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WinnipegREALTORS® MLS® Market Release for October 2019

** Article and all content has been written by Winnipeg Realtors and not Kelly Fernandez **


Brisk October MLS® Sales Continue Third Quarter Momentum


WINNIPEG - October sales of 1,173 increased 6% over October 2018 and are the same percentage above the 5-year sales average for this month. October dollar volume of close to $342 million resulted in an increase of less than 4% over the same month in 2018.
 
Active listings or current inventory of 5,419 remain elevated over last year at this time. They are up 18%. New listings entered on the MLS® in October of 1,958 rose 6% over October 2018. This is a more modest increase in listings compared to double-digit increases every month in the third quarter.
 
“We are starting to see adjustments in new listings activity to be more in line with last year,” said Ken Clark, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “The healthy supply of listings we are enjoying this year is contributing to strong sales as buyers take advantage of our wide selection of offerings.”
 
Rural single family sales are taking a larger market share as represented 31% of total sales in September and October. This compares to 28% and 26% for the same months in 2018.
 
Year-to-date MLS® market activity totals 12,086 sales, a 6% increase over the same period last year and now places WinnipegREALTORS® in a position to reach its highest annual sales level ever. Only the record year of 2016 has 52 more sales in the first 10 months. Year-to-date dollar volume at close to $3.6 billion is ahead of last year by 7% and is on pace to set a new all-time high for the Winnipeg Metro Region.
 
In terms of prices, the greater listings supply has made it more competitive and affordable for buyers. In October the vast majority or percentage of listings sold at or below list price for both single family (87%) and condominium (93%) property types. As a consequence, the average residential-detached or single family house sales price of $315,889 this October is down 2.7% from the same month last year while the condominium average sales price of $227,878 is down 2.8%.
 
60% of total single family house sales occurred from $200,000 to $399,999 with the most active price range accounting for 22% of sales being from $250,000 to $299,999. For condominiums, 51% of total sales were from $150,000 to $249,999 with the $150,000 to $199,999 price range most active at 28%.
 
The highest sale price in October for the single family property type was $1,250,000 while the most expensive condominium sale was $612,037.
 
“For all the talk of keeping the mortgage stress test and the current amortization period of 25 years for insured mortgages intact (e.g. concern over higher house prices), it should not be lost on Canadians how different regional markets are from coast to coast,” said Clark. ““WinnipegREALTORS® housing market is much better supplied than a number of other housing markets throughout the country.”
 
“ We are committed to supporting our over 1,940 REALTORS® with the digital tools and services necessary for them to stay up-to-date and deliver superior services through the buying and selling process,” said Marina R. James, CEO of Winnipeg REALTORS®.


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WinnipegREALTORS® MLS® Market Release for September 2019

** Article and all content has been written by Winnipeg Realtors and not Kelly Fernandez **


September caps off a resurgent third quarter


WINNIPEG - WinnipegREALTORS® experienced its strongest third quarter of market activity on record with close to 4,100 MLS® sales worth 1.19 billion dollars. Each of the three months had their highest dollar volume totals ever for their respective months. A new sales record was also set for the month of August while July and September were right at the top.
 
As a result of this marked improvement in third quarter market activity over 2018, year-to-date sales are up 6% with 10,913 sales while dollar volume of $3.25 billion has increased 7% over the first nine months in 2018. This now places 2019 within less than 1% of the best years on record in 2016 and 2017 with respect to sales and the highest dollar volume of any previous year with three months to go.
 
September sales of 1,211 are ahead of the same month last year by 16% and only 4 sales shy of the best September on record in 2016. Dollar volume was up 16% too at close to $350 million.
 
It is worth noting that single-attached and duplex properties are showing double-digit sales percentage increases over last year as are up 17% and 27% respectively after nine months. 53 single-attached properties sold in September, a 43% increase over September 2018. 
 
Another development more pronounced in the third quarter this year is the double-digit percentage increase in new listings each month over the same month in 2018.
 
In September, new listings coming on the market rose 10% to 2,365. So despite the impressive sales this month inventory remaining for sale going into October is over 6,000 listings as was the case at the end of August. This means that one out of five listings sold in September.  
 
“Good economic fundamentals, growth in our membership and market region well beyond Winnipeg, a healthy listing supply and favourable mortgage rates despite tougher qualifications rules, is behind the impressive market activity we have had this third quarter,” said Ken Clark, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “However, it is important to keep in mind and be attentive to just how competitive the current market is with so many listings for buyers to choose from.”
 
Due to the elevated supply in listings this year prices are being held in check. The year-to-date average single family home sales price is $325,215 ($322,828 in 2018) while the year-to-date average condo sales price is $3238, 820 ($239,877 in 2018). The percentage of listings selling at or above list price for single family homes this year is just over 27% while condominiums are at 21%.
 
Affordability remains a defining feature of the local market with more than one in two single family homes and 76% of condos selling in September for under $300,000. In a recent survey reported in The Canadian Press on affordability of Canadian cities by Forum Research, its President Lorne Bozinoff said, “ When it comes to mortgages Winnipeggers are paying amongst the lowest proportion of their income every month.”
 
“When there are as many listings as we currently have on the market that means there are also many  sellers looking to buy another property within our local market,” said Clark. “This bodes well for continued strong sales activity into the fourth quarter.”
 
“All real estate markets are local and then some in terms of differences within their market region,” said WinnipegREALTORS® CEO Marina R. James. “You need to hire a REALTOR® who has the knowledge and expertise to educate you on how you can best navigate your specific real estate need.”


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