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Real estate prices continue to rise across northwest B.C.

In 2021, 190 properties sold in Kitimat worth $68 million
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Real estate sales in Kitimat and area grew in 2021, indicate year-end statistics released by the BC Northern Real Estate Board.

In 2021, 190 properties sold worth $68 million compared to 166 properties worth $52.6 million in 2020.

Of those 2021 sales, 115 were single-family homes with the median value being $365,000.

However, according to statistics, Terrace continues to dominate the charts with the highest average sales price in northern B.C.

Terrace saw 412 properties sell in 2021 which were worth $173.2 million compared with 2020 when 318 properties sold worth $114.1 million. Of the 2021 sales in Terrace, 213 were single-family homes.

The average price for the 213 homes sold in 2021 was $467,492, a healthy rise over the 2020 average price of $400,539 when 163 homes sold and the $398,553 average price in 2019 when 155 homes sold.

Coming right behind Terrace for average sale prices in 2021 was Prince George at $457,804 with Prince Rupert next at $427,776 and Smithers at $403,282.

The most inexpensive homes in 2021 could be found in Mackenzie in the northeast at an average price of $178,287 with Fort Nelson not far behind at $206,844.

In all, the real estate board says there were 6,701 property sales worth $2.4 billion in 2021 through the Multiple Listing Service, up from 2020 figures of 5083 sales at $1.6 billion.

The real estate board says a combination of very strong sales and record low listings is pushing prices up to record amounts.

“Residential prices are up roughly 28 per cent since the start of the pandemic and in [the fourth quarter of 2020] averaged $399,615,” the board said in a statement.

The board did note that listings remain low and predicts that will put upward price pressure on homes.

“We expect markets will remain tight through the first half of 2022 before rising mortgage rates and expected tightening by the Bank of Canada starts to temper demand,” the board stated.