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Whistleroct
Marika Koenig

Marika Koenig

As the warmer weather approaches we anticipate a very special and exciting few months leading up to the final preparations to the Olympics. The Peak to Peak Gondola was a great success this winter and we are looking forward to the coming months as we build on these past achievements to showcase Whistler to the world. If you haven’t visited the resort lately, we are currently experiencing some fabulous late season skiing conditions worth checking out, not to mention the highway upgrade is close to completion and we can now appreciate all the hard work that has gone into this monumental project.

On the real estate front, the market continues to pick up momentum every week. Although caution is still in the air, those who see themselves owning property in Whistler realize that now is the time to buy and as a result we have see more sales in the past few weeks. Although we are no where near the volumes we achieved last year, there is more activity again. We don’t expect prices to change too much over the coming year, however there are some great opportunities available, as well mortgage rates are still very favorable. We encourage you to call or drop by our office and receive an update of the unique opportunities that are presenting themselves for buyers and sellers in the area.

See you soon,
Marika

Market Report

Whistler Market Report

After a slow start to 2009, the real estate markets in Whistler and Pemberton have regained most of their vitality. The pace of sales transactions has returned to levels which would indicate a balanced situation between buyers and sellers. However, with the number of properties offered for sale having increased dramatically in the first six months of the year, expect negotiations to continue to favour the buyer. General economic conditions remain unstable, so buyers remain cautious. Sellers must continue to price their properties where the buyers perceive value. Watch for lots more news about Whistler as we get closer to the Olympics.

Recent buyer focus has been on lower-priced homes and family-oriented townhomes - particularly under $1,000,000.

Average sales values for transactions in the past three months
Price
Single Family Homes $1,250,000
Condominiums $377,000
Townhouses $588,000
Pemberton Properties $433,000

Feature Story

Cheakamus and Rainbow proving popular

Cheakamus--exterior-1

Resident housing in Whistler is racking up the sales.

As the market continues to gain vitality, the resort’s newest developments have been attracting lots of attention. Currently, more than 90 per cent of Cheakamus Crossing’s 221 resident-restricted properties are now sold.

Located just off Highway 99 across from Function Junction this unique property features homes ranging from studio and one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom townhomes with garages.

Cheakamus Crossing is a permanent, mixed-use community and one of the legacies that will be left behind by the 2010 Olympic Games. Cheakamus Crossing will house up to 2,400 athletes, coaches, team technicians and other approved staff during the event.

After the Games, the units will get a retrofit and then provide Whistler residents with an affordable opportunity to live, work and play in one of the most beautiful places in the world. There are also nine market lots and 20 market townhomes available at Cheakamus Crossing; however the townhomes will not go on sale until after the Games.

But Cheakamus Crossing isn’t the only new resident housing project in the Whistler. Rainbow is another hot new development, located on 45-acres between Alpine and Emerald Estates. The development consists of 150 duplexes and single-family homes. As of now, more than 50 per cent of these properties have been sold. Offering stunning units in a beautiful alpine setting, Rainbow features a neighborhood connecting trail, paths which lead directly to the parks, playgrounds and a commercial core all within minutes of the Village. In addition to the resident housing, Rainbow offers a varied selection of single-family building lots for the open market.

For more information on either development go to:

www.cheakamuscrossing.ca

www.rainbow@whistler.ca

Community Action and Events

ArtWalk

Until August 31, Whistler Village has been transformed into one big art gallery for the Whistler Arts Council’s annual ArtWalk event.

Discover the works of more than 71 regional artists and artisans in 40 very unconventional host galleries during the months of July and August. For the event, artists from Lions Bay to Lillooet display their creations in Whistler cafes, retail outlets, commercial galleries, hotels and restaurants. Wander the Village and feast your eyes on exquisite examples of Sea to Sky painting, photography, multi-media work, pottery and jewelry. And this year for the first time, ArtWalk is offering guided tours by local artists.

The TD Bank and Whistler Real Estate Company co-presented the opening reception earlier this month, featuring wine tasting, appetizers and live music, plus a meet-and-greet with artists. For more information go to whistlerartscouncil.com

The View From Here

The highly anticipated return of the Whistler Real Estate Company’s invitation-only Real Estate Symposium is fast approaching.

Saturday October 10 will bring a morning filled with updated market trends, demographics, economics and this year’s special focus: Inside information on “Living through the Olympic Dream”. Guest speakers already confirmed include; world champion freestyle skier and former member of the Canadian National Ski team Lauralee Bowie. There will also be Whistler Blackcomb’s president and chief operating officer, plus Mike Varrin; Whistler Blackcomb's Director of Bars. We will also be having a panel discussion with various Olympic personalities, past and present, about the impact the Games will have on the Resort. Further details to be announced in the coming months …

Olympic Update

Volunteering for the 2010 Games

If you’ve thought about volunteering your time at the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – make Squamish your first point of inquiry. As host of the 2010 Winter Games Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre, Squamish proudly serves as the primary regional hub for recruitment, deployment and training of volunteers for the Games.

More than 25,000 Canadians will be needed to help pull of the most successful Games yet, and most of those will be coming from right in Sea to Sky country – Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.

Between now and 2010, thousands of volunteers are expected to pass through the Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre, filling the hundreds of different roles required in the Sea to Sky corridor at Games time. The Sea to Sky Volunteer Centre is located in the new Spectacle building at 40437 Tantalus Road, right off Highway 99.