Kelowna Real Estate Market Watch Dec 3, 2011

Here's a recap of Kelowna and West Kelowna residential real estate activity in the past seven days.....

• # new listings: 74 (22);
• # sales: 50 (12);
• ratio: 68% (55);
• # price changes: 53 (42);
• # expired/off market listings: 126 (53);
• net loss/gain in listings this week: -102 (-42);
• active single family residential listings: 951 (491);
• active strata listings: 823 (198); and
• active manufactured home listings: 27 (115).

As of the end of November the 'inventory level', that is, if no one listed their home, at the current market monthly selling pace it would take, on average, about 12.18 months to run out of Kelowna homes for sale according to Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) MLS stats, 9.28 months  to run out of West Kelowna homes, 12.22  and 16.5 months to run out of Kelowna and West Kelowna strata* respectively.

*Strata includes apartments, timeshare and townhomes attached, dettached and semi-detached.

At this time there is still a good selection of residential properties for sale in both Kelowna and West Kelowna for serious Buyers!  And for Sellers currently listed to get SOLD this winter here's some ideas to help make it happen:

• Let Those Lights Shine:  for showings turn on every single light in your home, even in the closets and utility/mechanical rooms.
• Make It Easy to Enter:  put a festive rug at the front door for a great first impression so visitors can wipe their feet.  Have slippers or disposable booties available, along with a bench or chair if there is room so a visitor can sit and easily remove or put on their boots,
• Keep Odors Under Control:  clean more often (pet litter daily!) and consider setting the thermostat control so that the furnace fan runs constantly during the day to keep the air moving to dissipate odors, especially in winter when windows are rarely opened.
• Cultivate A Festive Look:  put up interior and exterior Christmas decorations to help give the home a cheerful look.
• Dont' Ignore the Outdoors: First impressions count so keep the wlakway, steps and yard neatly maintained.
• Don't Roast Buyers:  during showings keep the temperature at a comfortable 18 degrees Celsius.
• Keep Seasonal Clothing Under Control:  keep all entrance rooms including garage clear of an overabundance of cold weather gear.
• Encourage Daytime Showings:  For best results have your home ready at 9am and encourage your agent to show before 3pm.

Click here for full details on winter selling tips to help get SOLD!

Source of Graphs: OMREB