WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; May 7, 2012

WINNIPEG – In many respects, this April has to be considered the best April in WinnipegREALTORS® 109-year history as it was only 9 unit sales off the highest April MLS® unit sales recorded in 2008 but is way out in front in dollar volume from any previous April. A rebound was predicted from last April given Manitobans were contending with the flood situation and therefore the spring market did not get on track as it normally does at this time of year. 

Not surprisingly, along with significant sales and dollar volume increases, listings came roaring back too compared to the same month last year with a 17% year-over-year increase. So it is no coincidence sales were ahead by the same percentage as eager buyers took advantage of fresh inventory to choose from. Despite an improvement in listings supply, there is still less than 3 months of residential-detached housing available going forward to meet the demand if there were no listings coming on stream.

As a result of April’s strong showing, year-to-date sales which had fallen behind last year at the end of the first quarter are now back in the lead and dollar volume widened its gain over 2011 by a 10% margin.

April MLS® unit sales increased 17% (1,346/1,148) while dollar volume went up 25% ($337.3 million/$268.8 million) in comparison to the same month last year. Year-to-date sales are up 4% (3,829/3,681) while dollar volume has risen 10% ($926.4 million/$839.3 million) in comparison to the same period last year. Listings entered on the MLS® system this year are up 5% with well over 6,000 listings.

“So far so good sums up this year,” said Shirley Przybyl, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “However, we are now coming into some very solid monthly performances recorded in 2011 so maintaining a lead over last year and even keeping pace over the next few months will require continued brisk sales activity. All I can say is our 1,578 strong REALTOR® network is up to the challenge.”

To show just how much buyers in the local market are putting a premium on available listings, there were more above list price sales than there were below list price in April and the average sale price for above, below or at list price residential-detached sales all centered around the $280,000 price level.

“Not all homes or neighbourhoods or price range levels share the same market pressures and characteristics so you really do need to be talking to a REALTOR® to understand your own unique situation and then make an informed decision on how you wish to proceed,” said Przybyl. “It is worth noting though when you have a number of MLS® neighbourhoods in Winnipeg with average days to sell of only two weeks or less and high sales-to-listings conversions as we did in April on MLS®, you know your REALTOR® has an excellent opportunity to maximize the sale price of your home.”

For residential-detached sales in April, the most active price ranges were the $200,000 to $249,999 and $250,000 to $299,999 price ranges. They were only two sales apart and each contributed 20 % of total sales. It may be time to fold the $0 to $99,999 price range into the next higher one as it only represented 3% of all sales in April.

As for condominium sales activity, while the $150,000 to $199,999 price range is still dominant with 34% of total sales, you are starting to see more of a shift towards the $200,000 to $249,999 price range as it grabbed another 21% of condominium sales in April.

Average days on market for residential-detached sales was 26 days, one day slower than last month and the same pace as April 2011. Days on market for condominium sales was 37 days, 6 days off the time set last month and 3 days slower than April 2011.

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,700 real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, and financial members active in the Greater Winnipeg Area real estate market.  Its REALTOR® members adhere to a strict code of ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) designed exclusively for REALTORS®. WinnipegREALTORS® serves its members by promoting the benefits of an organized real estate profession.  REALTOR®, MLS® and Multiple Listing Service® are trademarks owned and controlled by the Canadian Real Estate Association and are used under licence.