KIM HEIZMANN
KELOWNA – Residential real estate sales across the region from Revelstoke to Eastgate Manning Park and into the South Peace River region are still seeing a strong seller’s market, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS®.
“The market has slowed down slightly due to a chronic lack of inventory but it’s by no means slow,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Kim Heizmann, adding that “listings are at record lows and not replenishing to meet the high demand.”
In the month of August, residential sales for the entire Association region totalled 1,140, relatively on par with July’s 1,143 sales. The year-over-year comparison showed a decrease of 15% from August 2020’s total sales of 1,347.
The supply of active residential listings was down 46% across the Association region compared to the 5,556 active listings of August last year.
“This chronic shortage of supply is putting upward pressure on pricing and making it a strong seller’s market” says Heizmann.
The benchmark price for homes in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and Shuswap/Revelstoke regions continued the trend of double-digit percentage increases in year-over-year comparisons in all home categories.
In the South Okanagan, where benchmark pricing is currently not available, average sale prices were up in year-over-year comparisons with the most significant increase in the condo category. In the South Peace River Region, average sale prices increased for both single-family homes and condominiums.
The Association of Interior REALTORS® was formerly formed on January 1, 2021 through the amalgamation of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board and the South Okanagan Real Estate Board.