Tag Archives: Sunshine Coast

May 2015, Market Analysis

May 2015, Market Analysis

“Been down so long it looks like up to me”…. The real estate song in all secondary home/discretionary markets, during the past 7 years? Perhaps.

Important when shift happens to be treading water in the current of change. No looking in the rear view mirror.

The recovery will become more even-handed

The upward shift may have begun in October last year, but slowly slowly. By February of this year, the uptick consistently strengthened in the entry level residential category.

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island

Two years ago, the majority of sales were below 450,000. This year, sales volume may have doubled over same time period last year…and the price ceiling appears to have reached 800,000. All good news.

As inventory continues to thin out, buyers will have to offer closer to sellers expectations. Undeveloped land will begin to gain interest & buyers will consider building projects. Higher tier priced residential will get offers and begin a sales process that will match current entry level priced rhythms.

In other words, the recovery will become more even-handed in the discretionary regions. This overall improvement should be evident by late Summer/early Fall market.

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island

The busiest March Break/Easter Weekend timeframe since 2007 took place this 2015…now every weekend continues to show activity…the signs of a secondary home market recovery are at last fully evident.

The busyness in Vancouver (a primary residence area) for the past 3 years made it difficult for sellers in discretionary coastal markets to understand the lack of action. This was true on Vancouver Island and on Sunshine Coast, as well as on the Gulf Islands. A “by choice” decision can be put on hold until confidence returns.

Early whispers of improvement were there in some discretionary areas by late Fall, 2014. Now, however, we are seeing general activity everywhere in all coastal markets, and 2015 does appear to be the year of authentic recovery.

A seller’s opportunity? Yes…but pricing has not yet stabilized to match the sales volume increase.

We are just now entering what I always see as our main sales window (mid-May to end of September). These next weeks see the beginning of boating season in this unique protected waters marine region. Many special events and important holiday weekends take place…visitor experiences bring property seekers, too.

So…authentic sales volume improvement, rising price points in those sales if lower priced options, sellers achieving close to list, diminishing inventory…it’s the turn of secondary home markets again.

Sellers who followed the market down will welcome this recovery. Real estate companies will welcome this improvement. Buyers will need to become creative in their offering process, in an effort to do their “best deal”. The old real estate adage of “you make your money when you buy” is true for all market trends…and it’s not always about price.

A buyers market is characterized by lots of inventory & few buyers. A sellers market is best described as low inventory & lots of buyers. Supply & demand always dictate pricings.

 

March 2015, Market Analysis

March 2015, Market Analysis – Salt Spring Island

Yes, it’s true…real estate in the secondary home marketplaces, including on Salt Spring Island, continues to strengthen.

Clicking into Place

Ganges Harbour

Ganges Harbour

Our season for coastal discretionary regions runs from March Break to the Canadian Thanksgiving celebration in October. More outcomes to be reported on as activity goes forward…the season is just now clicking into place.

Prices on Salt Spring have not yet stabilized, to date, but sales volume has increased. It may take until May to see the true pattern of 2015’s market rhythm for the Gulf Islands.

Meantime…forecasters are noting continuing growth in primary residence/city markets, including from the elder population.

Remember that Country Mouse/City Mouse story? It was a “grass is always greener” alert…Country Mouse was convinced City Mouse’s life was much more fun, & City Mouse returned the favour…just so certain that Country Mouse had the best of all lifestyles.

You know the rest: they switched lives and discovered the old truth that we are usually happiest right where we first find ourselves. Well, most of the time.

Early & Later Retirement

This aphoristic tale might need a little updating for our times. With life expectancies extending dramatically, we might need to separate retirement years into two sections: Early and Late(r) Retirement.

My thought about this is real estate oriented, as it’s about the advantages/disadvantages of primary residence (city) and secondary home (rural & small town) lifestyles, as one truly ages.

In the early 1990s, pre-internet impact, there was an entire movement being discussed, called Penturbia. The idea was that people would retire & leave the cities to seek pleasing small towns…thus leaving a primary residence region for a secondary home area.

Small towns had infrastructure (hospitals, health services, cultural options, rural beauties on their boundaries, some had colleges/universities, & many offered amenities to allure one in those retirement years. What was that hobby you always wanted to explore? You get the idea).

Now, in the real post-Internet world of 2015 & on, there is a supposed move back to the city from small town/rural regions. Forecasts say that over 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities, in the very near future.

There is also the thought that elderly seniors will prefer to walk to services/amenities and will prefer to live in the heart of cities. It’s not a suburb experience that’s being sought…it’s a move to a downtown core.

Hmmm….

In this great Pacific Northwest Coast region, what are some of these potentially impacted smaller townships?

On the Vancouver Island side of Georgia Strait, we could look at Duncan (the main hub of the very large Cowichan Valley, which includes Mill Bay, Cowichan Bay, Maple Bay, Yellowpoint, Lake Cowichan), plus at Nanaimo, at Parksville/Qualicum Beach, at Courtenay/Comox, at Campbell River. Let’s not forget Port Alberni & the wild west coast (Uclulet & Tofino).

uclulet

What about the lovely Gulf Islands? Southern islands: Salt Spring, Penders, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna, Thetis. Mid-islands: Denman and Hornby. Northern: Quadra & Cortes. And what about southern Vancouver Island: Sooke, Metchosin, Saanich neighbourhoods?

On the Mainland side of Georgia Strait, we have the Sunshine Coast (includes Powell River, Sechelt, Gibsons), plus Texada Island & the Howe Sound Islands (Bowen, Keats, Gambier).

For all of these regions, a B.C. Ferry is involved in transport from the Lower Mainland, and a second ferry is required for a Gulf Island. Or, a floatplane or land based plane as travel opportunities are also possible to these destinations.

Hmmm….

So, if people enjoy vacation places on the Gulf Islands, on Vancouver Island, & on the Sunshine Coast, and then retire to them for that first time discovery retirement age, & then live on to where they might be in that second retirement phase, what then?

Well, if we’re talking about the over 80s age group, and we are, then what about driving? In some areas, one loses one’s driving licence at age 80…regardless. Diminishing physical health may become an issue. The loss of a partner can breed isolation and loneliness.

Hmmm….

I can see that enjoyment of a recreational property between childhood (with parents) to retirement (say, age 60, to your own retreat property), will add to the quality of your life. After 80, however, what might be best alternatives?

Good transit, easy walking places, all amenities easily at hand, smaller homes with no yard maintenance (spells “condo” to me), plus options specific to aging seniors to keep those grey cells in good order…all might be on a script for positive aging. Are such aging in place elements strongly in place in a secondary home area property choice?

Behold the Second Segment of Aging

Well…there’s the challenge for all those delectable secondary home & recreational & retirement regions. To be able to remain in these scenically pristine regions will only add to the quality of life for all who are lucky enough to live in same. It’s essential, though, to be paying attention to that second segment of aging, & to meet those challenges.

Time to talk to the elected officials, whether municipal or CRD or Islands Trust…plus provincial & federal. Let’s make sure that the energizing & inspirational aspects of life in a secondary home region continue to optimize lifestyles between 80 & 100+.

The biotech revolution predicts that many will live to 100. The small town/rural options maintain a strong sense of personal community. Surely this is the key to successful aging outcomes?

Hmmm….

I think the smaller & more caring approach is key. It needs to be coupled with a physical infrastructure of ease, tailored to those physical dilemmas that capture the elderly. The personal recognition in a smaller community perhaps far outweighs the anonymity of a city environment. So, public officials, are you on this & are ahead of the need?

Salt Spring Island is well positioned in that it seems to attract a thoughtful population, & this aging in place aspect, for age 80 & older, is actively on the agenda of this unique community. Join in the discussions. Salt Spring often models out successful solutions for many community challenges…positive aging in place is no exception.