Home Prices Down; Affordability Improves

Home Prices Down; Affordability Improves

Vancouver, BC – October 15, 2008. British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined
39 per cent to $2.1 billion in September, compared to September 2007. Residential unit sales were down 34 per cent to 5,107 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $412,149, down 7 per cent from September 2007.

“Weaker consumer demand and a large number of homes for sale are having an impact on home prices in the province,” said
Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Despite relatively strong fundamentals, consumer confidence is low. The global liquidity crisis and volatile equity markets are intensifying this sentiment, causing many households to pull back spending on major purchases.”

“However, affordability is improving,” added Muir. “The carrying cost of the average home in the province is now lower than at any time since the end of 2006.”

Year-to-date MLS® residential sales dollar volume in the province declined 24 per cent to $27.5 billion compared to the same period last year. Provincial MLS® sales declined 28 per cent to 59,742 units, while the average residential price increased 6 per cent to $460,621 over the same period.

Cameron Muir
Chief Economist

REBGV

For more information on Real Estate or Market Conditions please contact:

Victoria Farrell

Downtown Suites Ltd

victoria@downtownsuites.com