Hazen Steeves

With the weather way better than last July … and maybe people thinking more about some sun, sand and surf rather than listing and selling – the numbers don’t look all that bad. And looking at year-to-date … there are still positives in this more balanced – healthier market

WINNIPEG - While no panacea for some homebuyers depending on the neighbourhood and price ranges they are searching for, the good news in May is WinnipegREALTORS®’ MLS® residential-detached listing inventory is in better shape going into June than it has been in a long time. Moreover, a good influx of new listings in early June bodes well for a healthier supply in the summer months. The same holds true for condominiums.

WINNIPEG – WinnipegREALTORS® reported over 1,300 sales through the MLS®, only the second time in April when sales have reached this level. It was less than 3% off the 1,355 sales achieved in 2008. New listings of over 2,000 are the highest they have been for this month since 1998 and dollar volume eclipsed $300 million for the first time in April.

WINNIPEG - Signs of spring are all around you. Real estate signs that is, as the Winnipeg real estate market got a head start on spring with listings, sales, and dollar volume all warming up to busier market conditions in March.

WINNIPEG – Besides resulting once again in another month where dollar volume sets a new record for the month as it was up 9% over the previous best dollar volume February in 2008, a significant development this month is a clear shift in overall residential-detached sales activity to price ranges over $200,000.

WINNIPEG – Despite MLS® sales being down less than 500 for the first time in 6 years, dollar volume continues to forge ahead as it crashed through the $100 million mark for the first time in the month of January. Helping bring this level up to a record total in January was a home sale worth $1,080,000. Last year WinnipegREALTORS® saw more million dollar plus sales than ever before at 14 (previous best was 2008 with 8 sales).

WINNIPEG – Winnipeg’s MLS® market shook off early year recession concerns and another major flood to post a much better second half and end the year with a strong result. 2009 MLS® sales of 12,182 only take a back seat to the 2007 record-setting year of over 13,000 sales and to 2008 and 2006 where sales were 12,630 and 12,304 respectively.

WINNIPEG - November was certainly a month to remember for weather with more spring-like temperatures and a strong rebound in job creation. MLS® activity responded favourably too with an all time best dollar volume figure for November and sales second highest on record for November.

WINNIPEG – A recurring theme this year as evident in October has been the consistent dollar volume strength of the Winnipeg resale market. Despite sales being softer this year than the two previous years, dollar volume in 2009 is within reach of setting a new all time level above last year’s record of $2.42 billion.

WINNIPEG – It took nine months to set a new monthly MLS® sales record this year but they say patience is a virtue so it is worth waiting for. Third quarter MLS® sales in 2009 were almost on par with the same period in 2008. This result shows the Winnipeg real estate market has returned to its former glory with healthy market activity.

WINNIPEG - While MLS® sales in August fell short of last year’s mark by only 17 sales and 11 % off the best sales month on record for August in 2005, this year’s August, based on prices in general being slightly better in comparison to last year, recorded its best dollar volume result ever for this month at $231 million.

WINNIPEG - July 2009 not only set a new dollar month record for this month but even edged out May 2009. This happens very rarely. Although it is worth mentioning the last time it happened was in 1997 when the flood of the century impacted May sales so the 2009 flood likely had some impact as well.

WINNIPEG – Sales in May 2009 were more restrained than the last few years but that does not mean the MLS® market performed badly. It just indicates the market has come back down to earth and is more balanced compared to the heady run Winnipeg enjoyed over more recently in May.

WINNIPEG - WinnipegREALTORS® has been there before and will likely go through it again. As was the case in 1997, the MLS® market dipped noticeably from the same month the year before when there was no major flood to encounter and preoccupy yourself with as a resident of Winnipeg or outlying rural municipalities in the floodplain.

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg real estate market in March was really quite similar to March 2008 when you break down the two main property type sales. Home sales which still make up the lions share of total MLS® activity every month were only down 3 per cent with more sales this year over $200,000.

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg real estate market in February saw its activity fall back in comparison to the most recent bullish period of real estate where activity really started to ramp up in the latter part of 2003.

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg real estate market got off to a good start in 2009 with another monthly dollar volume record.