According to a recent survey by Royal LePage, more than 36 per cent of Canadians who own or are considering buying a winter property are leaning towards ski destinations with 32 per cent of respondents looking for sun spots.

Four B.C. resorts were highlighted with current property results ranging from a standard 2-bedroom condo within 30 minutes of Kimberley for $150,000 to $10 million for a 3-bedroom chalet near Whistler. Big White, Kimberley and Fernie have seen their markets strengthening despite interest from U.S. buyers waning. High levels of demand from the home market combined with limited inventory and record-breaking snowfalls have helped to push prices up with Whistler enjoying a 10 per cent increase on last year.

Patrick Kelly, owner of Whistler Real Estate Co., commented that 80 per cent of Whistler’s market for real estate is within driving distance either in south west B.C. or Washington State. Chalets, houses and townhouses are proving to be the most popular buy for purchasers wanting to visit Whistler every weekend as opposed to buying for rental revenue.

With the exception of Victoria, the average sale price of a house in Campbell River has risen at a faster rate than any other area of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board’s region.

The average house price percentage increase in March 2008 compared to March 2007 is:

Campbell River, +18%

Cowichan Valley, +15%

Port Alberni, +3%

Comox Valley, +9%

Nanaimo, +4%

Parksville / Qualicum, +3%

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver reports that east-side condo prices are rising faster than anywhere else in their region thereby offering an affordable alternative to an address in False Creek or Coal Harbour.

The average price of a condo in March 2008 compared to the same month last year has risen by the following percentages:

Vancouver East, +14.9
Coquitlam, +12.7
Richmond, +12.7
Port Coquitlam, +11.8
South Delta, +11.6
Vancouver West, +11.5
Burnaby, +11.2
North Vancouver, +10.9
New Westminster, +10.0
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows, +5.3
Port Moody, +4.6
West Vancouver, +4.0