Bank of Mom and Dad Enabling Lofty Vancouver Home Buying Goals

Eyebrow-raising results emerge as local home buyers and sellers reveal aspirations, funding sources and opinions in comprehensive survey

The Bank of Mom and Dad is largely enabling young and move-up homebuyers achieve their seemingly ambitious property ownership goals in Metro Vancouver’s pricey real estate market.

This makes the transfer of generational wealth a key reason for the continuing rise in house prices in Metro Vancouver, and not just foreign buyers as is commonly perceived.

While much news has been focused on the rise of real estate prices due to foreign investment, what has been reported as ‘the biggest wealth transfer in history’ from baby-boomers to their children seems to be fuelling local buyer activities quietly in the background in terms of day-to-day transactions. This held true across all age demographics. Three-quarters of under-30s respondents anticipate help from the Bank of Mom and Dad to form a down payment, while even 64 per cent of upsizers in the 41-50 age bracket expect some financial help from family as well.

A survey that was done by REW.ca of about 400 readers in June also found that one-third of the respondents said inheritance would play a role in their purchase.

These game changers are influencing buyers’ beliefs that they can afford homes with larger price tags, even when they have lower incomes.

The survey clearly points to the high aspirations of homebuyers under the age of 30 for this reason. Although the household income for over 50 per cent of these respondents was under $70,000, about 75 per cent reported their budget as being over $400,000. 

The above finding contrasts with the 69 per cent of the survey respondents who feel foreign ownership is pushing up local home prices and the 60 per cent who would like to see limits placed on foreign ownership. Support for the first statement was strongest among the 21-30 age category at 72 per cent and support for the second statement highest among those earning $70,000 to $89,000 at 69 per cent.

From the 28-question survey, other key findings include the following:

What Local Buyers Can Afford                                                                

• The highest proportion of first-time buyers (40 per cent) expect to purchase a condo. Thirty-four per cent of them intend to spend less than $400,000 for a home, which is in line with the BC Real Estate Association’s 2014 findings that 32 per cent of Metro Vancouver homes were sold for less than $400,000.
• Just less than 40 per cent of respondents are looking for a house and 68 per cent have less than $700,000 for their budget.

Housing and Investment Value

• Respondents appear to have mixed feelings about whether Lower Mainland housing is a good investment or overvalued. Given that 77 per cent of the survey takers believe buying a home here is a good investment while 74 per cent feel homes in the area are overvalued, it may be that the word “overvalued” is seen as synonymous with “expensive.”

Importance of Transit

• Eighty per cent of respondents consider transit an important factor in determining where they live, with 46 per cent saying they are planning to buy close to a transit hub or major route.
• Transit is most significant to those 30 and under, with 84 per cent rating it very or somewhat important. Likewise, the 21-30 age category was the one most likely to purchase close to transit (57 per cent).

Opinions on Densification

• The survey found that support for densification appears to increase with household income – a surprising result given that densification is often touted as a way to address affordability concerns with lower income groups.

Contact Carmen if you want more info on the real estate market. 

Carmen Leal Real Estate | www.carmenleal.ca | E: carmen@carmenleal.ca | C: 604.218.4846