Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver reached 2,627 in April 2013, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV).

This represents a 6.1 per cent decrease compared to the 2,799 sales recorded in April 2012, and an 11.9 per cent increase compared to the 2,347 sales in March 2013.

April’s sales equate to the lowest April total in the region since 2001, and 20.9 per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 5,876 in April. This represents a three per cent decline compared to the 6,056 new listings reported in April 2012, and a 21.4 per cent increase from the 4,839 new listings reported in March of this year. Last month’s new listing count was 0.4 per cent above the region’s 10-year new listing average for the month.

The total number of properties listed for public sale in Greater Vancouver in May was 16,730, a 1.2 per cent increase compared to April 2012, and an 8.2 per cent increase compared to March 2013.

The sales to active listings ratio in May was 15.7 per cent in Greater Vancouver. This was the second consecutive month this ratio has been above 15 per cent. Previous to this, May 2012 was the last time this ratio was above 15 per cent.

Sales of condo apartment properties reached 1,052 in April 2013, a decline of 11.6 per cent compared to the 1,190 sales in April 2012, and a decrease of 12.4 per cent compared to the 1,201 sales in April 2011. The benchmark price of an apartment property decreased 2.6 per cent from April 2012 to $365,900. Since January, the benchmark price of an apartment home has increased 2.1 per cent.