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Housing construction in Vancouver

Avalanche of New Supply Under Construction

Steve Saretsky -

New Homes Under Construction At Record Levels

The housing boom across Greater Vancouver continues to reach new heights. Recent data released by CMHC highlights an epic proportion of new construction underway. As of February 2017 new homes under construction across Metro Vancouver are up 30% year over year. Here’s how it looks across the board comparing February 2016 vs February 2017.

So what does this mean?

We’re about to witness a mountain of new supply hit the market. This is welcoming news after undergoing a record number of housing starts in 2015 and 2016 with 20,867 and 27,914 units respectively. To add to that we’re on pace for another frenzied year in 2017 with a projected 23,575 starts.

Vancouver housing starts
Record housing starts on the way. Via @YVRHousing

As you can see we have a record number of apartments under construction with completions being flat in recent years. Construction appears to be backing up as developers struggle to complete projects.

housing completions in Vancouver
Housing completions slow to complete across Vancouver.

With the completion rate well below normal it’s worth questioning if developers are slowing construction intentionally or if projects are simply taking longer to complete amidst a lack of resources. Either way, construction is compounding and soon an avalanche of supply will descend upon us.

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The Canadian Economy

Steve Saretsky -

Happy Monday Morning! We got a string of new data this past week confirming inflation in consumer goods, and housing are proving to be more than transitory. Canada’s consumer price index continued to drift higher with prices hitting an 18 year high, up 4.7% from last October. The recent floods in BC...

Steve Saretsky -

The calls for impending interest rate hikes continues. CIBC’s chief economist, Benjamin Tal, was out recently suggesting the Bank of Canada could hike its benchmark interest rate at least six times beginning in early 2022. “I think there is a risk of getting into the market at today’s rates,” noted Tal....

Steve Saretsky -

The BC Government announced it is looking at several cooling measures for the housing market in 2022. They have highlighted two measures. The first is an end to the blind bidding process, and the other is a mandatory “cooling off period” which will allow any buyer a 7 day recession...

Steve Saretsky -

The Bank of Canada continues to slowly drain liquidity after flooding the system with a firehose of cash during the pandemic. Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem announced the end of Canada’s QE program (also known as money printing). Furthermore, in Macklems words, “We expect to begin increasing our policy...

Steve Saretsky -

Consumer price inflation ripped higher in September, surging 4.4% year-over-year, the fastest pace of price increases in 18 years. Let’s discuss this further. We have an inflation problem and the Bank of Canada remains of the view that inflation will be transitory. Although they really can’t say otherwise, for if...

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The Saretsky Report. December 2022