2018 mid-year rental apartment sales statistics
Goodman Report
For the first half of this year, transactions and dollar volumes remain essentially on par with the comparable period in 2017, while average prices have increased dramatically. A total of 89 sales occurred in the first six months of 2018, essentially mirroring the 87 sales in the corresponding period of 2017. Transactions to June 30, 2018 in Vancouver declined to 39, whereas 48 sales were recorded in 2017. As for the suburbs, an increase to 50 transactions have been registered in 2018, compared to 39 in the same period last year. Perhaps indicative of a somewhat slowing market, 128 building sold in the first 6 months of 2016 (two years ago) compared to this year’s 89 sales – a 30% decrease in overall sales activity.
Nevertheless, our latest research reveals clear evidence of a robust investment market in rental apartments. Metro Vancouver’s soaring values have surpassed historic highs, with average prices at $495,000 per suite, up from $408,000 per suite a year ago: a 21% increase. Vancouver’s averages are a remarkable $586,000 per suite, up 10% from last year’s figure of $533,000. Meanwhile the suburban averages have soared to $424,000, up 31% from a year ago at $325,000.
The shift to significant higher average prices must be seen in context. Partial credit goes to the approximately 22 properties acquired specifically by developers in Vancouver’s West End and in Coquitlam and Burnaby, significantly inflating the typical suite averages well above the norm. Another factor involves newly renovated and newly constructed product, which also skews the average price per unit beyond traditional figures.
For the first six months of 2018, total dollar volume for Metro Vancouver was $1.445 billion, up 7% from $1.35 billion in 2017. Broken down, Vancouver 2018 volume was $749 million, up 6% from $709 million in 2017, suburban volume also at $696 million, was up 8% from 2017’s volume of $642 million.
The total number of suites sold in Metro Vancouver in the first half of 2018 was 2,921, down 12% from 3,307 in 2017. Vancouver had a 4% decline from 1,329 suites in 2017 to 1,278 in 2018, whereas the suburbs had a significant decrease of 17% to 1643, down from 1,978 in 2017 (for the specific breakdown in all categories, please refer to Activity Highlights on page 8 in the 2018 Mid-Year Review).
We forecast that approximately 165 buildings will sell in 2018, with record-high dollar volume expected to be approximately $2.6 billion.
