It’s been a busy two weeks in our market! Here are the Whistler Real Estate listings and sales for the past 14 days.

New Listings - 25 new listings came to market.

Sold - 22 Whistler Real Estate sales including 7 chalets, 5 townhomes, 6 condos, 1 vacant land, 3 shared owner.

Featured Sale by John Ryan
31 Fitzsimmons Walk - $1,625,000 Represented Buyer and Seller

Market Watch - Whistler Real Estate Listings and Sales

Refer to the links below for all Whistler Real Estate Listing and Sale activity in the past 7 days:

New Listings - 21 new listings on the market ranging from $55k to $1,598,000

Back on Market - 2 listings returned to the Whistler Real Estate market

Price Changes - 16 listings had price changes. * Of note is 2924 Big Timber Court with a $1million price reduction!!

SOLD - 7 sales this week ranging from $215,000 at the Four Seasons Whistler to $2,300,000 for the Penthouse at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre.

Penthouse Sold at Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre

If you would like to be set up on our automatic email to receive listings/sales within your criteria please email us or complete the listing and sale notification at our Whistler Property Listings page.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER to be notified each time Market Watch is updated

* The above information is taken from the Whistler Listing System (WLS). As your Whistler Real Estate agent, we have access to all Whistler Real Estate Listings/Sales information. If you have thought of buying or selling in Whistler, please contact us. We can help you with all your real estate needs.

Refer to the links below for all Whistler Real Estate Listing and Sale activity in the past 7 days:

New Listings - 18 new listings on the market: 4 chalets, 5 townhomes, 7 condo/hotels, 2 shared owner/timeshare

Back on Market - 5 listings returned to the Whistler Real Estate market

Price Changes - 17 listings had price changes

SOLD - 9 sales this week ranging from $214,000 - $1,700,000

If you would like to be set up on our automatic email to receive listings/sales within your criteria please email us or complete the listing and sale notification at our Whistler Property Listings page.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER to be notified each time Market Watch is updated

* The above information is taken from the Whistler Listing System (WLS). As your Whistler Real Estate agent, we have access to all Whistler Real Estate Listings/Sales information. If you have thought of buying or selling in Whistler, please contact us. We can help you with all your real estate needs.

With significant wins in December and January and with February and March pacing well ahead of last year, this winter is shaping up to be one of - if not the - best winter season in recent years (post the 2008-recession) with regards to room night volumes.

Please note some highlights below:

Business Levels in Whistler:

• This past December was our busiest December on record in terms of room nights and saw a double digit increase over last winter.

• January is looking very strong compared to last year, and February, March and April are all pacing ahead.

• This winter is on track to be more than 10% ahead of last winter in terms of room night bookings.

Several factors affecting the positive results include:

• The success of Tourism Whistler’s efforts, which include:

• Enhanced Whistler profile from increased investment into brand marketing in key target markets - aimed at leveraging the global awareness garnered from the 2010 Winter Games.

• Gains in early bookings through a resort-wide early-booking program in partnership with our in-resort mountain and hotel stakeholders and our in-market tour operators.

• Significant interest generated by the Whistler Sabbatical Project - Tourism Whistler’s 2011/ 2012 winter marketing campaign.

• Whistler’s snow advantage - particularly compared to many major U.S. ski resorts.

Considerations:

• The volatility in the international economic climate has resulted in a shift in consumer behavior which experts suggest is permanent. How people spend has changed and travellers are seeking greater value for money than ever before.

• Regardless of budget - from moderate to luxury - people are looking to get the biggest bang for their buck - and Whistler is continuing to work hard, ensuring we deliver upon that.

We recognize how fortunate we are. Mother Nature has been very kind to Whistler this season - and we’re pleased to see other resorts starting to receive snow, as that is good for the entire ski industry for the long-term.

Barrett Fisher
President & CEO
Tourism Whistler

Lots of activity in the market this week!

Refer to the links below for all Whistler Real Estate Listing and Sale activity in the past 7 days:

New Listings - 30 new listings on the market

Back on Market - 3 listings returned to the Whistler Real Estate market

Price Changes - 16 listings had price changes

SOLD - 11 sales this week - 4 by our team!

• 26 Glacier Drive - $1,090,00 - Represented Buyer and Seller
• 520 First Tracks Lodge - $780,000 - Represented Seller
• 8 Lagoons - $339,000 - Represented Seller
• 701 Four Seasons Resort Whistler - $225,000 - Represented Seller

If you would like to be set up on our automatic email to receive listings/sales within your criteria please email us or complete the listing and sale notification at our Whistler Property Listings page.

* The above information is taken from the Whistler Listing System (WLS). As your Whistler Real Estate agent, we have access to all Whistler Real Estate Listings/Sales information. If you have thought of buying or selling in Whistler, please contact us. We can help you with all your real estate needs.

September saw an increase in sales activity when compared to the same period in 2010. There was an increase of 48% from 39 sales last year to 59 reported for 2011. Now one month does not make a trend but, when we look at the last 60 days, the sales volume has increased at a slightly slower rate of about 9% over the same period a year ago while the last 90 days of volume has increased about 16%.

Although total unit sales volume has not reached our peak historical levels, where we have seen as significant change is in the median sale price of townhomes, which is our most active area of sales. They have increased over this period from $459,000 in 2009 to $543,000 most recently, so we’re going in the right direction.

It would seem the market is showing all the signals of coming out of low spot, prices are firming, activity is steady and improving slowly. Troubling situations which weigh on the market are getting cleaned up (there are lots more foreclosures than a year ago) and we are anticipating a new floor level has been created on which we can build.

Buyers will continue to hold a strategic advantage but increasingly they will find that a delay could mean a missed opportunity the closer we get to ski season. Traditionally, Sellers become more entrenched in their pricing positions as the snow starts to fly so they can ski another season or rent out the property.

Great opportunity still exists, and the bottom of the market could be now?

Real Estate sales activity during the third quarter of 2011 was highlighted by strong activity in the townhome segment of the marketplace.

Overall, sales activity improved by approximately 7% over that reported for the same period last year. Strong interest continues in the marketplace for life-style oriented, ready to move into opportunities which should insure that sales activity for the year will exceed that achieved in 2010.

The average sales price for a single family home was $1,248,000; for a condominium was $265,240; and for a townhome $605,113, during the most recent quarter.

Current high levels of interest in Whistler real estate opportunities should continually support the improving sales activity which will begin to be reflected in sales values. Increasingly, we find that the best valued properties are attracting offers quickly as purchasers are following the market closely looking for the best opportunities.

WHERE DO OUR BUYERS COME FROM

Market activity through the first seven months of 2011 continued to maintain the steadily improving trend experienced since the beginning of 2010. The total value of sales was approximately 190 million dollars year-to-date, compared to 162 million one year ago. The total number of properties sold has increased approximately 37% from a year ago, with the largest increase in activity in the townhouse and condominium sectors.

Average values continue to maintain with the mean value for a single-family home being $1.1 million, a condominium at $305,000, and a townhouse at $622,000. In all cases, average values are higher than median values, indicating that the largest amount of activity is in the lower-priced properties. There continues to be a large number of properties for sale limiting price movement and buyers continue to have the advantage at the negotiation table. Price and good value are the key determinants to selling success. Based on the current volume of transactions and the number of properties for sale, we expect the market to continue to operate within the parameters we are currently experiencing for at least 12 months.

The fourth quarter of 2010 showed a strong rebound from the third quarter in terms of both total dollar value and total number of sales. The 2010 real estate market ended on a high note, plus the significant decline in the number of properties offered for sale leads us to believe there will be a positive market environment for 2011.

For the year ending December, although the total number of sales for the year was essentially unchanged from the year before, the total value of sales increased by 10%.

Within sectors, the single market performed at a very similar level to the year before in terms of number and value of sales, and average sales price. The year ended with the average sale price at just over $1,500,000.

The townhouse market was the strongest sub- market for the year with increases in average value, unit sales and total dollar volume. Overall, this category saw a 40% increase in volume indicators and average value rose to $779,535 for the year.

Condominium sales declined as a result of increased fixed costs and concerns about rental revenues. Average value declined to $382,000.

Single Family activity was stronger due to new developments, however average values fell as purchasers continued to show a preference for pre-built opportunities and lower-end prices than current lot values would indicate.

Our purchasers continue to be predominately Canadians with over 85 per cent of buyers (60% from metro Vancouver, 18% from Whistler). International buyers are from the US, the Pacific Rim and the UK, although exchange rate issues have impacted market share percentages.

Changing consumer trends and macro economic factors will continue to determine discretionary purchasers going forward.

To view our statistical information and our three big real estate stories of 2010, go to www.whistlerrealestate.ca

OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the
overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate
is 3/4 per cent.
The global economic recovery is proceeding largely as expected, although risks have increased.
As anticipated, private domestic demand in the United States is picking up slowly, while growth
in emerging-market economies has begun to ease to a more sustainable, but still robust, pace. In
Europe, recent data have been consistent with a modest recovery. At the same time, there is an
increased risk that sovereign debt concerns in several countries could trigger renewed strains in
global financial markets.
The recovery in Canada is proceeding at a moderate pace, although economic activity in the
second half of 2010 appears slightly weaker than the Bank projected in its October Monetary
Policy Report. In the third quarter, household spending was stronger than the Bank had
anticipated and growth in business investment was robust. However, net exports were weaker
than projected and continued to exert a significant drag on growth. This underlines a previously identified
risk that a combination of disappointing productivity performance and persistent
strength in the Canadian dollar could dampen the expected recovery of net exports.
Inflation dynamics in Canada have been broadly in line with the Bank’s expectations and the
underlying pressures affecting prices remain largely unchanged.
Reflecting all of these factors, the Bank has decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate
at 1 per cent. This leaves considerable monetary stimulus in place, consistent with achieving the
2 per cent inflation target in an environment of significant excess supply in Canada. Any further
reduction in monetary policy stimulus would need to be carefully considered.