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Prime Minister Carney will eliminate GST for first-time homebuyersCanada is in a housing crisis – demand has gone up, supply has not kept pace, and prices are too high. The new government of Canada is taking immediate action to address this crisis.

Prime Minister Carney today announced that the Government of Canada will eliminate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for first-time homebuyers on homes at or under $1 million. This tax cut will save Canadians up to $50,000 – allowing more young people and families to enter the housing market and realize the dream of homeownership. By eliminating the GST, Canadians will face lower upfront housing costs and keep more money in their pocket. Eliminating the GST will also have a dynamic effect on increasing supply – spurring the construction of new homes across the country.

The Prime Minister is laser-focused on lowering costs and will continue to present serious solutions to ensure Canadians are better off. The Government of Canada will confront the housing crisis head-on and build the strongest economy in the G7.

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“Our government is laser-focused on lowering costs for Canadians and making homeownership a reality. Eliminating the GST will save first-time homebuyers up to $50,000 and spur housing construction across the country. We will announce a series of new measures to increase housing supply shortly. It’s time for focused action to solve the housing crisis, and it’s time to build a Canada you can afford.”

The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

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Record listings on the Vancouver Real Estate Market

For the first time since 2014, inventory levels in Metro Vancouver have surpassed 16,000. With prices remaining stable and borrowing costs at their lowest in years, buyers are presented with a unique opportunity in a balanced market.

“Inventory levels have just crested 16,000 for the first time since 2014, prices have stayed fairly stable for the past few months, and borrowing costs are the lowest they’ve been in years. These factors benefit buyers, and with balanced conditions across the market overall, there’s plenty of opportunity for anyone looking to make a purchase.”

— Andrew Lis, Director of Economics and Data Analytics, Greater Vancouver REALTORS®

📈 Explore the full April 2025 Market Report:

🔗 https://bit.ly/43cAuOR

#GVR #marketupdate #vancouverrealestate

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SPRING MARKET BRINGS OPPORTUNITY FOR BUYERS

Spring market brings abundance of opportunity for buyers

The slowdown in home sales registered on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver that began early this year continued in April, with sales down nearly 24 per cent year-over-year. 

 

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,163 in April 2025, a 23.6 per cent decrease from the 2,831 sales recorded in April 2024. This was 28.2 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (3,014). 

 

“From a historical perspective, the slower sales we’re now seeing stand out as unusual, particularly against a backdrop of significantly improved borrowing conditions, which typically helps to boost sales,” said Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics. “What’s also unusual is starting the year with Canada’s largest trading partner threatening to tilt our economy into recession via trade policy, while at the same time having Canadians head to the polls to elect a new federal government. These issues have been hard to ignore, and the April home sales figures suggest some buyers have continued to patiently wait out the storm.” 

 

There were 6,850 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in April 2025. This represents a 3.4 per cent decrease compared to the 7,092 properties listed in April 2024 and was 19.5 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (5,731) for the month. 

 

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 16,207, a 29.7 per cent increase compared to April 2024 (12,491). This is 47.6 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (10,979). 

 

Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for April 2025 is 13.8 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 9.9 per cent for detached homes, 17.5 per cent for attached, and 15.7 per cent for apartments. 

 

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months. 

 

“While the headlines have been filled with worrying news lately, there are positives in the current market worth highlighting, especially for buyers,” Lis said. “Inventory levels have just crested 16,000 for the first time since 2019, prices have stayed fairly stable for the past few months, and borrowing costs are the lowest they’ve been in years. These factors benefit buyers, and with balanced conditions across the market overall, there’s plenty of opportunity for anyone looking to make a purchase.” 

 

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,184,500. This represents a 1.8 per cent decrease over April 2024 and a 0.5 per cent decrease compared to March 2025. 

 

Sales of detached homes in April 2025 reached 578, a 29 per cent decrease from the 814 detached sales recorded in April 2024. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,021,800. This represents a 0.7 per cent decrease from April 2024 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to March 2025. 

 

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,130 in April 2025, a 20.2 per cent decrease compared to the 1,416 sales in April 2024. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $762,800. This represents a two per cent decrease from April 2024 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to March 2025. 

 

Attached home sales in April 2025 totalled 442, a 23.8 per cent decrease compared to the 580 sales in April 2024. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,102,300. This represents a 2.9 per cent decrease from April 2024 and a one per cent decrease compared to March 2025.

Download GVR's April 2025 MLS® housing market report

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