Home sales were mixed in the Battlefords area in April. (file photo)

By Tyler Marr

FOR SALE

Mixed April for Battlefords’ housing market

May 3, 2019 | 5:00 PM

April was a mixed month for the Battlefords housing market according to the latest data from the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors.

Twelve homes sold within both North Battleford and Battleford, down from 13 in 2018. To date, 38 sales have been recorded within the municipalities, down 28 per cent year-over-year.

Homes sold in April had sat on the market for an average of 115 days, in line with a steep and continuous upward trend since 2016 when it was just 56. It took an average of 80 days in 2017 and 101 in 2018. Homes are averaging 96 days on the market to date, the highest since 2011.

The sales totalled $2.79 million and property sold for an average of $232,567 and 92.5 per cent of the asking price. Year-to-date, property in the communities is selling for around $202,926 and 92.7 per cent of the asking price.

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Regionally, 27 homes moved, up marginally from 25 last year, bringing the total to date to 80. This is the lowest recorded total over the last eight years, down from a high of 133 in 2014, 85 in 2015 and 108, 97 and 94 in the following three years.

It took an average of 108 days to sell a home regionally in April, down substantially from the 135 this time last year. This, however, remains the highest since 2011.

Property sold for an average of $168,452 and 89.2 per cent of the asking price. To date, buyers are picking up homes for about $176,121 around the region and at 91.5 per cent of the listing price.

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.

Across Saskatchewan, however, the housing damned ticked up.

“People came out of hibernation and said, ‘it’s time,”’ SRAR CEO Jason Yochim said. “We’re seeing the beginning of a spring market, which is nice.”

He said factors possibly influencing the market include stable interest rates and lower prices.

“There’s less inventory and people are buying what they’re finding on the market,” Yochim said. “It’s feeling more like it’s time to make that move.”

In April, 56 new homes popped up on MLS within both communities, while 111 sprung up around the region.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr