“Listings Up and Sales Down Means Bigger Inventory”

Source: The official blog of the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton

Residential listings are up almost 30 percent compared to January of last year. 2,316 new listings came on the MLS® System for the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in January compared to only 932 new listings in December. Sales for January were 666 (not adjusted) – down 13.5 percent month over month and down 25.9 percent from last year. These two factors resulted in a 35 percent inventory growth from 3,059 to 4,132 last month. Inventory is up almost 17 percent from the same time last year.

“We ended 2014 with low inventory. While this is not unusual for the winter, it can make it difficult for buyers to find the right home. The influx of properties we have seen on the market in January will be a relief for buyers – allowing them more choice in their price range and possibly more time to make their selection.” REALTORS® Association of Edmonton President Geneva Tetreault explains, “Buyers in the popular $400,000 price range often struggled in 2014 to find their ideal property or had to move quickly before it sold. This increase in inventory will be a great benefit to them.”

Prices still remain strong in the Edmonton CMA market. The all residential price went up almost 1 percent from last month to $362,394 (up 3.75 percent from January 2014). Single family houses averaged $427,178 down half a percent from December, but up over 3 percent from the previous year. Condo prices stayed stable at $247,116 – up 5.5 percent from January 2014. We are continuing to see last year’s trend of high priced properties elevating the average prices. Last month, nine of the 666 properties sold for over $900,000.

The average days-on-market last month was 58, up from 55 in December and down from 60 in January 2014.

“We are likely seeing the effects of oil prices and a feeling of economic cautiousness amongst some buyers. Clients are looking to REALTORS® for advice and guidance to navigate their own individual situations. We expect more of an uptake in the market as spring approaches and more people start to look for homes.” Tetreault revealed. “Low interest rates will continue to drive the housing market.”

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1 Census Metropolitan Area (Edmonton and surrounding municipalities)
2 Single Family Dwelling
3 The total value of sales in a category divided by the number of properties sold
4 The middle figure in a list of all sales prices
5 Residential includes SFD, condos and duplex/row houses.
6 Includes residential, rural and commercial sales

3 Average prices indicate market trends only. They do not reflect actual changes for a particular property, which may vary from house to house and area to area. Prior period sales figures have been adjusted to include late reported sales and cancellations and therefore reflect a more accurate view of the period than previously reported at month end. The RAE trading area includes communities beyond the CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) and therefore average and median prices may include sold properties outside the CMA.”

 


 

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