WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, July 6, 2018

WINNIPEG - June sales activity outperformed May this year and usually it is the other way around. This helps explain adjustments that are going on within the local market to account for more stringent mortgage qualifications based on higher interest rates and the federal stress test.

June sales of 1,547 decreased 5% over June 2017 and 1% over the 5-year average for this month. Listing activity for June increased 1% over the same month last year while the current inventory of 5,206 at month end was up 6%.

June dollar volume of $473 million is down 3% over June 2017 and ahead of all other previous months of June including the best June on record in 2016 of 1,638 sales. 

Year-to-date sales activity for the first six months is down 7% in comparison to the same period in 2017 and 2016 but off only 2% from the 5-year average. Year-to- date dollar volume of close to $2 billion dipped 2% from the same period last year and 1% from the...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, June 8, 2018

WINNIPEG - May sales were down from the best May and month on record in 2017 when close to 1,700 transactions were processed on WinnipegREALTORS® MLS®. The 1,510 sales recorded in May 2018 decreased 11% from the same month last year and are down 4% from May’s 5-year average sales numbers and 1% from the 10-year average. Dollar volume of $458.4 million decreased 8% from May 2017.

New listings coming on the market in May decreased less than 2% while inventory at the end of the month increased 3% to 5,103 listings. When broken down into the two main property types of residential-detached and condominiums, inventory sits at 2,750 and 973 respectively. If no new listings were to come on the market this inventory would run out in roughly two and one-half months for residential-detached properties and five months for condominiums.

“While you cannot hit home runs every year, there are some headwinds facing the market...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, May 7, 2018

WINNIPEG - April sales began to take off like our Winnipeg Jets. Sales of 1,283 were more spring-like in numbers as only down 1% from last April and up nearly 2% over the 10-year average for this month. New listings of 2,621 in April increased 7% from the same month last year while the existing inventory at month end of 4,550 was up nearly 4% over 2017.

MLS® dollar volume of nearly $390 million just edged out last year’s total. Year-to-date dollar volume climbed over $1 billion and is less than 5% off last year’s first four month total dollar volume. Year-to-date sales of 3,511 are down 6% from the same period in 2017.

April’s average residential-detached sales price was just under $330,000, a modest increase over April 2017. Helping elevate this average sales price was a home in East Fort Garry which sold above list price for $2.6 million and three other million dollar plus home sales in the Waverley West MLS...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, April 9, 2018

WINNIPEG - Sales in March resulted in a slower first quarter especially in comparison to the two best years on record in 2016 and 2017. Sales of 2,228 are down over 8% from the first 3 months in 2017, and 4% over the 10-year average. March sales of 974 decreased 12% from March 2017, and 5% over the 10-year average. March new listings at just under 2,100 were down to a lesser extent at 5%.

Current inventory of MLS® listings going into the second quarter is almost identical to last year. It sits around 3,900 listings with a modest percentage gain of residential-detached listings available while condominium listings slipped slightly.

It is fair to say while market fundamentals are firmly in place in the local market, new mortgage rules combined with higher mortgage rates in the last year have made it more difficult for some buyers to purchase their desired property. This not only applies to first-time buyers, but to existing home...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, March 9, 2018

WINNIPEG - It was an off month for WinnipegREALTORS® as February sales of 683 declined 11% from the same month last year and 10% over the 10-year average for February.  Year-to-date sales of 1,250 are 5% off the pace set in 2017 when there were 1,327 sales. Year-to-date dollar volume worth $352 million in real estate transactions is also down 5% from the same period last year.

When comparing MLS® listings to last year, overall supply is not the issue as the inventory at the end of February of just under 3,400 is equivalent to 2017. New listings coming on the market for residential-detached and condominium properties in February were not markedly different either from February 2017.

Simply put, buyers were less active than last year.  Sales fell short in the two main property types – residential-detached and condominiums. While condominium sales decreased 16%, the 102 sales transacted are above the 10-year average...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, February 6, 2018

WINNIPEG -  It is often said that Winnipeg’s real estate market is steady and stable. January exemplified this description by delivering a repeat performance from January 2017. It was uncannily similar in total MLS® sales, active and current listings, and dollar volume.  

MLS® sales of 571 and dollar volume of $156 million are both up less than 2% over January 2017. The inventory of 3,096 listings is almost identical to 2017 and current listings entered onto MLS® in January were just under 1,500 in comparison to 1,502 last year.

“Too early to tell how much impact the new stress test effective January 1, 2018 on uninsured mortgages will have on the local market,” said Chris Dudeck, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “And we should not forget that the stress test on insured mortgages in late 2016 will still be a factor in 2018.”

When you look closely at the MLS® property...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, January 15, 2018

WINNIPEG - A solid result in December of 635 MLS® unit sales and a dollar volume over $179 million capped off a successful year in 2017.

Actual percentage differences in comparison to December 2016 were relatively modest but positive with sales up 3%, dollar volume rising 7% and listings increasing 8%. All MLS® property types performed exceptionally well in December with only residential-detached experiencing a drop of 8% in sales. A total MLS® inventory of 2,851 listings is available for sale as 2018 begins.  \

2017 finished up strong with a total of 13,525 sales, down less than 1% from the record year of 2016 where 13,632 sales were transacted. A new annual dollar volume record was set in 2017 with $3.92 billion worth of MLS® sales – an increase of close to 4% in comparison to 2016.

When asked for his insight on 2017, outgoing WinnipegREALTORS® president Blair Sonnichsen said, “Considering...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, December 6, 2017

WINNIPEG - If you are going to duplicate a month’s sales activity, do it when it is a good one and that was the case in November. MLS®sales of 878 units in November were one sale higher than November 2016 and 4% above the 10-year average for this month. Only once in 2015 did November sales edge over 900, so not a big difference in sales.

A solid performance in November and year-to-date sales of 12,890 ensures 2017 will be no worse than second highest on record. 2016 was the best year ever with over 13,600 sales.

“A good rebound in November from a slower October sets up a terrific year end result,” said Blair Sonnichsen, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “We are only down 1% in sales from our best year ever in 2016 and will establish a new dollar volume record of close to $4 billion.”

A highlight in November which has been observed throughout the year is the strength of the upper end market....

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, August 8, 2017

WINNIPEG - July sales results show a continuation of a second quarter of brisk market activity. Condominium sales really stood out in July with a 32% increase over July 2016.

Total July Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) unit sales of 1,438 went up 6% over July 2016 level and the 10-year July sales average. It is the second best July on record with only July 2014 eclipsing it by 3%.  This July’s dollar volume of $416 million is the first time the month of July reached and surpassed $400 million in sales transactions.

“Initial concern this year of tougher mortgage requirements affecting sales activity is being overcome by strong demand for all  property types,” said Blair Sonnichsen, president of WinnipegREALTORS®.  “I cannot emphasize enough that in our local market we have different affordable options to choose from. Buyers are taking advantage of them through our REALTORS® keeping...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, July 10, 2017

WINNIPEG - An exceptional month of June sales activity puts WinnipegREALTORS® commensurate to last year’s record-setting pace for the first half of the year. 2017 marks only the second time that sales have surpassed 7,000 by the end of June; 2016 being the first instance. For the first time, dollar volume has gone over $2 billion at the half-way mark of the year.

June sales of 1,636 were two sales behind last year’s highest activity on record for the month, while dollar volume of $488 million increased 3% over the same month last year. Year-to-date sales of 7,070 were 14 sales off from last year. Second quarter sales activity was 7 sales down from 2016, the busiest second quarter in WinnipegREALTORS® history.

The number of listings entered on MLS® for the first six months is 13,100, 4% off 2016. Active listings or the current inventory going into July is sitting at just over 4,900, 9% down from the same period in...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, August 5, 2016

WINNIPEG - July sales finished slightly above the 10-year average of 1,330 MLS® sales for this summer month. However they fell short of last year’s near 1,400 sales and the record year of 2014 when July sales reached close to 1,500. Despite the year’s July numbers, year-to-date MLS® sales activity is ahead of any previous year with 5 months to go.

Both new listings coming on the market in July and the inventory at the end of the month were down 8% from 2015. Yet they would be considered elevated especially in comparison to the 10-year average. For example, the 5,291® MLS® properties presently listed on the market for August are up 28% over the 10-year average.

“WinnipegREALTORS® experienced its strongest sales result ever for June and the first six months, so to start off in a more restrained fashion in July is no cause for concern,” said Stewart Elston, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. &l...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, July 11, 2016

WINNIPEG - Back to back months of the second and third best months ever on record with 1,638 transactions in June and 1,629 in May makes 2016 the most active year for the first six months and second quarter. Only May 2007 is higher than this June at 1,652 sales. The next busiest second quarter on record was in 2008 when again there were back to back outstanding monthly results with May and June each recording 1,564 sales.

Sales were up 9% in June over the same month last year and the identical percentage increase for the first six months in comparison to the same period in 2015. It is the first time WinnipegREALTORS® has surpassed 7,000 MLS® sales in six months.

“There is no question the perfect storm I spoke of earlier in the year is materializing,” said Stewart Elston, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “The Winnipeg real estate market is supported by strong underlying fundamentals. Helping us reach new heights...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, May 7, 2016

WINNIPEG - April MLS® sales showed continued strength and momentum from an excellent first quarter of MLS® sales and dollar volume activity.

April sales surpassed both last April’s total and the April 10-year average by 8%. The 1,373 sales transacted through WinnipegREALTORS®’ MLS® are the highest sales total on record for the month of April.

Year-to-date sales are also up 8% at over 3,800. This current pace is only outflanked by 2012 while year-to-date dollar volume of over $1 billion has risen nearly 10% over the same period in 2015.

Active listing inventory has come off its peak level of over 5,000 in 2015. It now sits at 4,708 in 2016. New listings coming on the market in April were down 10% from the same month last year. The absorption rate for all MLS® listings going into May if you assume there are no new listings entered on MLS® is down to three and one-half months.

“While there were no major...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, April 7, 2016

WINNIPEG - WinnipegREALTORS® MLS® market got off to a good start in 2016 with the first three months showing an 8% increase in sales over the same period a year ago. Helping make this result possible was a stellar March 2016 performance in which sales went up 5% over last March. There were 1,058 sales in March and 2,445 in the first quarter.

Owing to a new listings drop of nearly 9% in combination with strong sales, the active inventory at the end of March experienced a slight decrease from 2015. This is the exact opposite of what has been happening the last few years as the number of active listings has been spiking upward significantly. The overall MLS® market as a result is in balanced market conditions with 4 months of inventory.

When you breakdown the two main property types of residential-detached and condominiums a clear difference emerges. Based on March sales activity, the 2,259 residential-detached listings existing...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, March 9, 2016

WINNIPEG - Whether an extra day in February paved the way for a record month is debatable as the best previous high for this month was 797 in 2007 and there were only 28 days to reach that level.  What it does show however, is more buyers came out of the woodwork to take advantage of some of the best supply of affordable house prices in the country. 

Another February milestone was set this year too with dollar volume easily surpassing $200 million for the first time.  New listings coming on to the market were up in double-digits as well however the stronger conversion of listings to sales kept the overall inventory close to where it was a year ago. Based on the strong sales activity in February and a high influx of new listings there is roughly four and one-half month’s supply of MLS® listings available going into March. It was near six months at the end of January.

In percentage terms, February MLS® sales of...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, February 3, 2016

WINNIPEG – It has often been said that one month does not a market make. Yet here it is … January 2016 … and we only have one month to look at … so January is the market! And not to disappoint, the activity in the first 31 days does give us a lot to evaluate.

WinnipegREALTORS® was founded as The Winnipeg Real Estate Exchange in 1903 – and one of the founding Objects of the Corporation was to “… compile, record and publish statistics and acquire and distribute information respecting the real estate … business of its Members …”. So we’ve been looking at and interpreting market activity and statistics for 113 years.

Here’s how the New Year kicked off …

In terms of inventory, we have more listings available this January for buyers than we’ve had for the past 5 Januarys. More supply starts to change the sellers’ markets we’ve experienced...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release, January 13, 2016

WINNIPEG -   2015 finished on a strong note.  Following on the heels of a record sales month for November, December sales of 642 were up 4% from last December. They are the third highest for this month, and are only behind the best sales years ever by a very modest amount. 

“It is really quite remarkable how close our year-end sales have been in the last few years including our highest sales year in 2007,” said WinnipegREALTORS® outgoing president David MacKenzie. “They all tend to hover just above or close to the 13,000 level and in percentage terms we are only talking a little over 1% when we compare the 12,927 sales recorded this year to the 13,079 in 2007.”

While sales and even prices have shown consistent and similar results, listings have not chartered the same path. The number of listings entered on the MLS® were 24,603 in 2015, up 7% over 2014, and 41% over the 10-year average...