SURREY, BC – After five months of successive increases, real estate sales in the Fraser Valley dropped in response to a combination of continued rising interest rates and the summer sales cycle.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,368 sales in July on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), a decrease of 29.3% below June, but still 37.8% above July 2022.

July new listings, at 2,855, were also down by 16.6% compared to last month but 19.7% higher than July 2022 levels, and virtually on par with the ten-year average. Active listings continued to climb, increasing by 4.3% over June, bringing the total inventory available for sale in the region to 6,199.

“Summer is typically a slower period for the real estate sector and the higher interest rates are contributing to the market slowdown,” said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “We’re seeing less traffic and fewer multiple offers as buyers and sellers put a pause on decisions and we expect this trend to continue until the fall cycle.”

The market for detached homes softened in July with a sales-to-active listings ratio of 17% while demand for townhomes and apartments remained firm at 45% and 36% respectively. The market is considered balanced when the sales-to-active-listing ratio is between 12% and 20%.

Prices across all categories saw negligible increases compared to last month (see below).

“With rates at their highest levels in over 20 years and inflation still elevated, buyers and sellers are taking time to reevaluate their objectives,” said FVREB CEO Baldev Gill. “As housing options begin to take center stage on the Provincial agenda, consumers will want to consult a professional REALTOR® for a detailed picture of the market in their communities and to stay up to date on upcoming changes that may impact their decisions.”

On average, properties spent two to three weeks on the market before selling, with detached homes spending 22 days on the market, and townhomes and apartments moving slightly more quickly at 16 and 18 days, respectively.

MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity

Single Family Detached : At $1,543,300 the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home increased 1.1% compared to June 2023 and decreased 3.1% compared to July 2022.
Townhomes : At $850,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome increased 0.6% compared to June 2023 and decreased 2.7% compared to July 2022.
Apartments : At $555,500, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo increased 0.6% compared to June 2023 and increased 0.8% compared to July 2022.

Click here to view the July 2023 stats package.

Seasonality, Interest Rates Temper Sales in The Fraser Valley by FVREB