Are you planning to sell your property this spring? Here are some tips for a successful spring sale.

• Price your home competitively — Research comparable properties in your area for what they listed and sold for and use these as a guide.

• Be prepared to negotiate on price and terms — Think about the lowest price that would be acceptable to you. • Give your home’s exterior some love — Expect potential buyers to examine the exterior more closely in the warmer months. Ensure your patio furniture is clean and wash the windows inside and outside if possible. For balconies, planters of colourful flowers go a long way. If you have a yard, clear any debris from the winter, consider putting down some fresh mulch, and tend to landscaping.

• Air out your home — Open the windows to let a cross-breeze through for fresh air. Also, consider placing some diffusers throughout your home for a pleasant scent.

• Stage seasonally — For example, since it’s springtime, setting out a vase of fresh tulips would be in tune with the season. Work with a professional stager.

• The entryway — This is your first opportunity to make a statement. Choose items that creates a lasting impression, such as a brand-new doormat, a nice framed mirror, a console and a matching bench. • Give your home a good spring clean — Depending on your region, winter can create a lot of extra dust from continuous heating. Consider hiring professional deep cleaners.

• Tend to any repairs — While this may seem obvious, depending on your region, winter can be rough on a home, so scan your home to see if you need to do any minor repairs or improvements.

• Declutter—Donate or sell anything that doesn’t have a practical or aesthetic purpose for a well-presented home.

Even if you aren’t preparing for a spring sale, many of these tips can be used to stay on top of home maintenance and keep your home humming into spring.

January 2025 is in the books and with that said, here’s how things are shaping up for South Okanagan Real Estate for the new year. 

Residential Sales for all property types in the South Okangan (excluding land sales) this saw quite an uptick in activity which is great to see and undoubtedly due to yet another interest rate drop and price adjustments since August of 2023. The South Okanagan Region saw $66.9 Million dollars in sales volume, a 69% increase by logging 105 sales an increase of 75% year over year.  Inventory is still higher than what we are used to seeing at over 10 months of inventory and 1057 active listings, which is yes antoher increase to record year over year of 16%.

The breakdown for Single Family Homes specifically in the South Okanagan saw increases in all 4 categories, sales where up 65% at 43, Benchmark values were up by 11% to $769,200, Inventory levels for single family homes grew 11% and the recorded days on market increased by 5% and 103 days on market as shown abouve.

In the townhouse relm, sales increased 78%, benchmark prices as well by 8%, and inventory came up year over year by 19%, while we saw decreases in days on market by 20%.

For the Condo/Apartment category, we saw increases in Sales 127%, and Inventory 37%, with a downward turn on Benchmark pricing by 4% at $400,700 and most definately due to the amount of active listings in this specific category recorded at 265, however the days on market also came down by 36% which is a hopefull figure if you are a seller in this category, but still patienly recording an average of 113 days on market.

We will continue to watch closely and keep you all well informed on the ever changing market conditions and post them right here. Please dont hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your buying/selling journey or need to know more about your properties value in todays market! 

Have a great February! 

Jean and Shelly

Hello All, 

Jean and Shelly here! We have been fielding some calls this week from some of our fantastic clients and thought we should send out some important updates on the most recent changes with BC housing and the notices many of you will recieve in the mail very soon, if not already!

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Province expanded the speculation and vacancy tax areas to 13 new communities and those residential property owners will need to declare for the first time in January 2025. Those NEW areas include:

• Vernon, Coldstream;

• Penticton, Summerland;

• Lake Country, Peachland;

• Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland;

• Parksville, Qualicum Beach;

• Salmon Arm; and

• Kamloops.

Residential property owners in these communities will need to declare for the first time in January 2025 based on how they used their property in 2024.

 ** Exemptions include primary residences, properties with a long-term tenant and life events, such as separation or divorce and please note that more than 99% of people living in B.C. are exempt from paying the tax.

Attached here is the quick link for you to easily declare from the comfort of your homes!  You will need the numbers sent to you on the notice handy, and your SIN number. 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/speculation-vacancy-tax

We are grateful and do appreciate that you all know you can call us for assistance anytime, for things real estate related or not!   

Please dont hesitate to reach out if you are still needing some assistance with these notices and talk soon. 

 Best, 

Jean and Shelly

Activity gained momentum in the final quarter of 2024, resulting in moderate price gains and setting the stage for a brisk spring marketDespite economic and political uncertainty – both in Canada and south of the border – a revival of our national real estate market is underway thanks to lower interest rates, changes to mortgage lending rules, and renewed buyer demand. Strong activity through the final months of 2024 in most major regions from coast to coast resulted in moderate price gains, nationally. 

According to the Royal LePage® House Price Survey released today, the aggregate1 price of a home in Canada increased 3.8% year over year to $819,600 in the fourth quarter of 2024. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the national aggregate home price remained essentially flat, rising a modest 0.5%. While activity began to flourish again in the final months of 2024, following sluggish demand in most major markets over the summer,  home price appreciation remained in check last quarter. 

“There are several converging factors revitalizing Canada’s real estate market and making home ownership more attainable,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage. “Interest rates have fallen sharply in recent months, with further reductions expected in 2025. We believe the Bank of Canada could lower rates by another 100 basis points by year end, steadily improving affordability. At the same time, new mortgage rules are already helping younger Canadians by increasing borrowing power and reducing monthly carrying costs.

“While geopolitical uncertainty and concerns over the Trump administration’s proposed trade policies may weigh on consumer confidence, residential real estate remains largely insulated from such external pressures in the short term. Canada’s housing market is fundamentally driven by domestic factors. With strong full-time job growth, improving housing supply in key markets, and more accessible financing, we expect healthy activity levels to persist, even as broader economic challenges unfold,” said Soper.

When broken out by housing type, the national median price of a single-family detached home increased 4.9% year over year to $855,900, while the median price of a condominium increased 1.5% year over year to $592,700. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, home prices remained virtually flat, with the median price of a single-family detached home increasing a modest 0.6%, and the median price of a condominium rising just 0.4%. Price data, which includes both resale and new build, is provided by RPS Real Property Solutions, a leading Canadian real estate valuation company.

What impact will a federal election have on the housing market?

An early federal election has become all but certain following the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the prorogation of government on January 6th. When the House of Commons resumes in late March, an immediate confidence vote is not expected to pass, triggering an election by mid-spring. The Liberal party is expected to select a new leader by March 9th.  

“With a federal election campaign at home and an aggressive stance on trade expected from the new U.S. administration, Canadians will be understandably nervous. That said, the critical need for housing in Canada transcends political cycles. The next government must prioritize addressing the supply crisis, which affects millions of Canadians seeking affordable shelter and stability for their families,” Soper commented. 

“For more than three decades, we’ve been underbuilding in Canada, a challenge worsened by the pandemic and our rapidly growing population. As we approach the federal election, housing access and affordability will undoubtedly be among the most pressing issues voters will demand candidates address.”

Revised mortgage policies and lower lending rates

New lending regulations came into effect at the end of 2024, aimed at improving accessibility for both first-time buyers and existing homeowners. Changes include the expansion of eligibility for 30-year amortizations on insured mortgages to all first-time homebuyers and all buyers of newly constructed homes, an increase from the previous 25-year maximum. Additionally, the mortgage insurance cap rose from $1 million to $1.5 million, enabling buyers who put less than 20 per cent down to consider higher-priced properties. This change is particularly significant in Canada’s most expensive real estate markets, where average home prices exceed $1 million. And, for those with mortgages renewing, the removal of the stress test requirement for uninsured borrowers switching lenders will allow Canadians greater choice and likely better rates, as banks will offer more competitive options in order to retain and attract clients.

“These regulatory changes mark a significant shift in improving access to home ownership for Canadians,” said Soper. “By expanding amortizations and raising the mortgage insurance cap, first-time buyers and those in high-priced markets will find it easier to purchase a home. Additionally, the removal of the stress test requirement for existing homeowners switching lenders will give Canadians greater choice and likely better rates, as financial institutions compete more aggressively to retain and attract clients.

“While extending the life of a mortgage may result in higher overall interest paid, the reduction in monthly carrying costs will help address one of the most immediate barriers to affordability. These new policies will make the dream of home ownership attainable for more Canadians,” he concluded.

Read Royal LePage’s fourth quarter release for national and regional insights. 

Fourth quarter press release highlights:

• Greater Montreal Area’s aggregate home price increased 8.2% year over year, while the greater Toronto and Vancouver markets recorded more modest gains of 2.3% and 0.7%, respectively. 

• For the third consecutive quarter, Quebec City recorded the highest year-over-year aggregate price increase (11.3%) in Q4 among the report’s major regions.

• Housing policy and affordability expected to be key ballot box issues shaping voters’ decisions in this year’s federal election.

• Royal LePage is forecasting that the aggregate price of a home in Canada will increase 6.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to the same quarter in 2024.

https://www.royallepage.ca/en/realestate/news/rates-regulations-and-renewed-demand-driving-revival-of-canadas-real-estate-market-despite-economic-and-political-uncertainty/

We cant believe 2024 is over!  With that said December 2024 is in the books and here’s how things are shaping up for South Okanagan Real Estate currently. 

Residential Sales (all property types excluding land sales) this December 2024 saw an uptick in activity which is great to see and undoubtedly due to interest rate drops and price adjustments since August of 2023. The South Okanagan Region saw $46.1 Million dollars in sales for December, a 33% increase by logging 83 sales another increased value of 43% year over year.  Inventory is still higher than what we are used to seeing at over 10 months of inventory and 1045 active listings, which is a 9% increase as compared to this time last year.

The breakdown for Single Family Homes specifically in the South Okanagan saw increases in Sales as well by 18% and 33 units while we also saw a slight increase year over year in Benchmark values by 5% to $760,500. Inventory levels for single family homes grew 11% and the recorded days on market dropped by 26% as shown abouve.

In the townhouse relm, all categories saw increases. A modest .3% for benchmark prices at $499,900. 100% in sales easily by recording only 5 more sales than December of 2023 at 10 and a bigger leap by 20% in inventory at 103 active listings.

For the Condo/Apartment category, we saw increases in Sales(46%), Inventory(43%) and days on market(5%) with another 9% decrease in Benchmark Value year over year at $415,900 and most definately due to the amount of active listings in this specific category recorded now at 252 listings, putting downward pressure on pricing, so it’s nice to see more sales year over year recorded in this area the last few months.

We will watch closely and keep you all well informed on these ever changing figures and post them right here as always. Please dont hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your buying/selling journey or need to know more about your properties value in todays market! 

Have a great January and Happy New Year to you all!

Jean and Shelly