Condo approval reignites city rental debate.

There’s a new seven-seven storey mixed-use condo building coming to the Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood.

City of North Vancouver council moved ahead with rezoning 127 and 133 East Third St. Monday night after a public hearing that saw mostly positive comments from nearby business owners, and residents.

Once completed, the building by Kamcon Construction, will house four commercial storefronts at street level, 18 market rental housing units and 43 condos, ranging from bachelors under 400 square feet, to two-bedroom units.

Based upon the most recent statistics from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s Home Price Index, sales activity and benchmark prices for condos in New Westminster have been relatively flat over the past 24 months . The benchmark price for condos has increased 0.8% since July 2011.

(click above for greater detail) (source: REBGV stats)

A review of resales data for newer condos in Downtown Vancouver (2 years old or less) shows that sales activity has slowed since the beginning of 2012 but pricing has maintained an average around $800 per sq ft.

The vast majority of sales are between $600 and $1,000 per sq ft depending on the building/unit quality and location, with some sales such as units in The Erickson and Fairmon Pacific Rim showing sales values above $2,000 per SF. One can speculate that given a slowdown in sales activity, pricing will be affected eventually, particularly at the lower end of the spectrum where there are competing new developments in presales and/or under construction.

Source: MLS

Resales activity for Downtown Vancouver condos (including the West End, Coal Harbour and Yaletown) have remained steady in recent months, with an overall average since 2010 of 220 sales per month. June 2012 is on pace to be one of the slower months in recent memory, and at a projected 142 sales based on MLS statistics, is anticipated to be one of the slowest Junes since 2000.

Source: MLS Stats (June 2012 estimated based on sales to June 19, 2012)

It appears that a slowdown is forthcoming, but unlike some areas, Downtown Vancouver is not a submarket with a glut of inventory coming on the market. This should bode relatively well for pricing for both new and resale product moving forward despite any correction in the market.

Vancouver real estate guru talks condominiums.

When a new condominium project sells out in one day, as it did with the Marine Gateway building in April, ever wonder who actually buys one of the units?

Real estate marketer Bob Rennie, whose company was responsible for selling the 414 apartments at the Cambie and Marine towers, gave some indication in his annual speech Thursday to the Urban Development Institute.

Read more: http://www.vancourier.com/news/Vancouver+real+estate+guru+talks+condominiums/6646930/story.html#ixzz1vbmgD0yt