BUYING YOUR WHISTLER PROPERTY
A Realtor’s tips
Whether this is your first trip to Whistler, or you have visited both summer and winter regularly for years, you will at some point say, “Wouldn’t it be great to own a place here?”
If you are like most people you will be interested in a property that provides the right environment for you and your family’s lifestyle needs. You will also want it to fit your budget and be a safe predictable investment both today and in the years ahead. Fortunately, Whistler offers a complete range of properties that can meet every need and budget; however, resort real estate market places have a variety of nuances that will differ from what you may be familiar with. So it is important to consider a few things as you ponder your purchase.
Be clear on what you can afford in regards to price and annual costs. Properties range from $50,000 to $10,000,000 plus in Whistler; and property features and allowed personal usage varies almost as much. Many properties offer the opportunity for rental income; however, income can vary significantly from year to year. Also be aware that the cost and availability of mortgage funding will be somewhat different than it is elsewhere.
Get to know the areas. Whistler is a big place, and each of our developed neighbourhoods offers different amenities and opportunities. One is sure to be perfect in meeting your needs with many well kept secrets that an afternoon of investigation will disclose.
Retain a local, fulltime agent. Sure you can learn a lot about the features of a property on the internet, but that won’t help you with its history; its relative value in today’s market; or provide the answers to questions you didn’t know you could, or should, be asking. A good agent will not only tell you the ‘what’ and ‘where’ of the property, but will also understand
the ‘why’ of how it works for you and your lifestyle to maximize your Whistler experience. It goes without saying that having local professional assistance to insure the transaction occurs smoothly will be invaluable. A good agent will also be your eyes and ears in the resort.
Despite the size of the resort and the huge number of attractions and amenities, the real estate market is not a particularly large one. Typically only six hundred homes sell here yearly. Be prepared to potentially spend months (even years) to find the right property for your family. Of course, when you do uncover that perfect retreat, we strongly recommend you act quickly. Whistler continues to attract more and more visitors to enjoy our year-round mountain lifestyle, and at some point they all say, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place here?”
Whether you are buying a home for your own personal haven or plan to place it into a rental program, a well thought out purchase in Whistler will provide years of enjoyment and value and can be financially rewarding as well.