Kim Heizmann
KELOWNA – Residential sales for August decreased slightly to 1,034 compared to July’s 1,094 total units sold across the region of Revelstoke to Peachland yet remained up compared to this time last year by 43 per cent, reports the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB). New residential listings decreased 17 per cent from last month’s 1,494 yet narrowly missed August 2019’s 1,246, totaling 1,237 new listings.
The overall number of active listings dropped down 6 per cent to 3,658 over July’s inventory of 3,890 and came in 18 per cent lower compared to the same month last year.
“We are still seeing high sales activity despite the lack of inventory,” says OMREB President Kim Heizmann, adding that “we are at a stage where inventory is struggling to catch-up to the demand, especially in the single-family category – the most desired type of property postquarantine.”
“August did seem to act in typical seasonal fashion, softening after a busy summer as we head into fall.” The average number of days to sell a home, always a good barometer to watch, held firm at 89 days. It is important to note that OMREB reports on all market statistics for the entire Board region and that the indicators will vary depending on home type and sub-region.