Distributed to media today:
Victoria real estate market experiences an active summer
A total of 979 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this August, 48.1 per cent more than the 661 properties sold in August 2019 and exactly the same total as the previous month of July 2020. Sales of condominiums were up 29.1 per cent from August 2019 with 262 units sold. Sales of single family homes were up 45 per cent from August 2019 with 509 sold.
"Once again we saw a very active month in terms of property transactions," says Victoria Real Estate Board President Sandi-Jo Ayers. "And once again I will note that this is not a trend, but that this is our market at this moment in time during a unique situation. It is a challenging time to define what is happening in the market given so many factors that don't exist in a normal year. We have been surprised by the pace of the summer market and are grappling with the evolving socio-economic effects of the pandemic and how these underlying factors will influence our fall real estate market."
There were 2,584 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service® at the end of August 2020, 8.9 per cent fewer properties than the total available at the end of August 2019 and a 2.6 per cent decrease from the 2,653 active listings for sale at the end of July 2020.
"What I do know is that our business has changed a lot in recent months," adds Ayers. "REALTORS® have adapted to health and safety requirements and much more technology is being leveraged to facilitate all aspects of the housing transaction. We can also see that though demand is up, there are fewer listings on the market, which increases demand on desirable properties even more. This is why we saw a lot of competition and multiple offers over the summer. Will this continue into fall? That will depend on how much new inventory comes into the market and how our community continues to manage the impact of COVID-19. This is an evolving and nuanced market. As always, it is a good time to connect with your Realtor if you're considering selling or buying. If you need us, we are here."
The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in August 2019 was $849,500. The benchmark value for the same home in August 2020 increased by 4.7 per cent to $889,200, 2.3 per cent less than July's value of $909,700. The MLS® HPI benchmark value for a condominium in the Victoria Core in August 2019 was $518,000, while the benchmark value for the same condominium in August 2020 decreased by 0.8 per cent to $513,900, 3.2 per cent less than the July value of $530,800.
Stats will be posted on the VREB website later this afternoon.
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Covid-19 and Real Estate
This is great information to be shared with fellow realtors as we get instructions on what to do for our clients.
As the situation around COVID-19 continues to disrupt people’s lives, we’re actively working to update our online information for professionals and consumers. We encourage you to keep checking our COVID-19 and Real Estate page for new resources and guidance, including external links to resources you may find useful.
RECBC has developed checklists to help you manage challenges related to COVID-19 when working with clients. All real estate professionals should be discussing COVID-19 with their clients to work cooperatively to find solutions that minimize risk for all parties. You can find the checklists, along with advice and considerations for professionals, on our website:
If you are working with clients or members of the public who have questions about how their real estate transaction or management services will be impacted by COVID-19, RECBC’s consumer information may be a helpful resource: Information for Real Estate Consumers on COVID-19.
Service Reminder
BC has declared a provincial health emergency, and so we encourage you to not visit our office in person at this time. We are continuing to provide all licensing, education, audit, and compliance services.
We are available to serve real estate professionals and members of the public by phone or email. Do not send anything to our office by mail with the exception of applications containing original Criminal Record Search documents. You can reach us at info@recbc.ca or by phone at 604-683-9664, toll-free 1-877-683-9664.
Real estate professionals and consumers with questions about how real estate services may be affected by COVID-19, please contact our Professional Standards Advisors at advisor@recbc.ca, or by phone at 604-683-9664, toll-free 1-877-683-9664.
The Importance of Title Insurance for your Home
Thetis Glen - Victoria BC - Limona Group
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New Foreign Entity Tax - British Columbia UBC COURSE
New Foreign Entity Tax
On February 20, 2018, the province increased the Foreign Entity Tax payable by foreign entities and taxable trustees to 20% on transfers of residential properties registered on or after February 21, 2018, and expanded the areas to which the tax applies from the Regional District of Greater Vancouver to:
- Capital Regional District (Victoria and Islands)
- Fraser Valley Regional District
- Regional District of Central Okanagan
- Regional District of Nanaimo
The additional property transfer tax doesn’t apply to properties located on Tsawwassen First Nation lands.
Transitional Rules
If the property is located in the Capital Regional District, Fraser Valley Regional District, Regional District of Central Okanagan or Nanaimo Regional District and the property transfer is registered on or after February 21, 2018, there are two instances where the additional property transfer tax does not have to be paid.
- The additional property tax does not have to be paid where the registration of the transfer occurs on or before May 18, 2018 and the property transfer is subject to a written agreement dated on or before February 20, 2018. (Note: If the written agreement is assigned to a foreign entity or taxable trustee on or after February 21, 2018, the additional property transfer tax must be paid.)
- The additional property transfer tax does not have to be paid where the registration of the transfer occurs at any time, where the property transfer is:
- subject to a court order dated on or before February 20, 2018;
- subject to an Order Nisi of Foreclosure dated on or before February 20, 2018;
- subject to a separation agreement which was signed on or before February 20, 2018;
- from the personal representative of a deceased’s estate to the beneficiary and the death of the deceased occurred on or before February 20, 2018; or
- to a surviving joint tenant when the death of the deceased occurred on or before February 20, 2018
The additional tax is payable on the interest acquired by the foreign entity or taxable trustee, and applies only on the residential portion of a property: There are three types of properties where this may occur:
- Property classified as residential (Class I) by BC Assessment. You pay the additional tax based on the fair market value of the full property.
- Property classified as farm land by BC Assessment that includes a residential improvement, such as a building used as a farmer’s home. You pay the additional tax on the value of the residential improvement plus 0.5 hectares of land (1.24 acres).
- Property classified as commercial by BC Assessment that includes a residential improvement (Class I), such as a condo in a building with commercial space. You pay the additional tax on the value of the residential improvement.
Residential Property
As stated above, the Foreign Entity Tax will be triggered by the registration of a transfer of “residential property” to a foreign entity or taxable trustee.
Residential property includes:
- any lands or improvements that are classified as “Class 1 property” by the BC Assessment Authority
- not only single-family residences but also multi-family residences, apartments and condominiums
- undeveloped lands that are classified as Class 1 property by BC Assessment. Nursing homes, cooperative developments, farms and senior residences are also included in Class 1.
The Foreign Entity Tax is payable with respect to any registered transaction that attracts PTT, including the transfer of a fee simple interest in land or a registered lease with a term longer than 30 years.
Foreign Entity
A “foreign entity” includes both a “foreign national” and a “foreign corporation”. A “foreign national” means a person who is neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident at the time of registration, and includes a stateless person.
Foreign Corporation
For purposes of determining which corporations are “foreign corporations”, the new rules adopt the “de facto” control test in section 256 of the Income Tax Act (Canada)(”ITA”).
De facto control occurs where a person or group of persons has a clear right and ability to affect the composition or decision of the board of directors of the company, or can directly influence the shareholders of a company that can elect the board of directors.
A foreign corporation includes a corporation that is not incorporated in Canada, a corporation that is incorporated in Canada (including BC) but is “controlled” in whole or in part by a foreign national or foreign corporation, unless the shares of the corporation are listed on a Canadian Stock Exchange, and a corporation which is controlled directly or indirectly by a foreign entity (Section 256 of the Income Tax Act).