MapleLine's REAL ESTATE News
Real Estate in Sooke
Market update
Analysis by MapleLine Magazine
August 2010
See: www.vreb.org for Greater Victoria area MLS stats.
August
2010. Report coming asap.
July
2010. Inventory up (to a near record high of 4,730 properties
available for sale at June 30) as those still reeling from the impact of
the 2008-recession try to maximize their investment opportunity. Prices
can't go much higher (in terms of affordability), with a current average
sale price of $649,280 in June (up almost $90,000 from one year ago);
Sooke's average house sale price in June was $424,276 (townhomes sold at
$389,929 on average, but there were no condo sales). Sales were sluggish
in June (625 compared to 695 in May, and notably down from 946 sales in
June 2009). The approaching HST which came into effect July 1, 2010
(applicable to sales of homes priced over $525,000) could not have been
helpful to spring-season sales volumes.
Developers
Booming town.
Issues of growth & development.
Various
issues are brought to light by the growing residential and commercial
construction in Sooke. Issues include development cost charges, green
space, housing density (and related issues of parking allowances), road
widths, secondary suites (and dealing with illegal suites), etc.
A
local group of developers, trades, and others who follow the issues of
building and development formed in 2010 as The Sooke Community Development
Association. www.sookecda.org
Realtors
3 offices in town
Sooke real estate specialists
There
appears to be a tight hold on the real estate market by Realtors
operating in this community, despite there also being MLS listings held
in town by Victoria-area Realtors. Most local Realtors are with the
offices of Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty, Pemberton Holmes, and
RE/MAX Camosun Westside.
District of Sooke
Leadership & followup
Ongoing issues
The Official Community Plan of the District of Sooke was finalized in April 2010. This is a guiding document for decisions now being made by Council on an ongoing basis, regarding such aspects of community growth as rural-urban mix, housing density, sewers, roadways, greenspace, and more. www.sooke.ca
Communities in Bloom
Sooke participation
2010 decal winners
Communities in Bloom judges came and went in July to assess how Sooke’s community beautification (a measure of community development) is coming along. Sooke received three ‘blooms’ last year and will learn of its 2010 achievements at the BC Communities in Bloom national conference, Oct.27-30, 2010 in Halifax. As part of the process, 19 businesses and organizations in Sooke received recognition decals as organized by Elida Peers of the Sooke Region Museum (see photo above) and awarded by Mayor Janet Evans at an outdoor ceremony at Sooke Harbour House on July 19, 2010. Decal recipients were:
A Sea of Bloom, Ayre Manor, Butler Bros. Supplies, Eri-Nan Estates, Heritage Row, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kaltasin Road Project, Lewers Farmhouse, MapleLine Business Centre, Moonfist, Peoples Drug Mart, Royal Cdn Legion #54, Royal Cdn Legion Housing Society, Saseenos General Store, Seaview Business Centre, Sooke Community Association Hall, Sooke Fine Art Gallery, Sooke Glass, Sooke Harbour House, Sooke Home Hardware Flower House, Sooke Marine Industries, Sooke Post Office, Sooke Region Museum, Sooke Veterinary Hospital, Sunriver Allotment Gardens, T’Sou-ke Nation Greenhouse, T’Sou-ke Nation Solar Project, Village Food Markets, Wiskers & Waggs.