With significantly more homes selling of late than in the same period last year, the inventory of homes on the market is diminishing.

The June stats saw 910 homes sell in the Capital Region, a whopping 33.8-per-cent increase over the same month last year. A jump like that canB次元官网网址檛 help but have an effect on supply, as the 4,003 active listings available at the end of last month showed a 14.7-per-cent drop from 2014. Stories of sellers getting more than their listing price B次元官网网址� mostly unheard of in the past five years B次元官网网址� are becoming more common for well-kept, well-priced properties.

While the market in general is humming along, there are certain pockets where itB次元官网网址檚 getting tough to find properties for sale, says Langford-based agent Mike Hartshorne with DFH Real Estate.

B次元官网网址淥n the West Shore there seems to be a shortage of newer homes $450,000 and under with a double garage,B次元官网网址� he says, giving a very specific example. There also seems to be a shortage of West Shore homes with a suite for under $550,000, he adds, and suited homes in Saanich East priced under $600,000 are equally tough to come by.

After several years of sluggish sales and flatlining demand, the balanced market seen in the past year or so is starting to take off again.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good to have this,B次元官网网址� Hartshorne says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 clearing out the inventory, itB次元官网网址檚 allowing people to sell and interest rates are still good. WeB次元官网网址檙e seeing some price increases, but itB次元官网网址檚 not crazy.B次元官网网址�

He calls the existing market conditions B次元官网网址渃ontrolled excitement,B次元官网网址� where properties are moving B次元官网网址� even those for which the listing may have expired previously B次元官网网址� and people who may have been waiting to jump into the market are taking the plunge.

B次元官网网址淭he definition of what is a saleable home is a lot broader now. Because the market is a lot busier, there is a lot more ability for people to sell homes,B次元官网网址� he says.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a terrific market and as a buyer, you have to be motivated and be on the ball. WeB次元官网网址檙e not seeing ridiculous levels of people buying on speculation; it isnB次元官网网址檛 the same level of franticness as Vancouver, for example.B次元官网网址�

But with interest rates at record lows and prices still within reach for many potential buyers, Hartshorne says, itB次元官网网址檚 definitely a less challenging time to be in the business of selling and finding homes for clients.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com

GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE 禄

MONTH TO DATE,  JULY 6/15  COURTESY VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD

禄 97 / 681 -- NET UNCONDITIONAL SALES / TOTAL, JULY 2014

禄 181 / 1,195 --NEW LISTINGS / TOTAL, JULY 2014

禄 3,908 / 4,570 -- ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS / TOTAL, JULY 2014