May 2024 was a relatively quiet month in the Parksville/Qualicum and Nanaimo real estate markets, except for one significant trend—listings. The number of listings surged, creating an interesting dynamic in the market.
Strata Properties: Prices for townhomes, patio homes, and condos in Parksville/Qualicum and Nanaimo fell compared to the same period last year. Despite this, there was a notable increase in overall listings.
Single-Family Homes: This segment saw a different trend, with a 10% price increase in Parksville/Qualicum and a 3% increase in Nanaimo. It's important to note that single-family homes account for over 60% of sales activity in both markets. However, there was an increase in listings and a decrease in sales compared to May 2023.
Bank of Canada Interest Rate Cut: The most significant news in recent times was the Bank of Canada's decision to cut its interest rate by 0.25%, bringing it down to 4.75%. This is the first rate change in 11 months and the first cut in 4 years. The big question now is whether the market was quiet in May because buyers were waiting for this rate cut or if the previous 11 months at 5% had finally cooled the market on mid-Vancouver Island. The coming weeks will provide more clarity on this.
Looking Ahead: Regardless of the reasons behind May's market activity, the stage is set for an exciting summer in real estate on mid-Vancouver Island. With changing interest rates and evolving market dynamics, it will be interesting to see how the real estate landscape unfolds in the coming months.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the local real estate market!