Housing Market Continues Normalization Trend

Vancouver, BC - February 14, 2011. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the Kootenays were down 3 per cent to 102 units compared to January of last year. In the Columbia Valley, residential sales were down 56 per cent to 7 units compared to January of last year.  Compared to the same month last year, the average MLS® residential price in the Kootenays rose 4.7 per cent to $275,864 in January and the Columbia Valley declined 11 per cent to $247,039.

"Consumer demand continues to normalize alongside overall economic conditions," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "However, the pace of growth in home sales experienced since last summer is likely to moderate in the coming months as tighter credit conditions and upward pressure on mortgage interest rates impacts affordability and purchasing power."

The inventory of homes for sale remained below 47,000 units for the third consecutive month in January, down 14 per cent from the spring of last year. "While demand and supply conditions province-wide exhibited balance last month, regional differences are pronounced," added Muir. "Housing markets in the Lower Mainland/ South Coast exhibited stronger conditions than in the Kootenays and Okanagan, which remained in buyer's market territory in January."

Read the complete report (pdf)