The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2015 Second Quarter Housing Forecast today.

“More robust economic growth, strong consumer confidence and rock-bottom mortgage interest rates are expected to push housing demand this year to its highest level since 2007,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist.

Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in British Columbia are forecast to rise 12.1 per cent to 94,300 units this year, before edging back 2.9 per cent to 91,600 units in 2015. The ten-year average is 83,600 unit sales. A record 106,300 MLS® residential sales were recorded in 2005.

Stronger consumer demand combined with fewer homes available for sale is forecast to push the average MLS® residential sales price in the province up 7.4 per cent to $610,500 this year. Modest upward pressure on mortgage interest and rising new home completions are expected to ease pressure on home prices in 2016. The average MLS® residential sales price is forecast to increase by 1.7 per cent to $621,000 in 2016.