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Northern home prices predicted to keep climbing – at slower rate

Home sales across BC and in the Northern region may be slightly soft so far this year , but this won’t be enough to bring average prices down, according to the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA).
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Market headwinds are slowing the growth rate of home prices in B.C. but not reversing it, according to real estate association

Home sales across BC and in the Northern region may be slightly soft so far this year, but this won’t be enough to bring average prices down, according to the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA).

In its quarterly outlook, the BCREA predicted that residential resales on the BC Northern MLS for the whole of 2018 will total 4,200 units. This would be a drop of 2.2 per cent compared with 2017 – and the association said that resale transactions will more than recover in 2019 to rise 3.1 per cent.

The report said the region’s average home sale price this year will be $281,000, which is 2.5 per cent higher than 2017’s average price. BCREA added that it expected a continued slight rise of 1.4 per cent next year, to $285,000.

“The [B.C.] housing market continues to be supported by a strong economy,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA chief economist. “However, slower economic growth is expected over the next two years as the economy is nearing full employment and consumers have stepped back from their 2017 spending spree.”

Across the province, resales are expected to drop nine per cent to 94,200 units this year, following 103,700 unit sales in 2017, and stay flat in 2019. However, the BCREA said that sales are “expected to remain above the 10-year average of 84,800 units into 2020.”

BCREA BC home sales forecast into 2019
Source: BCREA

The report said the average B.C. home sale price across this year will be $745,600, which is 5.1 per cent above 2017’s $709,577. BCREA predicted a further growth of 4.1 per cent next year, to $775,900.

“Demographics will play a key role in the housing market over the next few years,” added Muir, “as growth in the adult-aged population is bolstered by immigration and the massive millennial generation enters its household forming years.”