Spring has arrived in the Okanagan. With above 20 degree weather, the grasses are greening and the homes are selling faster than ever before. It’s not new news that in the Spring time we see a rush in homes being listed and sold, but this year is taking it to another level. Because this is a strong sellers market, many of the homes are going into multiples and ending up going for above listing price with no conditions. It is a frustrating time for buyers looking for that perfect home but with a qualified, professional, knowledgeable agent, finding and purchasing your dream home is possible!
The Okanagan has so much to offer and people from all across Canada are discovering this little piece of paradise we call home. The outdoor lifestyle, great weather, and endless opportunity are appealing to everyone. That appeal however is driving up prices for anyone local trying to get into this market.
As we near the end of April lets take a quick peek at some stats:
- We have already seen 597 sales in the Central Okanagan whereas last years April saw 214. That is a 178% increase and the month isn’t even over yet
- $561,463 was the average price in April 2020, and with the sales conducted so far this April we are at an average sale price of $723,368
- A home is sitting on the market an average of 36 days compared to last years 66 days (45% decrease!)
Even though its now closed for the Winter Season, Big White Ski Resort is seeing the same increase. Number of sales and average sale prices are up tremendously from previous years. With their summer season approaching, everyone is keen to get outside and enjoy the activities offered; like world-class biking, hiking, festivals and more. More and more people are purchasing vacation homes close to home to escape to during these restricted times. You can check out Big White’s summer season here.
The velocity of the recent COVID-19 third wave, driven by the variants, is likely going to cause further restrictions and the Okanagan market has proven to be resilient and is expected to remain fast paced.
This is the time for sellers who are debating listing to really consider all of the incredible options out there. The Okanagan has never before seen a demand like this making it the perfect time to sell. On the other hand, if you are a buyer looking to purchase into this market, don’t get discouraged. Low borrowing rates create opportunity to step into the market.
As always, I am happy to answer any questions you have about the Okanagan and Big White real estate markets. Contact me today!
Real Estate Market
Recycling! Residents and visitors the resort can now drop off their refundable beverage containers at the region’s first Return-It Express & GO recycling station. This new service was a direct response to the needs of residents and visitors on the mountain. Located at 4500 Big White Rd., the new facility makes recycling easier by allowing drop off pre-bagged beverage containers without sorting them. Another cool feature of this amenity is the fact it is solar powered and housed in a repurposed shipping container. For further information check out this 
Near the end of May, the resort announced a 20% rebate on the 2020/2021 season pass for people renewing their 2019/2020 pass because of the early closure. Early big passes are available now, 
Spending the holidays at Big White Ski Resort is truly an amazing experience. The mountain is full of holiday spirit and as you walk through the village the festive vibe is always high. You can 
Christmas Eve at Big White is even more spectacular, it’s a magical night full of festive wonder. At 4:30pm the Christmas Eve Service lead by Pastor Jack 
If you can’t make it any of the other days come Saturday for all the fun! During the day there’s a ‘Patio Party’ at Sessions featuring DJs, vendors & bonfires from 11 am-5 pm (Sat & Sun). Enjoy live music, from Vancouver’s country trio,
HORSE DRAWN SLEIGH RIDES
The afternoon started by meeting at noon sharp outside of my Big White real estate office in the Village just under 
The final part of the tour took place at the world renowned Crescendo, which was just voted Worlds Best Ski Chalet 2019. A spectacular set of guest speakers including Graham Sullivan with Owner Relations, Marlin Weninger, the leading expert on construction at Big White, Harry Pettit with Royal LePage and Jim Loyd, Director of Sales, took the time to educate the attending Realtors on a few things that makes Big White Ski Resort special within the Real Estate industry worldwide.
“As Canada’s Favourite Family Resort, we are constantly investing in improving the sliding on snow, riding on lifts, and enjoying our hospitality. Year after year, families are returning to Big White because we are paying attention to their good times. And for that, we are truly thankful.” says Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President at Big White Ski Resort Ltd.
Kelsey Serwa is a Big White Ski Resort local, that made it big! Since learning how to walk Kelsey has been skiing at the resort and has made the community at Big White extremely proud , in fact, there is even a ski run named after her! The #homegrownheros favorite run is Born to Run.
The next stages of life for Kelsey include getting married this September, working towards her physiology degree and a six-stage mountain bike race. “I love racing. I love that feeling” Kelsey also recently started a scholarship fund which gave $10,000 to three different students-athletes.
This inagural event was hosted by Tom van Steenbergen and is the only FMB World Tour Gold event in North America. The event took place in Happy Valley and offered beer gardens, music, demos, food trucks and lots of excitement!
The worlds biggest women’s Slopestyle contest was held on Friday, and Canadian Stephanie Nychka topped the podium for the event. “With few bronze-level Slopestyle courses existing in the world, the female athletes had never been given a stage this large to compete on, and it brought out the best,” Big White said in a news release.
