More homes for sale, prices down after Fort McMurray wildfire

More homes were sold in Fort McMurrayin the six-month period followingthewildfire compared to the same period before the fire, the Wood Buffalo Recovery Committee heard Wednesday in a presentation from realtors.

The average sale price of homes dropped as much as 19 per cent in some cases.

Between June 1, last year andJan. 31, 685 homes were sold compared to 566 during the same period a year before, a difference of 119 homes.

Half-duplexes saw the largest drop in average sale price, almost 19 per cent, while mobile homes made modest gains in price, according to Fort McMurray Realtors.

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The group cautioned itsnumbers only capture publicly advertised sales and don't take into account private sales, nor buyer and seller motivations.

President Andrew Weir speculatedfactors other than May'swildfire have likely contributed to the number of homes up for sale and the dropin prices.

"The overall slowdown is attributed to the economy and also some mortgage rule changes that have come into place over the last few years," Weir said. "There has also been some work force relocation and some fly-in- fly-out programs that have left extra inventory on the market."

PastpresidentLynn Edwardssaid she's paying attention to how many homeowners are able to settle difficult insurance claims.

"There's a lot of insurance claims that have not been dealt with that is coming to a bit of a head here," shesaid. "So it would be interesting to see if there are going to be more houses coming up."

CBC News has done a series of stories featuring the"nightmare"policyholders have experiencedwithinsurance companies as they negotiate wildfire claims.

Red Cross Update

TheWood Buffalo Recovery Committee also heard from the Red Cross Wednesday.

MelanieSoler,associate vice president of disaster management in Alberta, said the organizationhas spent or committed over 66per cent of the $319 million it collectedfrom individual donors and matching funds

• Six months after the fire, families still reach out for help

Soler said the Red Cross spent the following on its Fort McMurray wildfire response:

• $183 million on relief for individuals and families

• $10.3 million to 82 community groups and non-profits

• $17.6 million, with more to come, to more than4,800 small businesses