Home sales registered on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver rose over thirty per cent in December, compared to the previous year, signalling strengthening demand-side momentum to close out 2024. 

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 26,561 in 2024, a 1.2 per cent increase from the 26,249 sales recorded in 2023, and a 9.2 per cent decrease from the 29,261 sales in 2022. 

Last year’s sales total was 20.9 per cent below the 10-year annual sales average (33,559).

 
“Looking back on 2024, it could best be described as a pivot year for the market after experiencing such dramatic increases in mortgage rates in the preceding years,” said Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics. “With borrowing costs now firmly on the decline, buyers have started to show up in numbers after somewhat of a hiatus – and this renewed strength is now clearly visible in the more recent monthly data.” 

Properties listed on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver totalled 60,388 in 2024. This represents an 18.7 per cent increase compared to the 50,894 properties listed in 2023. This was 9.7 per cent above the 55,047 properties listed in 2022. 

The total number of properties listed last year was 5.7 per cent above the region’s 10-year annual average (57,136). 

Currently, the total number of homes listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 10,948, a 24.4 per cent increase compared to December 2024 (8,802). This total is also 25.3 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (8,737). 

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,171,500. This represents a 0.5 per cent increase over December 2023 and a 0.1 per cent decrease compared to November 2024. 

“Disappointingly, sales came in shy of our forecasted target for the year, but the December figures signal an emerging pattern of strength in home sales, building on the momentum seen in previous months,” Lis said. “These more recent sales figures are now trending back towards long-term historical averages, which suggests there may still be quite a bit of potential upside for sales as we head into 2025, should the recent strength continue. 

“Although sales activity had a slower start to the year, price trends began 2024 on the rise and closed out the year on a flatter trajectory. Most market segments saw year-over-year increases of a few per cent except for apartment units, which ended 2024 roughly flat. With the data showing renewed strength to finish the year however, it looks as though the 2025 market is positioned to be considerably more active than we’ve seen in recent years.”  

December 2024 summary

Residential sales in the region totalled 1,765 in December 2024, a 31.2 per cent increase from the 1,345 sales recorded in December 2023. This was 14.9 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,074) for the month. 

There were 1,676 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver in December 2024. This represents a 26.3 per cent increase compared to the 1,327 properties listed in December 2023. This was 1.1 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (1,695). 

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for December 2024 is 16.8 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 12.1 per cent for detached homes, 23.6 per cent for attached, and 18.7 per cent for apartments. 

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months. 

Sales of detached homes in December 2024 reached 494, a 31.4 per cent increase from the 376 detached sales recorded in December 2023. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,997,000. This represents a two per cent increase from December 2023 and is nearly unchanged compared to November 2024. 

Sales of apartment homes reached 891 in December 2024, a 23.9 per cent increase compared to the 719 sales in December 2023. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $749,900. This represents a 0.1 per cent decrease from December 2023 and a 0.4 per cent decrease compared to November 2024. 

Attached home sales in December 2024 totalled 371, a 55.9 per cent increase compared to the 238 sales in December 2023. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,114,600. This represents a 3.4 per cent increase from December 2023 and a 0.3 per cent decrease compared to November 2024.  

Home sales registered in the MLS® in the Metro Vancouver market rose 28 percent year-over-year in November, building on the momentum of the 30 percent year-over-year increase seen in October. 

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,181 in November 2024, a 28.1 per cent increase from the 1,702 sales recorded in November 2023. This was 12.8 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,500). 

“When we saw demand pick up in October, there was still a question over whether it was a blip in the data or the start of an emerging trend,” Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics said. “While the November market isn’t quite a Cyber Monday door-crasher, buyers are continuing to take advantage of the relatively balanced market conditions while they last.” 

There were 3,725 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in November 2024. This represents a 10.6 per cent increase compared to the 3,369 properties listed in November 2023. This was 5.4 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (3,535). 

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 13,245, a 21.2 per cent increase compared to November 2023 (10,931). This is 26.1 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (10,502). 

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for November 2024 is 17.1 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 12.7 per cent for detached homes, 23.1 per cent for attached, and 18.7 per cent for apartments. 

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months. 

“Although demand has increased as we head into year-end, the number of newly listed properties coming to market in November remained sufficient to keep prices steady across all segments,” Lis said. “But as we move into the New Year, if the strength in demand continues at the current pace, and the pace of newly listed properties coming to market doesn’t keep up, it may not be long until we see the return of upward pressure on prices.” 

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,172,100. This represents a 0.9 per cent decrease over November 2023 and nearly unchanged compared to October 2024. 

Sales of detached homes in November 2024 reached 626, a 19.7 per cent increase from the 523 detached sales recorded in November 2023. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,997,400. This represents a one per cent increase from November 2023 and a 0.3 per cent decrease compared to October 2024. 

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,089 in November 2024, a 28.1 per cent increase compared to the 850 sales in November 2023. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $752,800. This represents a 1.2 per cent decrease from November 2023 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to October 2024. 

Attached home sales in November 2024 totalled 451, a 42.7 per cent increase compared to the 316 sales in November 2023. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,117,600. This represents a 1.8 per cent increase from November 2023 and a 0.8 per cent increase compared to October 2024.

After months of tracking approximately twenty per cent below the ten-year seasonal average, Metro Vancouver home sales surged more than 30 per cent year-over-year in October.

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales registered on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in the region totalled 2,632 in October 2024, a 31.9 per cent increase from the 1,996 sales recorded in October 2023. This was 5.5 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,784).

“Typically, reductions to mortgage rates boost demand, and the strong October sales numbers suggest buyers may finally be responding to lower borrowing costs after waiting on the sidelines for months,” Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics said. “To some market watchers, this rebound may come as a surprise, but with four consecutive rate cuts from the Bank of Canada – and more likely to come on the horizon – it was only a matter of time until signs of renewed strength in demand showed up.”

There were 5,452 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in October 2024. This represents a 16.9 per cent increase compared to the 4,664 properties listed in October 2023. This was 20 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (4,545).

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 14,477, a 24.8 per cent increase compared to October 2023 (11,599). This total is also 26.2 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (11,475).

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for October 2024 is 18.8 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 13.4 per cent for detached homes, 22.5 per cent for attached, and 22.2 per cent for apartments.

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“While the strength in October's numbers is encouraging, one data point does not make a trend," Lis said. "Recent data shows that market conditions have been decidedly balanced, with prices easing over the past few months. With the recent uptick in sales however, the attached and apartment segments are now tilting toward a seller’s market with the detached segment not far behind, suggesting the recent period of price moderation may be nearing an end."

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is $1,172,200. This represents a 1.9 per cent decrease over October 2023 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to September 2024.

Sales of detached homes in October 2024 reached 724, a 25.5 per cent increase from the 577 detached sales recorded in October 2023. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,002,900. This represents a 0.3 per cent increase from October 2023 and a 1 per cent decrease compared to September 2024.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,393 in October 2024, a 33.4 per cent increase compared to the 1,044 sales in October 2023. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $757,200. This represents a 1.6 per cent decrease from October 2023 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to September 2024.

Attached home sales in October 2024 totalled 501, a 40.7 per cent increase compared to the 356 sales in October 2023. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,108,800. This represents a 0.4 per cent increase from October 2023 and a 0.9 per cent increase compared to September 2024.

Newly listed properties registered on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) rose nearly twenty per cent year over year in July, helping to sustain a healthy level of inventory in the Metro Vancouver1 housing market. 

On the demand side, the Greater Vancouver REALTORS®2 (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,333 in July 2024, a 5 per cent decrease from the 2,455 sales recorded in July 2023. This was 17.6 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,831).

“The trend of buyers remaining hesitant, that began a few months ago, continued in the July data despite a fresh quarter percentage point cut to the Bank of Canada’s policy rate,” Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics said. “With the recent half percentage point decline in the policy rate over the past few months, and with so much inventory to choose from, it’s a bit surprising transaction levels remain below historical norms as we enter the mid-point of summer.” 

There were 5,597 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in July 2024. This represents a 20.4 per cent increase compared to the 4,649 properties listed in July 2023. This was also 12.7 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (4,968). 

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver is 14,326, a 39.1 per cent increase compared to July 2023 (10,301). This is also 21.5 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (11,788). 

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for July 2024 is 16.9 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 12.8 per cent for detached homes, 20.1 per cent for attached, and 19.3 per cent for apartments. 

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months. 

“With the overall market experiencing balanced conditions, and with a healthy level of inventory not seen in quite a few years, price trends across all segments have leveled out with very modest declines occurring month over month,” Lis said. “While it remains to be seen whether softening prices and improved borrowing costs will entice buyers to purchase as we head into the fall market, it’s worth noting that it can take a few months for improvements to borrowing costs to materialize into higher transaction levels. In this respect, it’s still early days, so we will watch the market for signs of transaction activity picking up in the months ahead.” 

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,197,700. This represents a 0.8 per cent decrease over July 2023 and a 0.8 per cent decrease compared to June 2024. 

Sales of detached homes in July 2024 reached 688, a 1 per cent increase from the 681 detached sales recorded in July 2023. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,049,000. This represents a 2.1 per cent increase from July 2023 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to June 2024. 

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,192 in July 2024, a 6.9 per cent decrease compared to the 1,281 sales in July 2023. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $768,200. This represents a 0.3 per cent decrease from July 2023 and a 0.7 per cent decrease compared to June 2024. 

Attached home sales in July 2024 totalled 437, a 6.2 per cent decrease compared to the 466 sales in July 2023. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,124,700. This represents a 1.4 per cent increase from July 2023 and a 1.2 per cent decrease compared to June 2024.