Government listens to Real Estate Board on HST

The BC Government has announced that it will exclude new homes costing up to $525,000 from its proposed 12 per cent Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) scheduled to take effect July 1, 2010.

The government has also increased the rebate of the provincial portion of the HST paid on a new home to a maximum of $26,250.

This represents a 30 per cent increase over the original government proposed home price threshold of $400,000 and maximum rebate of $20,000.

This is good news for the Real Estate Board and proof that its lobbying efforts produce results.

In October, 2009, the Board asked the government to raise the threshold for the HST on new homes as well as the new housing rebate.

Clearly the government listened to the Board and the real estate sector.

“We heard the concerns from consumers and industry about how the HST might affect home buyers, and
this increase will move the threshold to above the average new home price in the province,” said the Hon. Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance.

A similar rebate will also support the construction or substantial renovation of affordable rental housing.

The government has released its proposed Residential Housing New Housing Rebates and Transitional Rules for British Columbia HST, which provides details on new housing rebates including transitional rules for real property. This includes:

Transitional rules: the HST would not apply to sales of new homes where ownership or possession is transferred before July 1, 2010;

Grandparenting: sales of new homes under written agreements of purchase and sale including presales entered into on or before midnight November 18, 2009, would generally not be subject to the provincial portion of the HST, even if both ownership and possession are transferred on or after July 1, 2010. Any home sold on or after November 19, 2009 is subject to HST transitional rules.

For a copy of the new Transitional Rules, visit: http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/business/Consumer_Taxes/Harmonized_Sales_Tax/HST_Transitional_Rules.html

REBGV October Stats

High sales levels spur rise in home values

VANCOUVER, B.C. – November 3, 2009 – Strong demand has led to a steady rise in Greater Vancouver home prices compared to last year.

Over the last 12 months, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver increased 6.8 per cent to $553,702 from $518,668 in October 2008.

"While home prices have been rising in 2009, they have not eclipsed the peaks reached in early 2008," Scott Russell, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president said. "We're coming off several months of unseasonably high sales levels, which has allowed for a gradual increase in home values this year,"

The REBGV reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 3,704 in October 2009, an increase of 4.1 per cent from the 3,559 sales recorded in September 2009, and an increase of 171.6 per cent compared to October 2008 when 1,364 sales were recorded. Looking back two years, last month's sales increased 22.3 per cent compared to October 2007 when 3,028 sales were recorded.

"High confidence and low mortgage rates are continuing to drive the activity we're seeing in the housing market today," Russell said.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 4,977 in October 2009. This represents a 2.3 per cent increase compared to October 2008 when 4,867 new units were listed, and a 13.4 per cent decline compared to September 2009 when 5,764 properties were listed on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Greater Vancouver.

At 12,084, the total number of property listings on the MLS® decreased 4.1 per cent in October compared to last month and declined 37 per cent from this time last year.

Sales of detached properties increased 201.6 per cent to 1,487 from the 493 detached sales recorded during the same period in 2008. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties increased 7.7 per cent from October 2008 to $749,808.

Sales of apartment properties in October 2009 increased 148.4 per cent to 1,607, compared to 647sales in October 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 6.3 per cent from October 2008 to $380,975.

Attached property sales in October 2009 are up 172.3 per cent to 610, compared with the 224 sales in October 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 4.6 per cent between Octobers 2008 and 2009 to $468,798.

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REBGV September Stats

Buyer demand remains strong while home listings increase

Greater Vancouver home sales remained strong last month, with the second highest number of residential sales ever recorded for the month of September.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 3,559 in September 2009, an increase of 3.4 per cent from the 3,441 sales recorded in August 2009, and an increase of 124.5 per cent compared to September 2008 when 1,585 sales were recorded.

“As homes sales in Greater Vancouver continued at an elevated pace in September it’s encouraging to see that more homes were listed on the MLS® in the month than any other so far this year,” Scott Russell, REBGV president said.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 5,764 in September 2009. This represents a 6.2 per cent decline compared to September 2008 when 6,142 new units were listed, but a 26.8 per cent increase compared to August 2009 when 4,544 properties were listed on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Greater Vancouver.

At 12,596, the total number of property listings on the MLS® increased 5.5 per cent in September compared to last month and declined 36 per cent from the 19,852 homes listed for sale during the buyer’s market that was experienced at this time last year.

“During this period of renewed demand in our marketplace, home values have gradually recovered from the declines that occurred in 2008,” said Russell.

Since the beginning of the year, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 13 per cent to $547,092 from $484,211, while home prices compared to Septembers 2008 levels are up 1.6 per cent.

Sales of detached properties increased 160.6 per cent to 1,423 from the 546 detached sales recorded during the same period in 2008. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties increased 2.1 per cent from September 2008 to $741,632.

Sales of apartment properties in September 2009 increased 94.9 per cent to 1,489, compared to 764 sales in September 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 1.5 per cent from September 2008 to $374,686.

Attached property sales in September 2009 are up 135.3 per cent to 647, compared with the 275 sales in September 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 0.4 per cent between Septembers 2008 and 2009 to $466,276.

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We are proud to announce that this Sunday, September 6, 2009, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 8043 13TH Ave in East Burnaby, Burnaby East. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent House for sale in beautiful East Burnaby.

Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this East Burnaby House for sale.

As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 604-728-8017 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Geordie Moski
Prudential Sterling Realty

August stats:

Market momentum carries into August

The number of home sales in Greater Vancouver increased significantly last month compared to August 2008 and moved closer in line with the active summer months experienced between 2003 and 2007.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver increased 119.5 per cent in August 2009 to 3,441 from the 1,568 sales recorded in August 2008 and increased 1.7 per cent compared to August 2007.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 4.9 per cent to 4,544 in August 2009 compared to August 2008 when 4,331 new units were listed. Total active listings in Greater Vancouver currently sit at 11,937, down 33 per cent from August 2008.

“The return of confidence to our market has brought a high volume of home sales over the last few months and has also made determining home prices a little more challenging,” said Scott Russell, REBGV president. “The number of residential home sales this summer has been comparable to activity seen in the five years preceding 2008. While that’s great news, from the variations in activity we’re seeing across areas I’d say the market is still trying to find its own balance.”

Since the beginning of the year, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 11.4 per cent to $539,600 from $484,211. However, home prices compared to August 2008 levels are down 1.1 per cent.

Sales of detached properties in August 2009 increased 155.5 per cent to 1,367 from the 535 units sold during the same period in 2008. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties declined 0.7 per cent from August 2008 to $732,656.

Sales of apartment properties increased 97.8 per cent last month to 1,464, compared to the 740 sales in August 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 1.4 per cent from August 2008 to $369,263.

Attached property sales in August 2009 increased 108.2 per cent to 610, compared with the 293 sales during the same month in 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit declined 0.9 per cent between August 2008 and 2009 to $459,159.

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Prudential Sterling Realty

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As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 604-728-8017 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Geordie Moski
Prudential Sterling Realty

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Prudential Sterling Realty

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As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 604-728-8017 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Geordie Moski
Prudential Sterling Realty