Pricey BC properties

Whistler has a new real-estate record with the pending $17.5-million sale of a sprawling luxury home on 1.9 hectares with a view of Blackcomb Mountain.

The house, a five-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot wood-and-stone luxury home at 6715 Crabapple Dr., was listed on the Multiple Listing Service last July for $22 million.

The property's listing firm, Thornhill Real Estate Group, confirmed the sale to The Vancouver Sun. Realtor Maggi Thornhill declined to discuss the deal in detail.

The deal has not yet closed, but the $17.5-million price tag will make it the second most expensive home to sell in all of B.C., according to data compiled by Landcor Data Corp. from the provincial land titles registry.

The most expensive transaction, according to Landcor's list, was the $28.2-million sale of 3330 Radcliffe Ave. in West Vancouver.

That house previously attracted attention in 2004 when it sold for what was then a record $17 million.

In an earlier interview, Thornhill said she has noticed money coming back into Whistler over the past 10 months or so, following a lull in the market that has lasted several years.

However, while buyers were taking a breather on Whistler, other high-end resorts saw their markets rise, Thornhill said, so now Whistler isn't the highest-priced real estate.

Patrick Kelly, with Whistler Real Estate Co., said market activity has not been the strongest at the "super high-end," but "certainly interest has increased for more expensive family-oriented property.

"And that's a trend right across North America. That's not just a Whistler thing."

Kelly said that Whistler is becoming more of an icon resort because of the Olympic venues that have been built there.

"I haven't talked to anybody who's been to the new [Olympic] Nordic centre who isn't just raving about it," he said.

"I don't think it will ever be an Aspen or a Vail," Kelly said, but right now Whistler's stock is rising.

(prepared by Derrick Penner/Vancouver Sun)

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PRICEY PROPERTIES
B.C.'s most expensive home sales registered with the province's land titles office:

1. $28.2 million Jan. 8, 2008
3330 Radcliffe Ave., West Vancouver

2. $17 million Sept. 3, 2004
3330 Radcliffe Ave., West Vancouver

3. $13.3 million Jan. 3, 2007
3827 Sunridge Drive, Whistler

4. $11.2 million Oct. 13, 2006
2816 Bellevue Ave., West Vancouver

5. $10.9 million Sept. 28, 2006
4851 Belmont Ave., Vancouver

6. $10.5 million Aug. 2, 2007
4340 Ross Cres., West Vancouver

7. $10.5 million July 31, 2007
4788 Belmont Ave., Vancouver

8. $10.5 million May 31, 2005
3552 Falcon Cres., Whistler

9. $10.4 million Aug. 15, 2007
124 31st Street, West Vancouver

10. $10 million June 1, 2007
4355 Erwin Drive, West Vancouver

11. $10 million Nov. 26, 2007
6717 Crabapple Drive, Whistler

Source: Landcor Data Corp., BC Assessment