Home prices continue to climb on most of Vancouver Island, though overall number of homes sold dipped in the last quarter. (NEWS file photo)

Home prices continue to climb on most of Vancouver Island, though overall number of homes sold dipped in the last quarter. (NEWS file photo)

Single-family home prices drop slightly in Parksville Qualicum Beach area

Benchmark price now sits at $571K

  • Feb. 5, 2020 12:00 a.m.

Last month, the Parksville-Qualicum area saw its benchmark price of a single-family home drop slightly to $571,400, according to new statistics from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board.

It’s part of an overall drop on Vancouver Island — sales of single-family homes in January dropped by 16 per cent from one year ago and were 26 per cent lower than in December.

READ MORE: Single-family home benchmark price rises to $570K in Parksville area

According to a press release from VIREB, the inventory is tightening again, which is one of the reasons behind weaker sales.

“The stress test is compressing more demand into our mid- and lower-priced property market. Lack of inventory in that price range is certainly curtailing some buyers from moving ahead with their home purchase,” said Kaye Broens, past president of VIREB in a press release. “Unfortunately, without new construction, this gridlock may just be the new normal.”

— NEWS staff

Parksville Qualicum Beach News