Market activity declined further in August with sales dropping to their lowest level this year.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,155 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in August, a decrease of 38.5 per cent compared to the 1,879 sales in August of last year, and a 10.5 per cent decrease compared to the 1,290 sales in July 2018.

Sales of attached homes continued to represent over fifty per cent of all activity in the Fraser Valley this month, with 294 townhouses and 318 apartments selling in August.

“With demand slowing down and prices staying put, both buyers and sellers can expect to see an easing of competition with less multiple offer situations,” said John Barbisan, President of the Board. “Right now, effective pricing is key and will be the determining factor for a successful transaction.”

Active inventory for the Fraser Valley in July finished at 7,339 listings, decreasing 0.8 per cent month-over-month and increasing 28.5 per cent year-over-year.

Click here for the full report.

With September well underway, it can be all too easy to become overwhelmed by the hectic back-to-school shuffle. Between scheduling school pickups, drop-offs, daycare, and more, that first month of having your kids return to school can be challenging for parents too. Struggling with the back-to-school blues? These helpful tips are sure to help you multitask like a true parenting pro!

Create A Calendar

Plastering sticky note reminders on the fridge can only get you so far! A calendar is a great way to organize your schedule and help you stay on top of your busy day-to-day activities. Whenever you find yourself forgetting when the next soccer practice or PTA meeting is, having a calendar as a go-to resource can be an absolute blessing. Plus, for the tech-savvy parents out there, you can set-up a calendar on your phone to provide helpful notifications for upcoming events.

Meal Prep

We have all struggled through the hardship that is Monday morning. The last thing you want to do while half-awake and bleary-eyed is act as the family chef. Try prepping your children’s lunches the Sunday before the week starts to save yourself from a manic Monday morning. To make the most of your time, use this chance to also prepare your own meals for the week. A parent has to eat too!

Set A Regular Bedtime

Bedtimes are not just for kids! Trying to corral children into getting ready for school each morning is a lot easier after a good night’s sleep. If it’s a weeknight, skip the late night TV and head to bed. Your body and brain will thank you in the morning.

Exciting news! I’ve launched a new tool on my website to make it easier for you to find your dream home or just stay informed about what’s going on in the local real estate market.

My new saved search feature lets you create and save a custom property search and get notifications in your inbox whenever new properties match your criteria.

Whether you’re actively looking for your next home, or just curious about what’s available around you, this tool will save you a lot of time. And you can rest easy knowing you’ll be one of the first people to know when your dream home hits the market.

I hope this makes your property quest easier and, as always, let me know if there’s anything I can help you with!

Stats are calculated comparing August 2018 to August 2017 .

To see more information on local stats in Abbotsford, please click here.