Vancouver Globe and Mail
Friday, June 2, 2017
The Vancouver region’s detached-housing market has turned hot again as the affordability crisis becomes a priority for the new political alliance formed by the BC NDP and Greens.
The average price for detached houses sold in Greater Vancouver reached a record of $1,830,956 in May, up 5 per cent from the same month in 2016 and just surpassing the previous high of $1,826,541 in January, 2016.
While the market for detached homes cooled in the second half of 2016, condos and townhouses experienced a short lull before continuing on a tear, smashing former highs. The average price for condos sold in Greater Vancouver last month hit a record of $656,919, up 15.1 per cent from a year earlier, and the average price for townhouses jumped 7.4 per cent to a new high of $858,994.
This week, the BC NDP formed a political alliance with the Green Party to co-operate, notably with plans to vote down the BC Liberals once Premier Christy Clark reconvenes the legislature. Reining in housing prices ranks high on the agenda for BC NDP Leader John Horgan and BC Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver.