British Columbia

Home sales cool quickly in Vancouver

In August 2016 the number of home sold in Vancouver dropped 18.8 per cent compared with the previous month, and 26.1 percent compared with the previous year.

Conference Board of Canada says number of Vancouver home sold dropped 26% from last year

Sales activity in the Vancouver real estate market is down sharply. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

The Conference Board of Canada says sales activity in the Vancouver housing market has cooled quickly.

In August 2016, the number of home sold in Vancouver dropped by 18.8 per cent compared with the previous month, and 26.1 percent compared with the previous year.   

The report notes the decline follows the Aug. 2 implementation of a 15 per cent foreign buyers tax on purchases of Metro Vancouver homes. 

In the Fraser Valley the volume of home sales is also down by 10 per cent in a month-to-month comparison, and 3.7 per cent compared with the previous year.

The Victoria housing market recorded a drop in sales activity in August of 6.4 per cent compared with July numbers. But in a year to year comparison, Victoria recorded an increase in sales of 14.9 per cent.

The report, entitled Metropolitan Resale Snapshot, notes average home prices in Victoria and the Fraser Valley are projected to rise between 5 and 6.9 percent in the next year, while Vancouver home prices are expected to level off.