Newsletter

Market Update

In Squamish, there were 48 sales in April, which is below the 5-year average of 61 April sales. However, 15 of these properties sold in less than 10 days on the market. The quick sales were all turn-key and/or priced slightly below market.

Overall, we’re seeing a few significant trends in the Squamish market, namely that:

  • Condos are tough to move
  • Townhouse inventory above $1.2 is starting to accumulate
  • Detached single-family homes under $1.7 are selling quickly and sometimes with multiple offers if they’re turn-key, and
  • Detached single family homes over $2.2 are struggling to find buyers.

In Whistler, there were 44 sales in April, which is below the 5-year average of 59 April sales. The overall message of the Whistler market is stability. Despite softer conditions, pricing has generally remained resilient relative to many markets because of the limited number of properties, international appeal, lifestyle positioning, and strong long-term ownership profile.

Whistler sellers who price realistically and present properties well are still finding buyers, including a listing I brought to market in the past few weeks that sold on day 1 on the market. We priced it to match a high sale price a floor up in the building and even still, we had an almost full price offer right away.

For the most part, the Whistler market rewards strategy and patience when selling these days. For buyers, the world is your oyster in terms of having relatively great choice in particularly the condo and townhouse segments.

See below for a full market report from the Greater Vancouver Realtors.

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Lindsay

604-612-1484

lindsay@lindsaymcivorrealestate.com

Follow me on Instagram @squamish_whistler_real_estate

Market Update

In Whistler, there were 43 sales in March, which is below the 5-year average of 66 March sales. Of these sales, 36 went for under the asking price, 2 sold for over, and 5 sold for the asking price.

In Squamish, there were 50 sales in March, which is below the 5-year average of 59 March sales; however, it was the strongest March sales number since 2022. Of these sales, 6 went for over the asking price, 8 went for asking, and 36 went for under the asking price.

Overall, the environment remains challenging. It feels like a generation of people are being taught how to continue putting one foot in front of the other despite an uncertain backdrop. I was taught to live with uncertainty relatively early, as my family was caught on the wrong side of 9/11 and the Iraq War heavily invested in real estate in Whistler. The market locked up and the unravelling came slowly but surely. I watched unable to do anything about it.

Overconfidence is a b*tch and can get you overextended, but under-confidence is almost as damaging because you will miss every good opportunity out of fear. To know how to continue thinking rationally and productively during times of stress is a learned skill, and for the people young and/or lucky enough to not have already watched the wheels come off, I think the last four years have probably been a bit rough.

We live in a perpetual boom/bust cycle in these markets, whereby prices usually go up quickly and come down slowly. If you can push ahead through downturns, making smart investments and doing what needs to be done, when the boom comes back around you’ll be ready to capitalize. Long time frames and contingency planning are the key to real estate investment.

All that to say – that yes, the environment remains challenging, but that does not mean that the sky is falling. Real estate does well over the long term, and the Squamish and Whistler markets are attractive not only regionally and nationally, but globally – these markets are known and attractive to people all over the world. That can’t be said for most markets, and certainly can’t be said for most markets that are this small. Additionally, Squamish has been subject to the foreign buyer ban and this is due to come off January 2027.

As someone who has been hyper-vigilant for a really long time, I have faith that all the current uncertainties will find reasonable resolution with time. People need places to live. People want to enjoy healthy and fun activities with their friends and family. These facts of life bode well for the Squamish and Whistler markets.

If you’re looking to sell, pricing and presentation has never been more important. If you’re looking to buy, you have choice and relatively little pressure on your side.

I’ve included some charts below and the full stats package for the Greater Vancouver area is also available further down.

~

Lindsay

604-612-1484

lindsay@lindsaymcivorrealestate.com

Follow me on Instagram @squamish_whistler_real_estate

Market Update

In Squamish, there were 36 sales in February, which is below the 5-year average of 54 February sales. Of these sales, 2 went for over the asking price, 14 went for the asking price, and 20 sold for under asking.

In Whistler, there were 31 sales in February, which is below the 5-year average of 66 February sales in Whistler. Of these sales, 28 went for under the asking price, 2 sold for asking, and 1 sold for over asking.

Market watchers are keeping a close eye on the Vancouver spring market. While interest rates are more or less stabilized, the conflict with Iran is complicating people’s already-fragile confidence. On the other hand, it feels like every month I’m writing about a new spectacular calamity at the hands of the current US administration. Once the weather improves and people turn off the news to go out and have actual fun, everyone in Canada will feel better about everything. Also, de-risking the stock market and taking profits into hard assets like real estate seems like the most obvious move around these days.

Prices are holding and the staring contests between buyers and sellers continue, at least for now. The spring market is likely to bring some blinking – people want to execute on buying/selling plans and many have been patiently waiting for years.

~

Lindsay

604-612-1484

lindsay@lindsaymcivorrealestate.com

Follow me on Instagram @squamish_whistler_real_estate