November Market Update: Fall Beauty & Winter Transition
November is still classic Fall. Meteorological Winter begins on December 1st. November introduces the seasonal shift of the coastal winter pattern: rain, wind, leaves drifting in fields and parks, and delivering the deciduous branches into their stark outlines.
November. Many grey moments when sea and sky and the misty land masses all mesh together into diminishing daylight. Standard Time reappears. Snow? On the mountains where it belongs. November has its own spare beauty…it invites soup recipes, fireplace cheer, and the quiet of interiors.
The Fall/Winter Real Estate Market
What about real estate in this Fall/Winter market? It can be surprisingly buoyant. Sometimes, potential buyers have visited and viewed in late Spring or Summer seasons, and they then return to see things at their worst. There is no real worst, however, and visitors are also surprised that Salt Spring enjoys a year round lifestyle…lots to see and do, and the cultural opportunities are everywhere.
Current Market Conditions
Inventory Challenge
Low inventory remains an issue across all Gulf Islands
Seller Behavior
Owners holding properties, selling only when necessary
Buyer Interest
Safe haven rural lifestyle preferred over urban choice
The lack of inventory also remains an issue everywhere. Most owners continue to keep their properties, only selling if they have to. This is the same story on all the Gulf Islands and on Vancouver Island. The buyer desire continues to welcome a safe haven rural lifestyle over an urban choice. An investment in real estate still offers the option of a way to preserve capital…currency concerns continue. Buyers do respond to marketing and do inquire about properties…they may turn up to view…there continue to be pauses in offer outcomes. Uncertainty creates those pauses in final decisions.
Navigating Times of Change
It’s difficult to make solid calls on anything in a time of societal change. Global concerns affect everyone. When one studies the impact of Gutenberg and his printing press in the 14th Century, or the beginnings of the internet world as a digital lifestyle in the 1990s, or the introduction of robotics/AI as a society-wide option in 2025, it is clear that shift offers new opportunities at the same time that long accepted activities are disappearing.
What to do? Remember that we all have an editing function. We can observe, recognize what’s passing, and what is possible to “re-use” with some changes. It requires that we remember we can decide (observe…edit…experiment…opportunity).
November on Salt Spring
Meanwhile, it’s November. The markets are officially over for the season, but some farmers continue to showcase late harvests. The bracken narrowing hiking trails has gone and the trails are active. Sunday sailing races take over the schedule. It’s easy to get to Mt Washington if skiing is your thing.
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Enjoy seasonal menus at our great restaurants -
Check out ArtSpring’s offerings -
The Ganges galleries showcase new works -
Live music venues invite you to enjoy
On Island? Participate in the Remembrance Day ceremony on the 11th.
The interesting thing is that we all have the option of seeking new opportunities. We can all be thoughtful about next steps. I recently saw an interview with an actress in a new film…turns out she was all AI…nothing human at all…one could not tell. Hmmm……
Everything will be affected. Time to let your mind meander through discoveries…there is always an answer to every question.
More information on real estate opportunities on Salt Spring and the Gulf Islands? Look forward to hearing from you.
