December sales of 674 were exceptional — up 25% over the same month in 2018 and 8% above the 5-year average. As a result, activity this month propel year-end sales to the highest level on record at 13,662, a 7% increase over 2018 and slightly ahead of the 13,632 MLS^® sales transacted in 2016.

Similarly, December’s impressive dollar volume of close to $200 million pushed the year-end dollar volume total over the $4 billion threshold level for the first time. Dollar volume in 2019 of $4.059 billion rose over 7% compared to 2018.

Last year also ushered in the highest number of listings entered on WinnipegREALTORS^® MLS^®. The 25,741 listings increased 8% over 2018 and 6% above the 5-year average. The percentage of MLS^® listings selling or what is referred to as the sales-to-listings ratio is still within 2% of the 5-year average. Notable in 2019 is that residential-detached listings sold, on average, for 98% of their list price.

It is important to note 2019 saw an increase in overall MLS^® activity as a result of welcoming new rural brokerage offices, such as ones in the South Central Plains MLS^® area (e.g. Winkler, Morden and Altona), onto the WinnipegREALTORS^® MLS^®. They formerly had been on the Manitoba Real Estate Association (MREA) MLS^®. As they were main contributors to MREA’s MLS^® market activity in previous years, their contribution to WinnipegREALTORS^®’ MLS^® in 2019 was instrumental in generating higher listings, sales and dollar volume totals.

The city of Winnipeg remains the dominant selling area within WinnipegREALTORS^® market region with 71% of residential-detached and nearly 85% of condominium sales. However, when it comes to vacant lot sales, of which there were 502 in 2019, rural MLS^® areas dominate with over 90% of total sales.

WinnipegREALTORS^® market region showed very little change in average 2019 residential-detached and condominium sale prices in comparison to 2018. The 2019 average residential-detached sales price was $324,122 versus $321,945 in 2018. Condominiums showed less than a $1,000 difference with a slight decrease from $238,916 in 2019 to $238,088 in 2018.

Speaking of the main MLS^® zones within Winnipeg and those many MLS^® rural areas outside Winnipeg, average residential-detached sale prices in 2019 were remarkably similar to 2018. The biggest gain at 3.5% was the Winnipeg west MLS^® zone (north of Assiniboine River). It went from $251,588 in 2018 to $260,453 in 2019. The only decrease was in the rural MLS^® zone which saw its average sales price drop from $308,320 to $305,035. The highest average sales price is in the southwest Winnipeg MLS^® zone at $426,573.

As for sales, the rural MLS^® zone saw a 16% jump in sales activity due primarily to the significant increase in activity in the South Central Plains MLS^® area on WinnipegREALTORS^®’ MLS^®. The only drop in sales activity was in the Winnipeg west MLS^® zone. It was a very modest 2.6%.

For the two main property types, residential-detached and condominiums, total sales were up 5% and 7% respectively compared to last year. There were 9,788 residential-detached sales and 1,750 condo sales. While representing less than 5% of total MLS^® market share, single-attached properties really stood out in 2019 with 640 sales, a 24% increase over 2018.

Affordability remains firmly intact as nearly three out of four condominium sales in 2019 were at prices under $300,000, whereas 76% of residential-detached sold for under $400,000 with nearly one in two selling for under $300,000.

The highest residential-detached home to sell in 2019 was for $2,290,000, while the most expensive condominium to sell was $1,300,000.

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