Less pressure on buyers in August in the Victoria real estate market

A total of 478 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this August, 42.5 per cent fewer than the 831 properties sold in August 2021 and a 6.3 per cent decrease from July 2022. Sales of condominiums were down 57.1 per cent from August 2021 with 148 units sold. Sales of single-family homes decreased 30.3 per cent from August 2021 with 249 sold.

“August is typically one of the slower months for real estate in the Greater Victoria area and this year was no exception,” says Victoria Real Estate Board President Karen Dinnie-Smyth. “After two years of market conditions that favoured home sellers, sales have diminished in the past few months and inventory levels have been slowly increasing.”

There were 2,137 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service® at the end of August 2022, a decrease of 1.2 per cent compared to the previous month of July but a 90.8 per cent increase from the 1,120 active listings for sale at the end of August 2021.

“One of the metrics we watch when we look at the market is the sales to active listings ratio – this is the percentage of available listings that have sold over the course of the month, which helps indicate the balance of supply and demand,” adds President Dinnie-Smyth. “A high percentage means more of the available listings have sold, which shows a high buyer demand and that’s generally a favourable market for sellers. The lower the percentage, the more properties available. Generally, we look at the 15 to 20 per cent range as a balanced market. Right now, the ratio is 28.14 per cent, while in 2021 we were at 94.91 per cent. We continue to trend towards a more balanced market. As conditions change, connect with your trusted REALTOR® to understand how your selling and buying plans fit into the current market.”

The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value for a single-family home in the Victoria Core in August 2021 was $1,201,400. The benchmark value for the same house in August 2022 increased by 15.8 per cent to $1,391,700 but was down 2.9 per cent from July's value of $1,433,400. The MLS® HPI benchmark value for a condominium in the Victoria Core area in August 2021 was $509,000, while the benchmark value for the same condominium in August 2022 increased by 22.2 per cent to $621,900, down by 2.8 per cent from the July value of $639,900.

Read the statistics package here.

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:

• Sellers Checklist
• Buyers Checklist
• Landlord/Tenant Checklist
• Strata Checklist

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. 

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September 12, 2018

Significant interest in a corporation or trust that acquires Real Estate

As of September 17, 2018, individuals with a significant interest in a corporation or trust that acquires real estate property may need to be identified on the property transfer tax return. In addition, the Province is establishing a public registry administered by the Land Title Survey Authority to record beneficial ownership of land, such as corporations and trusts.

During the transition stage, the Province will require all individuals who own a beneficial interest in property to disclose such interest. The Province will also be enacting legislation that will require corporations in B.C. to hold accurate and up-to-date information on beneficial owners of land in their own records office to be available to governmental authorities.

Although the Province has not announced any tax liability with respect to the foregoing, it may be that corporations and bare trusts may incur tax liabilities in the future. Clients intending to purchase through a corporation or trust are well advised to obtain advice from qualified tax advisors or a lawyer prior to entering into contracts of purchase and sale.

More information can be found at the following link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/tax-changes/whats-new/property-taxes.

Check out New vs Sold Listings in Victoria British Columbia. Details for this graph are taken from MLS. We bring you the latest statistics so you can follow the market. Contact the BC HOME GROUP for any questions, we will always help!