Vancouver house prices drop 2nd month in a row

Benchmark prices of Vancouver West detached houses drop as much as $200,000.

REBGV release – As property listings continue to outpace sales, Greater Vancouver housing prices have drawn back, the last two months, from the record highs experienced in early 2008.

Since May 2008, housing prices, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, across each residential category have declined. Detached properties in Greater Vancouver declined 2.3% through June and July 2008, while attached were down 1% and apartment properties 2% over the same period.

The overall benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has declined 2.1% since the end of May 2008, from $568,411 to $556,605 in July 2008.

"We're seeing more price reductions in properties listed on the market, which is having a levelling impact on the housing price increases experienced at the end of last year and into the first quarter of 2008," said Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president, Dave Watt.

"There was a slight decline in the total active listings on the market in July compared to June, which is a welcomed departure from recent trends."

Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 43.9% in July 2008 to 2,174 from the 3,873 sales recorded in July 2007.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 24% to 6,104 in July 2008 compared to July 2007, when 4,924 new units were listed.

Sales of detached properties in July 2008 declined 44.2% to 827 from the 1,483 units sold during the same period in 20070. The benchmark price for detached properties is up 5.4% from July 2007 to $753,165.

Sales of apartment properties declined 42.3% last month to 966, compared to 1,674 sales in July 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 4.7% from July 2007 to $381,687.

Attached property sales in July 2008 decreased 46.8% to 381, compared with the 716 sales in July 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 5.7% between July 2007 and 2008 to $473,953.