KELOWNA – Residential sales in the Okanagan slowed in September, with 884 sales posted to the MLS as compared to 1020 the previous month, down 13.3 % from August but still a 25.4% increase over September of last year reports the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB).
“While fewer sales indicate that the market may be starting to moderate, pricing and days on market are still relatively consistent, suggesting that our move towards a balanced market is likely to be a slow one,” comments Anthony Bastiaanssen, OMREB President and active realtors in the central Okanagan.
“Product inventory and new listings are also factors to consider,” adds Bastiaanssen. “When we see low inventories coupled with fewer new listings, we know that it is likely to be a while before the market balances. When we take all factors into account, we are still faced with a market where there are more buyers than homes to buy.”
Across the region spanning Peachland to Revelstoke, the average MLS residential price in September was $477,844.09, a 2.76% increase over August, likely due to the make-up of product sold, and a 13.44% increase over the same month last year.
New residential listings dropped 9% from August, while days on market stayed relatively constant at 84. Each market has particular characteristics which create challenges and opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you are looking to buy or to sell, Bastiaanssen advises talking to a local realtors to better understand the best buying or selling strategies to suit the conditions this market presents.
Taking a look at recent buyers of Okanagan properties, the largest buying groups are two parent families with children, at 28.9%, those from within the Okanagan at 54%, and first time buyers who, at 18.4%, edged out those moving to a similar-type property, at 18.2%, according to August results of an OMREB Buyer Survey.
“While there are slight shifts in the results, month over month, the profile of the Okanagan property buyer has remained relatively constant in the six years we’ve been conducting the survey,” says Bastiaanssen.
Adding that there was anticipation that the 15% increase in Property Transfer Tax for foreign buyers of Vancouver-area properties could result in a spike of foreign buyers purchasing Okanagan property. “We thought we might see more foreign buyers, because the 15% increase only applies when they purchase Vancouver-area property, but nothing, so far,” says Bastiaanssen.