The collapse of Vancouver‘s housing market has become worldwide news, with total sales plummeting 46% over the past year, dropping to a level not seen since 1986. Buyers continue to have the strong upper hand after years of manipulated price appreciation due to Chinese tycoon "hot money" flooding the market. That panic buying is now quickly turning to panic selling.

But the best part about the volatile swings in the Vancouver housing market isn’t that everybody knew that this would happen - we warned the crash was coming back in 2015 - and it isn’t that malinvestment is being punished, it’s that some fine people on social media are truly doing God's work: documenting, with sheer glee, Vancouver homes that have been sold for far below their asking price and are listed far below their last sold or assessed price.

Call them the "price discovery hecklers."

Two of the most popular accounts, @mortimer_1 and Vancouver Real Estate Flip Flops, constantly post examples of flops, much to the annoyance of local realtors. Here are a couple of prime examples:

Just sold for a $679,047 loss (+ expenses)



1715 22ND STREET, West Vancouver



Bought 2016 $4,179,047



Just sold for $3,500,000



2018 Assessed: $4,572,000

2017 Assessed: $4,876,000#vanre pic.twitter.com/1UdShjcAbk — Mortimer (@mortimer_1) April 11, 2019

TEXTBOOK GREATER FOOL CUTS ASKING PRICE $1M IN ONE SHOT ($2.6M TOTAL TO DATE), HAS $2M MORE TO GO, AND WILL LOSE +$1.75M



1575 29th Ave W, Shaughnessy, West Side #Vanre



Before I start... an initial ask of $7.6M on this property and the realtor can't put up pictures that don't pic.twitter.com/KcxvQe4FOM — Vancouver Real Estate Flip Flops (@VanREflipflops) April 11, 2019

Today's happy seller...



795 ANDOVER CRESCENT, West Vancouver



Stats will say this sold in "3" days...



Actually been trying to sell since May 2018... was asking $11,880,000



Just sold for $7,428,571#vanre pic.twitter.com/TivzJz6mBM — Mortimer (@mortimer_1) April 12, 2019

LISTED 14% BELOW ASSESSED AND 32% BELOW PEAK VALUE ON THE WEST SIDE



1949 Quilchena Cres, Quilchena Area (west of Shaughnessy), West Side #Vanre



Long time owner, first time listing



2019 Assessment $3.394M



Estimated peak mkt value $4.3M



Just listed today for $2.938M pic.twitter.com/X858mBrrhL — Vancouver Real Estate Flip Flops (@VanREflipflops) April 10, 2019

Most of the biggest discounts are coming from the top end of the real estate market and houses that have been listed for more than $1 million. Today, this pretty much includes any house in Vancouver, although that could soon be changing, as prices continue to plummet. According to data released by the Canadian Real Estate Association, the benchmark price for a property in Greater Vancouver is down 7.7% over the past year, to $1.011 million.

The BC Real Estate Association recently reported numbers that show the slowdown in Vancouver’s market is spreading to other parts of the province. Sales are down significantly at places like Chilliwack, the Fraser Valley and the Kooteny and Okanagan regions, as well as on Vancouver Island, including Victoria. Across the province, the benchmark house price is down 5.4% over the past year to $687,720.

BCREA chief economist Cameron Muir said in a statement: "B.C. home sales continue to be adversely impacted by federal mortgage policy. The erosion of affordability caused by the B-20 stress test has created near recession-level housing demand despite the province boasting the lowest unemployment rates in a decade. The sharp erosion of affordability caused by the B-20 stress test is now creating pent-up demand, as many would-be home buyers are forced to wait on the sidelines. Unfortunately, new home construction is slowing as well, which will likely lead to another housing supply crunch down the road."

We find it baffling that the "chief" economist didn't say one word about the influx of Chinese buying in Vancouver driving prices through the roof over the last few years... Unless of course there was a, gasp, conflict of interest.

On the other hand, many - us included - have been repeatedly warning that Vancouver would eventually collapse. We reported early this month on prices in the region plummeting, highlighting March's poor results. Moreover, our report showed that sales falling were not just limited to higher end luxury housing, but also included condos.

As we reported last week, total housing sales were 46.3% below the 10-year March sales average and was the lowest total for the month since 1986. Condo sales took a steep drop, falling 35% year-over-year as they play catch up with the detached housing market.

"Housing demand today isn’t aligning with our growing economy and low unemployment rates. The market trends we’re seeing are largely policy induced," Ashley Smith, REBGV president said. "For three years, governments at all levels have imposed new taxes and borrowing requirements on to the housing market...”

Alas, not one word on how and why the market was propped up this high to begin with...