Attached is the Average House Price Graph from The Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board from 1977 until October 2008. After a significant downward fall, the median house price took an upward turn in October. This could be an up before another fall but the key takeaway is "real estate always goes up over time". The other thing to consider is that this shows the trend line not the absolute prices.

Attached is a graph showing Year to Date Listings vs. Sales for 2008 (up to and including statistics for October 2008). We are up in listings and about 68% down in sales. Translation: There is tons of opportunity out there for buyers and investors!!! Sellers hang onto what you have if you can.

Attached is the Housing Price Index for July 2008 which is provided by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

The chart shows up to date information on current median prices by area for attached, detached and apartment properties. The chart also shows the 1 year change, 3 year change and 5 year change.

 

The Economist Intelligence Unit, an international business intelligence firm and a unit of the Economist Group graded 127 cities on 40 indicators in 5 groups including stability, health, care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

The survey is part of a Worldwide Cost of Living Survey and Vancouver ranked first for the second year in a row.

The top ten cities were rated as follows: