WINNIPEG REGIONAL REAL ESTATE BOARD PRESS RELEASE, October 6, 2022

WINNIPEG, October 6, 2022 - September 2022 sales are no match for the last two exceptionally active Septembers as sales decreased 20% and 32% from 2021 and 2020 respectively. The 1,205 MLS® sales transacted this September are much more aligned with the most immediate prepandemic year of 2019 which had 1,211 sales.   

While sales decreased 11% over the 5-year average, new listings coming onto the market in September are up 12% from last year and only down 1% over the 5-year average, so the combination of fewer sales and more listings is helping restore balance to a local market that had been well entrenched in sellers' market territory earlier in the year. As a result, active listings — or current inventory of 3,897 at month-end — is up 37%.

“September is a continuation of the progression in the third quarter of our market region, transitioning out of a sellers' market to one...

WINNIPEG REGIONAL REAL ESTATE BOARD PRESS RELEASE, September 9, 2022

WINNIPEG, September 8, 2022 - August MLS® sales activity showed a drop off from July and previous August months in the last few years. Sales of 1,375 are down 15% from August 2021 and 9% over the 5-year average. Year-to-date MLS® sales of 10,962 decreased 18% from the same period in 2021 but are up 2% over the 5-year average.

On the other hand, new listings in August are up 2% compared to August of last year, and in line with the 5-year average which had 2,249 listings, slightly higher than the 2,201 entered this August.

Where we are seeing a more pronounced difference is in end-of-month active listings or inventory, as there are 3,764 available listings — a 28% increase over August 2021.

“We have seen improvement in our market region's inventory compared to the beginning of the year, as MLS® listings entered for the first 8 months are down less than 6% compared to last year and well ahead of...

WINNIPEG REGIONAL REAL ESTATE BOARD PRESS RELEASE, AUGUST 9, 2022

WINNIPEG, August 9, 2022 – July was a clear departure from previous months in indicating single-family home pricing peaked in May. This is the case now, with 3,700 active listings available at the end of July compared to half that amount in the first four months of 2022.

New MLS® listings of 2,359 entered in July are an increase of 9% over July 2021. Strong listing activity since May has reduced the 25% first quarter deficit in listings entered compared to last year to under 7% for the first 7 months.

“We are seeing once very tight market conditions loosening up in the second half of 2022,” said Akash Bedi, 2022 president of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. “Above list price sales for both single-family homes and condominiums are trending down from what they were earlier in the year. July single-family percentages of above list price versus below list price sales are the reverse...

WINNIPEG REGIONAL REAL ESTATE BOARD PRESS RELEASE, JUNE 9, 2022

Winnipeg, July 8, 2022 - June is the fourth consecutive month with increased MLS® sales in a year where the spring market has seen a delay when comparing the same months in previous years.

WINNIPEG REGIONAL REAL ESTATE BOARD PRESS RELEASE, JUNE 9, 2022

WINNIPEG, June 9, 2022 - This past May, with the exception of the over 2,000 sales transacted in May 2021, was an outstanding month as it outperformed every other May previously. The 1,723 sales were a decrease of 14% from the same month in 2021 but are up 4% over the 5-year average.

May's dollar volume of $690.4 million is another story as this total even held its own against May 2021 which was the highest dollar volume month on record at $692.6 million. This development alone shows the ascendancy of prices from a year ago, with the average price for all MLS® sales now being $400,707 versus $345,269 in 2021.

“While playing some catch-up this spring on one that has been delayed from a harsh, long winter, prices have been well ahead of 2021 from the very beginning," said Akash Bedi, 2022 president of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. “Rising interest rates are upon us with more to come, and that, in...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, May 13, 2022

WINNIPEG - The best sales month in Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board history was in April 2021 with a total of 2,055 sales. Trying to eclipse this record is a tall order, particularly when sales in April 2022 totalled 1,461 -- a 29% decrease.

However, when you compare April 2022 performance to the 5-year average, it shows a 6% increase overall and the second highest sales total for this month. Despite being down 16% from April 2021 at $579 million, MLS® dollar volume was still well ahead of the same month in previous years as all were under $400 million.

Contributing significantly to this total - and one of the highlights of this month - is the continued ascendancy of prices in single-family homes and condominiums. Both reached their highest monthly sales averages ever at $447,421 and $261,802 respectively. While home sales in southwest Winnipeg - with an average sales price in April of $587,565 - are skewing the overall regional market...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, April 8, 2022

WINNIPEG, April 8, 2022​ —​ ​​When comparing March sales of 1,436 to past years, the 5-year average shows an increase of 11%, making this the second-best March on record. However, last year was record-smashing when March sales soared to 1,975 for the first time in the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board's history. Prior to that, 2020 and 2019 had each recorded just over 1,000 sales.​

New MLS® listings of 1,848 entered in March 2022 was a decrease of 26% compared to last year. The result was that the available supply of listings at month end were down 27% in comparison to the same time last year, with 1,822 l​istings available for sale in April.

“Our recent 2022 Market Insights Annual Forecast Event made clear the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board market region will be hard pressed to repeat such stellar sales in 2022 that occurred in 2021," said Akash Bedi, 2022 President of the Winnipeg Regional Real...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, March 11, 2022

WINNIPEG, March 11, 2022 – February sales were held back from a lack of listing supply. This resulted in a decrease of 22% from February 2021, however, sales of 963 are up 8% over the 5-year average. February 2022 is the second-best February on record as February 2021 was the only February to go beyond the 1,000 sales thresholds for this month.

This year's market has yet to thaw out when it comes to listings. New listings entered in February were down 19% and were further exacerbated at the beginning of February when there were 31% fewer active listings available from the year prior. 

“As a storekeeper knows, you cannot sell what you do not have on your shelves, and real estate property cupboards were bare in a number of MLS® areas throughout Winnipeg and the surrounding market region in February," said Akash Bedi, 2022 President of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. “Like other retailers, we would...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, February 10, 2022

WINNIPEG – MLS^® sales of 690 in January 2022 fell back 25% from last month and decreased 26% from January 2021. Though based on the 5-year average for the coldest and slowest selling month of the year, January 2022 was only down 3% over the 5-year average as last year was exceptional in generating significantly more sales than what you normally see transpire at the beginning of the year.

A major impediment to realizing more sales in January was the limited supply of listing inventory. While not a new development in 2022, it was more pronounced with MLS^® listings from 2021 down 26% from 2020 heading into this year.

Where the lack of listing inventory was most impactful was on single-family homes with only 635 listings available at the end of December 2021 compared to 925 in December 2020 and 1,884 in December 2019. Not helping the situation in January was the fact that new single-family listings entered on the market...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, January 12, 2022

WINNIPEG, January 12, 2022 – December 2021 MLS® sales of 926 brought year-end total sales to 18,575, a 16% increase over 2020. December’s dollar volume of $320.2 million elevated the year-end dollar volume total to move above the $6 billion dollar mark to $6.25 billion. This new level is 28% more than the $4.9 billion transacted in 2020. It represents a one-year increase of over $1.35 billion.

Last year marked the third year in a row where record-setting sales and dollar volume milestones were established at the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board (WRREB). 

“Both 2020 and 2021 in particular have been remarkable years in delivering similar sales gain percentages from the previous year,” said outgoing Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board president Kourosh Doustshenas. “2021 alone saw an increase of over 2,500 sales compared to 2020 and 33% sales growth over the previous 5-year average.” ...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, December 8, 2021

WINNIPEG, December 7, 2021 – November of 2021 set the record for this month with sales of 1,244, a 4% increase over the former best November in 2020 and a 32% increase over the five previous Novembers. Historically this month has never exceeded 1,000 sales until last year when 1,193 sales were transacted. 

“November and our fourth quarter performance has been exceptional with sales rivalling the surge in 2020 market activity at end of year,” said Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board president Kourosh Doustshenas. “With the equivalent of 91% of all MLS® listings entered in November selling, it dispels any notion that buyers are taking a break from what has been a year like no other.”  

New listings of 1,363 in November are only down 1% from last November and 2.9% from the previous 5-year average. While listing supply at end of month remains stubbornly low at 2,252 listings, it is directly...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, NOVEMBER 9, 2021

WINNIPEG, November 8, 2021 – With new records being set this year, including the most annual MLS® sales this month at 16,411 - an 18.3% increase over the same period in 2020, and a 2% rise over the 16,033 sales transacted by the end of 2020 - you cannot overlook how exceptional October 2021 performed. 

Owing to the rise in the conversion of listings entered on the MLS® to sales of 78% compared to 65% in 2020 and 52% in 2019 for the first 10 months, October 2021’s even higher conversion rate of 85% propelled sales to 1,508, only 5% down from October 2020 and a 25% increase over the previous 5 years. 

Another record surpassed was October’s dollar volume of $523.7 million, up 4% from October’s first $500 million month in 2020. Besides the outstanding October sales which made it possible to exceed one-half billion in sales activity, a contributing factor was fourteen sales over $ 1 million dollars....

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, October 7, 2021

WINNIPEG, October 7, 2021 - The third quarter finished strongly in September — surpassing three annual MLS® records. Year-to-date dollar volume of just under $5 billion surpasses the 2020 annual dollar volume of $4.9 billion, and the 2,014 condominium sales for the first nine months of 2021 are comfortably ahead of the 1,847 annual record total set last year. Residential-attached sales at the end of September are slightly ahead of the 2020 annual sales record of 1,060, with 1,081 year-to-date sales. The fourth quarter will add to these September totals.

“The new peak for annual dollar volume is a combination of increased sales and higher prices,” said Kourosh Doustshenas, 2021 President of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. “As for condominiums, the growing spread between single-family detached homes and condominium average sale prices in 2021 have made the latter property type an even more ...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, September 8, 2021

Winnipeg, September 8, 2021 - 1,626 sales were recorded in August 2021 making it the second-best August on record. While 12% off the record-setting 1,845 sales transacted in August 2020, it was up 9% over the 5-year average for this month.

“There has been some moderation in sales activity in our regional market since June 2021,” said Kourosh Doustshenas, president of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. “Though it is important to acknowledge July and August were still very active and ahead of previous same month sales with the exception of 2020.”

Active or available listings for sale at the end of August are at just under 3,000, a 30% decrease from the same time in 2020. New listings entered on the MLS® in August were 2,157, a 9% drop from last August but only 3% off the 5-year average for this month.

“While listing supply is lower than previous years, there is some improvement in inventory owing...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, August 6, 2021

WINNIPEG, August 6, 2021 - Despite July sales slipping back from June 2021 and July 2020 record-setting months, year-to-date market activity is on pace to set another annual sales record for the third consecutive year. Sales of 11,797 for the first seven months are up 36% over the same period in 2020 and 43% over 2019. Dollar volume is elevated to nearly 52% over 2020 and close to $4 billion in sales activity thus far in 2021.

July 2021 sales of 1,678 are well off last month’s best ever June result of 1,943 sales and down 12% from the 1,898 sales transacted in July 2020. They are, however, still up 7% over July’s 5-year monthly average. The 2,172 listings entered on the MLS® in July were 10% fewer than in July 2020 while the current supply of 2,919 listings for sale at month’s end are down 34% from a year ago.

“If you look at 2021 as a full year marathon, not shorter runs such as weekly or monthly periods...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, July 8, 2021

WINNIPEG, July 8, 2021 - June sales of 1,943 edged out last June’s sales of just under 1,900 by 2% and are up 14% over the 5-year average for this month. Dollar volume of $677.5 million jumped 16% over June 2020. New listings coming on to the market in June were down 12% at 2,373, while current inventory of 2,791 at month end decreased 39% from 2020. 

“Sales are coming down off their peak in April 2021, and more closely aligned with 2020. June 2020 was the first month when sales rebounded strongly after the pandemic economic shutdown,” said Kourosh Doustshenas, 2021 president of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. “2021 dollar volume gains remain in the double-digits and represent strong upward price movement compared to 2020.” 

Year-to-date sales of 10,131, for the first half of 2021, increased 49% over the same period in 2020 and 35% over the 5-year average. Dollar volume of $3.4 billion...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, June 4, 2021

WINNIPEG, June 4, 2021 - Back-to-back monthly sales of over 2,000 reaffirms 2021 as a year like no other. May 2021 sales of 2,006 increased 46% over May 2020 and 21% above the 5-year average for this month. The 2,006 sales are only surpassed by April 2021 when 2,055 sales were transacted on the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®).

Dollar volume for May is up 70% over the same month last year with an all-time record monthly total of $692.6 million worth of sales.

Year-to-date MLS® sales of 8,197 have increased 68% while dollar volume of $2.72 billion is up 89% over the same period in 2020. Listings entered on the MLS® this year are ahead of 2020 by nearly 9% with 10,594 listings. 

Despite a 4% increase in new listings entered in May due to this month’s very buoyant sales activity, the active listing supply at month end going into June is down 40% from 4,621 last year...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, APRIL 7, 2021

WINNIPEG, May 7, 2021 - For the first time in the history of monthly MLS® sales, the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s April sales tipped over the 2,000 threshold. The 2,055 sales in April edged out last month’s sales of 1,975 and are up 53% over the 5-year average for this month. Dollar volume set a new record monthly high as well in April with $678.3 million transacted in sales — a 65% rise over this month’s 5-year average.

The 2,615 listings remaining at month end are down 41% from the same time last year despite a dramatic fall off in new listings entered in April 2020 due to the pandemic economic shutdown. The good news is that year-to-date cumulative listings of 8,066 represent a 10% increase over 2020 and are less than 1% behind those entered in 2019.

In April, 78% of active MLS® listing supply turned over — and for single-family homes it was an astounding 131% — leaving...

WINNIPEGREALTORS® PRESS RELEASE, APRIL 7, 2021

WINNIPEG April 7 - March 2021 set a new all-time monthly record for MLS^® sales and dollar volume. Sales of 1,975 rose 80% over March 2020 and 60% over the 5-year monthly average for this month. Dollar volume took off as well with $663.9 million transacted - a 98% increase over the same month last year.

Brisk sales activity left listing supply down 42% from 2020 with 2,597 listings available for sale going into April. However, an encouraging sign is the fact new listings coming on the market in March recorded a 14% rise to 2,483 listings. They are also up 11% over the 5-year average.

A clear indicator of how firmly entrenched the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board (WRREB) is in a seller’s market is that the equivalent of 76% of all active listings — or current inventory — sold in March. This compares to a more typical conversion of 24% as was the case in 2020.

“Sales percentage increases are well distributed...

I provided the full Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board March Press Release in my previous post. The full report can be viewed here. But here is a recap of the highlights and a deeper dive into the sales results for the City of Winnipeg, separate from the rest of the metro region.

Total February 2021 MLS® sales of 1240 were up 48.2% over February 2020, and up 71.3% over February 2019.

Drilling down a bit deeper in terms of property type:

1. Single family home sales on MLS® in February were up 45.1% over February 2020, and up 61.2% over February 2019.

2. Condominium sales on MLS® in February were up 46.6% over February 2020, and up 58.9% over February 2019.

Total listings on MLS® at the end of February for the metro region was 2501, 41.4% less than at this same time last year, and 33.0% less than at this time in 2019.

As always, I highlight that these monthly reports from the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board are general, overall monthly market statistics for the entire region...