Okanagan and Big White Ski Resort Real Estate Update

January was a great start to the new year with the Okanagan and Big White Ski Resort real estate market leveling out yet still producing high levels of deals. Even with mortgage rates rising, and an already difficult market to jump into, it seems to have remained steady through January and is picking up momentum as we go through February. A slight decrease in listing and sales price has made the market a bit more achievable and many people who were waiting to see this decrease are now jumping in on the action.

It is still a quite even market with it not favoring neither the seller nor the buyer at the moment. Sellers are acknowledging the prices have taken a slight downturn, but are still, of course, wanting top dollar for their property. Buyers seems to notice the small decrease in price and have been committing to purchase.

Okanagan Real Estate Update

Sales have seen a decrease in the Okanagan area with just 63 single family residence sales in the month of January, a 59% drop compared to January 2022. However the inventory has increased dramatically with 161% more properties available for sale. Currently sitting at 699 single family homes on the market. The average days to sell has increased to 81 – a large leap if compared to the same time last year when it was just 36 days. Which we know was unfamiliar and unprecedented.

The price ratio for January sat at 95.51% – on par for the market we were used to seeing prior to the pandemic. Comparing to last year is almost irrelevant because as we know most homes were selling for full list price and some way above list price.

So far this year the market seems steady throughout the Okanagan and is giving a chance to buyers to be able to purchase their first property or even their first investment property.

A great development that would work as a primary residence or investment property are the new townhomes at West 61 at Shannon Lake in West Kelowna. These 2/3 bedroom units offer views of Shannon Lake, top notch amenities, and modern luxury elements. Starting at $799k, these properties are a must see and are scheduled for completion August 2023.

Big White Ski Resort Real Estate Update

Big White Ski Resort had a slower January, with only 3 sales at the resort. However, the activity has increased quite a bit over the past two weeks and inventory has been selling at a faster pace that the beginning of this year. The average sale price at the resort in January was $650,667 – an increase of 13% when compared to January 2022.

All of the events happening at the resort are a factor in the real estate market. More and more locals and travelers alike are spending much more time at the resort. It’s also a factor with overseas buyers that the resort is exempt from the Foreign Buyer Ban really making Big White the ideal place to invest. The average days a property is spending on the market at the resort is just 53 days. Fairly on par if you compare to the same time last year where the average was 50 days.

If you are looking to build at Big White Ski Resort, Monashee Way is offering lots starting at $375k – these properties are ski-in/ski-out, with no rental restrictions. Build your dream chalet with the builder of your choice.

If you, or someone you know is looking to either get into the real estate market or perhaps free up some of your property assets, feel free to reach out – I would be happy to answer any questions and assist throughout the process.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL OF MY CURRENT LISTINGS

Historic and Exciting News for Big White Ski Resort

In the last 54 years, we went from no accommodations, the first one was constructed in 1968, to what you see at Big White Ski Resort today which is just over 3,000 units.

There has been quintessential development and steady growth at the resort and it’s exciting to hear and now share the historic and exciting news for Big White Ski Resort that is currently in the works and the future plans. In addition to accommodation developments, Big White has grown to be the second largest lift system in Canada.

Historic and Exciting News for Big White Ski Resort

Black Forest Residences is marketed and sold by EPIC Real Estate Solutions Inc. I provide buyer representation to those interested.

As the 1999 master plan completes, the resort focuses on the Black Forest area. This included a $6m utility investment, $1m skier overpass, and 8 development sites this past summer. The developmental sites include:

  • Staff accommodations for up to 400 more staff;
  • an 11 acre site for 44 single and duplex buildings called The Glades with Acorn Communities;
  • a 7.5 acre, 35 homes and 15 townhomes development by Iron Horse Developments; and a
  • 172 unit development offering micro suites. Which is currently preselling with K-West.

For information on these developments, as well as future plans, please visit Big White Ski Resort’s website, or contact Jordan Hettinga ([email protected]) or Paul Plocktis ([email protected])

M​onashee Ridge is another development that has been a desirable place for buyers. These chalet’s are ski-in/ski-out with low strata fees, snowmobile accessible, and feature stunning mountain views. These 3-4 bedroom properties offers vaulted ceilings, open concept floorplan and room for everything.

As in the previously published blog, in the resort’s new 50 year master plan, there will be a tremendous increase in further accommodations and terrain.

When this historic and exciting news for Big White Ski Resort is approved, the plan would increase skiable terrain to over 1000 hectares and the number of lifts would total 35. To handle all of this, the resort would double in size and number of developments.

Big White Ski Resort has a bright future and one of the contributing factors is that Big White doesn’t have any land in ALR, so you can still purchase a property walking or sliding distance to the Village, and 100% of the overnight accommodations are ski-in/ski out. This is significant in differentiating Big White from other Canadian resorts such as Whistler which over offers approximately 20% of their bed base deemed ski-in/ski out.

(information source: Jordan Hettinga)

Big White Homes Are Avoiding Correction

There is no doubt that we have been seeing a slight down turn in the median home prices since Spring of this year. This is partly due to more inventory being available and the rising mortgage rates. Big White Ski Resort, among other ski resorts in Canada, have avoided the correction and are predicted to only see a 3% decrease in median price on high-end homes.

Big White Ski Resort and other ski resorts have remained strong within this market due to foreign buyers motivated to purchase before the ban takes place, which is on January 1 2023. However, Big White Ski Resort is exempt from the ban, making it a great area to purchase as a foreign buyer.

Another reason is that even though the mortgage rates are higher than normal, when people purchase at a ski resort it is more than likely a second home. With that in play, many people take out equity in their primary home in order to purchase their secondary vacation home. So there is no need for a mortgage and the rising rates won’t deter them from a purchase.

big white homesBig White Homes

The average sale price for Big White homes in 2021  was $490,000. When you compare that to this year’s (to-date) average sale price at $606,000, it is quite an increase and confirms that the resort has not seen the dip that was expected.

That being said, prices have slightly shifted but sellers who bought within the height are still gaining profit in their sale, just with a slight price decrease if you compare it to earlier this year.

There are currently 76 Big White Homes  listed at Big White Ski Resort and with an array of options available, there can be a property found whatever your budget may be. If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell at Big White Ski Resort, you can reach out to me here.

Seeing a Shift in The Okanagan’s Real Estate Market

We are fairly used to seeing a shift in Okanagan’s Real Estate market in the Fall. However, this is not the typical shift we are used to seeing. There are many properties being listed but we have seen a decrease in closed deals, about 35% less than last September. Many factors contribute to this shift. Including the increase of mortgage rates and rules, more inventory being available, and of course the listing price spike that has not come down as much as many potential home buyers would like to see.

Seeing a Shift in The Okanagan’s Real Estate Market

Properties are staying on the market a bit longer than last September with an increase of about 65%. The inventory level has increased a substantial amount (112%) compared to September of 2021, leaving potential home buyers more options. This is good to see as it creates a more balance buyer/seller market and not necessarily favoring one side or the other. The price ratio has also dropped,. Meaning properties are not all going for full list price and/or over list price, which again is nice to see for potential home buyers looking to get into the market for the first time.

Inventory at Big White Ski Resort has also increased when compared to last year, an increase of about 48%, but with less sales overall in September 2022 vs. September 2021. The market at the resort has remained strong throughout the off season and is already picking up as we get closer to the opening of the Winter 2022/23 season. The average sale price in September 2022 was just over $500,000 ($516,750) while September 2021 saw an average sale price of $479,450.

The prices at the resort are competitive, strong, and overall a great starting point when looking to invest in a ski property. Currently there are 68 active listings at Big White, some starting below $175,000 and some all the way up to luxury prices around 1.5 to 2 million dollars.

If you are interested in further discussing the real estate market, or how your property can fit in todays market, I would be happy to chat further – contact me here or give me a call at 778-231-0308.

Okanagan’s Real Estate Market is Getting Real

As we head closer to fall weather, the Okanagan’s real estate market is getting real and finally cooling off. After 18+ months of a frenzy, we are now seeing a more balanced market. The market is favoring neither the buyer or seller at the moment but is teetering in between a buyer and seller market. This can make it more difficult in some cases as both the buyers and sellers may plan to wait it out to see how the power shifts. This creates lower number of sales, a drop in average sale price, and more days being spent on the market.

However, with all of that being said, we are never sure of the turn real estate will take and if, in your life, now is the time to either sell or buy, you will get a satisfactory outcome. There are always buyers looking, and always sellers selling, but the two need to match up in order to create a transaction.

So let’s look at the recent stats

The average sale price for a single family home in the Okanagan has not dropped under 1million yet. It has however dropped a touch since last month and now sits at $1,077,431. The price ratio has dropped to 96.90% compared to the 100.68% it sat at in July of 2021.

As expected in the summer months, sales at Big White Ski Resort have taken a slight dip. Although the mountain is open in the summer months, the volume of visitors is not nearly what the winter months bring in. Thus creates less of a frenzy when looking to purchase a property at the resort. The resort has seen over 100 residential transactions thus far in 2022. The average sale price is sitting at an affordable $616,904.

Big White’s inventory is on par, with 59 active residential listings and 4 commercial listings. As always there are affordable, studio units, or more luxurious million dollar properties. (Check out all current listings here) Both are great for producing revenue while renting out or to enjoy yourself during a weekend family getaway.

For more real estate information, to start on your real estate journey, or to build your current portfolio, reach out today.

LIVE WHERE YOU PLAY

Gear up for Summer at Big White

Its time to gear up for summer at Big White because the resort is opening on June 30, 2022 for its summer season! If you read my last blog post, you are aware of some pretty incredible events and experiences lined up. Like the Craft & Country Music Festival happening on July 16th. This year marks the resort’s 7th year of hosting this event that features tons of great breweries, cideries, and this year featuring music from The Heels.

There are so many more events to talk about, so lets dive into it!

Events to Gear up for Summer at Big White

The resort is still looking for ambitious volunteers for this years Community Clean Up. This is a great way to get outdoors and make sure the resort is looking impeccable for the summer months! To register or find more information just head to this link.

The Okanagan Graveller, brought to us by the team behind the iconic Okanagan Granfondo in Penticton, is a 2 day, 3 distance weekend that the resort is thrilled to host June 18-19, 2022. The Village is sure to be bustling with excitement in the beer gardens with entertainment and BBQ after the ride.

If you enjoy trail running, then the Big White Peak Challenge is perfect for you. Being held on July 10, 2022, this event is brought to us by Hoodoo Adventure Company. Two distances to choose from, including a 11km trail with 633m elevation gain or a 32km trail with 1940m elevation gain. Both of these trails will leave you in awe after trekking on dirt roads, around lakes, atop ridges, and featuring amazing mountain views.

April Real Estate Stats

April, finishing up the first quarter, was a fairly strong month for real estate at the resort. Keeping up with the previous months thus far 2022. April saw 13 sales, a 40% decrease from April 2021, but saw an average sale price increase of 32% from the previous April. The average days to sell continues to see a decrease from April of 2021 and the homes at the resort are sitting on the market an average of 45 days.

21 new listings hit the market during the month of April, and the close to list price on sold listings was 98%.

As of today, May 9th, there are 47 active listings at Big White Ski Resort. These listings range from a studio units for under 200k all the way up to multi million dollar chalets.

Feel free to reach out and contact me with any question you have about Big White, the summer season, and what’s happening in Real Estate!

Get Ready for Summer at Big White

April 5, 2022 marked the last day of the Winter 2021/2022 season. You know what that means now? It’s time to get ready for summer at Big White!

This years summer season will start on June 30th and run until September 5th, 2022. Last summer it was incredible to see the events and amount of action we had even with restrictions were in place and we are excited this summer to pump it up to the next level because this summer is sure to be jam packed with events for the entire family. It’s very exciting to see the resort thriving and people being able to get outdoors more. Because as you know, it’s better to be outside!

Events

Big White Resort is bringing back many favorites like Craft & Country Music Festival, Freeride Days, Mountain bike boot camps and Spartan Race. You can find all the details about the resort’s summer events here.

The Annual Big White Community Clean Up takes place on June 11th, prior to opening day, to ensure the resort is in tip top shapes after all of the snow has melted. There is also a complimentary BBQ & t shirt for those who participate. Disposable gloves and garbage bags will be provided after registration which takes place at 9am in the Village. For further information click here.

New Developments

There is more than just events happening at the resort. There are multiple new developments underway. This is exciting and promising to see as more and more people are interested in buying a piece of beautiful Big White Ski Resort. Modern mountain living is coming and some pre-sales are already happening!

Monashee Ridge at Big White is mountain living at its best! Ski-in and ski-out, these single family homes boast spectacular views, modern mountain designs and low strata fees. Phase 1 has already sold out, so make sure to get your foot in the door for phase 2…coming soon!

Vita Residences at Black Forest by K West Homes are affordable smart, fully furnished studios starting at $399k. A $60M development, there will be 200 condos located just 50m from the base of the Black Forest chair lift.

Two more developments in Black Forest, Wild Wood and Blackhawk, are scheduled to commence in Fall 2022. Wild Wood will consist of 24 lots (single family or duplexes) with homes starting at $900k and Blackhawk will offer 16 townhomes.

Spyglass at Big White, luxury townhouses in Happy Valley, is currently constructing their final phase of 27 units. These townhouses are scheduled to be move-in ready for the 2022/23 ski season!

Big White Stats

April has continued to be a strong real estate market. The average sale price thus far is $850,613 – with a total of 8 properties being firmed up this month. The average days to sell since the beginning of the year is sitting at just 41 days. The same time frame last year we were seeing an average of 57 days on the market for a Big White property.

Currently there are 54 properties listed in the Big White area. There are affordable options, starting at 184k, all the way up to multi million dollar townhomes and chalets. The close price to list price is remaining high at 99.1% in April.

The summer season is exciting to watch grow because since 2017, the first summer season open, the resort has absolutely flourished with events, developments, businesses, and relationships all over the globe.

Feel free to reach out and contact me with any question you have about Big White, the summer season, and what’s happening in Real Estate!

Spring Break at Big White Ski Resort

Spring break is just around the corner and Big White Ski Resort is going to be the place to be! Many events over the past two years were canceled due to the pandemic, but with more Covid restrictions easing, the resort has some incredible events planned for the coming weeks. It’s an exciting time on the mountain because with more events, comes more guests getting to experience the beautiful resort.

What’s Happening

  • After two years of hiatus, the Neil Edgeworth Memorial Banked Slalom is going ahead this year on March 26 and 27th.
  • The 10th annual Big White Firefighter rooftop campout is March 18-20th. The goal this year is to raise $10,000 with 100% going towards the Thrive Foundation, BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund.
  • Calling all healthcare workers(IH staff): FREE lift passes and 50% off ski/board rentals on March 30th!
  • AltiTunes Music Fest featuring the Arkells is a much anticipated event at the resort this year. A great way to reconnect and have fun. 

Real Estate Recap

The more people that arrive and visit the resort and see how amazing it is, more people are interested in purchasing a slice of Big White Ski Resort for themselves. We have seen 56 sales so far in 2022, fairly on par from last year and almost doubling the sales from 2020. With over 35 million dollars worth of property being sold so far, the resort is on track for another high transactional year.

With lower inventory than average, the resort has been expanding their residential areas and many new developments are in the making. Monashee Ridge for example is a new development offering luxury finishes and awesome location that has become an extremely popular choice for buyers.

Not only are there less options on the market, currently only 44 listings, but the listings themselves are being snatched up quicker than normal. 2022 is seeing an average days of market of just 44, a decrease from 2021’s average of 55 days. Less inventory means more competition and the average sale price so far in 2022 ($626,660) shows just how popular the resort is becoming.

Don’t be worried though because there are many opportunities to purchase real estate at Big White Ski Resort for less than that. Currently the most affordable option is a studio unit in the Whitefoot Lodge and it’s listed at $139,000. However, on the flip side, if luxury is your cup of tea, the most expensive listing is $1,999,999 luxury chalet in Feathertop Estates.

With so many eventful happenings at the resort, is it time for you to join the fun? To learn more or to get started on your Big White real estate journey, contact me today!

Big White Ski Resort 2022

We are over one month into 2022 already and Big White Ski Resort continues to break the mould in many ways. Rising above the challenges and restrictions, the mountain has maintained and elevated real estate growth and development. With the Coquihalla Highway reopened to regular traffic and exciting events scheduled, the resort is becoming a more sought after place than it already was. Travelers from afar, and locals are both vying for the opportunity to own property at Big White Ski Resort.

Big White Ski Resort so far in 2022

This January we saw 24 sales at the resort, which is fairly on par as last year saw 23 sales. Again, fairly on par was the total volume of sales reaching 14 million this year, up 2 million from last years number. A number that was saw a big difference in was inventory. Not news for anyone that has been keeping tabs on the Kelowna market, but for Big White, this is a large difference that has just been affecting the market. January 2021 had 73 active listings including condos, lots, etc.. This past January only 34 active listings were available on the market. More than a 50% decrease in inventory. Which, leads us into the current happenings as we continue through February.

Currently there are 36 active listings. From the most affordable studio unit at $165,000 to an under construction luxury chalet at $1,599,900. There still is a price point for everyone and the potential investment opportunity is, for some, just too good to pass up. Some listings are being quickly snapped off the market at full or higher than list price and sometimes subject-free. That is not the case for every property however so there are still many good chances to find your perfect Big White Ski Resort property.

In other news

The resort is finally bringing in and scheduling more and more events as we see the COVID-19 restrictions slowly easing off. A couple of events that have ears buzzing are:

AltiTunes Music Fest – The Arkells are headlining this incredible outdoor event at Big White Ski Resort along with Juno award winner Lights. This festival takes place April 2-3, 2022 and tickets are already on sale! Find more information here.

The Moose Cruz – A scavenger hunt like no other! This widely popular event is back and on February 19, 2022 you can join the fun. Find more information here.

As the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games start, we are ready to cheer on our very own Tess Critchlow!  The home-town hero is representing Canada in Snowboard Cross and we are all extremely proud and excited for her.

With so many eventful happenings at the resort, is it time for you to join the fun? To learn more or to get started on your Big White real estate journey, contact me today!

Real Estate Year in Review: 2021

What a year 2021 was for Real Estate at Big White Ski Resort! The resort faced many challenges from new covid protocols, major highway closures, and fires threatening the area but has persevered and continues to remain strong.

2021 Year in Review

251 deals were completed during 2021, a jump from the 213 in 2020 but fairly on par. This final number includes lots, single family homes and condos.

Another noticeable jump we saw was the average sale price. In 2020 it was $469,721 and last year, 2021 the average sale price was $516,184. An increase that many owners are happy to see – whether its their investment property or family vacation home.

Even with the average sale price hovered around half a million, we did see studio units go for under 100k! On the flipside we also saw luxury chalets go for over 1.5 million. The gap between highest and lowest sale price is good to see because it means that whatever your budget is, Big White Ski Resort can offer you what you are looking for.

A shocking but welcoming decrease was the average days to sell. Falling down from 101 days in 2020 to just 55 days during 2021. Some homes also sold after 1 day on the market.

Another interesting statistic is the list to close price ratio. While in 2020 it sat at 96.8%, 2021 jumped to 99.1%.

For December 2021 market stats click here

2022 Forecast

2022 is shaping up to be on par with 2021. With many people traveling in from other countries again as well as many locals now purchasing at the resort, real estate is not expected to slow down.

Looking to invest or have questions about your Big White property? Feel free to reach out on my cell 778-231-0308 or contact me here.