Market Report Sales activity in the Whistler marketplace continues to build on the momentum
established in the second half of 2011. Improvements have been seen in the total
number of sales, total dollar volume, and average sale values on a year-to-date
basis for the first quarter of 2012 as compared to a year ago. The Whistler marketplace has historically demonstrated some seasonality with
the first half of the year being less active than the second half of the year.
However, total sales and dollar volume were measurably better this year when
compared to the same period one year ago. The total number of properties sold
increased by about 7% while the dollar volume of sales increased by
approximately 20% as compared to a year ago. Purchasers continue to be attracted to lifestyle-oriented purchases. There
has been consistent and improving activity in the sale of single family homes,
townhouses, and large condominiums. In addition, increased interest was seen in Whistler’s luxury property
segment with an increase of almost 40% in transactions valued at over $1,000,000
reported for the first quarter as compared to one year ago. Average values for Whistler rebounded during the first quarter as a result.
Average reported sales values of a single family homes, townhouses, and
condominiums has increased by approximately 8% as compared to those figures
reported on December 31, 2011. Overall, balanced market conditions continue to prevail and we expect this
trend to continue to the end of 2012. The Sea to Sky Trail: Connecting Communities It’s pretty well known that The Sea-to-Sky Corridor is a veritable paradise
for mountain bikers. Squamish features acclaimed singletrack trails, and hosts
major biking events like Test of Metal, while Whistler has arguably the best
mountain bike park in North America, plus backcountry trails galore. Pemberton
also offers kilometres of trails, plus unique events like the Slow Food Cycle
and more. Of course, you still have to chuck your bike in the car and drive to
the different communities to access the various pedal-powered fun – but not for
long! Soon, you’ll be able to hop on your bike in Squamish and take a ride to
D’Arcy – if you’ve got the stamina and legs for it – thanks to the 180-kilometre
Sea-to-Sky Trail. Initially envisioned in 1991 by a group of dedicated individuals called the
Sea to Sky Trail Society, the idea was revisited in 2003 and today crews are
hard at work on the Green Lake section, and the Nairn Falls connector section is
already open to the public. Although optimized for mountain bikers, the
non-motorized, multi-use trail is being built for everyone to enjoy. Phase 1 of the project (costing about $10 million) is the Squamish to D’Arcy
section, while Phase II - from D'Arcy to Lillooet, and Phase III, from Squamish
to Horseshoe Bay – is still at the concept stage. The Sea to Sky Trail team also recently announced a partnership with the
Trans Canada Trail – making this the newest section of the biggest trail network
in the world, connecting Canadians from sea to sea to sea. For more on the trail, go to www.seatoskytrail.ca Transitioning from Winter to Summer This past ski season brought Whistler record-breaking snowfalls. It truly was
an ‘epic’ season with the perfect blend of powder days and blue sky. As we make
the turn towards spring, the snow base on Whistler Blackcomb sits at 44.1 feet /
13.4 meters (the average is 34.1 feet / 10.42 meters). In most ski resorts, once
summer hits, most skiers and riders have to travel south for their snow fix.
This is not the case in Whistler where summer snow can be found from June 16,
2012 to July 22, 2012. With the longest ski season in North America and no
shortage of snow, we are sure to have an amazing season of spring skiing. That being said, Whistler truly is a four-season resort and with the Telus
Ski & Snowboard Festival around the corner, spring is in the air. For many
Whistler residents this event marks the turn of the season. Of all Whistler
festivals, the legendary 10-day celebration of music, arts and sports truly
helped to put the Whistler Resort on the map within the ski and snowboard
industry. As it heads towards its 20th anniversary (in 2014), the festival draws
huge crowds to the resort at a time when most other ski towns are shutting down
for the season. It is time to throw on a pair of shorts and head out to take in
a free concert and a showcase of athletic ability. The saying goes “April showers bring May flowers” but in Whistler it is more
like “April skiing and boarding brings May biking and hiking”. Often considered
an in-between season, May in Whistler is jam packed with events from finding
inner peace at the Whistler Yoga Conference to letting feet hit pavement in the
Whistler Valley Trail Run and everything in between. The running and biking events of May are really just a way to warm up for the
real tests of endurance, skill and stamina that begin in June with the Whistler
Half Marathon and the Test of Metal Mountain Bike Race. Summers in Whistler are spectacular, filled with long sun-filled days,
bluer-than-blue skies and plenty of adventure for everyone, but that doesn’t
meant that we have to sit around and wait for summer to get the action
started! |