canadians from buying residential property across Canada for two years. However, since foreign buyers represent a minimal component of VIREB’s market, this legislation is unlikely to have much impact on sales in the VIREB area.

Board-Wide Benchmark December 2022 Real Estate Market Stats

Regarding prices, the board-wide benchmark price (MLS® Home Price Index) of a single-family home was $750,900 in December, down slightly from one year ago and a drop of three per cent from November. (Benchmark pricing tracks the value of a typical home in the reported area.) In the apartment category, the benchmark price was $405,400 last month, a six per cent increase from December 2021 and down two percent from November. The year-over-year benchmark price of a townhouse rose by
four percent to $568,000 and was slightly higher than in November

Benchmark Prices

• Nanaimo’s year-over-year benchmark price rose slightly, climbing to $777,600.
• In Campbell River, the benchmark price of a single-family home hit $661,300 in December, down 2% from the previous year.
• Comox Valley’s year-over-year benchmark price dropped by 1% to $789,500.
• Cowichan Valley, the benchmark price was $752,700, a 1% decrease from December 2021.
• The Parksville-Qualicum area saw its benchmark price drop by 2% to $878,900.
• The cost of a benchmark single-family home in Port Alberni reached $539,100, up 4% from the previous year.
• For the North Island, the benchmark price of a single-family home rose by 10% to $445,900