The real estate market in Whistler is finally stabilizing as it emerges from the darkness of the past three years – although sales at the highest end remain soft.

Our inventory in Whistler is getting a lot tighter with fewer options for Buyers.  Today theinventory is down -19% less from the this time last year.  Our number of units sold is up 8% and the totals sales volume is up 48% in the first two months versus this time last year. Our average sales price is up 25% so far this year over last year’s average and the median price on home sales is up 9% over 2012.

Those heady days may be gone, but steady sales so far this year indicate a healthy rebound from 2009, when the Whistler real estate market started to hit bottom. The new normal is sitting well with many of us ready to get off the roller coaster. Although we have still not recovered to the height of 2007.

Needless to say, we need your help.  If you know anyone considering selling their Whistler property please let us know.  We have been selling our listings and we can’t let the well run dry.  90% of our listings have sold within 95% of the asking price.  For any referrals sent our way we are happy to stock your fridge full of Guiness!

NEW LISTINGS FOR WHISTLER:
http://matrix.buywhistler.com/DE.asp?ID=261641362
RECENT SOLDS FOR WHISTLER:
http://matrix.buywhistler.com/DE.asp?ID=261640217

Where does this leave our Luxury Market? Luxury Sales stumbles in Vancouver, but 2012 still records 2nd best year.

The BC luxury home market stumbled in 2012 as sales of high-end homes fell 36% from their peak in 2011. However, even with the drop, 2012 was still the 2nd best year in history for sales of luxury homes.

439 $3-million+ homes transacted in 2012, down from a peak of 691 in 2011. However, to demonstrate how far prices in BC’s real estate market have increased over the past 10 years, only 10 homes sold for over $3 million in the year 2000. Of the 439 homes that sold for over $3-million in 2012, 107 sold for over $5-million and 44 were condos or townhomes. The most expensive home sold in 2012 was by Macdonald Realty for $19.8 Million.

The majority of homes sold for over $3 million in 2012 were located in Vancouver’s Westside. West Vancouver was also well represented while a disproportionate number of expensive homes sold in South Surrey/White Rock. Outside the lower mainland, Vancouver Island saw 8 $3-million+ sales while the Okanagan recorded 4.

Dan Scarrow, Vice President at Macdonald Realty, believes that immigrant buying patterns are driving the luxury market. “For the past few years, we’ve seen lots of new investor-class immigrants coming into the market,” says Scarrow, “and they’re not just buying a house for themselves, but also 3 or 4 residential investment properties as well. This has meant that only certain areas with high investor-class immigrant populations have prospered.”

Scarrow, has seen a change though. “The past year has seen a significant shift in how these individuals purchase real estate,” he says, “now, they’re taking their time and only buying a principle residence.”

This is for two reasons. “First,” says Scarrow, “Vancouver-area house prices have grown at a disproportionately higher rate than other investment classes for the past few years and most investors realize that that trend cannot be in perpetuity. Second, expectations of flat prices results in speculators standing on the sidelines and a flat market becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

All that said, Scarrow still believes the market is resilient. “Buyers are still there and they’re not scared. They just no longer think that there’s any immediate urgency to buy. If you demonstrate value, people will still buy.”

The story has been somewhat different outside of the lower mainland as many areas never experienced the same Asian bump that Vancouver did. According to Macdonald Realty Kelowna manager Don Gerein, in the Okanagan, the luxury market still hasn’t fully recovered from the Financial Crisis. “For the past few years, there has been a good selection of properties on the market and fewer buyers,” says Gerein. “That said, buyers for this type of property are constantly looking for a deal and when the right deal on the right property shows up, they are ready to strike.”

Gerein is optimistic for 2013. “We expect more buyers for these properties to make decisions in 2013 as the economy improves.”

In Victoria, the story is similar. According to Macdonald Realty Victoria Manager Lynn Van de Kamp, the luxury market has struggled since the 2008 financial crisis. “We’re still playing catch-up from the peak at that time,” she says, “but I’m optimistic for this year.”

Lower Mainland 3 Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2012:

1) $19.8 Million
2) $16.2 Million
3) $14.2 Million

Okanagan 3 Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2012:

1) $5.7 Million
2) $5.25 Million
3) $3.75 Million

Vancouver Island 3 Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2012:

1) $5 Million
2) $4.451 Million
3) $4 Million

Whistler’s Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2012:

1)$8.8 Million
2)$5.180 Million
3)$4.40 Million