As the end of 2011 came to a close we saw the “normal” slow down leading up to Christmas.  Typically new listings and offers slow til after the holidays yet the stats for “sales closed” increase. You can see this below as most of the listing to sales ratios for selected areas are well over 100%.
2011 ended up being a good year for real estate in St. John’s.  We saw modest gains and lots of the listing inventory dried up.  Expired listings were well up from previous years.  Average time on the market for a house as 2011 ended was approximately 70 days. It’s still officially a buyers market according to the latest CMHC report, but my thoughts are it will become a nicely balanced market as we approach spring/summer. Let’s hope we actually get a summer this year in St. John’s unlike last year.

As I mentioned last month, there are still a lot of buyers in the market place. RE/MAX’s Canadian Housing Market Estimates for 2012 state that we should see a 5% increase in housing price for St. John’s and surrounding area this year.

Don’t forget to contact us for a free market evaluation on your home.


Total # of MLS Listings [December] = 429 (based on residential stats)
Total # of Sales [December] = 408
Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 2942

Here is a break down by area for the month of December

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 68   Sales = 108 Sales/Listings Ratio = 159%
Average sale price for a home in St. John’s: $312,372 for the month of December and the 12 month average $292,701

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 9 Sales = 15  Sales/Listings Ratio = 167%
Average Sale Price (12 month average): $259,857

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =28 Sales = 29 Sales/Listings Ratio =104%
Average Sale Price (12 month average): $326,084

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 21 Sales = 17  Sales/Listings Ratio = 81%
Average Sale Price (12 month average): $317,160

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 22   Sales = 24  Sales/Listings Ratio = 109%
Average Sale Price (12 month average): $271,932

The number of home sales in St. John’s increased in November to 477.  This is up 30% from November 2010.  There was a fair amount of activity this month compared to the previous months.   Listings were up only 2% and expired listings dropped back to 10%, but it was the 30% gain in sales for November made a huge difference to our market place.  It’s good to see expired listings  slowly dropping to normal levels.   With lots of buyers in the market place we should see a fairly active beginning to 2012 in St. John’s.

RE/MAX released their Canadian Housing Market Estimates for 2012 and prices for a house in St. John’s and surrounding area is estimated to increase by 5% in 2012.

Don’t forget to contact us for a free market evaluation on your home.

Total # of MLS Listings [November] = 754 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [November] = 477

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3600

Here is a break down by area for the month of November

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 144   Sales = 114 Sales/Listings Ratio = 79%

Average sale price for a home in St. John’s: $292,747 for the month of November and the 12 month average $290,428

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 18 Sales = 23  Sales/Listings Ratio = 128%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $260,357

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =38 Sales = 45 Sales/Listings Ratio =118%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): 325,088

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 33 Sales = 20  Sales/Listings Ratio = 61%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $313,363

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 37   Sales = 32  Sales/Listings Ratio = 65%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $273,702

Average price of real estate in St. John’s has increased slightly again this month. Average price of a home in St. John’s is hovering around $288,000.  For most of the year listings have been on the increase and sales at a decrease but we are starting to see a shift in the market now.  Listings are slowly decreasing and sales are starting to pick up.  We are up 11% this month compared to 2010 but there is virtually no change on a year to date perspective.  There are lots of buyers in the market place and we are still classified as being in a “buyers market” according to CMHC. Average sales price for a home in Newfoundland is now $248,678 up from the mid 230′s from last year.  The bulk of the sales are in the 260k to 350k price range. Expired listings are up still from last year, by 25%  Contact us for a free market evaluation on your home.

Total # of MLS Listings [October] = 813 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [October] = 514

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3778

Here is a break down by area for the month of October

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 162   Sales = 102 Sales/Listings Ratio = 63%

Average sale price for a home in St. John’s: $296,165 for the month of October and the 12 month average $288,291

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 30 Sales = 25  Sales/Listings Ratio = 83%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $262,379

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =59 Sales = 40 Sales/Listings Ratio =68%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $318,443

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 45 Sales = 26  Sales/Listings Ratio = 58%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $309,886

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 48   Sales = 31  Sales/Listings Ratio = 65%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $270,910

Average price of a house in St. John’s increased slightly this month. March average sale price was approx $277,000, for April it is $285,000. Average sales price year to date is up as well, almost 6.5% (all of Newfoundland) Interestingly the current real estate market certainly doesn’t reflect this increase.  From looking at the break down in homes sold, it appears that this data is a little “skewed” as a majority of the houses sold were in the 260k to 350k price range, hence bringing up the average prices. Currently, HALF of the homes on the market expire.  Meaning they do not sell.  From my opinion, majority of the houses currently on the market are WAY overpriced.  We are seeing a large number of reductions in prices.  Houses are sitting on the market an average of 60 days before selling.  I don’t think we will see a drop in the average house prices, but we will certainly see a lot of home owners having to reduce their homes to be in line with the market.  It seems that I have the following statement each month……but….. proper pricing on your home is key in this market and will be the same trend in 2011.  Contact us for a free market evaluation on your home.

Total # of new MLS Listings [April] = 814 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [April] = 303

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3700

Here is a break down by area for the month of April

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 190   Sales = 81 Sales/Listings Ratio = 42%

Average sale price for a home in St. John’s: $285,097 for the month of April and the 12 month average $281,644

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 32 Sales = 18  Sales/Listings Ratio = 41%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $252,736

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =55 Sales = 26 Sales/Listings Ratio =52%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $310,525

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 53 Sales = 15  Sales/Listings Ratio = 33%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $290,202

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 44   Sales = 15  Sales/Listings Ratio = 40%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $258,061

Average price of a house in St. John’s dropped for the month of March.  In January the average selling price (for that month only) was up over $300,000.  See January MLS Stats here.  For March the average was approx $277,000.  The good news is yearly average prices haven’t dropped.  They are actually up slightly.  This is true for all areas in and around St. John’s.  Sales/Listings Ratio have increased as well indicating we are starting to ramp up for the spring market.

The general population seems to think there are numerous homes for sale currently. (present company included)  However,  total number of listings for the year (compared to last year) is down 3%.  I was surprised to see this as it doesn’t feel this way.  This false impression I suspect is due to the drop in sales ( 5% YTD) and the large increase in expired listings – ( up 45% YTD).  This coupled with houses staying on the market a lot longer then we are used to in recent years. I said it before….proper pricing on your home is key in this market and will be the same trend in 2011.  Contact us for a free market evaluation on your home.

Total # of new MLS Listings [March] = 873 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [March] = 335

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3477

Here is a break down by area for the month of March

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 173   Sales = 75 Sales/Listings Ratio = 40%

Average sale price for a home in St. John’s: $277,025 for the month of March and the 12 month average $279,472

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 45 Sales = 15  Sales/Listings Ratio = 33%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $249,431

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =48 Sales = 32 Sales/Listings Ratio =67%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $308,882

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 36 Sales = 19  Sales/Listings Ratio = 53%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $289,676

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 47   Sales = 28  Sales/Listings Ratio = 60%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $255,683

Average sale price of a house for St. John’s and Paradise increased in January, both up over $300,000. I believe this is due to mostly new home construction sales.  The bulk of homes sales (approx 57%) were in the $250,000 to $349,900 price range.  The average price of a home in St. John’s is now approximately $279,000.  There were 308 expired listings this month, up a whopping 52% from last January.  Proper pricing on your home is key in this market and will be the same trend in 2011.  Contact us for a free market evaluation on your home.

Total # of new MLS Listings [January] = 653 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [January] = 207

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 2925

Here is a break down by area for the month of January

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 168   Sales = 50 Sales/Listings Ratio = 30%

Average sale price for a home in St. John’s: $300,052 for the month of January and the 12 month average $278,753

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 34 Sales = 10  Sales/Listings Ratio = 29%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $247,456

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =45 Sales = 17 Sales/Listings Ratio =38%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $300,298

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 42 Sales = 12  Sales/Listings Ratio = 29%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $288,610

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 46   Sales = 13  Sales/Listings Ratio = 28%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $255,094

Supply and demand for real estate in St. John’s and surrounding areas are getting fairly well balanced.  Over all for the 2010 year we are up 6% on listings and flat on total sales.  The majority of properties sold this month were evenly split between $150,000 to $249,900 and $250,000 to $349,900.  That being said the number of listings this month is up 32% from last November and the sales are down 21%.  Along with this we had 401 expired listings this month, up 18% from last year.  Again I will say: proper pricing on your home is key in this market and will be the same trend in 2011.

Total # of new MLS Listings [November] = 595 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [November] = 366

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3519

Here is a break down by area for the month of November

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 129   Sales = 87 Sales/Listings Ratio = 67%

Average price for a home in St. John’s: $276,910 for the month of November and the 12 month average $276,596

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 23 Sales = 11  Sales/Listings Ratio = 48%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $242,577

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =46 Sales = 27 Sales/Listings Ratio =59%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $294,424

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 35 Sales = 13  Sales/Listings Ratio = 37%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $284,647

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 43   Sales = 22  Sales/Listings Ratio = 51%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $248,663

As expected the real estate market for St. John’s and surrounding areas noticed a little slow down in July.  Housing inventory appeared to be on the rise as well as the number of price reductions.  The number of listings are up 4% this year compared to the same time last year and the number of sales are down 10%.  Personally I think this is a little “blimp” in the market and should be no cause for concern.  Majority of the houses sold in and around St. John’s were in the $260,000 to $349,900 range.  There have been 6 houses that sold this year over the 1 million figure.

Total # of new MLS Listings [July] =1054 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [July] = 522

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3937 (residential only)

Here is a break down by area for the month of July

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 199   Sales = 118  Sales/Listings Ratio = 59%

Average Sale Price is St. John’s: $281,912 for the month of July and the 12 month average $256,553

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 28 Sales = 22  Sales/Listings Ratio = 79%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $226,224

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =64 Sales = 51 Sales/Listings Ratio =80%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $278,293

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 43 Sales = 32  Sales/Listings Ratio = 74%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $277,410

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 47   Sales = 36  Sales/Listings Ratio = 77%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $239,621

The real estate market for St. John’s and surrounding areas saw slight increases in the number of listings on the market in June as well as the number of sales.  The number of expired listings are up a whopping 23% since the same month last year.  What’s the cause?  As I mentioned there are a lot of listings on the market so supply and demand would be a factor for sure.  The biggest reason is there are a lot of houses listed on MLS in the St. John’s real estate market that are over priced.

Total # of new MLS Listings [Jun] =1141 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [Jun] = 483

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3777 (residential only)

Here is a break down by area for the month of June

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 220   Sales = 121 Sales/Listings Ratio = 55%

Average Sale Price is St. John’s: $264,848 for the month of June and the 12 month average $251,390

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 30 Sales = 13  Sales/Listings Ratio = 43%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $224,158

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =70 Sales = 37 Sales/Listings Ratio =53%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $278,250

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 52 Sales = 15  Sales/Listings Ratio = 29%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $271,421

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 58   Sales = 25  Sales/Listings Ratio = 43%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $236,965

The number of listings were up for the month of March by 13% compared to March 2009. Sales as well are up by 25% year to date compared to last year.  Interestingly the average house price for St. John’s dropped slightly last month by almost $5000 compared to February’s MLS listing averages.  The twelve month overall average for St. John’s is still increasing with a figure of  $243,532. There was a fair number of buying/selling activity in between 260k and 350k last month. With the spring market upon us we will start to see increased activity from both buyers and sellers.

Total # of new MLS Listings [Mar] =933 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [Mar] = 336

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3020 (residential only)

Here is a break down by area for the month of March

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 181   Sales = 89 Sales/Listings Ratio = 49%

Average Sale Price is St. John’s: $266,336 for the month of March and the 12 month average $243,532

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 19 Sales = 9  Sales/Listings Ratio = 47%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $221,094

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =60 Sales = 31 Sales/Listings Ratio =52%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $271,002

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 31 Sales = 17  Sales/Listings Ratio = 55%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $266,462

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 49   Sales = 22  Sales/Listings Ratio = 45%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $228,770

Buyers are taking advantage of favourable real estate market conditions around St. John’s and areas….sellers too are reaping the rewards. Multiple offers are a factor in our marketplace once again, with well-priced listings—especially around the $200k to $260k  price range. Properties priced at market value will likely sell quickly for top dollar. The overall pressure on sales and price is significant across the board – and it’s not likely to subside unless more inventory comes on-stream.  The Bank of Canada released today that it will keep it’s interest rate “as is” but hinted at the fact it will most likely increase in June/July due to Canada’s higher then expect latest GDP numbers.

Total # of new MLS Listings [Feb] =567 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [Feb] = 259

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 2650 (residential only)

Here is a break down by area for the month of February

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 117   Sales = 66 Sales/Listings Ratio = 56%

Average Sale Price is St. John’s: $270,742 for the month of February and the 12 month average $240,470

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 13 Sales = 7  Sales/Listings Ratio = 54%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $218,063

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =64 Sales = 18 Sales/Listings Ratio =28%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $268,980

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 37 Sales = 14  Sales/Listings Ratio = 38%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $259,371

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 48   Sales = 19  Sales/Listings Ratio = 40%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $225,728