David Valente Real Estate, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Downtown Vancouver

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Buyer activity brings greater stability to the housing market

VANCOUVER, B.C. . May 4, 2009 . With more buyers and fewer homes for sale in recent months, the Greater Vancouver

housing market has entered a more moderate and balanced state.

For the sixth consecutive month, new listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined in Greater Vancou-

ver, down 33.7 per cent to 4,649 in April 2009 compared to April 2008, when 7,010 new units were listed. The total number

of property listings on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), while slightly down compared to last month, remains un-

changed compared to the same period in 2008.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled

2,963 in April 2009, a decline of eight per cent from the 3,218 sales recorded in April 2008, and an increase of 31 per cent

compared to last month.

.We.re seeing greater balance in the housing market, as evidenced by a strong sales to active listings ratio of over 19 per

cent,. Scott Russell, REBGV president said. .The result is a relatively stable market in which homes are being realistically

priced.

.The bridge between buyer demand and housing supply is continuing to narrow, which, as we see, helps bring stability

to home prices,. he said. .The trends in our housing market over the last couple of months offer a much more comfortable,

historically normal set of conditions..

Sales of detached properties declined eight per cent to 1,190 from the 1,293 detached sales recorded during the same

period in 2008. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties declined

12.2 per cent from April 2008 to $675,268.

Sales of apartment properties in April 2009 declined 10.5 per cent to 1,179, compared to 1,317 sales in April 2008. The

benchmark price of an apartment property declined 12.6 per cent from April 2008 to $340,203.

Attached property sales in April 2009 are down 2.3 per cent to 594, compared with the 608 sales in April 2008. The bench-

mark price of an attached unit decreased 9.7 per cent between April 2008 and 2009 to $431,759.

Bright spots in Greater Vancouver in April 2009 compared to April 2008:

Detached:

Vancouver West ..........up 59.5 per cent (193 units sold from 121)

Attached:

Port Coquitlam ................up 69.6 per cent (39 units sold from 23)

Richmond ....................up 17.9 per cent (132 units sold from 112)

Vancouver West .................up 46.3 per cent (98 units sold from 67)

Apartments:

North Vancouver ...............up 29.2 per cent (84 units sold from 65)

 - 30 -

The Real Estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2008, 24,626 homes changed hands in the Board.s area

generating $1.03 billion in spin-offs. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,400

REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®. For

more information on real estate, statistics, and buying or selling a home, contact a local REALTOR® or visit www.rebgv.org

www.davidvalente.com