Home sales are down marginally in March year-over-year in the Battlefords. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Tyler Marr

For Sale

March home listings up, sales down slightly year-over-year

Apr 4, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The spring housing market is off to a slow start in the Battlefords, according to the latest numbers from the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors (SRAR).

Within North Battleford and Battleford, 10 homes moved in March, down marginally from 12 in 2018. To date, 26 sales have been recorded, down from 40 for the same time period in both 2018 and 2017, a drop of 35 per cent.

The average number of days a home sat on the market to date is 88, the longest since 2012 when it took around 90 days to sell a home. This is up exponentially from just 52 in 2018.

Regionally, sales are down 19 per cent to 21 from 26 last year. To date, 53 properties have sold, down from 69 in 2018 and the lowest since 2015, when 52 homes sold. However, it is taking around 112 days to sell a house around the region. This is the longest since 2011, which is as far back available data dates.

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“The market is considerably more challenged in smaller cities,” Jason Yochim, the CEO of SRAR said. “Saskatoon hasn’t been affected as much on sales activity because of our diversified economy.”

The average price for a home in March within both communities was $150,440, down 43 per cent over 2018 dollar amounts. The average home sold for 89.3 per cent of its listing price.

To date, buyers are picking up homes for about $189,000, approximately 92.8 per cent of the asking price.

Regionally, property in March sold for 21.1 per cent less than it did in 2018 at $170,126, but at 91.6 per cent of the asking price. The average home goes for $180,027 regionally to date.

Although the average price is commonly referenced as a barometer for the market, it can be easily skewed from one period to the next, depending on which price ranges had the most sales, the report from SRAR said.

In March, 52 new listings popped up on MLS within both communities, while 95 sprung up for the region.

A December report from SRAR showed home sales in the region slid 12 per cent in 2018 and 22 per cent within North Battleford and Battleford.

—

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr