If you’ve been following the Whistler real estate market, you know that things are happening very quickly.
The year thus far has seen an increase in sales and selling prices, while inventory – the number of active properties listed for sale – is decreasing.
In other words, the market is hot – and finding your dream Whistler property is more competitive than it has been in recent years. A few years ago, you could take your time to mull over a property before taking any serious action. These days, it’s more “you snooze, you lose”.
If you’re serious about finding a Whistler getaway to enjoy the upcoming winter season, there are a few things you can do to help make the process go as smoothly as possible. Increase your chances of finding your dream home by following these tips.
Know What You Can Afford
Before you even begin your Whistler housing search, head to a lender or mortgage broker to find out what you are able to spend on a property.
Getting pre approved for a mortgage will help you establish realistic parameters in your housing search. In other words, you won’t waste time looking at properties you can’t afford.
Another perk for getting pre approved before you start your search is that you won’t need to waste precious time once you find a property that you’re interested in. Property sellers might feel more comfortable entering into a contract of purchase and sale with a party they know can afford the property, as opposed to one who still needs to look into financing and may be denied a mortgage.
Establish Your Needs and Wants
Before you start seriously looking for your new home, take some time to determine what you need from a Whistler home, and what extras might be nice to have. If you have a big family, a one bedroom condo simply won’t cut it – a bigger home is a need, and you can likely establish a minimum number of bedrooms for your need list.
On the other hand, you might like the idea of a ski-in ski-out property – but what about properties that are on the route of the free shuttle that takes you straight to the gondolas? Place criteria that you are flexible with on your want list.
Together, we’ll do our best to find a property that fits your needs are satisfies your wants as much as possible.
Be Proactive
When a property comes onto the market that fits your budget, your needs, and your wants, you can’t sit around. If you like it, chances are another buyer out there will like it, too. You’ll want to get yourself to Whistler to see the property relatively quickly, before the property sells to someone else.
Offer Competitively
When you’re ready to offer on a property, make sure you do your research (we will help you with that). Your offer price should reflect recent sales, current market conditions, and the property’s unique attributes. Multiple offers are becoming an increasingly common scenario, and if you submit a low-ball offer, you risk being rejected in favour of a more realistic offer.
Remember: you’re not alone in your housing hunt. We are available to guide you through every step of the way, from helping you find a mortgage broker to educating you about the market to working with you to submit a compelling offer. If a Whistler property is on your radar, contact us today!