The number of Metro Vancouver homes listed for sale on the MLS® rose nearly 23 percent year-over-year, providing more opportunity for buyers looking for a home this spring. 

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,415 in March 2024, a 4.7 percent decrease from the 2,535 sales recorded in March 2023. This was 31.2 percent below the 10-year seasonal average (3,512). 

If you’re finding the weather a little chillier than last spring, you may find some comfort in knowing that the market isn’t quite as hot as it was last spring either, particularly if you’re a buyer. Despite the welcome increase in inventory, the overall market balance continues inching deeper into sellers’ market territory, which suggests demand remains strong for well-priced and well-located properties. 

There were 5,002 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in March 2024. This represents a 15.9 percent increase compared to the 4,317 properties listed in March 2023. This was 9.5 percent below the 10-year seasonal average (5,524). 

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 10,552, a 22.5 percent increase compared to March 2023 (8,617). This is 6.3 percent above the 10-year seasonal average (9,923). 

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for March 2024 is 23.8 percent. By property type, the ratio is 18.2 percent for detached homes, 31.3 percent for attached, and 25.8 percent for apartments. 

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

Even though the market isn’t quite as hot as it was last year, we’re still seeing modest month-over-month price gains of one to two percent happening at the aggregate level, which is an interesting dynamic given that borrowing costs remain elevated. With the latest inflation numbers trending in the right direction, it remains likely that we’ll see at least one or two modest cuts to the Bank of Canada’s policy rate in 2024, but even if these cuts come, they may not provide the boost to affordability many had been hoping for. As a result, we expect constrained borrowing power to remain a challenging headwind as we move into the summer months.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,196,800. This represents a 4.5 percent increase over March 2023 and a 1.1 percent increase compared to February 2024. 

Sales of detached homes in March 2024 reached 694, a 5.4 percent decrease from the 734 detached sales recorded in March 2023. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,007,900. This represents a 7.4 percent increase from March 2023 and a 1.8 percent increase compared to February 2024. 

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,207 in March 2024, a 7.9 percent decrease compared to the 1,311 sales in March 2023. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $777,500. This represents a 5.7 percent increase from March 2023 and a 0.9 percent increase compared to February 2024. 

Attached home sales in March 2024 totalled 495, a 6.2 percent increase compared to the 466 sales in March 2023. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,112,800. This represents a 5 percent increase from March 2023 and a 1.7 percent increase compared to February 2024.