Curb Appeal

January 20, 2017

 

Check out this educational video, part of RE/MAX Fit to Sell campaign

 

RSS

Vancouver Housing Markets Cannot Fully Escape The Chinese Dragon

March 11, 2013


Robin Wiebe   Robin Wiebe
Senior Economist, Centre for Municipal Studies

The ebbs and flows of Chinese commerce have strongly affected housing markets around the Pacific Rim, including Vancouver’s. Although discussion of this relationship has focused on its recent behaviour, the bond stretches back much further. Moreover, casual observation and statistical tests both hint that China’s influence rivals that of three key domestic factors: Vancouver’s population growth, changes in its employment and Canadian mortgage interest rates. The chief implication is that observers need to pay attention to China’s economic health when assessing the outlook for Vancouver’s housing market.

Despite a decent local economy and favourable demographics, Vancouver’s housing market was relatively sluggish during the 1990s. Employment increased an average of 2.3 per cent annually and the population advanced 2.5 per cent per year, both solid figures. Nonetheless, the average resale price rose less than three per cent annually, ending the decade up 24 per cent. The market performed much better during the following ten years. Annual sales of existing homes exceeded 36,000 units, a previously-unheard-of volume, for five straight years between 2003 and 2007. The average transaction price doubled between 2000 and 2009 with a 20 per cent spurt in 2006 alone.

Vancouver Employment and Resale Price Growth chart

One obvious contributor to the market’s improvement was the big drop in mortgage interest costs. The posted rate for a five-year term mortgage declined from 13.2 per cent in 1990 to below 7 per cent in 1998, before edging up in 1999. Rates were generally lower and continued easing during the 2000’s. The five-year mortgage rate fell to an average of 5.1 per cent by 2009. Cheap financing clearly helped people buy homes.

Five-Year Mortgage Rate and Vancouver Resale Price Growth chart

But, Vancouver’s housing market performance can also be viewed through an Asian prism. The 1990’s started poorly for China, whose economy grew only 3.8 per cent in 1990, following a tepid 4.1 per cent advance in 1989. This represented a big shock since annual expansion had averaged roughly 12 per cent in the prior 5 years. The 1990’s also ended on a weak note, with an annual GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in 1998 and 7.6 per cent in 1999. The 2000’s were significantly better: annual Chinese GDP growth never dipped below 8 per cent.

Now the pendulum has swung again. Despite slightly faster growth in employment (2.1 per cent on average in 2010-12) and population (1.6 per cent), along with even lower mortgage interest rates, Vancouver resale volumes fell 23 per cent in 2012 and the average resale price dropped 6.4 per cent. One clue to this tepid performance is that China’s real GDP growth fell to a 12-year low, estimated at only 7.8 per cent, in 2012.

Chinese Real GDP Growth and Vancouver Resale Price Growth chart

Statistical analysis confirms the importance of China’s economic health to Vancouver’s housing markets. Standard tests find significant correlations between the country’s real GDP growth and three important market yardsticks: existing home sales, existing home price growth and total housing starts. By contrast, local employment growth is significantly correlated to none of these and the five-year rate related to only the resale variables. This could mean that a substantial proportion of Vancouver real estate purchasers do not need local jobs to buy any home (new or existing) and that many do not need a mortgage to buy a new home. On the other hand, better economic health in China gives its residents wealth to spend on Vancouver housing.

This analysis suggests that Vancouver’s housing markets would perhaps welcome a pickup in Chinese GDP growth more than a rise in local employment and roughly as much as lower Canadian interest rates. If the Chinese economy is indeed improving, this could help rekindle both new and resale demand in the lower mainland.

Read

January 20, 2017


First-time buyers interest-free down payment program


The new BC Home Owner Mortgage and Equity (HOME) Partnership program helps eligible BC residents purchase a home.

The program offers first-time home buyers who have saved a down payment:

  • A down payment loan of up to 5% of a home’s purchase price to a maximum of $37,500, on a home with a maximum price of $750,000.
  • This loan matches the buyer’s down payment and is interest-free and payment-free for five years.
  • After five years, buyers can either repay their loan or enter into monthly payments at interest rates that are current five years from the date of the loan.
  • Loans through the program are due after 25 years – the same length as most mortgages.

To qualify for the program, home buyers with a registered interest on title must reside in the home and be a:

  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident for at least five years;
  • resident of BC for at least one year immediately preceding the date of application; and
 
  Click here for larger version of infographic
 
  • first-time buyer who has not owned an interest in a residence anywhere in the world at any time.

The home buyer must:

  • use the property as their principal residence for the first five years;
  • obtain a high-ratio insured first mortgage on the property for at least 80% of the purchase price; and
  • have a combined, gross household income of all individuals on title not exceeding $150,000.

Buyers can begin gathering the documents they’ll need to submit an online application. Buyers will need:

  • Proof of status in Canada and residency in British Columbia.
  • Secondary identification (must include your photo).
  • Proof of income and tax filings.
  • Insured first mortgage pre-approval.

 

• Information and application details
• Questions and answers 

  

RE/MAX Select Properties
Office: 604-737-8865
Beds (Min)
Any
1
2
3
4
5
Baths (Min)
Any
1
2
3
4
5
Priced between $ & $
Reciprocity Logo The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.