Even homeowners who have moved a few times can be intimidated by the real estate market in general, and the buying and selling process in particular.

First of all, making a decision to sell your home can be difficult. There are so many questions, such as:

• Is "now" a good time to list?
• How much can you expect to get for your property?
• How long will it take to sell – and what if it doesn't?

Then there's the buying and selling process:

• How do you prepare your home for sale?
• How do you find homes that meet your criteria and are within your  price range?
• How do you prepare your home for viewings?

Yes, there's a lot to think about. That's why finding a good REALTOR® who is an expert on the local market is so important.  A good REALTOR® will help you understand the market, the current market value of your home, and what you can expect should you decide to list!

A good REALTOR® will also walk you step-by-step through the home selling and buying process, and work hard to make sure everything goes smoothly.  So if you're considering buying or selling a home, take the time to find a good REALTOR®. It makes all the difference! 

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Don't hesitate to give me a call!

Home buyers and sellers became more active in the Greater Vancouver housing market in April!

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 3,050 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April 2014. This represents a 16.1 per cent increase compared to the 2,627 sales recorded in April 2013, and a 15.5 per cent increase compared to the 2,641 sales in March 2014.

Last month’s sales were 5.2 per cent below the 10-year sales average for April of 3,217.

The sales-to-active-listings ratio currently sits at 19.7 per cent in Greater Vancouver, which is the highest this measure has been since June 2011.

“We saw steady increases in home seller and buyer activity in April, which is typically the case in the spring months,” Ray Harris, REBGV president said. “People often look to buy or sell their home this time of year as the school year draws to a close and the summer holiday season is still a few months away,” Harris said.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 5,950 in April. This represents a 1.3 per cent increase compared to the 5,876 new listings in April 2013 and a 12.7 per cent increase from the 5,281 new listings in March. Last month’s new listing count was 1.2 per cent higher than the region’s 10-year new listing average for the month.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Greater Vancouver is 15,515, a 7.3 per cent decline compared to April 2013 and a 7.2 per cent increase compared to March 2014.

“Home prices in the region continue to show steady, yet modest, increases when compared to last year,” Harris said.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $619,000. This represents a 3.6 per cent increase compared to April 2013.

Sales of detached properties in April 2014 reached 1,336, an increase of 25.6 per cent from the 1,064 detached sales recorded in April 2013, and an 18.7 per cent increase from the 1,126 units sold in April 2012. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 4.7 per cent from April 2013 to $956,700  Sales of apartment properties reached 1,172 in April 2014, an increase of 11.4 per cent compared to the 1,052 sales in April 2013, and a 1.5 per cent decline compared to the 1,190 sales in April 2012. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 2.6 per cent from April 2013 to $375,500.

Attached property sales in April 2014 totalled 542, a 6.1 per cent increase compared to the 511 sales in April 2013, and a 12.2 per cent increase over the 483 attached properties sold in April 2012. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased two per cent between April 2013 and 2014 to $464,400.

Courtesy of the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board