More houses are on the market in Smithers this spring compared to last spring, the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board (BCNREB) has found, however, fewer are selling.
As of March 31, 2011 the board found that 42 homes had sold since January, a drop of three homes compared to 2010, when 45 single family homes had sold. In 2011, those sales were worth $8.8 million, in 2010, it was $10.5 million. Each home’s average price has also dropped, going from $233,333 to $209,524.
This, BCNREB president Victor Prystay said, is only a small gap, however.
“In spite of a long hard winter that has seemingly impacted the various real estate markets in our norther two-thirds of the province, the number of sales and listings throughout the area are only, on average, marginally down over 2010,” Prystay said.
Exceptions include Kitimat, Fort St. Jon, and Fort Nelson, all of whom saw an increase in sales. In these areas, sale prices have been on the rise, he noted, and as spring progresses they are seeing a number of new listings. For Smithers, there is currently 206 properties currently on the MLS listing site.
“[We are] continuing to be optimistic about 2011,” Prystay said.