The Captivating Side of Vancouver’s Real Estate Market and Current Trends

Vancouver is the highest populated city in Canada. It’s classified as the top-five global cities with a good and affordable quality of life. It was ranked top 10 in the world’s most well-living towns and. This article reports the latest real estate statistics in Vancouver. It also provides an extensive analysis of all the real estate news and trends.

Vancouver’s real estate news economic trend has been forecast to grow to 2.5% in 2018. This shows an upward direction from recent years. From recent surveys in Canada, there’s a high investor demand and redevelopment opportunities expected to take place. However, most investors and regional developers expect an increase in interest rates, and it impacts on the policy changes. This will lead them to be more reserved or conservative in 2018. Due to this, the industrial veterans plan on preparing for a turnaround by:

  • Being more choosy and not in a rush in making their portfolios
  • Efficiency in operations
  • Holding off acquisitions by maintaining the present state of affairs

  1. National Market Stats

Vancouver shows a favorable real estate market. Looking at the recent months, home buyers have been less active thus leading to a significant drop in the prices of all housing types. This is the best time for buyers to purchase houses since there are more choices to choose from. Also, the competition is less as compared to the market in the recent years.

  1. E-commerce Growth

There has been an evident an noticeable expansion in the country’s logistics and distribution sector due to the drastic industrial growth in Vancouver. This follows an initiation for creation for more industrial space. The increase in automated warehouses and centers of distribution has led to increased demand for facilities that are highly wired.  In conclusion to this, the future demands development of more industrial space to meet requirements of the e-commerce driven continent.

  1. The Retail Sector

The rapid growth in online shopping and consumers has greatly and continuously impacted Vancouver’s retail sector. This has created another perspective/picture for retail property across the country. The most critical success factors for retail property owners and investors will be based on flexibility and creativity. Retail centers must upgrade their shops to be areas that can not only provide shopping needs but also:

  • Have a variety of other services
  • Building public spaces
  • Having cultural programs
  • Having events etc.
  1. The Condominium Sector

In future, the condominium sector is said to perform and with high demand in most markets steadily. In the downtown of Vancouver, the condo units are attractive to young professionals. However, the retiring employees prefer living close to the urban centers enjoying their more carefree condo. In conclusion, the condo sector is evolving in alignment with the demand and new needs.

  1. The Single-family Residential

In 2018 the country’s economy has been forecasted to grow to only 2%. This growth is expected to force most Vancouver residents to buy new homes. Compared to the year 2000, the number of built homes has also increased by more than half, since 2-3 dwellings are constructed currently by multi-family.

  1. Rental Properties

Most built rental properties are seen to be performing well in Montreal, Quebec City, and Halifax. However, it is noted that, in Vancouver, more rental properties are being built, but emerging taxes and regulations are a significant challenge for them Quebec residents mostly look for desirable places, and they prefer moving to centrally located houses near their workplace. Halifax also records a large number of condo stock ordered online, but a significant cost advantage is noted in rental offers.

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CURRENT TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

  1. Government Policies

Government policies will have an impact on the affordability of houses. They will not only solve the problems at hand, but they will create merging problems. As most Vancouver residents think of their housing expectations, other cities are making great milestones in densification projects.

Some of its regions demand that the government needs to address House affordability as a serious issue. Others are of the opinion that the approved projects take too long and are also too expensive. In the short term, the supply of houses could increase significantly when municipalities fasten the process and reduce fees as well.

According to a monthly report done in August 2018, the demand for homes decreased significantly by 36.6%, as compared to August 2017. Also, a 6.8% decline is observed in August, as compared to July.

  1. Emerging Technologies

Technology always has a high impact on our daily lives and day to day activities. Technology and data has helped real estate companies in Vancouver;

  • Make better and well-thought decisions
  • Understand their customer needs
  • Identify new and profitable opportunities
You may review annual comparsion (Aug 2017 vs Aug 2018) here

Data and technology are being used by real estate companies in Vancouver to make better decisions. Companies should be willing to invest in modern IT equipment and data infrastructure to help them run effectively. Also, companies should, therefore, make sure that they hire the right people with the professional skills to interpret the data and ask the right questions.

  1. Affordability of Detached Homes in Vancouver
metro vancouver housing gap
metro vancouver housing gap

Most Vancouver residents earn an average income. This being the case, recent reports by real estate portal Zoocasa, shows that purchasing a detached house across Vancouver is highly unaffordable. However, this could be affordable for someone who has an extra source of income.

Zoocasa checked a report from August’s detached home’s prices, and the least income necessary to buy such property based on a 20% deposit. The expected income was then compared to the actual average income per household in each area. This was all in efforts to get the local house-cost to the income gap.

Below is an info-graphic chart showing the ranks of various Vancouver regions stating the income required to purchase a detached house, from the least to the most affordable:

From the info-graphic income gaps reports above, Vancouver West was seen to have the highest price of detached homes with a figure of $2,832,600. It’s then closely followed by West Vancouver with a higher income gap, and then Richmond falling in the third place with a lower income.

West Minister who takes 13th place out of 21 areas, also showed a report showing a gap of $92,810 between the average incomes to the income required to buy a normal house. Also, cities like Maple Ridge are seen to strain still to obtain an average income that should be more than $34K less, required to buy a normal house.

Conclusion

It’s important to note that although Vancouver Real Estate is expected to lead all Canadian cities with 2.5% in GDP, every real estate market has its problems and opportunities.