May 1, 2015, Victoria BC - The Victoria Real Estate Board today released its report on real estate activity in the Victoria area for April 2015. A total of 840 properties sold in the Victoria region this April, a 26.5% increase compared to the 664 properties sold in the same month last year.

"We've seen modest sales increases in the area for the past two years, which we've attributed to a growing consumer confidence in the market," Victoria Real Estate Board President Guy Crozier says. "The past three months have been exceptional, and I think have surprised most people watching the market; I certainly haven't seen forecasts even close to the numbers we see today. It's possible that consumers who were hesitant to make a move or purchase their first house during the recent economic downturn may have waited to see conditions like we see now - the favourable interest rates, good selection of prices and properties, and increased confidence in the local economy."

There were 3,945 active listings for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® at the end of April, 10.4% fewer than the 4,404 active listings in April 2014.

The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core this time last year was $562,000. The benchmark value for the same home this month has increased by 3.5% to $581,700.

"The last time we saw this many transactions in an April was in 2007 when we saw 898 sales," President Crozier adds. "The market is good, but prices aren't crazy - despite the activity levels, values in our local market are still recovering from the peaks we saw in 2008 and 2010. Depending on the area, single family property values are as much as nine percent below the 2010 values. It is a great time to buy or sell property in our area."

More info: http://www.vreb.org/current-statistics