big white ski resort Archives - Joan Wolf, Big White REALTOR®

Ski Dazzle Show in LA: Showcasing Big White’s Real Estate Opportunities

December 11, 2024 by Joan Wolf

The 3-day Ski Dazzle Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center was nothing short of extraordinary. With thousands of attendees from across the region and beyond, the event was a whirlwind of energy, passion, and opportunity. As a representative of Big White real estate, I was thrilled to collaborate with Big White Ski Resort to showcase the unique lifestyle and investment opportunities available at this world-class destination.

Our booth, made vibrant through our collaboration with Big White Ski Resort, attracted significant attention from an international audience eager to learn about the resort. With brochures, stunning visuals, and engaging conversations, we captured the interest of skiers, snowboarders, and families dreaming of owning property in a pristine alpine setting. Big White’s reputation as Canada’s premier family-friendly ski resort, combined with its robust rental market and year-round appeal, resonated deeply with attendees.

Fireside Seminar

A standout moment for me was participating in the fireside seminar. This intimate setting allowed me to discuss the numerous benefits of purchasing property at Big White, including its strong sense of community, top-notch amenities, and the opportunity to own a piece of paradise in a thriving resort. The audience’s enthusiasm was palpable, with many attendees sharing how impressed they were by the resort’s charm and investment potential.

The Ski Dazzle Show provided an invaluable platform to connect with winter sports enthusiasts from the LA area and beyond. Many attendees were not only intrigued by Big White’s skiing and snowboarding offerings but also by the prospect of owning a vacation home or investment property in such an idyllic location.

This incredible collaboration with Big White Ski Resort allowed us to reach and inspire a diverse audience, planting seeds for future Big White homeowners. We left LA energized and grateful for the chance to share what makes this resort such a remarkable place to live, play, and invest.

25 Things to do at Big White Ski Resort on Your Winter Holiday

October 10, 2024 by Joan Wolf

Planning a winter holiday at Big White Ski Resort? You’re in for a treat! Whether you’re a seasoned skier, a snowboarding enthusiast, or simply looking for some cozy mountain relaxation, Big White has something for everyone. With endless activities, breathtaking landscapes, and a lively village atmosphere, there’s never a dull moment here. From thrilling snow sports to delightful après-ski experiences, here are 25 exciting things to do at Big White Ski Resort that will make your winter getaway unforgettable. Let the adventure begin!

Dining Ideas

Milkshakes at Black Diamond
Pizza at Underground Pizza
Tapas at The Globe
Family Dinner at Bullwheel
Hot chocolate by the fire in Happy Valley
Enjoy a pint at Snowshoe Sams
Romantic 7 course dinner at Six Degrees
Have a burger at Happy Valley Day Lodge
Coffee at Sprout Bread
Horse drawn sleigh dining tour

Adventure Ideas

Snowmobile tour
Tubing
Ice skating on Canada’s highest outdoor skating rink
Snowshoeing
Private ski or snowboarding lesson
Attend a Saturday night carnival
Dog sledding
Watch the fireworks
Horse drawn sleigh ride
Explore the village
Treat yourself to the Spa at Stonebridge
Enjoy the beautiful sunrises and sunsets
Fat biking
Twinkling trail lights
Loose Moose challenge

BONUS #26 Explore real estate with me, Joan Wolf!

No matter how you choose to spend your time at Big White Ski Resort, one thing is for sure—this winter holiday will be filled with excitement, adventure, and unforgettable memories. With so many activities to choose from, every member of the family can find something to love. As you wrap up your stay, you’ll leave with a heart full of joy and a longing to return to this snowy paradise. Start planning your next visit, because once you’ve experienced Big White, it’s hard to stay away!

Big White Summer Real Estate Market Update: 2024

September 9, 2024 by Joan Wolf

As the summer season winds down at Big White, it’s time to take a closer look at how the real estate market has performed over the past few months. The summer period is traditionally slower compared to the winter, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been significant activity. In fact, the market has remained relatively stable, showing promise as we approach the busy winter season.

Summer Sales: 2024 vs. 2023

From June 2024 through the end of August, there were 17 sales at Big White Ski Resort. This is fairly on par with last year’s numbers, which saw 19 sales during the same time period. While the volume of sales remains consistent, it is worth noting the range of properties that have exchanged hands. This summer saw sales ranging from a $165,000 studio unit to a $1,730,000 chalet. The diversity of options available ensures that both entry-level buyers and luxury home seekers have opportunities to invest in this vibrant resort.

The average sale price for the past four months was $604,558 CAD, showcasing a robust market where properties of varying sizes and price points are finding buyers. Compared to last year, the overall market sentiment remains optimistic, with demand steady despite minor fluctuations in the number of transactions.

Total Sales Value: Year to Date

As of September 2024, Big White has seen a total of $38,776,499 in real estate sales. While slightly below last year’s $43,995,000 figure for the same period, this year’s numbers demonstrate a strong performance given the general economic conditions affecting real estate markets globally. The nearly $5 million gap could be attributed to minor market slowdowns or timing differences in high-end property sales, but overall, Big White’s real estate market has proven to be resilient.

Days on Market: A Subtle Shift

One noticeable shift in the market this summer is the increase in the average days on market (DOM) for properties. Compared to last year, the average DOM has increased by 19%. This means that while properties are still selling, they are taking slightly longer to find the right buyers.

This could be attributed to several factors, including a shift in buyer behavior, the range of available inventory, or the seasonal nature of Big White’s market. While the winter season brings a flood of interest from those eager to secure a ski-in/ski-out property, the summer often sees a more relaxed pace. Buyers are likely taking their time, knowing that the high season is just around the corner.

Looking Ahead: Winter Market Opportunities

As we head into the upcoming winter season, we’re seeing an uptick in both new properties hitting the market and increased interest from potential buyers. Showings have picked up as people prepare for the ski season, which is traditionally the busiest time for real estate at Big White.

For buyers ready to make their move, now is an ideal time to take action. Many properties are currently vacant, offering immediate possession opportunities before the snow hits and the resort comes alive. Buying in the quieter summer months means less competition, and the chance to settle into a new home before the winter season begins in full swing.

Why Now is a Great Time to Buy

While summer may be slower in terms of transactions, it is the perfect time for serious buyers to take advantage of the market. Properties are more likely to be vacant and priced competitively, as sellers prepare for the increased demand of the winter season. If you’re looking for a property at Big White, acting now allows you to get ahead of the competition and secure a home that’s move-in ready before the snow starts to fall.

Whether you’re looking for a cozy condo, a family-friendly townhouse, or a luxury chalet, Big White continues to offer a wide range of properties for all kinds of buyers. With the winter season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to explore your options and invest in one of Canada’s most beloved ski resorts.

Get your early bird season passes now for Big White Ski Resort here.

Big White Community Clean Up Success

June 25, 2024 by Joan Wolf

I’d like to start off by thanking every single person who attended, set up, organized, and made an impact this past weekend at Big White Ski Resort. The 2024 Big White Community Clean Up was a success. The participation from everyone enhanced our beautiful resort and played a crucial role in preserving its beauty. It’s shocking to witness the amount of garbage that appears once the snow melts, but its beautiful to be a part of, and witness the community coming together and making a difference.

It was absolutely empowering to see a community so close come together and work hard. My wonderful children got up at 5am, on their first weekend of Summer break, and volunteered all day. They gave it their all and with such great attitudes, it was awesome to see.

A special thank you goes to Deputy Carlisle for taking the lead role and not only collaborating with the regional district and Big White Ski Resort community, but also providing supplies, equipment and valuable information. The impact from this event is encouraging to see and our progress enhanced the resilience to wildfires through the Fire Smart resources.

The Bull Wheel provided the nutritional lunch to all of the hungry helpers who participated in the clean up, and it was well a deserved meal!\

It was a bonus that the weather cooperated this year, it was such a great day to be outside. Live where you play, and keep it clean.

Spring Break 2024 at Big White Ski Resort

April 1, 2024 by Joan Wolf

How was your Spring Break? Mine? Well, it was incredible! We were able to get over 5 million in accepted offers and sales. The market like the ski hill had a very late start but it is awesome to see the action and continuing interest.

With the exemption from the short term rental ban and foreign buyer ban we fully expect that the interest from investors and relocating families will continue to grow exponentially.

I am so grateful and humbled that I get the opportunity to work with, collaborate with, learn from and do deals with Realtors who are consummate professionals and elevate our profession in every way.

Thank you to Jared Franczak Jesse East Mark Hetherington Brendan Stoneman Luke Cook I appreciate your hard work with me while navigating these new market conditions.

If you are ready to start your Big White property search – don’t hesitate to reach out 778-231-0308 or [email protected]

Top 5 Most Wanted Features in a Big White Ski Resort Property

February 7, 2024 by Joan Wolf

While every buyer is searching for something with their certain needs and wants, I am here to share the 5 most wanted features in a Big White Ski Resort property that are most common for buyers looking at purchasing property at the resort. Maybe a buyer is looking to check off all five of these boxes, or maybe just one, but these are the features that I have found to be the most wanted when working with both buyers and sellers at the resort.

TOP 5 MOST WANTED FEATURES IN A BIG WHITE SKI RESORT PROPERTY

Ski-in/Ski Out Access

Ski-in/ski-out access is a highly sought after feature. Luckily, unlike other ski resorts like Whistler, Big White offers arguably the best ski-in/ski-out accessibility from nearly every property at the resort. Whether its right outside the door or a short walk to the closest run, ski-in/ski-out access is an attainable feature no matter where on the mountain you are.

Well Run Strata

Having a predictable and proactive strata is another very important and wanted feature for those buyers looking to purchase a condo. As the majority of buyers are not living on the hill, having a well-run strata can ease the minds of buyers that are not always in the unit. With a well-run strata you can trust, a buyer can feel comfortable, and dependent that not only their unit will be looked after but the building itself maintained and functioning at the level they desire. Each building is different in how their strata runs so it is very important to work with a knowledgeable agent and of course review all strata documents.

Rental Income Potential

As previously stated, many buyers are not living on the hill and often look for rental income potential to offset costs when they are not using the property for personal use. Some units provide a steady stream of revenue and others can be limited due to many factors. Revenue potential varies depending on the type of unit, location, and amenities it offers. Many agents will provide past revenue numbers and a revenue forecast if available and applicable.

Location

This feature is completely dependant on each specific buyer but location is very important. Some buyers want to be right in the Village with amenities and activities just a few steps away, while others are looking for a more tranquil area. Happy Valley is a great location and highly sought after as it offers a close proximity to adventures such as ice skating, tubing, and more with also providing direct access to the Village from Lara’s Gondola.

View

Admittedly, this feature is not as important to some as say, ski-in/ski-out access, however many buyers are looking for a property that showcases the stunning Monashee Mountains. Whether it’s from a gorgeous chalet in Feathertop Estates or a condo in the Village centre, views can be a massive selling feature. With the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets that the resort is blessed with, its no wonder views make the top 5 most wanted features in a Big White Ski Resort property.

With the news of the foreign buyer ban being extended, and the resort being exempt from the short term rental ban, Big White Ski Resort is a superb investment for global and local clientele.

What’s Happening at Big White Ski Resort

October 25, 2023 by Joan Wolf

As we near the opening day, which is scheduled for November 23, 2023, there is lots happening at Big White Ski Resort. Each season the resort grows, replaces, and revamps many areas to improve hospitality, housing, and operations. According to the Regional District, over $100 million dollars in construction and maintenance is projected for the resort.

What’s Happening at Big White Ski Resort

Developments – The luxurious Feathertop Estates development is booming. There is a ton of construction happening in the area with new builds popping up all over the development. Foundations have been poured and constructed over the summer months, framing is taking place, and many chalets are in the lockup stage. This is exciting as we are starting to see them come together and ready for the finishing touches.

More new developments are also taking place in Black Forest, Porcupine, Sundance, and Monashee Ridge. They are coming along nicely and will be a great addition to the resort once complete.

Some of the complex buildings are also getting facelifts including Snow Ghost Inn. This is great to see updates happening around the resort and not just new construction.

You may notice a large pile of sand at the bottom of Big White Road that will be used for the roads. Speaking of transportation, some more exciting developmental news is that the resort has commenced building the first phase of the $600,000 upper parking lot at Black Forest. This parking lot will hold an additional 250 vehicles!

Tourism/Operations – Snow cats are a huge part of the resorts success and the resort has brought in some new ones and have been working to maintain the current ones so everything is ready to go once the snow starts to fly. There is a new restaurant in the works that will be ready for opening day. A welcomed addition to the Village, along with new electronic signs throughout the resort. Boxes and boxes currently fill the Village Centre as a new central reservations team prepares for the season.

It’s very exciting to see all of these preparations come together as we are expected to have an awesome Winter 2023/24 season.

What That Means for Real Estate

Both showings and deals have picked up immensely over the past few weeks. As normal, the off season slows down but now we are seeing a steady increase. Buyers, nationally and internationally are starting to get serious about putting in offers and many are arriving at the resort prior to opening day to secure their perfect ski home in time for the Winter season.

An abundance of showings over the past weekend has brought in multiple offers on a variety of styles of homes from 1 bedroom units at The Inn at Big White to multi-million dollar chalets with unbelievable views.

If you have any questions or would like to see where your property would be in today’s market at the resort, feel free to reach out anytime! Always reachable by phone 1-778-231-0308 or email [email protected]

Property at Big White Ski Resort

October 5, 2023 by Joan Wolf

Property at Big White Ski Resort is more than just owning a vacation home. The potential revenue that comes along with your investment plays a major role in your purchasing power. Finding properties that double as a vacation home and a rental property with great earning potential are a rare find. Especially when other resorts such as Whistler have speculation tax. Big White Ski Resort is exempt from that tax making it an even more desirable place to invest.

Owner/Rental Use

Depending on how much you use your property for personal use, the revenue potential can be vast. Renting out your property during the high times such as Christmas and New Years break and Spring break, can yield some great revenue and also provides an opportunity to still use the property personal use during other times of the year. High end luxury chalets have potential to reach six figure rental revenue.

Location Location Location

Choosing an area of the resort is also imperative for both personal pleasure and when renting. Being in or close to the Village is a valuable asset for any property. Many people visiting the resort like to have immediate access to all amenities whether that is in Happy Valley or the Village centre. Speaking of amenities, if a condo is what you are after, comparing each complex’s amenities is important and will affect rental potential. You could go all out and enjoy Stonegate’s amenities which include indoor/outdoor pool, movie theatre, game room and much more. Or if you are looking for a more cost effective strata, a complex such as the Whitefoot lodge may be more ideal.

Owning property at Big White Ski Resort offers the chance to enjoy and revel in the best of both worlds. Using the property for personal use, hitting the slopes and enjoying family vacations along with a fantastic earning potential gives Big White a leg up on other Canadian ski resorts.

Are you ready to start the search for your perfect Big White Ski Resort property? Reach out today and let’s get looking!

Increased Activity at Big White and in the Okanagan

August 16, 2023 by Joan Wolf

We are seeing an increased amount of activity at Big White Ski Resort and within the Okanagan region within that last few weeks. The trend of the slower summer season was present, however, with summer coming to an end in the next few weeks, many buyers are keen to find a home.

Big White Ski Resort

Over 11 million dollars in sales have happened at Big White since July, a nice increase from the same time period last year where sales topped at 7 million. The average days to sell has however increased from 54 to 65 days because we are still seeing slower sales than average.

Closing day for the Summer season is September 4th. Meaning if you are wanting to get a few more mountain bike rides in, or finally get to the hike you only have a few weeks left. Winter ski season will be here before we know it and if this season is anything like last year we should except to see a large number of visitors, sales, and fun! Get to know everything Big White Summer here!

Some more exciting news is that Big White just introduced a state of the art car charging stations in Happy Valley! This is great to see for the growth of the resort. Read more about it here.

Okanagan

Since the beginning of August, 200 sales have happened within the Central Okanagan region including single family homes, condos, and townhomes. The average sale price within the same time period is 826,475. The average sale price for the month of August in 2022 was $854,854 so we seem to be fairly consistent with last year.

Although the smoke seems to have settled in hopefully it clears, maybe see a little rain, and we can soak in the remainder of August sun. The Okanagan has been blessed with a great tourist season thus far and many visitors are becoming more keen on purchasing real estate here in the Okanagan.

To be in the know, and receive up to date listings and information about the market, contact me here to get set-up!

March Fun at Big White Ski Resort

March 22, 2023March 21, 2023 by Joan Wolf

March is time for fun at Big White Ski Resort. With many heading to the mountain for Spring Break – the resort is bustling and full of life! Property owners and renters alike are enjoying time at the hill – and with these events its hard not to.

As for Real Estate, there are plenty of showings happening around the resort as well with more and more people interested in investing at Big White Ski Resort.

March Fun at Big White Ski Resort – events

Of course, every Saturday night, the greatest firework show in town explodes down in Happy Valley. Its the perfect chance for the family to enjoy some great fireworks, take a skate around the skating rink, slide your way down tube town, or just enjoy from a window overlooking Happy Valley. This event starts at 9pm every Saturday.

Another big hit in March is the Moose Cruz! Starting March 22-23, this scavenger hunt is like no other. Discover and engage with the mountain, solving clues, exploring terrain and of course the most important, having fun!! Find all the information you need here.

And, the highly popular AltiTunes Music Festival takes place March 31, April 1 at the resort. This highly anticipated event will rock the resort with bands like Moontricks, DJ Invizible, Meems, Shred Kelly and many more! This is a celebration with live music, outdoor activities, and of course skiing! This event is a 19+ event and tickets are selling FAST. Learn more about this event here.

Brief Real Estate Update

Along with all of the fun events happening at the resort, real estate is also busy and seems to have picked up with Spring break happening. Many buyers are looking to find a vacation home to retreat to on the weekends or during school breaks. Units have been renting quite well so far this year with many fully booked for the remainder of the season. Investing on the hill at this time is a great opportunity!

Whether you are searching for an affordable studio unit that you can lock and leave or a luxury chalet with beautiful views, the market is seeing it all. Many people are loving the buildings with amenities such as a pool, fitness room etc.. as it does set it apart from the others than do not have amenities and most do not have rental restrictions.

So far March has seen 6 firm deals, a drop compared to March last year which firm deals equaled 25. The average sale price in March 2022 was $690,128 while thus far March is sitting at an average of $509,417.

I will be on the hill all of Spring break – so give me a call or stop by my office in the Village under Snowshoe Sams. I have plenty of brochures for current listings and can answer any questions you may have about rental revenue, investing, and more! You can also start by contacting me here!