According to KADREA President, Chelsea Mann, “We’ve noticed the market follow its usual course in the last two quarters of 2021, where we sold fewer listings as we approached winter. However, for the majority of 2021, average prices kept pushing higher every month. The demand for homes also remained high, and our inventory shrunk to record lows. Just like other regions in the province, our falling inventory led to a sharp rise in average prices in the last 12 months. But if you compare our January 2022 sales figures with December 2021, you’ll find that we’ve sold more units but the average price increase has not been astronomical. As January usually marks the beginning of an uptrend that peaks during spring and lasts until May, our performance of 185 listings sold in January 2022, is an encouraging sign of a move toward normalcy in the market. Although, this should not be confused with the demand and supply imbalance that still exists in our region.”

Lack of inventory continues to be a cause of concern for the market. “As inventory levels have been trending lower month-on-month, the entire province has been struggling to manage the high demand for real estate. We got a surplus of new listings over sales for a few months, but that hasn’t been sufficient enough to bridge that gap that was left by the post-pandemic hot-market. I believe that upcoming government policies and higher interest rates will play a role in the way the market behaves in the days to come. As our sales performance is expected to be affected by several supply and demand factors, this will be a time when both buyers and sellers will need a Realtor® the most”, added Chelsea.

Zeroing in on Merritt we see in the last month just 15 sales compared to 27 in the year previous, but a sharp up tick in average price! However, it must be noted that average price factors in all property types from bare land to lake front homes and new construction. It still serves as an indicator to sellers that now is the time to capture top dollar for your property while the inventory is at an all time low.

For Buyers, there’s still time to get in on low interest rates before they’re due for a hike in the spring. 2021 was one of the busiest years in the Merritt market, and 2022 is shaping up to be no different. Things are moving quickly, so buyers and sellers are urged to act fast! Unlike years past, you don’t need to ‘wait for the spring’ – the time is NOW.

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View Current Merritt Listings – CLICK HERE