Well contrary to popular belief, sales do not necessarily wind down as we approach the end of the year. Ask anyone, and they will tell you that it’s common knowledge more homes sell in the spring than in the fall. This is more of a rule-of-thumb however, as last month’s real estate statistics show with October outpacing September in number of sales reported by the Victoria Real Estate Board.

There were 483 homes and other properties sold in October 2011, up from the 458 sales in September (and bettering October 2010′s result of 467 sales).

Average prices declined in all 3 categories (houses, condominiums, and townhomes) from September to October, although October’s average house price of $595,836 is still higher than July of 2011. While average prices can vary widely from month to month (September saw 14 houses over $1 million sell, skewing the average price to over $622,000), the general trend has been a stabilizing of the market and an overall pricing plateau.

Across the board there is a 44% sell/list ratio, meaning that out of every 100 properties listed, only 44 are selling. As many For Sale By Owners are finding out, the value in working with full-commision trained agents becomes very apparent in market conditions like these.

If you are one of those homeowners that have tried to sell and were unable to fulfill your goals, remember that you are not alone. Many people like you have benefitted from taking the Home Marketing Analysis in order to better prepare their home and themselves before re-entering the market. If you would like to receive your free Marketing Analysis simply email shamusbaier@gmail.com or call 250-858-3025.