The Shuswap/Revelstoke real estate market saw significant changes reflecting broader regional trends in the Okanagan and we’ve decide to break it down for you! Here are the key highlights of the 2024 Q3 real estate market report:

Sales & Listings

The Shuswap/Revelstoke region faced a slowdown in transactions, with a rise in active listings by 31.2% year-over-year. Homes that were sold below $700,000 represented 55% of transactions, but only 39% of listings, reflecting a demand-supply imbalance. Higher-priced homes, over $1 million, accounted for 36% of listings but only 18% of sales.

Market Conditions

In this Quarter our market favored buyers with sales representing less than 40% of new listings, yet sellers remained firm on prices. This stability is due, in part, to many homeowners benefiting form low mortgage rates or limited pressure to sell. Benchmark prices fell slightly from their peak, though they remained 40-60% above pre-pandemic levels.

Government Policies

New housing policies, such as increased listings for vacant homes, aimed to address inventory shortages. Additionally, upcoming changes, including an insured mortgage price cap increase to $1.5 million and extended amortization options for first-time buyers, aim to boost affordability and buyer confidence.

Tourism Impact

Reduced tourism, influenced by wildfire fears and economic factors alongside policies like the short term rental ban and real estate taxes, has adversely affected local short-term rental demand, which is vital to the Shuswap/Revelstoke housing market.

Looking ahead, the region anticipates limited change through the end of 2024, with a predicted market stimulation expected in spring of 2025 as further interest rate cuts and policy impacts unfold.