vancouver island real estate board 2019 BUYERPROFILE

Notice to Readers

The information and data provided in this report have been obtained or prepared from sources that are believed to be reliable and accurate but have not necessarily been independently verified. The authors make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of such information and data nor the conclusions that have been derived from their use. Therefore, any use of the information by the reader or other recipient shall be at the sole risk and responsibility of such reader or recipient. The information provided in this report and the facts upon which the information is based as well as the information itself may change at any time without notice subject to market conditions and the assumptions made thereto. The authors expressly disclaim and take no responsibility, and shall not be liable:  for any financial or economic decisions taken by any person based in any way from the information presented in this report;  for any interpretation or misunderstanding of any such information on the part of any person; and  for any losses, costs or other damages whatsoever and howsoever caused in connection with any use of such information, including, consequential or indirect losses, loss of revenue, loss of expected profit or loss of income, whether or not as a result of any negligent act or omission of the authors.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 1 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Table of Contents Forward ...... 9 Objectives and Methodology ...... 9 Questionnaire Survey ...... 12 ..... Board Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 16 Community Movement ...... 16 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 16 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 17 Buyer Origin ...... 18 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 19 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 19 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 20 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 20 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 21 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 22 ..... Board Area – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 24 Selling Price Range ...... 24 Home Type...... 26 Number of Bedrooms ...... 27 Number of Bathrooms ...... 28 Exterior ...... 29 Parking ...... 30 Site Characteristics ...... 30 ..... Board Area – Typical Buyer ...... 31 ..... Campbell River Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 33 Community Movement ...... 33 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 34 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 35 Buyer Origin ...... 36 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 37 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 37 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 38

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 2 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 38 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 39 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 40 ..... Campbell River Sub-Area – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 41 Selling Price Range ...... 41 Home Type...... 43 Number of Bedrooms ...... 44 Number of Bathrooms ...... 44 Exterior ...... 45 Parking ...... 46 Site Characteristics ...... 46 ..... Campbell River Sub-Area – Typical Buyer...... 47 ..... Comox Valley Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 49 Community Movement ...... 49 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 50 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 51 Buyer Origin ...... 52 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 53 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 53 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 54 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 54 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 55 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 56 ..... Comox Valley Sub-Area – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 57 Selling Price Range ...... 57 Home Type...... 59 Number of Bedrooms ...... 60 Number of Bathrooms ...... 60 Exterior ...... 61 Parking ...... 62 Site Characteristics ...... 62 ..... Comox Valley Sub-Area – Typical Buyer ...... 63

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 3 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report .... Cowichan Valley Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 65 Community Movement ...... 65 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 66 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 67 Buyer Origin ...... 68 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 69 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 69 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 70 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 70 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 71 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 72 .... Cowichan Valley – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 73 Selling Price Range ...... 73 Home Type...... 75 Number of Bedrooms ...... 76 Number of Bathrooms ...... 76 Exterior ...... 77 Parking ...... 78 Site Characteristics ...... 78 .... Cowichan Valley Sub-Area – Typical Buyer ...... 79 ..... Nanaimo Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 81 Community Movement ...... 81 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 82 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 83 Buyer Origin ...... 84 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 85 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 85 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 86 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 86 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 87 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 88 ..... Nanaimo – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 89

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 4 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Selling Price Range ...... 89 Home Type...... 91 Number of Bedrooms ...... 92 Number of Bathrooms ...... 92 Exterior ...... 93 Parking ...... 94 Site Characteristics ...... 94 ..... Nanaimo Sub-Area – Typical Buyer ...... 95 ..... Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 97 Community Movement ...... 97 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 98 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 99 Buyer Origin ...... 100 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 101 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 101 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 102 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 102 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 103 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 104 ..... Parksville/Qualicum – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 105 Selling Price Range ...... 105 Home Type...... 107 Number of Bedrooms ...... 108 Number of Bathrooms ...... 108 Exterior ...... 109 Parking ...... 110 Site Characteristics ...... 110 ..... Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area – Typical Buyer ...... 111 .... Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 113 Community Movement ...... 113 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 114 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 115

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 5 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin ...... 116 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 117 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 117 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 118 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 118 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 119 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 120 .... Port Alberni/West Coast – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 121 Selling Price Range ...... 121 Home Type...... 123 Number of Bedrooms ...... 124 Number of Bathrooms ...... 124 Exterior ...... 125 Parking ...... 126 Site Characteristics ...... 126 .... Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area – Typical Buyer ...... 127 .... North Island Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 130 Community Movement ...... 130 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 131 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 131 Buyer Origin ...... 132 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 133 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 133 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 134 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 134 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 135 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 136 .... North Island – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data ...... 137 Selling Price Range ...... 137 Home Type...... 139 Number of Bedrooms ...... 140 Number of Bathrooms ...... 140

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 6 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior ...... 141 Parking ...... 142 Site Characteristics ...... 142 .... North Island Sub-Area – Typical Buyer ...... 143 ...... Islands Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey ...... 147 Community Movement ...... 147 Length of Time Lived in Same Community ...... 148 Moving Back to a Community after Time Away ...... 149 Buyer Origin ...... 150 Major Reason for Purchase ...... 151 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ...... 151 Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) ...... 152 Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) ...... 152 How Buyers First Became Aware of Property ...... 153 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® ...... 154 ...... Islands – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data...... 155 Selling Price Range ...... 155 Home Type...... 157 Number of Bedrooms ...... 158 Number of Bathrooms ...... 158 Exterior ...... 159 Parking ...... 160 Site Characteristics ...... 160 ...... Islands Sub-Area – Typical Buyer ...... 161 ...... Survey Data Comparisons from 2017 - 2019 ...... 163 Community Movement 2017 - 2019 ...... 164 Time Resident in Community Prior to Purchase 2017 - 2019 ...... 166 Buyer Origin 2017 – 2019 ...... 168 Major Reason for Purchase 2017 - 2019 ...... 169 First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence 2017 – 2019 ...... 170 Used RRSP for Down Payment 2017 - 2019 ...... 171 Purchased as Retirement Residence 2017 - 2019 ...... 172

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 7 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 2017 - 2019 ...... 173 How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® 2017 - 2019 ...... 175 ...... Survey Data Comparisons ...... 178 Survey Data 2017 – 2019 ...... 178 Response Data 2017 – 2019 ...... 179 Board Area Selling Price Range 2017 - 2019 ...... 180 Selling Price Range 2017 - 2019 ...... 183 Home Type 2017 - 2019 ...... 184 Number of Bedrooms 2017 - 2019...... 185 Number of Bathrooms 2017 - 2019 ...... 186 Exterior 2017 - 2019 ...... 187 Parking 2017 – 2019 ...... 188 Site Characteristics 2017 - 2019 ...... 189

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 8 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Profile January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019

A report containing results of a survey completed by buyers of residential property and corresponding Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) information summarizing ‘home characteristics’ on Vancouver Island, north of Victoria.

Forward

The 2019 Buyer Profile continues to provide timely, up-to-date information for REALTORS® about the buyers of real estate on Vancouver Island by providing a summary analysis of the overall board area of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) and the various sub-areas within its boundaries. These analyses have been carried out based on data collected from a mail survey questionnaire of buyers purchasing residential homes listed and sold through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) during 2019. Lots and acreage sales were not surveyed.

In an effort to provide a unique combination of buyer profile information (as provided by the survey information), corresponding data from the MLS® database on ‘home characteristics’ (i.e., home type, selling price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, exterior type, parking accommodations, and site features) were also compiled and analysed. Hence, a statistically based ‘snapshot’ of a buyer profile and corresponding ‘home characteristic’ preference is presented here. Similarities and differences within the sub-areas of the board’s jurisdiction are discussed. In addition, a comparison of changes from 2017 to 2019 (focusing on the top three responses for each factor) is included.

Objectives and Methodology

The 2019 Buyer Profile findings are based on the questionnaire that follows these introductory comments. Information and goals included: the major reason for the purchase; community movement; how long did the buyer live in the community prior to purchase; time away from community; where did the buyer live prior to purchase; was this a first-time purchase; use of RRSPs; whether home was purchased for retirement; how did the buyer first become aware of the property; and how did the buyer choose a REALTOR®. Only buyers purchasing residential homes listed and sold through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) system were surveyed during 2019. Descriptive analyses for these data were similar to the previous buyer profiles. Descriptive analyses of data, from the survey and the MLS® database, were applied to produce frequency histograms and pie charts. The resultant figures and tables provide useful and insightful information about the buyers’ profiles along with corresponding summary information about the ‘home characteristics’ of the real estate. Comparisons of numerous characteristics within the board area and among the various sub-areas are presented.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 9 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Survey Response

 A total of 7,357 board-area sales data records, down (13%) from last year’s total of 8,428 by 1,071 were obtained from the MLS® data for the ‘home characteristics’.

 From the mail survey (7,357 letters mailed out within the board area), a total of 1,378 mail and online survey records (18.7%) were completed and entered into a database, from which the buyer profile was developed. This number is a reasonable reflection of all MLS® records. The figure below illustrates the monthly timing of questionnaire mail-outs to all sub-areas within the board area for 2019, which is an illustration of the seasonality of sales.

Number of Questionnaires Mailed Out in 2019

 The sub-areas analyzed this year were Campbell River (714 MLS® records and 144 surveys returned); Comox Valley (1,413 MLS® records and 260 surveys returned); Cowichan Valley (1,263 MLS® records and 230 surveys returned); Nanaimo (2,062 MLS® records and 388 surveys returned); Parksville/Qualicum (1,071 MLS® records and 248 surveys returned); Port Alberni/West Coast (498 MLS® records and 74 surveys returned); North Island (177 MLS® records and 10 surveys returned); and Islands (Cormorant, Cortes, Denman, Gabriola, Hornby, Malcolm, Mudge, Protection, Quadra, Read, and Small) (159 MLS® records and 24 surveys returned).  The same analyses (for questionnaire survey and MLS® data) were conducted for the board area and all sub-areas, except for the North Island sub-area (see explanation below). For the board brea and most sub-areas, the response rates for the questionnaire data were sufficiently high enough to provide a strong representation of general population trends. However, the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 10 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report (14.9%) and Islands sub-area (15.1%) had noticeably smaller percentage responses from the questionnaires while the North Island only had a 5.6% response rate to the questionnaire (see figure below).  Full analyses were conducted for all sub-areas from the questionnaire data except for the North Island sub-area: since there were only 10 surveys returned (a response rate of 5.6%) for that sub-area. Hence, only MLS® data were analyzed for this sub-area.

Response Rates for 2019

 Descriptive statistics consist of frequency histograms and pie charts to illustrate differences in categories and groupings.  The total number of responses from the mail survey varied for different categories (e.g. Buyer Origin, First-Time Purchase, Major Reason for Purchase, etc.), as not all questions were answered by every buyer when the form was mailed back.  In addition, following the analyses for the board area and for each sub-area, a table summarizing the ‘typical’ buyer is presented (i.e., consisting of the highest frequency of each category analysed).  MLS® records of home characteristics consisted of descriptions of up to 70 different categories of ‘Exterior Types.’ Many of the descriptions were combinations of two ‘Exterior Types’, but their frequencies were often much less than one per cent. Hence, for ease of interpretation, the frequency tables and histograms only include the top 12 categories for the various areas, which comprises 89.6% of the respondents.  Statistical comparisons in the board area section across zones only compare those zones with responses of 10 or higher for reasons both of confidentiality and omitting unreliable data due to small sample size.  Finally, a three-year comparative section is again in this year’s buyer profile as a ‘snapshot’ of current trends for the entire board area and for each sub-area.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 11 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Introduction 2019 Buyer Survey for Residential Property Please complete each of the following questions by making only ONE choice, the best answer of the choices provided. Answers are strictly confidential and for statistical purposes only.

1. Survey Reference: 9. If you are moving, where are you moving from?

(2019) «MLS» □ Within same area (same town/city) 2. Please mark only ONE. Please indicate your MAJOR reason □ Elsewhere on Vancouver Island (other than Greater Victoria or same town/city) for the purchase of this property? □ Greater Victoria □ Gulf Islands □ Your principal residence □ Recreation / Vacation home (skip to Question 6) □ Vancouver □ Investment /Rental Home (skip to Question 6) □ Fraser Valley □ Housing for self or family attending learning institution □ Other BC □ Downsizing □ Alberta □ Other: Please specify: ______□ Saskatchewan/Manitoba □ Ontario 3. Was this the first time you purchased a home? □ Other Canada □ Rest of the World Where: ______□ Yes □ No (skip to Question 5) 10. Please mark only ONE. How did you FIRST become aware of the property you purchased? 4. If yes to Question 3, did you use your RRSP for a down- payment? □ Saw a FOR SALE sign on the property? □ Open House □ Yes □ Newspaper Ad - Classifieds □ No □ Real Estate Tabloid □ I do not know / not applicable □ Word of Mouth: Relative/Friend/Coworker/Acquaintance □ Contacted a Real Estate Office 5. Was this home purchased for your retirement residence? □ Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall □ Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca □ Yes □ Internet - searched on website OTHER than REALTOR.ca No □ □ My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) □ I do not know / not applicable □ My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) □ Other: Please specify ______6. Please select the answer that best represents you. Are you:

□ Moving to a new residence within the same community? 11. Please mark only ONE. How did you choose your REALTOR® □ Moving back to this community? (skip to Question 8) for this purchase? □ New to this community? (less than 1 year) (skip to Question 9) □ REALTOR® is a family member □ Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the □ REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker same community? □ REALTOR® was recommended by family or a relative □ Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a □ REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend different community? □ REALTOR® was recommended by another REALTOR® □ Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 7. How many years have you lived in your current community? □ REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business □ Called REALTOR® shown on FOR SALE sign on property ______□ Called REALTOR® shown in newspaper/tabloid ad □ Attended an Open House 8. You have indicated you are moving back to this community. □ Attended at a Real Estate office How many years have you been away? □ Real Estate kiosk in the Mall □ Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property ______□ REALTOR® spoke my language □ Armed Forces Relocation service □ Recommended by Bank or Mortgage Company □ Other: Please specify______

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. YOUR ANSWERS ARE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and will be combined with the responses of other participants for statistical purposes only. NO salesperson will contact you as a result of your participation in this survey and your name WILL NOT be added to any mailing list. The results will assist public agencies and the housing industry to improve the quality of life and service to all residents. To obtain a copy of the published survey results, please contact your local REALTOR®. BOARD AREA

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Board Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern of 2019 residential property buyers was to ‘Move to a new community’ with 773 responses at 56.1%, followed by ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ with 478 responses at 34.7%, and finally 93 responses at 6.7% indicated they were ‘Moving back to the community’. This pattern of results was consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 773 56.1% Moving to a new residence in same community. 478 34.7% Moving back to this community? 93 6.7% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 19 1.4% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 15 1.1% 1,378 100.0%

Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response to the question of how long they had lived there was for the category of ‘More than 20 years’ with 35.2%. The figures for living ‘More than 20 years’ in a community ranged from 27.3% in the Nanaimo sub-area to 57.2% in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area. The second-highest board-area frequency was 18.2%, for the ‘3 to 5 years’ category. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Years lived in current community Count % More than 20 years 180 35.2% 3 to 5 93 18.2% 6 to 10 73 14.3% 11 to 15 63 12.3% 1 to 2 56 11.0% 16 to 20 46 9.0% 511 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 16 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

Moving Back to a Community after Time Away For those buyers moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for some time, the category of ‘More than 20 years’ showed the highest frequency at 30.5% for the board area, with figures ranging from 20.7% in the Nanaimo sub-area to 60% in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area. In 2018, the number one category was ‘1 to 2 years’ at 20%.

Years away from community Count % More than 20 years 28 30.5% 3 to 5 18 19.6% 6 to 10 16 17.4% 11 to 15 13 14.1% 1 to 2 12 13.0% 16 to 20 5 5.4% 92 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 17 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the board area (determined from 864 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 27.4%, followed by ‘Other BC’ at 15%, and ‘Vancouver’ at 14.1%. Alberta was ranked third in 2015 with 9.7%, fourth in 2016 with 10.4%1, sixth in 2017 with 8.4%, sixth in 2018 with 8.6%, and seventh in 2019 with 6.3%. When aggregated, buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 76.1% of the respondents, and those coming from Vancouver Island was 38.4%. Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 237 27.4% Other BC 130 15.0% Vancouver 122 14.1% Fraser Valley 74 8.6% Ontario 74 8.6% Greater Victoria 67 7.8% Alberta 54 6.3% Other Canada 24 2.8% Gulf Islands 21 2.4% Within same area 18 2.1% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 18 2.1% USA 16 1.9% Rest of the World 9 1.0% 864 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 18 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the board area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with a proportion of 82.9% of the respondents. The most frequently mentioned response in the ‘Other’ category was family. The ‘principal residence’ category increased only slightly from 82.2% in 2018. Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 1,142 82.9% Downsizing 170 12.3% Other 29 2.1% Investment / rental home 20 1.5% Recreation / vacation home 11 0.8% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 6 0.4% 1,378 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 14.2% of purchases made in the board area. The lowest frequency of ‘First-time buyers’ occurred in the North Island sub-area at 0%, while the highest frequency occurred in the Islands sub-area at 22.7%. The frequency of first-time buyers increased slightly from 13.5% in 2018. First Home? Count % Yes 191 14.2% No 1,156 85.8% 1,347 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 19 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ in the board area was 35.3%, ranging from 18.8% in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area to 41.4% in the Nanaimo sub-area. The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ decreased from 33.2% in 2018, to 35.3% in 2019. Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 65 35.3% No 119 64.7% I do not know / not applicable 7 191 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of respondents buying their home for retirement purposes was 56.7%. This proportion did not vary significantly by zone, ranging from 52.6% in the Comox Valley sub-area to 75.1% in the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area.

These results increased from 56.3% in 2017 but decreased from 58.8% in 2018 to 56.7% in 2019.

Retirement Residence Count % Yes 655 56.7% No 500 43.3% I do not know / not applicable 192 1,347 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 20 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 34.2%, ‘Internet – Searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 21%, and ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 14.9%. Among the sub-areas, the frequency for ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ ranged from 25.6% in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area to 39.4% in the Campbell River sub-area. As a matter of interest, the Internet choices totalled 35.9% when added together.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 470 34.2% Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 290 21.0% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 206 14.9% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 129 9.4% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 83 6.0% Contacted a Real Estate office 64 4.6% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 60 4.4% Other 30 2.2% Open House 25 1.8% Real Estate Tabloid 11 0.8% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 7 0.5% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 3 0.2% 1,378 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 21 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top three ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 17.6%, ‘REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend’ at 14.8%, and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 13.8%. The ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ category ranged from 9.5% in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub- area to 19.8% in the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey. REALTORS® continue to depend primarily on relationship-based referrals to service their business, as 42.5% of business was due to a recommendation. The ‘Other’ category included responses such as having met the REALTOR® through a social function, performed Google search, or liked the REALTOR’s® website.

Source of REALTOR® Count % Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 243 17.6% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 204 14.8% REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 190 13.8% REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 174 12.6% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 146 10.6% Other 107 7.8% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 78 5.7% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 44 3.2% Attended at a Real Estate office 44 3.2% REALTOR® is a family member 43 3.1% Attended an Open House 36 2.6% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 30 2.2% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 18 1.3% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 7 0.5% REALTOR® spoke my language 6 0.4% Armed Forces Relocation service 5 0.4% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 3 0.2% 1,378 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 22 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 23 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Board Area – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined, and totalled 216 sales in 2019, a decrease from 239 sales in 2018. There were 226 sales in 2017 above $1 million, 145 sales in 2016, and 63 sales in 2015. The top three categories for the board area were $400,001-$450,000 at 10.7%, $450,001-$500,000 at 9.9%, and $350,001-$400,000 at 9.8%, totalling 30.4% of all sales.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 62 0.8% $50,001 to $100,000 109 1.5% $100,001 to $150,000 188 2.6% $150,001 to $200,000 314 4.3% $200,001 to $250,000 364 4.9% $250,001 to $300,000 458 6.2% $300,001 to $350,000 604 8.2% $350,001 to $400,000 723 9.8% $400,001 to $450,000 791 10.7% $450,001 to $500,000 727 9.9% $500,001 to $550,000 700 9.5% $550,001 to $600,000 575 7.8% $600,001 to $650,000 461 6.3% $650,001 to $700,000 340 4.6% $700,001 to $750,000 233 3.2% $750,001 to $800,000 188 2.6% $800,001 to $850,000 108 1.5% $850,001 to $900,000 100 1.4% $900,001 to $950,000 52 0.7% $950,001 to $1,000,000 44 0.6% Over $1,000,000 216 2.9%

7,357 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 24 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 25 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 54.4%, ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 13.3%, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 8.1%. The ‘Single-Family’ home type category ranged from 49.7% in the Cowichan Valley sub- area to 68.4% in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Type of Home Count % Single Family 3,987 54.4% Condominium (Apt) 978 13.3% Condominium (Twnhse) 598 8.1% Acreage With House 349 4.7% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 325 4.4% Patio Home 322 4.4% Single Family (Strata) 290 3.9% Single Family (Waterfront) 242 3.3% Duplex (Strata) 201 2.7% Duplex 38 0.5% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 11 0.1% Farm/Ranch 11 0.1% Triplex/Fourplex 5 0.1% 7,357 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 26 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 40%, ‘Two’ at 28.6%, and ‘Four’ at 16.7%. The frequency of three bedrooms ranged from 31.8% in the Nanaimo sub-area to 52.9% in the North Island sub-area. Other than in the Islands sub-area where the most common bedroom amount changed from two to three, these results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Number of Bedrooms Count % 3 2,933 40.0% 2 2,094 28.6% 4 1,221 16.7% 5 535 7.3% 1 356 4.9% 6 156 2.1% 7 22 0.3% 8 10 0.1% 10 2 0.0% 9 1 0.0% 11 1 0.0% 7,331 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 27 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bathrooms The most common number of bathrooms in the board area was ‘Two’ at 45.6%, followed by ‘Three’ at 28.3% and ‘One’ at 19.4%. The frequency of two bathrooms ranged from 39.9% in the Nanaimo sub-area to 54.8% in the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area. Other than in the Islands sub-area, where the most common bathroom amount changed from ‘One’ to ‘Two’, these results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Bathrooms Count % 2 3,328 45.6% 3 2,063 28.3% 1 1,419 19.4% 4 387 5.3% 5 77 1.1% 6 21 0.3% 7 1 0.0% 8 1 0.0% 7,297 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 28 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Vinyl’ at 30.9%, ‘Wood’ at 18.8%, followed by ‘Hardi Plank’ at 15.8%. ‘Vinyl’ was the most common in four sub-areas (Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, and Nanaimo), ranging from 24.5% in the Cowichan Valley to 40.9% in Nanaimo. ‘Wood’ was the most common in the other four sub-areas (Parksville/Qualicum, Port Alberni/West Coast, North Island, and Islands), ranging from 25.7% in Parksville/Qualicum to 78% in the Islands sub-area. PLEASE NOTE that only the top 12 descriptions and their frequencies are presented in the table and figure below. The total number is based on 72 descriptions, with 767 data points or 10.4% excluded for brevity. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Exterior Count % Vinyl 2,276 30.9% Wood 1,383 18.8% Hardi Plank 1,160 15.8% Stucco 764 10.4% Stucco & Siding 390 5.3% Aluminum 222 3.0% Stone Hardi Plank 114 1.5% Brick & Siding 68 0.9% Wood Hardi Plank 65 0.9% Stone Vinyl 62 0.8% Wood Vinyl 59 0.8% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 27 0.4% Other 767 10.4% 7,357 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 29 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in the board area were ‘Garage-Double’ at 45.9%, ‘Carport-Single’ at 27.3%, and ‘Garage-Single’ at 16.3%. ‘Garage-Double’ was the most common in all sub-areas except the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area, the North Island sub-area, and the Islands sub-area, where ‘Garage-Single’ was the most common with 32.3%, 44.4%, and 32.7% respectively. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Double 2,161 45.9% Carport-Single 1,289 27.3% Garage-Single 769 16.3% Garage-3 Or More 194 4.1% Carport-Multiple 180 3.8% Other 120 2.5% 4,713 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Mountain’ at 40.5%, ‘View – Ocean’ at 40.4%, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ at 8.8%.

‘View – Mountain’ was the most common among the Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, and Port Alberni/West Coast sub-areas. ‘View – Ocean’ was the most common among Campbell River, Nanaimo and Parksville/Qualicum sub-areas (ranging from 45.6% to 69.7%). Finally, ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ was the most common site characteristic in the Islands sub-area with 52.2%.

These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Site Characteristics Count % View - Mountain 1,111 40.5% View - Ocean 1,106 40.4% Waterfront - Ocean 240 8.8% View - Lake 100 3.6% Waterfront - Lake 91 3.3% Waterfront - River/Creek 79 2.9% View - City 13 0.5% 2,740 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 30 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Board Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 56% Years Lived in Same Community More than 20 years 35% Years Away From Community More than 20 years 31% Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 27% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 83% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 86% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 65% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 57% My REALTOR® supplied PCS How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 34% (Private Client Services) Previously dealt with this How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® 18% REALTOR® Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $400,001 to $450,000 11% Home Type Single Family 54% Number of Bedrooms 3 40% Number of Bathrooms 2 46% Exterior Vinyl 31% Parking Garage-Double 46% Site Characteristics View - Mountain 41%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 31 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Board Area CAMPBELL RIVER

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Campbell River Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern of 2019 residential property buyers in the Campbell River sub-area was to move to a new residence in the same community with 69 responses at 47.9%, followed by moving to a new community with 62 responses at 43.1%, and 10 responses at 6.9% indicated they were ‘Moving back to the community’. ‘Moving to a new community’ decreased by 1.7% and ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ increased by 6.5% from 2018.

Community movement Count % Moving to a new residence in same community. 69 47.9% New to this community? 62 43.1% Moving back to this community? 10 6.9% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 2 1.4% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 1 0.7% 144 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 33 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response of 45.7% was for the category of ‘More than 20 years’. The second-highest frequency was 18.1% for the ‘3 to 5 years’ category.

For 2018, the second-highest frequency response was 17.9% for the ‘1 to 2 years’ category.

Years lived in current community Count % More than 20 years 33 45.7% 3 to 5 13 18.1% 6 to 10 11 15.3% 1 to 2 9 12.5% 11 to 15 4 5.6% 16 to 20 2 2.8% 72 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 34 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Moving Back to a Community after Time Away For those buyers moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for some time, the category of ‘11 to 15 years’ showed the highest frequency at 30% for the Campbell River sub-area. The categories ‘1 to 2 years’, ’16 to 20 years’, and ‘More than 20 years’ all showed the second-highest frequency at 20%. In 2018, the most frequent category (30.7%) was ‘6 to 10 years’. The second most frequent category (23.1%) was ’11 to 15 years’.

Years away from community Count % 11 to 15 3 30.0% 1 to 2 2 20.0% 16 to 20 2 20.0% More than 20 years 2 20.0% 6 to 10 1 10.0% 3 to 5 0 0.0% 10 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 35 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the Campbell River sub-area (determined from 71 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ with 26.7%, followed by ‘Fraser Valley’ and ‘Other B.C.’, both with 14.1%. ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ and ‘Alberta’ decreased by 7.9% and 2.3%, respectively, from 2018. ‘Fraser Valley’ increased by 6.4% from 2018. When aggregated, buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 78.9% of the respondents (a decrease of 1.9% from 2018), and those coming from Vancouver Island totalled 35.2%, a decrease from 2018 where the total from Vancouver Island was 41.1%.

Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 19 26.7% Fraser Valley 10 14.1% Other BC 10 14.1% Vancouver 9 12.7% Ontario 7 9.9% Greater Victoria 6 8.5% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 5 7.0% Gulf Islands 2 2.8% Alberta 2 2.8% Rest of the World 1 1.4% Within same area 0 0.0% Other Canada 0 0.0% USA 0 0.0% 71 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 36 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the Campbell River sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’, with 79.8% of survey respondents choosing this option. The next highest category was ‘Downsizing’ at 12.5%.

These results are consistent with those from 2018.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 115 79.8% Downsizing 18 12.5% Other 5 3.5% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 3 2.1% Investment / rental home 2 1.4% Recreation / vacation home 1 0.7% 144 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 19.1% of purchases made in the Campbell River sub-area. These results are consistent with those from 2018.

First Home? Count % Yes 27 19.1% No 114 80.9% 141 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 37 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ in the Campbell River sub-area is 33.3%, signifying that the majority of first-time buyers within the Campbell River sub-area did not use RRSPs for their down payment. The use of RRSPs for down payments increased by 12.3% from 2018.

Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 9 33.3% No 18 66.7% I do not know / not applicable 0 27 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of respondents buying their home for retirement purposes was 53.8%. These results are consistent with those from 2018. Retirement Residence Count % Yes 63 53.8% No 54 46.2% I do not know / not applicable 24 141 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 38 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 39.4%, ‘Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 16.7%, and ‘Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 16%.

‘Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ increased by 9.8% from 2018.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 85 32.7% Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 59 22.7% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 34 13.1% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 26 10.0% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 17 6.5% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 15 5.8% Contacted a Real Estate office 10 3.8% Other 5 1.9% Open House 4 1.5% Real Estate Tabloid 2 0.8% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 2 0.8% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 1 0.4% 260 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 39 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top two ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 19.2%, followed by ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ with 18.1%. It remains consistent in the Campbell River sub-area that REALTORS® depend primarily on referrals, with 47.7% of REALTOR® business coming from recommendations and 34.1% from a previous relationship.

Source of REALTOR® Count % REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 28 19.2% Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 26 18.1% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 19 13.2% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 18 12.5% REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 17 11.8% Attended at a Real Estate office 8 5.6% Other 7 4.9% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 5 3.5% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 4 2.8% REALTOR® is a family member 4 2.8% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 3 2.1% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 2 1.4% Attended an Open House 2 1.4% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 1 0.7% REALTOR® spoke my language 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% Armed Forces Relocation service 0 0.0% 144 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 40 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

Campbell River Sub-Area – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top two categories for the Campbell River sub-area were $350,001-$400,000 and $400,001-$450,000 at 15.1%. The third most frequent category was $450,001-$500,000 at 11.9%, totalling 42.1% of all sales. The top three categories for the Campbell River sub-area in 2018 were slightly lower: $350,001-$400,000 at 20.4%, $400,001-$450,000 at 18.2%, and $300,001-$350,000 at 10.4%, totalling 49% of all sales.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 3 0.4% $50,001 to $100,000 13 1.8% $100,001 to $150,000 20 2.8% $150,001 to $200,000 26 3.6% $200,001 to $250,000 52 7.3% $250,001 to $300,000 32 4.5% $300,001 to $350,000 75 10.5% $350,001 to $400,000 107 15.1% $400,001 to $450,000 107 15.1% $450,001 to $500,000 85 11.9% $500,001 to $550,000 76 10.6% $550,001 to $600,000 41 5.7% $600,001 to $650,000 21 2.9% $650,001 to $700,000 17 2.4% $700,001 to $750,000 11 1.5% $750,001 to $800,000 11 1.5% $800,001 to $850,000 5 0.7% $850,001 to $900,000 4 0.6% $900,001 to $950,000 0 0.0% $950,001 to $1,000,000 1 0.1% Over $1,000,000 7 1.0%

714 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 41 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 42 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top two home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 61.2% and ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 14.8%. ‘Patio Home’ and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ were the next most frequent category, both at 6.7%. 64.9% of homes are single-family in the Campbell River sub-area, which is a 10.5% increase from the board area. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey, with a slight (3%) decrease in the number of patio homes. Type of Home Count % Single Family 436 61.2% Condominium (Apt) 106 14.8% Condominium (Twnhse) 48 6.7% Patio Home 48 6.7% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 26 3.6% Single Family (Strata) 14 2.0% Duplex (Strata) 13 1.8% Acreage With House 10 1.4% Single Family (Waterfront) 10 1.4% Duplex 3 0.4% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 0 0.0% Triplex/Fourplex 0 0.0% Farm/Ranch 0 0.0% 714 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 43 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 48%, ‘Two’ at 26.8%, and ‘Four’ at 16.1%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Bedrooms Count % 3 342 48.0% 2 191 26.8% 4 115 16.1% 5 38 5.3% 1 20 2.8% 6 7 1.0% 7 0 0.0% 8 0 0.0% 713 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ at 50.9%, ‘Three’ at 26.4%, and ‘One’ at 19.5%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Bathrooms Count % 2 361 50.9% 3 187 26.4% 1 138 19.5% 4 18 2.5% 5 5 0.7% 6 0 0.0% 709 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 44 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Vinyl’ at 36.1%, ‘Hardi Plank’ at 19.6%, and ‘Wood’ at 14.1%. This is a slight change from the board area as a whole, whose order of top three exterior types were ‘Vinyl’, ‘Wood’, and ‘Hardi Plank’. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Exterior Count % Vinyl 258 36.1% Hardi Plank 140 19.6% Wood 101 14.1% Stucco 40 5.6% Aluminum 32 4.5% Stucco & Siding 31 4.3% Stone Vinyl 9 1.3% Wood Vinyl 8 1.1% Brick & Siding 7 1.0% Stone Hardi Plank 6 0.8% Wood Hardi Plank 3 0.4% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Other 79 11.1% 714 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 45 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in the Campbell River sub-area were ‘Garage-Double’ at 46.9%, ‘Carport- Single’ at 28.1%, and ‘Garage-Single’ at 13.7%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Double 229 46.9% Carport-Single 137 28.1% Garage-Single 67 13.7% Garage-3 Or More 28 5.7% Carport-Multiple 17 3.5% Other 10 2.0% 488 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Ocean’ at 69.7%, ‘View – Mountain’ at 19.2%, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ at 6.7%. These results differ slightly from the board area, as those results were ‘View – Mountain’ first, ‘View – Ocean’ second, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ third. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Site Characteristics Count % View - Ocean 156 69.7% View - Mountain 43 19.2% Waterfront - Ocean 15 6.7% Waterfront - River/Creek 8 3.6% Waterfront - Lake 1 0.4% View - City 1 0.4% View - Lake 0 0.0% 224 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 46 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Campbell River Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Moving to a new residence in same Community Movement 48% community Years Lived in Same Community More than 20 years 46% Years Away From Community 11 to 15 30% Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 27% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 80% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 81% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 67% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 54% My REALTOR® supplied PCS How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 39% (Private Client Services) REALTOR® was recommended by How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® 19% my family or a relative Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $350,001 to $400,000 15% Home Type Single Family 61% Number of Bedrooms 3 48% Number of Bathrooms 2 51% Exterior Vinyl 36% Parking Garage-Double 47% Site Characteristics View - Ocean 70%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 47 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Campbell River Sub-Area COMOX VALLEY

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Comox Valley Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern of 2019 Comox Valley sub-area residential property buyers was to move to a new community with 144 responses at 55.4%, followed by ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ with 93 responses at 35.8%, and 18 responses at 6.9% indicated they were ‘Moving back to the community’. The frequency of people new to the community increased by 4.5% from 2018, and the frequency of people moving back to the community decreased 2.6% from 2018.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 144 55.4% Moving to a new residence in same community. 93 35.8% Moving back to this community? 18 6.9% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 3 1.2% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 2 0.8% 260 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 49 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response to the question of how long they had lived there was for the category of ‘More than 20 years’ at 36.1%. The second-highest frequency was 16.5% for the ’11 to 15’ category, followed by 15.5% for the ‘3 to 5’ category. This is consistent with results from 2018.

Years lived in current community Count % More than 20 years 35 36.1% 11 to 15 16 16.5% 3 to 5 15 15.5% 6 to 10 14 14.4% 1 to 2 10 10.3% 16 to 20 7 7.2% 97 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 50 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Moving Back to a Community after Time Away For those buyers moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for some time, the category of ‘More than 20 years’ showed the highest frequency at 38.8% for the Comox Valley sub-area. The second- highest frequency was 27.8% for the ‘3 to 5 years’ category. In 2018, the category of ’6 to 10 years’ was the most frequent at 27.7%. The second-highest frequency was 20.7% for the ‘3 to 5 years’ category.

Years away from community Count % More than 20 years 7 38.8% 3 to 5 5 27.8% 11 to 15 3 16.7% 1 to 2 2 11.1% 6 to 10 1 5.6% 16 to 20 0 0.0% 18 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 51 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the Comox Valley sub-area (determined from 160 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 23.8%, followed by ‘Vancouver’ at 18.1%, and ‘Other BC’ at 15.6%. When aggregated, buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 68.1% of the respondents, and those coming from Vancouver Island totalled 27.5%.2 In 2018, the top frequencies were ‘Vancouver’ at 19%, followed by ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 17.4% and ‘Ontario’ at 12.5%. Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 38 23.8% Vancouver 29 18.1% Other BC 25 15.6% Alberta 18 11.3% Ontario 18 11.3% Fraser Valley 8 5.0% Other Canada 8 5.0% Greater Victoria 4 2.5% Gulf Islands 3 1.9% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 3 1.9% Within same area 2 1.3% USA 2 1.3% Rest of the World 2 1.3% 160 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 52 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the Comox Valley sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with 83.4% of survey respondents choosing this option. The next highest category was ‘Downsizing’ at 12.7%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 217 83.4% Downsizing 33 12.7% Investment / rental home 4 1.5% Other 3 1.2% Recreation / vacation home 2 0.8% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 1 0.4% 260 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 12.6% of purchases made in the Comox Valley sub-area. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. First Home? Count % Yes 32 12.6% No 222 87.4% 254 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 53 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ in the Comox Valley sub-area was 35.7%.

These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 10 35.7% No 18 64.3% I do not know / not applicable 4 32 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of those buying their home for retirement purposes was 52.6%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Retirement Residence Count % Yes 110 52.6% No 99 47.4% I do not know / not applicable 45 254 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 54 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 32.7%, ‘Internet- REALTOR.ca site’ at 22.7%, and ‘Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 13.1%. As a matter of interest, the Internet choices totalled 35.8% when added together. These results showed an increase in the frequency of ‘Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ by 7.5% from 2018. How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 85 32.7% Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 59 22.7% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 34 13.1% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 26 10.0% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 17 6.5% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 15 5.8% Contacted a Real Estate office 10 3.8% Other 5 1.9% Open House 4 1.5% Real Estate Tabloid 2 0.8% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 2 0.8% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 1 0.4% 260 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 55 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top three ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend’ at 23.5%, ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 17.7%, and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 12.3%. It remains consistent that REALTORS® depend primarily on relationship-based referral with 44.7% of REALTOR® business coming from a referral. The top three results from the 2018 survey were ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 17%, ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ also at 17%, and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend’ at 16.4%. Source of REALTOR® Count % REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 61 23.5% Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 46 17.7% REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 32 12.3% Other 23 8.8% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 22 8.5% REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 22 8.5% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 17 6.5% Attended at a Real Estate office 10 3.8% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 7 2.7% REALTOR® is a family member 6 2.3% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 3 1.2% Attended an Open House 3 1.2% Armed Forces Relocation service 3 1.2% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 2 0.8% REALTOR® spoke my language 2 0.8% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 1 0.4% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% 260 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 56 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Comox Valley Sub-Area – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top three categories for the Comox Valley were $350,001-$400,000 at 11%, $400,001-$450,000 at 10.7%, and $450,001-$500,000 at 9.6% This is a slight increase in selling price from 2018, where the top three categories for the Comox Valley were $350,001-$400,000 at 12.3%, $300,001-$350,000 at 11.7% each, and $450,001-$400,000 at 11.3%.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 8 0.6% $50,001 to $100,000 12 0.8% $100,001 to $150,000 30 2.1% $150,001 to $200,000 53 3.8% $200,001 to $250,000 55 3.9% $250,001 to $300,000 81 5.7% $300,001 to $350,000 111 7.9% $350,001 to $400,000 155 11.0% $400,001 to $450,000 151 10.7% $450,001 to $500,000 135 9.6% $500,001 to $550,000 130 9.2% $550,001 to $600,000 119 8.4% $600,001 to $650,000 94 6.7% $650,001 to $700,000 83 5.9% $700,001 to $750,000 53 3.8% $750,001 to $800,000 35 2.5% $800,001 to $850,000 23 1.6% $850,001 to $900,000 22 1.6% $900,001 to $950,000 10 0.7% $950,001 to $1,000,000 9 0.6% Over $1,000,000 44 3.1%

1,413 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 57 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 58 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 50.7%, ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 17.1%, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 9.6%. In the Comox Valley, 55.3% of homes are single-family. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Home Count % Single Family 715 50.7% Condominium (Apt) 241 17.1% Condominium (Twnhse) 136 9.6% Duplex (Strata) 78 5.5% Acreage With House 69 4.9% Patio Home 67 4.7% Single Family (Waterfront) 40 2.8% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 34 2.4% Single Family (Strata) 24 1.7% Duplex 6 0.4% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 2 0.1% Farm/Ranch 1 0.1% Triplex/Fourplex 0 0.0% 1,413 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 59 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 43.9%, ‘Two’ at 26.9%, and ‘Four’ at 18.3%. Compared to the 2018 survey, ‘Two’ saw a decrease in frequency of 3.7% and ‘Four’ saw an increase in frequency of 3.6%.

Number of Count % Bedrooms 3 618 43.9% 2 379 26.9% 4 258 18.3% 5 70 5.0% 1 66 4.7% 6 17 1.2% 7 1 0.1% 1,409 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ at 45.7%, ‘Three’ at 32.9%, and ‘One’ at 17.9%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Bathrooms Count % 2 643 45.7% 3 462 32.9% 1 251 17.9% 4 41 2.9% 5 8 0.6% 6 1 0.1% 1,406 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 60 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Vinyl’ at 34.6%, ‘Hardi Plank’ at 19.2%, and ‘Wood’ at 15.4%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Exterior Count % Vinyl 489 34.6% Hardi Plank 272 19.2% Wood 218 15.4% Stucco 99 7.0% Stucco & Siding 61 4.3% Aluminum 40 2.8% Stone Hardi Plank 26 1.8% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 23 1.6% Wood Hardi Plank 21 1.5% Stone Vinyl 16 1.1% Wood Vinyl 9 0.6% Brick & Siding 8 0.6% Other 131 9.3% 1,413 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 61 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in the Comox Valley sub-area were ‘Garage-Double’ at 45.2%, ‘Carport- Single’ at 33.2%, and ‘Garage-Single’ at14. 5%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Type of Parking Count % Garage-Double 396 45.2% Carport-Single 291 33.2% Garage-Single 127 14.5% Garage-3 Or More 26 3.0% Other 25 2.9% Carport-Multiple 11 1.3% 876 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Mountain’ at 56.7%, ‘View – Ocean’ at 25.8%, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ at 8%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Site Characteristics Count % View - Mountain 227 56.7% View - Ocean 103 25.8% Waterfront - Ocean 32 8.0% Waterfront - River/Creek 28 7.0% Waterfront - Lake 6 1.5% View - Lake 4 1.0% View - City 0 0.0% 400 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 62 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Comox Valley Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019. Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 55% Years Lived in Same Community More than 20 years 36% Years Away From Community More than 20 years 39% Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 24% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 83% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 87% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 64% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 53% My REALTOR® supplied PCS How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 33% (Private Client Services) REALTOR® was recommended by How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® 23% co-worker or friend Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $350,001 to $400,000 11% Home Type Single Family 51% Number of Bedrooms 3 44% Number of Bathrooms 2 46% Exterior Vinyl 35% Parking Garage-Double 45% Site Characteristics View - Mountain 57%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 63 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Comox Valley Sub-Area COWICHAN VALLEY

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Cowichan Valley Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern among 2019 Cowichan Valley residential property buyers was to move to a new community with 151 responses at 65.7%, followed by ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community with ’ 59 responses at 25.7%, and 15 responses at 6.5% indicated they were ‘Moving back to the community’. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 151 65.7% Moving to a new residence in same community. 59 25.7% Moving back to this community? 15 6.5% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 3 1.3% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 2 0.9% 230 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 65 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response to the question of how long they had lived there was for the category of ‘More than 20 years’, at 40.6%. The second and third highest frequencies were 14.1% for the ’16 to 20 years’ and ‘3 to 5 years’ categories.

The ‘More than 20 years’ category decreased by 4.2% from 2018. In 2018, ‘3 to 5 years’ was the second most frequent category at 18.4%.

Years lived in current community Count % More than 20 years 26 40.6% 3 to 5 9 14.1% 16 to 20 9 14.1% 6 to 10 8 12.5% 11 to 15 7 10.9% 1 to 2 5 7.8% 64 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 66 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Moving Back to a Community after Time Away For those buyers moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for some time, ’3 to 5 years’, ‘6 to 10 years’, and ‘More than 20 years’ were the most frequent categories at 26.7% each. In 2018, the categories ‘1 to 2 years’, ‘3 to 5 years’, and ’16 to 20 years’ all showed the highest frequency at 20% for the Cowichan Valley sub-area.

Years away from community Count % 3 to 5 4 26.7% 6 to 10 4 26.7% More than 20 years 4 26.7% 1 to 2 1 6.7% 11 to 15 1 6.7% 16 to 20 1 6.7% 15 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 67 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the Cowichan Valley sub-area (determined from 168 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 34.5%, followed by ‘Greater Victoria’ at 16.1%, and ‘Other BC’ at 13.7%. When aggregated, buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 82.1% of the respondents, and those coming from Vancouver Island totalled 51.8%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 58 34.5% Greater Victoria 27 16.1% Other BC 23 13.7% Fraser Valley 13 7.7% Vancouver 11 6.5% Ontario 11 6.5% Alberta 7 4.2% Other Canada 5 3.0% Gulf Islands 4 2.4% USA 4 2.4% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 3 1.8% Within same area 2 1.2% Rest of the World 0 0.0% 168 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 68 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the Cowichan Valley sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with 83.5% of survey respondents choosing this option. The next highest category was ‘Downsizing’ at 12.2%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 192 83.5% Downsizing 28 12.2% Other 6 2.6% Investment / rental home 2 0.9% Recreation / vacation home 1 0.4% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 1 0.4% 230 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 12.3% of purchases made in the Cowichan Valley sub-area. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey. First Home? Count % Yes 28 12.3% No 199 87.7% 227 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 69 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ in the Cowichan Valley sub-area was 40.7%, signifying that most first-time buyers within the Cowichan Valley sub-area did not use RRSPs for their down payment. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 11 40.7% No 16 59.3% I do not know / not applicable 1 28 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of those buying their home for retirement purposes was 58.6%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Retirement Residence Count % Yes 116 58.6% No 82 41.4% I do not know / not applicable 29 0.0% 227 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 70 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 32.6%, ‘Internet- Searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 23% and ‘Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 16.5%. As a matter of interest, the Internet choices totalled 39.5% when added together, making ‘Internet search’ the highest frequency choice for this category. Other than an increase (6.4%) in ‘Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’, these results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 75 32.6% Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 53 23.0% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 38 16.5% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 17 7.4% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 13 5.7% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 12 5.2% Contacted a Real Estate office 11 4.8% Other 6 2.6% Open House 3 1.3% Real Estate Tabloid 2 0.9% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% 230 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 71 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top two ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 19.1%, followed by ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 16.1%. It remains consistent that REALTORS® depend primarily on referrals, with 44% of REALTOR® business coming from recommendations. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Source of REALTOR® Count % Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 44 19.1% REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 37 16.1% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 31 13.5% REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 31 13.5% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 28 12.2% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 11 4.8% Other 11 4.8% Attended an Open House 7 3.0% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 6 2.6% Attended at a Real Estate office 6 2.6% REALTOR® is a family member 6 2.6% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 5 2.2% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 2 0.9% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 2 0.9% REALTOR® spoke my language 1 0.4% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 1 0.4% Armed Forces Relocation service 1 0.4% 230 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 72 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Cowichan Valley – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top three categories for the Cowichan Valley were $450,001-$500,000 at 11.8%, $500,001-$550,000 at 10.8%, and $400,001-$450,000 at 10%, totalling 32.6% of all sales. In 2018, the top three categories for the Cowichan Valley were $350,001-$400,000 at 11.8%, $400,001- $450,000 at 11.1%, and $450,001-$500,000 at 10.3%, totalling 33.2% of all sales.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 5 0.4% $50,001 to $100,000 11 0.9% $100,001 to $150,000 31 2.5% $150,001 to $200,000 53 4.2% $200,001 to $250,000 53 4.2% $250,001 to $300,000 57 4.5% $300,001 to $350,000 98 7.8% $350,001 to $400,000 117 9.3% $400,001 to $450,000 126 10.0% $450,001 to $500,000 152 11.8% $500,001 to $550,000 136 10.8% $550,001 to $600,000 107 8.5% $600,001 to $650,000 79 6.3% $650,001 to $700,000 73 5.8% $700,001 to $750,000 36 2.9% $750,001 to $800,000 32 2.5% $800,001 to $850,000 15 1.2% $850,001 to $900,000 24 1.9% $900,001 to $950,000 7 0.6% $950,001 to $1,000,000 10 0.8% Over $1,000,000 39 3.1%

1,261 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 73 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 74 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 49.7%, ‘Single-Family (Strata)’ at 9.7%, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 8%. This is a higher frequency of ‘Single-Family (Strata)’ than across the board area at 3.9%. In 2018, the top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 50.8%, ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 9%, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 8.3%.

Type of Home Count % Single Family 628 49.7% Single Family (Strata) 122 9.7% Condominium (Twnhse) 101 8.0% Condominium (Apt) 95 7.5% Acreage With House 89 7.1% Single Family (Waterfront) 68 5.4% Duplex (Strata) 59 4.7% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 57 4.5% Patio Home 24 1.9% Duplex 7 0.6% Farm/Ranch 6 0.5% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 2 0.2% Triplex/Fourplex 2 0.2% 1,260 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 75 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 40.2%, ‘Two’ at 27.3%, and ‘Four’ at 19.4%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bedrooms 3 505 40.2% 2 342 27.3% 4 243 19.4% 5 84 6.7% 1 37 2.9% 6 34 2.7% 7 6 0.5% 8 3 0.2% 9 1 0.1% 1,255 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ at 43%, ‘Three’ at 31.6%, and ‘One’ at 16.6%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bathrooms 2 538 43.0% 3 395 31.6% 1 207 16.6% 4 85 6.8% 5 20 1.6% 6 5 0.4% 1,250 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 76 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Vinyl’ at 24.5%, ‘Hardi Plank’ at 24.3%, and ‘Wood’ at 17.2%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Exterior Count % Vinyl 309 24.5% Hardi Plank 306 24.3% Wood 217 17.2% Stucco 183 14.5% Stucco & Siding 66 5.2% Aluminum 34 2.7% Stone Hardi Plank 19 1.5% Wood Hardi Plank 15 1.2% Brick & Siding 8 0.6% Wood Vinyl 6 0.5% Stone Vinyl 6 0.5% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Other 91 7.2% 1,260 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 77 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in the Cowichan Valley sub-area were ‘Garage-Double’ at 44.4%, ‘Carport- Single’ at 25.7%, and ‘Garage-Single’ 17%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Double 394 44.4% Carport-Single 228 25.7% Garage-Single 151 17.0% Carport-Multiple 53 6.0% Garage-3 Or More 44 5.0% Other 18 2.0% 888 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Mountain’ at 41.6%, ‘View – Ocean’ at 33.1%, and ‘View – Lake’ at 10.5%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Site Characteristics Count % View - Mountain 248 41.6% View - Ocean 198 33.1% View - Lake 63 10.5% Waterfront - Lake 45 7.5% Waterfront - Ocean 26 4.3% Waterfront - River/Creek 16 2.7% View - City 2 0.3% 598 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 78 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Cowichan Valley Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 66% Years Lived in Same Community More than 20 years 41% 3 to 5, 6 to 10, and More than 20 Years Away From Community 27% years Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 35% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 84% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 88% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 59% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 59% My REALTOR® supplied PCS How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 33% (Private Client Services) Previously dealt with this How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® 19% REALTOR® Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $450,001 to $500,000 12% Home Type Single Family 50% Number of Bedrooms 3 40% Number of Bathrooms 2 43% Exterior Vinyl 25% Parking Garage-Double 44% Site Characteristics View - Mountain 42%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 79 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Cowichan Valley Sub-Area NANAIMO

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Nanaimo Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern of 2019 residential property buyers in the Nanaimo sub-area was to move to a new community with 181 responses at 46.6%, followed by ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ with 164 responses at 42.3%. Finally, 30 respondents (7.7%) indicated they were ‘Moving back to this community’. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 181 46.6% Moving to a new residence in same community. 164 42.3% Moving back to this community? 30 7.7% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 7 1.8% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 6 1.5% 388 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 81 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response was 27.3% for the category of ‘More than 20 years’. The second-highest frequency was 22.7% for the ‘3 to 5 years’ category.

These results differed from the 2018 survey, which had ‘6 to 10 years’ as the second most frequent response at 18.7%.

Years lived in current community Count % More than 20 years 48 27.3% 3 to 5 40 22.7% 11 to 15 27 15.3% 6 to 10 23 13.1% 1 to 2 22 12.5% 16 to 20 16 9.1% 176 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 82 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Moving Back to a Community after Time Away For those buyers moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for some time, the category ‘6 to 10 years’ showed the highest frequency at 24.1% for the Nanaimo sub-area. The second-highest frequency was tied at 20.7% for the ’11 to 15 years’ and ‘More than 20 years’ categories. In 2018, for those buyers moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for some time, the categories of ‘1 to 2 years’ and ‘More than 20 years’ showed the highest frequency at 21.1% for the Nanaimo sub-area. This was followed by the categories ‘3 to 5 years’ and ‘6 to 10 years’, both at 15.8%.

Years away from community Count % 6 to 10 7 24.1% 11 to 15 6 20.7% More than 20 years 6 20.7% 1 to 2 5 17.2% 3 to 5 5 17.2% 16 to 20 0 0.0% 29 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 83 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the Nanaimo sub-area (determined from 211 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ with 21.8% and ‘Other BC’ at 18.5%. When aggregated, buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 77.7% of the respondents, and those coming from Vancouver Island totalled 32.2%. These results differed from those of the 2018 survey, which had ‘Vancouver’ with the highest frequency at 22.3%, followed by ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 21.9%.

Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 46 21.8% Other BC 39 18.5% Vancouver 35 16.6% Ontario 19 9.0% Fraser Valley 15 7.1% Within same area 13 6.2% Alberta 13 6.2% Greater Victoria 9 4.3% Gulf Islands 7 3.3% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 6 2.8% USA 4 1.9% Rest of the World 3 1.4% Other Canada 2 0.9% 211 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 84 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the Nanaimo sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with 85% of survey respondents choosing this option. The next highest category was ‘Downsizing’ at 9.5%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 330 85.0% Downsizing 37 9.5% Other 10 2.6% Investment / rental home 8 2.1% Recreation / vacation home 2 0.5% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 1 0.3% 388 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 19% of purchases made in the Nanaimo sub-area. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

First Home? Count % Yes 72 19.0% No 306 81.0% 378 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 85 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ in the Nanaimo sub-area was 41.4%, signifying that over one-third of the first-time buyers within the Nanaimo sub-area used RRSPs for their down payment. In 2018, 38.5% of first-time buyers used an RRSP for their down payment.

Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 29 41.4% No 41 58.6% I do not know / not applicable 2 72 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of those buying their home for retirement purposes was 46%. In 2018, 52% of respondents were buying their home for retirement purposes.

Retirement Residence Count % No 175 54.0% Yes 149 46.0% I do not know / not applicable 54 378 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 86 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 36.7%, ‘Internet- searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 21.6%, and ‘Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 12.6%. As a matter of interest, the Internet choices totalled 34.2% when added together, making ‘Internet Search’ the second most frequently chosen option. This is consistent with the results from the 2018 survey.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 142 36.7% Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 84 21.6% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 49 12.6% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 40 10.3% Contacted a Real Estate office 23 5.9% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 21 5.4% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 11 2.8% Other 8 2.1% Open House 7 1.8% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 2 0.5% Real Estate Tabloid 1 0.3% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% 388 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 87 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top three ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 16.6%, followed by ‘REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker, associate, or friend’ at 15.2% and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 13.4%. It remains consistent that REALTORS® depend primarily on referral-based advertising with 43.5% of REALTOR® business coming from a recommendation. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey. Source of REALTOR® Count % Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 65 16.6% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 59 15.2% REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 52 13.4% REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 49 12.6% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 48 12.4% Other 34 8.8% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 15 3.9% REALTOR® is a family member 15 3.9% Attended an Open House 13 3.4% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 10 2.6% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 9 2.3% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 7 1.8% Attended at a Real Estate office 6 1.5% REALTOR® spoke my language 2 0.5% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 2 0.5% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 1 0.3% Armed Forces Relocation service 1 0.3% 388 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 88 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Nanaimo – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top three categories for the Nanaimo area were $500,001-$550,000 at 10.7%, $400,001-$450,000 at 10.2%, and $350,001-$400,000 at 9.7%, totalling 30.6% of all sales. In 2018, the top three categories for the Nanaimo area were $450,001-$500,000 at 12%, $400,001- $450,000 at 10%, and $500,001-$550,000 at 9.5%, totalling 31.5% of all sales.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 2 0.1% $50,001 to $100,000 24 1.2% $100,001 to $150,000 48 2.3% $150,001 to $200,000 79 3.8% $200,001 to $250,000 97 4.7% $250,001 to $300,000 138 6.7% $300,001 to $350,000 178 8.6% $350,001 to $400,000 201 9.7% $400,001 to $450,000 211 10.2% $450,001 to $500,000 185 9.0% $500,001 to $550,000 219 10.7% $550,001 to $600,000 180 8.7% $600,001 to $650,000 175 8.5% $650,001 to $700,000 86 4.2% $700,001 to $750,000 65 3.1% $750,001 to $800,000 50 2.4% $800,001 to $850,000 34 1.6% $850,001 to $900,000 22 1.1% $900,001 to $950,000 16 0.8% $950,001 to $1,000,000 13 0.6% Over $1,000,000 42 2.0%

2,065 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 89 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 90 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 52.7%, ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 16.8%, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 10%. This is consistent with the board area as a whole, in which the top three choices were ‘Single-Family’, ‘Condominium (Apt)’, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’. In Nanaimo, 58% of homes purchased in 2019 were single-family homes. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Home Count % Single Family 1,085 52.7% Condominium (Apt) 347 16.8% Condominium (Twnhse) 207 10.0% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 140 6.8% Patio Home 77 3.7% Single Family (Strata) 70 3.4% Acreage With House 41 2.0% Duplex (Strata) 41 2.0% Single Family (Waterfront) 37 1.8% Duplex 15 0.7% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 3 0.1% Triplex/Fourplex 1 0.0% Farm/Ranch 1 0.0% 2,065 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 91 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 31.8%, ‘Two’ at 28.1%, and ‘Four’ at 16.3%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bedrooms 3 656 31.8% 2 580 28.1% 4 335 16.3% 5 260 12.6% 1 134 6.5% 6 78 3.8% 7 12 0.6% 8 4 0.2% 10 2 0.1% 9 0 0.0% 2,061 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ at 39.9%, ‘Three’ 31.3%, and ‘One’ at 19%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bathrooms 2 820 39.9% 3 644 31.3% 1 390 19.0% 4 170 8.3% 5 24 1.2% 6 8 0.4% 7 0 0.0% 2,056 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 92 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Vinyl’ at 40.9%, ‘Wood’ at 11.8%, and ‘Hardi Plank’ at 9.8%. In 2018, the top three exterior types were ‘Vinyl at 41.9%, ‘Wood’ at 14.7%, and ‘Stucco’ at 10.7%.

Exterior Count % Vinyl 844 40.9% Wood 243 11.8% Hardi Plank 203 9.8% Stucco 200 9.7% Stucco & Siding 118 5.7% Aluminum 54 2.6% Stone Vinyl 29 1.4% Wood Vinyl 25 1.2% Brick & Siding 24 1.2% Stone Hardi Plank 23 1.1% Wood Hardi Plank 6 0.3% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 4 0.2% Other 292 14.1% 2,065 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 93 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in Nanaimo were ‘Garage-Double’ at 49.5%, ‘Carport-Single’ at 25.8%, and ‘Garage-Single’ at 15.2%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Double 630 49.5% Carport-Single 328 25.8% Garage-Single 194 15.2% Carport-Multiple 55 4.3% Other 39 3.1% Garage-3 Or More 27 2.1% 1,273 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Ocean’ at 49.5%, ‘View – Mountain’ at 36.6%, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean at 5.6%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Site Characteristics Count % View - Ocean 387 49.5% View - Mountain 286 36.6% Waterfront - Ocean 44 5.6% View - Lake 26 3.3% Waterfront - Lake 20 2.6% Waterfront - River/Creek 9 1.2% View - City 9 1.2% 781 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 94 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Nanaimo Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 47% Years Lived in Same Community More than 20 years 27% Years Away From Community 6 to 10 24% Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 22% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 85% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 81% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 59% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) No 54% My REALTOR® supplied PCS How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 37% (Private Client Services) Previously dealt with this How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® 17% REALTOR® Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $500,001 to $550,000 11% Home Type Single Family 53% Number of Bedrooms 3 32% Number of Bathrooms 2 40% Exterior Vinyl 41% Parking Garage-Double 49% Site Characteristics View - Ocean 50%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 95 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Nanaimo Sub-Area PARKSVILLE/QUALICUM

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern of 2019 residential property buyers of the Parksville /Qualicum sub- area was to move to a new community with 166 responses at 66.9%, followed by ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ with 63 responses at 25.4%, and ‘Moving back to the community’, with 15 responses at 6%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 166 66.9% Moving to a new residence in same community. 63 25.4% Moving back to this community? 15 6.0% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 4 1.6% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 0 0.0% 248 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 97 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response was 29.6% for the category of ‘More than 20 years’. The second-highest frequency was tied at 17.6%, for the categories ‘6 to 10 years’ and ’16 to 20 years’. In 2018, the most frequent category was ‘More than 20 years’ at 24.7%, followed by ‘6 to 10 years’ at 21.5%.

Years lived in current community Count % More than 20 years 20 29.6% 6 to 10 12 17.6% 16 to 20 12 17.6% 3 to 5 9 13.2% 11 to 15 9 13.2% 1 to 2 6 8.8% 68 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 98 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Moving Back to a Community after Time Away For those buyers moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for some time, the category of ‘More than 20 years’ showed the highest frequency at 40% for the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area. The next highest frequency was tied at 20% for the categories ‘3 to 5 years’ and 6 to 10 years’. In 2018, the most frequent category was ‘3 to 5 years’ at 31.5%, followed by ‘1 to 2 years’ at 26.3%.

Years away from community Count % More than 20 years 6 40.0% 3 to 5 3 20.0% 6 to 10 3 20.0% 16 to 20 2 13.3% 1 to 2 1 6.7% 11 to 15 0 0.0% 15 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 99 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area (determined from 181 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 25.2%, followed by ‘Vancouver’ at 15.5% and ‘Other BC’ at 13.3%. When aggregated, all buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 77.3% of the respondents, and those coming from Vancouver Island totalled 34.6%.

In 2018, the ‘Vancouver’ category was the most frequent at 19.2%, followed by ‘Other BC’ at 16.9%, and the categories ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ and ‘Fraser Valley’ were tied at 15.5%.

Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 46 25.2% Vancouver 28 15.5% Other BC 24 13.3% Fraser Valley 22 12.2% Greater Victoria 16 8.8% Ontario 16 8.8% Alberta 11 6.1% USA 7 3.9% Other Canada 6 3.3% Gulf Islands 3 1.7% Within same area 1 0.6% Rest of the World 1 0.6% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 0 0.0% 181 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 100 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with 79.5% of survey respondents choosing this option. The next highest category was ‘Downsizing’ at 17.7%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 197 79.5% Downsizing 44 17.7% Recreation / vacation home 3 1.2% Investment / rental home 2 0.8% Other 2 0.8% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 0 0.0% 248 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 4.5% of purchases made in the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

First Home? Count % Yes 11 4.5% No 232 95.5% 243 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 101 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ in the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area was 27.3%. This is an increase of 20.2% from 2018, where the frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ was 7.1%.

Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 3 27.3% No 8 72.7% I do not know / not applicable 0 11 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of those buying their home for retirement purposes was 75.1%. Parksville/Qualicum has one of the highest retirement residence percentages within the board area. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Retirement Residence Count % Yes 163 75.1% No 54 24.9% I do not know / not applicable 26 243 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 102 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 38.5%, followed by ‘Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 16.5% and ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 15.7%. As a matter of interest, the Internet choices totalled 32.2%. In 2018, the top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 38%, ‘Internet- searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 19.4%, and ‘My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS)’ at 11.9%.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 95 38.5% Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 41 16.5% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 39 15.7% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 22 8.9% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 15 6.0% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 10 4.0% Open House 9 3.6% Contacted a Real Estate office 7 2.8% Other 7 2.8% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 2 0.8% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 1 0.4% Real Estate Tabloid 0 0.0% 248 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 103 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 19.8%, ‘REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR®’ at 16.5%, and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend’ at 10.1%. It remains consistent that REALTORS® depend primarily on referral-based advertising with 35.9% of REALTOR® business coming from a recommendation. In 2018, the top ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 15.8%, followed by ‘REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR®’ at 15.5% and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 14%.

Source of REALTOR® Count % Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 49 19.8% REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 41 16.5% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 25 10.1% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 24 9.7% REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 22 8.9% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 21 8.5% Other 18 7.3% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 12 4.8% Attended an Open House 9 3.6% REALTOR® is a family member 9 3.6% Attended at a Real Estate office 8 3.2% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 7 2.8% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 1 0.4% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 1 0.4% REALTOR® spoke my language 1 0.4% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% Armed Forces Relocation service 0 0.0% 248 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 104 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

Parksville/Qualicum – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top three categories for Parksville/Qualicum were $450,001-$500,000 at 11.5%, followed by $400,001- $450,000 at 11.1% and $550,001-$600,000 at 9.4%, totalling 32% of all sales. The top three categories for the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area in 2018 were $400,001-$450,000 at 10.4%, followed by $450,000-$500,001 at 9.7% and $500,001-$550,000 at 8.9%, totalling 29% of all sales.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 14 1.3% $50,001 to $100,000 14 1.3% $100,001 to $150,000 16 1.5% $150,001 to $200,000 27 2.5% $200,001 to $250,000 34 3.2% $250,001 to $300,000 52 4.9% $300,001 to $350,000 40 3.7% $350,001 to $400,000 64 6.0% $400,001 to $450,000 119 11.1% $450,001 to $500,000 123 11.5% $500,001 to $550,000 99 9.2% $550,001 to $600,000 101 9.4% $600,001 to $650,000 73 6.8% $650,001 to $700,000 62 5.8% $700,001 to $750,000 53 4.9% $750,001 to $800,000 50 4.7% $800,001 to $850,000 24 2.2% $850,001 to $900,000 21 2.0% $900,001 to $950,000 16 1.5% $950,001 to $1,000,000 6 0.6% Over $1,000,000 63 5.9%

1,071 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 105 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 106 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top categories were ‘Single Family’ at 55.4%, ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 11.7%, and ‘Patio Home’ at 9.7%. This differs with the board area as a whole, where the top three choices were ‘Single-Family’, ‘Condominium (Apt)’, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’. In Parksville/Qualicum, 63.7% of homes purchased in 2019 were single-family homes. The categories in 2018 were ‘Single-Family’ at 56.0%, ‘Patio Home’ at 9.2%, and ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 8.5%.

Type of Home Count % Single Family 595 55.4% Condominium (Apt) 125 11.7% Patio Home 104 9.7% Acreage With House 64 6.0% Condominium (Twnhse) 59 5.5% Single Family (Strata) 50 4.7% Single Family (Waterfront) 37 3.5% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 34 3.2% Farm/Ranch 2 0.2% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 1 0.1% Duplex (Strata) 0 0.0% Duplex 0 0.0% Triplex/Fourplex 0 0.0% 1,071 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 107 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 44.1%, ‘Two’ at 36.2%, and ‘Four’ at 10.9%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bedrooms 3 471 44.1% 2 387 36.2% 4 116 10.9% 1 55 5.1% 5 28 2.6% 6 9 0.8% 8 2 0.2% 7 0 0.0% 1,068 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ 54.8%, ‘Three’ at 21.6%, and ‘One’ at 17.8%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bathrooms 2 580 54.8% 3 228 21.6% 1 188 17.8% 4 44 4.2% 5 13 1.2% 6 3 0.3% 7 1 0.1% 1,057 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 108 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Wood’ at 25.7%, ‘Vinyl at 19.2%, and ‘Hardi Plank’ at 17.4%. In 2018, the top three house exterior types were ‘Wood’ at 27.4%, ‘Hardi Plank’ 19.8%, and ‘Vinyl’ 19.1%.

Exterior Count % Wood 275 25.7% Vinyl 206 19.2% Hardi Plank 186 17.4% Stucco 154 14.4% Stucco & Siding 52 4.9% Stone Hardi Plank 34 3.2% Aluminum 31 2.9% Wood Hardi Plank 16 1.5% Brick & Siding 14 1.3% Wood Vinyl 5 0.5% Stone Vinyl 2 0.2% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Other 96 9.0% 1,071 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 109 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in Parksville/Qualicum were ‘Garage-Double’ at 53.6%, ‘Carport-Single’ at 24.5%, and ‘Garage-Single’ at 10.5%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Double 405 53.6% Carport-Single 185 24.5% Garage-Single 79 10.5% Garage-3 Or More 50 6.6% Carport-Multiple 18 2.4% Other 18 2.4% 755 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Ocean’ at 45.6%, ‘View – Mountain’ at 29.7%, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ at 18.4%. In 2018, the top three site characteristics were ‘View – Ocean’ at 39.6%, ‘Waterfront - Ocean’ at 25.4%, and ‘View - Mountain’ at 25.1%.

Site Characteristics Count % View - Ocean 144 45.6% View - Mountain 94 29.7% Waterfront - Ocean 58 18.4% Waterfront - River/Creek 9 2.8% Waterfront - Lake 6 1.9% View - Lake 4 1.3% View - City 1 0.3% 316 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 110 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 67% Years Lived in Same Community More than 20 years 30% Years Away From Community More than 20 years 40% Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 25% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 80% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 96% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 73% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 75% My REALTOR® supplied PCS How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 39% (Private Client Services) Previously dealt with this How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® 20% REALTOR® Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $450,001 to $500,000 12% Home Type Single Family 55% Number of Bedrooms 3 44% Number of Bathrooms 2 55% Exterior Wood 26% Parking Garage-Double 54% Site Characteristics View - Ocean 46%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 111 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Parksville/Qualicum Sub-Area

PORT ALBERNI/WEST COAST

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern of 2019 residential property buyers of the Port Alberni /West Coast sub-area was to move to a new community with 41 responses 55.4%, followed by ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ with 25 responses 33.8%, and ‘Moving back to the community’ with five responses at 6.8%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 41 55.4% Moving to a new residence in same community. 25 33.8% Moving back to this community? 5 6.8% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 2 2.7% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 1 1.4% 74 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 113 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response was 57.2% for the category of ‘More than 20 years’. The second-highest frequency was 21.4% for the category of ‘3 to 5 years’. The third-highest-frequency categories were ‘1 to 2 years’ and ‘6 to 10 years’, tied at 10.7%.

In 2018, the highest-frequency response was 49.9% for the category of ‘More than 20 years’. The second- highest frequency was 25% for the category ‘6 to 10 years’.

Years lived in current community Count % More than 20 years 16 57.2% 3 to 5 6 21.4% 1 to 2 3 10.7% 6 to 10 3 10.7% 11 to 15 0 0.0% 16 to 20 0 0.0% 28 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 114 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Moving Back to a Community after Time Away For those buyers moving back to the community after time away, the most frequent response was 60% for the category ‘More than 20 years’. The second most frequent categories were ‘ 1 to 2 years’ and ‘3 to 5 years’ which were tied at 20%. In 2018, the most frequent categories were ’11 to 15 years’ and ‘More than 20 years’, both at 40%.

*Note: With only five respondents, this sample may not be representative.*

Years away from community Count % More than 20 years 3 60.0% 1 to 2 1 20.0% 3 to 5 1 20.0% 6 to 10 0 0.0% 11 to 15 0 0.0% 16 to 20 0 0.0% 5 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 115 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area (determined from 47 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 42.5%, ‘Other BC’ at 12.8%, and ‘Greater Victoria’, ‘Vancouver’, and ‘Fraser Valley’ all at 8.5%. When aggregated, all buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 80.8% of the respondents, and those coming from Vancouver Island totalled 51%. In 2018, the top three categories were ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 26.7%, ‘Vancouver’ at 17.6%, and ‘Greater Victoria’ at 14.7%.

Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 20 42.5% Other BC 6 12.8% Greater Victoria 4 8.5% Vancouver 4 8.5% Fraser Valley 4 8.5% Ontario 3 6.4% Alberta 2 4.3% USA 2 4.3% Other Canada 1 2.1% Rest of the World 1 2.1% Within same area 0 0.0% Gulf Islands 0 0.0% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 0 0.0% 47 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 116 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with 83.8% of survey respondents choosing this option. The next highest category was ‘Downsizing’ at 10.8%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 62 83.8% Downsizing 8 10.8% Investment / rental home 2 2.7% Other 2 2.7% Recreation / vacation home 0 0.0% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 0 0.0% 74 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 22.2% of purchases made in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

First Home? Count % Yes 16 22.2% No 56 77.8% 72 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 117 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ in the Port Alberni/West Coast sub- area was 18.8%, signifying that the majority of people within the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area did not use RRSPs for their down payment. The frequency of first-time buyers ‘using RRSPs for a down payment’ on their homes decreased by 14.5% from 2018.

Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 3 18.8% No 13 81.2% I do not know / not applicable 0 16 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of those buying their home for retirement purposes was 54%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Retirement Residence Count % Yes 34 54.0% No 29 46.0% I do not know / not applicable 9 72 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 118 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘Internet – searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 25.6%, ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 20.3%, and ‘My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS)’ at 14.9%. As a matter of interest, the Internet choices totalled 45.9%. In 2018, the top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 34%, ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 22%, and ‘Internet – searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 16%.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 19 25.6% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 15 20.3%

My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 11 14.9% My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 10 13.5% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 6 8.1% Contacted a Real Estate office 6 8.1% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 4 5.4% Other 2 2.7% Real Estate Tabloid 1 1.4% Open House 0 0.0% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% 74 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 119 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top three ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘REALTOR® was recommended by family or a relative’ at 22.8%, ‘Other’ at 13.5%, and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend’ at 12.2%. It remains consistent that REALTORS® depend primarily on referrals, with 43.1% of REALTOR® business coming from recommendations. In 2018, the top three ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 18%, followed by ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative’ at 16% and ‘REALTOR® was recommended by another REALTOR®’ at 14%.

Source of REALTOR® Count % REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 17 22.8% Other 10 13.5% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 9 12.2% Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 7 9.5% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 7 9.5% REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 6 8.1% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 5 6.8% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 4 5.4% Attended at a Real Estate office 4 5.4% Attended an Open House 2 2.7% REALTOR® is a family member 2 2.7% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 1 1.4% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 0 0.0% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 0 0.0% REALTOR® spoke my language 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% Armed Forces Relocation service 0 0.0% 74 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 120 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Port Alberni/West Coast – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top three categories for the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area were $250,001-$300,000 at 14.7%, $300,001-$350,000 at 14.3%, and $350,001-$400,000 at 11.6%. This is an increase in selling price compared to 2018, when the top three categories for the Port Alberni/West Coast sub-area were $250,001-$300,000 at 15.3%, $200,001-$250,000 at 14.8%, and $300,001-$350,000 at 13.5%.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 0 0.0% $50,001 to $100,000 8 1.6% $100,001 to $150,000 19 3.8% $150,001 to $200,000 45 9.0% $200,001 to $250,000 49 9.8% $250,001 to $300,000 72 14.7% $300,001 to $350,000 71 14.3% $350,001 to $400,000 58 11.6% $400,001 to $450,000 49 9.8% $450,001 to $500,000 26 5.2% $500,001 to $550,000 21 4.2% $550,001 to $600,000 17 3.4% $600,001 to $650,000 11 2.2% $650,001 to $700,000 13 2.6% $700,001 to $750,000 5 1.0% $750,001 to $800,000 3 0.6% $800,001 to $850,000 6 1.2% $850,001 to $900,000 4 0.8% $900,001 to $950,000 1 0.2% $950,001 to $1,000,000 5 1.0% Over $1,000,000 15 3.0%

498 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 121 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 122 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 68.4%, ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 6.8%, and ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 6%. In the Port Alberni/West Coast area, 74.4% of homes purchased in 2019 were single-family homes. In 2018, the top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 68.3%, ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 7.2%, and ‘Manufactured/Mobile On Pad’ at 5.1%.

Type of Home Count % Single Family 340 68.4% Condominium (Twnhse) 34 6.8% Condominium (Apt) 30 6.0% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 26 5.2% Single Family (Waterfront) 20 4.0% Acreage With House 19 3.8% Single Family (Strata) 9 1.8% Duplex (Strata) 8 1.6% Duplex 6 1.2% Patio Home 2 0.4% Triplex/Fourplex 2 0.4% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 1 0.2% Farm/Ranch 1 0.2% 498 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 123 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 38.4%, ‘Two’ at 24.6%, and ‘Four’ at 21.8%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bedrooms 3 190 38.4% 2 122 24.6% 4 108 21.8% 5 48 9.7% 1 12 2.4% 6 10 2.0% 7 3 0.6% 8 1 0.2% 11 1 0.2% 495 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ at 47.1%, ‘One’ at 28%, and ‘Three’ at 18.1%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bathrooms 2 233 47.1% 1 139 28.0% 3 90 18.1% 4 22 4.4% 5 7 1.4% 6 4 0.8% 8 1 0.2% 496 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 124 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Wood’ at 25.9%, ‘Vinyl’ at 23.1%, and ‘Stucco’ at 15.9%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Exterior Count % Wood 129 25.9% Vinyl 115 23.1% Stucco 79 15.9% Stucco & Siding 50 10.0% Hardi Plank 44 8.8% Aluminum 13 2.6% Brick & Siding 6 1.2% Stone Hardi Plank 5 1.0% Wood Vinyl 4 0.8% Wood Hardi Plank 3 0.6% Stone Vinyl 0 0.0% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Other 50 10.0% 498 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 125 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in Port Alberni/West Coast was ‘Garage-Single’ at 32.3%, followed by ‘Garage-Double’ and ‘Carport-Single’ both at 26.4%. These results are consistent with this from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Single 93 32.3% Garage-Double 76 26.4% Carport-Single 76 26.4% Carport-Multiple 19 6.6% Garage-3 Or More 15 5.2% Other 9 3.1% 288 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Mountain’ at 69.1%, ‘View – Ocean’ at 14.5%, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ at 7.6%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Site Characteristics Count % View - Mountain 181 69.1% View - Ocean 38 14.5% Waterfront - Ocean 20 7.6% Waterfront - Lake 13 5.0% Waterfront - River/Creek 7 2.7% View - Lake 3 1.1% View - City 0 0.0% 262 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 126 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 55% Years Lived in Same Community More than 20 years 57% Years Away From Community More than 20 years 60% Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 43% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 84% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 78% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 81% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 54% Internet - searched on How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 26% REALTOR.ca REALTOR® was recommended by How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® 23% my family or a relative Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $250,001 to $300,000 15% Home Type Single Family 68% Number of Bedrooms 3 38% Number of Bathrooms 2 47% Exterior Wood 26% Parking Garage-Single 32% Site Characteristics View - Mountain 69%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 127 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Port Alberni/West Coast Sub-Area NORTH ISLAND

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

Readers are encouraged to treat the statistics in this section of the report with caution. Statistics based on fewer observations are typically omitted from reports for reasons of confidentiality, and the resulting data is usually considered unreliable due to the small sample size. In the North Island sub-area, there were only ten rersponses to the buyers’ survey and, accordingly, the results in this zone can only be said to represent the circumstances of those ten individual buyers, not the zone in general.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 129 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report North Island Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The only observed migration pattern of 2019 residential property buyers of the North Island sub-area was to move to a new community, with 100% of responses. In 2018, the most common migration pattern was to move to a new community at 86.7%, followed by ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ at 13.3%.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 10 100.0% Moving to a new residence in same community. 0 0.0% Moving back to this community? 0 0.0% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 0 0.0% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 0 0.0% 10 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 130 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community There were no responses in the North Island sub-area for buyers moving to a new residence in the same community. In 2018, the only selected categories were ‘3 to 5 years’ and ‘6 to 10 years’, both at 50%.

Moving Back to a Community after Time Away There were no responses to this question in 2019 or 2018.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 131 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origin for the North Island sub-area (determined from 10 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 50%, followed by ‘Other B.C.’ at 30%. The total from B.C. is 90% and the total from Vancouver Island is 50%. In 2018, the primary buyer origin for the North Island sub-area (determined from 13 responses) was ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 30.7%, followed by ‘Other BC’ at 23.1%. The total from B.C. was 67.2% and the total from Vancouver Island was 38.4%

Buyer Origin Count % Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 5 50.0% Other BC 3 30.0% Fraser Valley 1 10.0% Alberta 1 10.0% Within same area 0 0.0% Greater Victoria 0 0.0% Gulf Islands 0 0.0% Vancouver 0 0.0% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 0 0.0% Ontario 0 0.0% Other Canada 0 0.0% USA 0 0.0% Rest of the World 0 0.0% 10 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 132 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the North Island sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with 90% of survey respondents choosing this option. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 9 90.0% Other 1 10.0% Downsizing 0 0.0% Investment / rental home 0 0.0% Recreation / vacation home 0 0.0% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 0 0.0% 10 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 0% of purchases made in the North Island sub-area. This is a decrease in first time home buyers of 20% from the 2018 survey.

First Home? Count % Yes 0 0.0% No 10 100.0% 10 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 133 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) There were no responses to this question from first-time home buyers in the North Island sub-area. In 2018, 66.7% of respondents indicated they did use an RRSP for their down payment.

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of those buying their home for retirement purposes was 70%. This is an increase of 53.3% from the 2018 survey.

Retirement Residence Count % Yes 7 70.0% I do not know / not applicable 3 30.0% No 0 0.0% 10 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 134 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The most frequent ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘Internet – searched on REALTOR.ca’ and ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’, tied at 30%. In 2018, the top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘Internet – searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 40%, ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services)’ at 26.7%, and ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 13.3%.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 3 30.0% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 3 30.0% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 1 10.0% Contacted a Real Estate office 1 10.0% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 1 10.0% Real Estate Tabloid 1 10.0% My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 0 0.0% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 0 0.0% Open House 0 0.0% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 10 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 135 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR®’ and ‘Internet - REALTOR® was the agent on listed property’, tied at 30%, followed by ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ at 20%. In the North Island sub-area, REALTORS® depend primarily on recommendations, with 40% of REALTOR® business coming from that market segment.

In 2018, the top ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker’ at 26.7%, followed by ‘Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property’ and ‘Internet - REALTOR® was the agent on listed property’ at 20%.

Source of REALTOR® Count % REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 3 30.0% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 3 30.0% Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 2 20.0% REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 1 10.0% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 1 10.0% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 0 0.0% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 0 0.0% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 0 0.0% Attended at a Real Estate office 0 0.0% Attended an Open House 0 0.0% REALTOR® is a family member 0 0.0% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 0 0.0% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 0 0.0% REALTOR® spoke my language 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% Armed Forces Relocation service 0 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 10 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 136 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report North Island – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top three categories for the North Island were $0-$50,000 at 17.4%, $50,001-$100,000 at 15.5%, and $150,001-$200,000 at 14.4%, totalling 47.3%. In 2018, the sales prices were slightly higher as the top three categories for the North Island were $50,001- $100,000 at 18.2%, $150,001-$200,000 at 17.5%, and $100,001-$150,000 at 17%, totalling 52.7% of all sales.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 30 17.4% $50,001 to $100,000 27 15.5% $100,001 to $150,000 22 12.6% $150,001 to $200,000 25 14.4% $200,001 to $250,000 19 10.9% $250,001 to $300,000 13 7.5% $300,001 to $350,000 18 10.3% $350,001 to $400,000 8 4.6% $400,001 to $450,000 3 1.7% $450,001 to $500,000 3 1.7% $500,001 to $550,000 2 1.1% $550,001 to $600,000 2 1.1% $600,001 to $650,000 0 0.0% $650,001 to $700,000 0 0.0% $700,001 to $750,000 1 0.6% $750,001 to $800,000 0 0.0% $800,001 to $850,000 0 0.0% $850,001 to $900,000 1 0.6% $900,001 to $950,000 0 0.0% $950,001 to $1,000,000 0 0.0% Over $1,000,000 0 0.0%

174 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 137 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 138 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 57.1%, ‘Condominium (Apt)’ at 19.2%, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’ at 7.3%. In the North Island area, 62.8% of homes sold in 2019 are considered single-family homes. The results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Home Count % Single Family 101 57.1% Condominium (Apt) 34 19.2% Condominium (Twnhse) 13 7.3% Acreage With House 9 5.1% Single Family (Waterfront) 9 5.1% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 8 4.5% Duplex (Strata) 2 1.1% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 1 0.6% Single Family (Strata) 0 0.0% Patio Home 0 0.0% Duplex 0 0.0% Triplex/Fourplex 0 0.0% Farm/Ranch 0 0.0% 177 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 139 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 52.9%, ‘Two’ at 18.6%, and ‘Four’ at 18%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bedrooms 3 91 52.9% 2 32 18.6% 4 31 18.0% 1 14 8.1% 5 4 2.3% 6 0 0.0% 7 0 0.0% 172 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ at 42.9%, ‘One’ at 35.3%, and ‘Three’ at 20.6%. These results were consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Number of Count % Bathrooms 2 73 42.9% 1 60 35.3% 3 35 20.6% 4 2 1.2% 5 0 0.0% 170 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 140 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Wood’ at 42.9%, ‘Vinyl’ 24.3%, and ‘Aluminium’ at 9%. In 2018, the top three house exterior types were ‘Vinyl’ at 36.8%, ‘Wood’ at 35.9%, and ‘Aluminium’ at 6.7%.

Exterior Count % Wood 76 42.9% Vinyl 43 24.3% Aluminum 16 9.0% Stucco & Siding 10 5.6% Hardi Plank 6 3.4% Stucco 5 2.8% Wood Vinyl 2 1.1% Stone Hardi Plank 1 0.6% Wood Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Brick & Siding 0 0.0% Stone Vinyl 0 0.0% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Other 18 10.2% 177 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 141 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in the North Island sub-area were ‘Garage-Single’ at 44.4%, ‘Carport-Single’ at 32.2%, and ‘Garage-Double’ at 15.6%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Single 40 44.4% Carport-Single 29 32.2% Garage-Double 14 15.6% Carport-Multiple 4 4.4% Garage-3 Or More 3 3.3% Other 0 0.0% 90 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘View – Ocean’ at 54.3%, ‘View – Mountain’ at 32.6%, and ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ at 10.9%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Site Characteristics Count % View - Ocean 50 54.3% View - Mountain 30 32.6% Waterfront - Ocean 10 10.9% Waterfront - River/Creek 2 2.2% Waterfront - Lake 0 0.0% View - City 0 0.0% View - Lake 0 0.0% 92 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 142 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report North Island Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 100% Years Lived in Same Community No Response Years Away From Community No Response Buyer Origin Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 50% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 90% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 100% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No Response Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 70% Internet - searched on How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 30% REALTOR.ca REALTOR® was How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® recommended/referred by another 30% REALTOR® Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $0 to $50,000 17% Home Type Single Family 57% Number of Bedrooms 3 53% Number of Bathrooms 2 43% Exterior Wood 43% Parking Garage-Single 44% Site Characteristics View - Ocean 54%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 143 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board North Island Sub-Area ISLANDS

Cormorant Jedediah Island Saltspring Island Island Kuper Island Saturna Island DeCourcey Island Lasqueti Island Stubbs Island

Denman Island Mayne Island Savary Island

Discovery Malcolm Island Texada Island Islands: Quadra, Cortez, Mudge Island Thetis Island Hernando, Read, Maurelle, Newcastle Island Sonora, East Thurlow, West Pender Islands Thurlow, Stuart, East Redonda, North/South West Redonda, Rendezous Protection Island Gabriola Island Prevost Island Galiano Island Ruxton Island Hornby Island

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

Readers are encouraged to treat the statistics in this section of the report with caution. Statistics based on fewer observations are typically omitted from reports for reasons of confidentiality, and the resulting data is usually considered unreliable due to the small sample size. In the Islands sub-area, there were only twenty-four responses to the buyers’ survey and, accordingly, the results in this zone can only be said to represent the circumstances of those twenty-four individual buyers, not the zone in general.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 146 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Islands Sub-Area – Information from Questionnaire Survey

Community Movement The most common migration pattern of 2019 residential property buyers of the Islands sub-area was ‘New to the community’ with 18 responses at 75%, ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community’ with five responses at 20.8%, and ‘Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community’ with one response at 4.2%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Community movement Count % New to this community? 18 75.0% Moving to a new residence in same community. 5 20.8% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in the same community? 1 4.2% Moving back to this community? 0 0.0% Not moving, but purchasing an additional residence in a different community? 0 0.0% 24 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 147 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Length of Time Lived in Same Community For those respondents moving within the same community, the highest-frequency response was 33.3% for both ‘6 to 10 years’ and ‘More than 20 years’, followed by ’1 to 2 years’ and ’3 to 5 years’ at 16.7% each. In 2018, the highest-frequency response was 33.3% for the categories ‘1 to 2 years’ and ‘3 to 5 years’, followed by 16.7% for the categories ‘11 to 15 years’ and ‘More than 20 years’.

Years lived in current community Count % 6 to 10 2 33.3% More than 20 years 2 33.3% 1 to 2 1 16.7% 3 to 5 1 16.7% 11 to 15 0 0.0% 16 to 20 0 0.0% 6 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 148 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

Moving Back to a Community after Time Away In 2019, there were no responses to this question on the buyer survey for the Islands sub-area. In 2018, there was one respondent who indicated they moved back to the community after being away for 16 to 20 years.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 149 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin For buyers of residential property, the primary buyer origins for the Islands sub-area (determined from 18 responses) were ‘Vancouver’ at 33.2%, ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ at 27.8%, and ‘Gulf Islands’ and ‘Other Canada’ at 11.1% each. Buyers from B.C. made up 83.3% of total buyers from the Islands sub-area, of which 33.4% were from Vancouver Island. In 2018, ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ was the most frequent response at 23.6%, followed by ‘Vancouver’ at 17.6% and ‘Fraser Valley’ at 14.7%. When aggregated, buyers originating from within B.C. totalled 70.6%, and those coming from Vancouver Island totalled 29.5%.

Buyer Origin Count % Vancouver 6 33.2% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 5 27.8% Gulf Islands 2 11.1% Other Canada 2 11.1% Greater Victoria 1 5.6% Fraser Valley 1 5.6% Saskatchewan/Manitoba 1 5.6% Within same area 0 0.0% Other BC 0 0.0% Alberta 0 0.0% Ontario 0 0.0% USA 0 0.0% Rest of the World 0 0.0% 18 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 150 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase The major reason for residential property purchase in the Islands sub-area was for ‘Principal Residence’ with 83.4% of survey respondents choosing this option, followed by ‘Downsizing and ‘Recreation / vacation home’ at 8.3% each. In 2018, the major reason for purchase was ‘Principal residence’ at 82.5%, followed by ‘Recreation / vacation home’ and ‘Other’ at 7.5% each.

Reason for Purchase Count % Your principal residence 20 83.4% Downsizing 2 8.3% Recreation / vacation home 2 8.3% Investment / rental home 0 0.0% Housing for self or family attending learning institution 0 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 24 100.0%

First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No) ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for 22.7% of purchases made in the Islands sub-area. This is an increase of 14.6% from 2018, where ‘First-time buyers’ accounted for just 8.1% of purchases. First Home? Count % Yes 5 22.7% No 17 77.3% 22 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 151 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment (Yes or No) None of the five respondents to this question indicated they ‘used an RRSP for their down payment’. These results are consistent with those of the 2018 survey.

Used RRSP for down payment Count % Yes 0 0.0% No 5 100.0% I do not know / not applicable 0 5 100.0%

Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) The proportion of those buying their home for retirement purposes was 65%. This is a decrease of 16.8% from 2018, where 81.8% of respondents indicated they were purchasing a home as a retirement residence.

Retirement Residence Count % Yes 13 65.0% No 7 35.0% I do not know / not applicable 2 22 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 152 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property The top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘Internet- searched on REALTOR.ca’ at 33.3%, followed by ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 25% and ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 16.7%. In 2018, the top three ways that buyers became aware of the property were ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS’ at 27.5%, followed by ‘Internet- searched on REALTOR.ca’ and ‘Internet – searched on website other than REALTOR.ca’ at 22.5% each.

How Buyers First Became Aware of Property Count % Internet - searched on REALTOR.ca 8 33.3% My REALTOR® supplied PCS (Private Client Services) 6 25.0% Internet - searched on website other than REALTOR.ca 4 16.7% Contacted a Real Estate office 2 8.3% Word of Mouth-Relative / Friend / Co-worker / Acquaintance 2 8.3% My REALTOR® contacted me (other than PCS) 1 4.2% Real Estate Tabloid 1 4.2% Saw a FOR SALE sign on Property 0 0.0% Open House 0 0.0% Newspaper Ad – Classifieds 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 24 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 153 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® The top ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR®’ at 20.8%, followed by ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’ and ‘Other’ at 16.7% each. The ‘Other’ category includes descriptions such as seeing advertisements online or on a bulletin board. In 2018, the top ways that buyers chose their REALTOR® were ‘Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property’ at 22.5%, followed by ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®, ‘REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR®’, and ‘Attended at a Real Estate office’, all at 15%.

Source of REALTOR® Count % REALTOR® was recommended/referred by another REALTOR® 5 20.8% Previously dealt with this REALTOR® 4 16.7% Other 4 16.7% Called the REALTOR® shown on a For Sale sign on property 3 12.5% REALTOR® is a friend or co-worker 2 8.3% Internet-REALTOR® was the agent on listed property 2 8.3% Attended at a Real Estate office 2 8.3% REALTOR® was recommended by my family or a relative 1 4.2% REALTOR® is a family member 1 4.2% REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker or friend 0 0.0% Called the REALTOR® shown on a newspaper/tabloid ad 0 0.0% Attended an Open House 0 0.0% REALTOR® is a client or customer of your business 0 0.0% Recommended by Bank or Mortgage company 0 0.0% REALTOR® spoke my language 0 0.0% Real Estate Kiosk in the Mall 0 0.0% Armed Forces Relocation service 0 0.0% 24 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 154 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Islands – Home Characteristics from MLS® Data

Selling Price Range For ease of interpretation, home selling prices were categorized into $50,000 increments up to $1 million. Above $1 million, prices were combined. The top three categories for the Islands sub-area were $400,001-$450,000 at 15.7%, followed by $450,001-$500,000 at 11.4%, and ‘$500,001-$550,000 at 10.8%, totalling 37.9%. In 2018, the top three categories for the Islands sub-area were $350,001-$400,000 at 13.3%, $300,001-$350,000 at 12.6%, $400,001-$450,000 at 10.4%, totalling 36.3%.

Selling Price Range Count % $0 to $50,000 0 0.0% $50,001 to $100,000 0 0.0% $100,001 to $150,000 2 1.3% $150,001 to $200,000 6 3.8% $200,001 to $250,000 5 3.2% $250,001 to $300,000 13 8.2% $300,001 to $350,000 13 8.2% $350,001 to $400,000 13 8.2% $400,001 to $450,000 25 15.7% $450,001 to $500,000 18 11.4% $500,001 to $550,000 17 10.8% $550,001 to $600,000 8 5.1% $600,001 to $650,000 9 5.7% $650,001 to $700,000 6 3.8% $700,001 to $750,000 5 3.2% $750,001 to $800,000 7 4.4% $800,001 to $850,000 1 0.6% $850,001 to $900,000 2 1.3% $900,001 to $950,000 2 1.3% $950,001 to $1,000,000 0 0.0% Over $1,000,000 6 3.8%

158 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 155 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 156 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type The top three home types were ‘Single-Family’ at 54.8%, ‘Acreage with House’ at 30.2%, and ‘Single-Family (Waterfront)’ at 13.2%. This varies from the board area where the top three home types were ‘Single-Family’, ‘Condominium (Apt)’, and ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’. In the Islands area, 99.4% of homes purchased in 2019 were single-family. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Home Count % Single Family 87 54.8% Acreage With House 48 30.2% Single Family (Waterfront) 21 13.2% Single Family (Strata) 1 0.6% Duplex 1 0.6% Single Family (Modular/Prefab) 1 0.6% Condominium (Apt) 0 0.0% Condominium (Twnhse) 0 0.0% Patio Home 0 0.0% Manufactured/Mobile On Pad 0 0.0% Duplex (Strata) 0 0.0% Triplex/Fourplex 0 0.0% Farm/Ranch 0 0.0% 159 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 157 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms The top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Three’ at 38.7%, ‘Two’ at 37.4%, and ‘One’ at 11.6%. In 2018, the top three frequencies for number of bedrooms were ‘Two’ at 40.1%, ‘Three’ at 34.2%, and ‘One’ at 11.7%.

Number of Bedrooms Count % 3 60 38.7% 2 58 37.4% 1 18 11.6% 4 15 9.7% 5 3 1.9% 6 1 0.6% 155 100.0%

Number of Bathrooms The top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘Two’ at 50.7%, ‘One’ at 31.3%, and ‘Three’ at 14.7%. In 2018, the top three frequencies for number of bathrooms were ‘One’ at 39.4%, ‘Two’ at 38.4%, and ‘Three’ at 16.7%.

Number of Bathrooms Count % 2 76 50.7% 1 47 31.3% 3 22 14.7% 4 5 3.3% 5 0 0.0% 150 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 158 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior The top three house exterior types were ‘Wood’ at 78%, ‘Vinyl’ at 7.5%, and ‘Stucco’ at 2.5%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Exterior Count % Wood 124 78.0% Vinyl 12 7.5% Stucco 4 2.5% Hardi Plank 3 1.9% Stucco & Siding 2 1.3% Aluminum 2 1.3% Wood Hardi Plank 1 0.6% Brick & Siding 1 0.6% Stone Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Wood Vinyl 0 0.0% Stone Vinyl 0 0.0% Wood Vinyl Hardi Plank 0 0.0% Other 10 6.3% 159 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 159 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking The top three parking features in the Islands sub-area were ‘Garage-Single’ at 32.7%, ‘Garage- Double’ at 30.9%, and ‘Carport-Single’ at 27.3%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Type of Parking Count % Garage-Single 18 32.7% Garage-Double 17 30.9% Carport-Single 15 27.3% Carport-Multiple 3 5.5% Garage-3 Or More 1 1.8% Other 1 1.8% 55 100.0%

Site Characteristics The top three site characteristics were ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ at 52.2%, ‘View –Ocean’ at 44.8%, and ‘View – Mountain’ at 3%. These results are consistent with those from the 2018 survey.

Site Characteristics Count % Waterfront - Ocean 35 52.2% View - Ocean 30 44.8% View - Mountain 2 3.0% Waterfront - River/Creek 0 0.0% Waterfront - Lake 0 0.0% View - City 0 0.0% View - Lake 0 0.0% 67 100.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 160 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Islands Sub-Area – Typical Buyer

This table represents the highest frequency or most common value for each category, illustrating the ‘typical’ buyer profile for 2019.

Description Mode % Information Category from Questionnaire Survey Community Movement New to this community 75% Years Lived in Same Community 6 to 10 33% Years Away From Community No Response Buyer Origin Vancouver 33% Major Reason for Purchase Your principal residence 83% First Time Purchase of Principal Residence (Yes or No 77% No) Used RRSP for Downpayment (Yes or No) No 100% Purchased as Retirement Residence (Yes or No) Yes 65% Internet - searched on How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 33% REALTOR.ca REALTOR® was How Buyers First Choose a REALTOR® recommended/referred by another 21% REALTOR® Most frequently chosen home Characteristics from corresponding MLS® data base

Selling Price Range $400,001 to $450,000 16% Home Type Single Family 55% Number of Bedrooms 3 39% Number of Bathrooms 2 51% Exterior Wood 78% Parking Garage-Single 33% Site Characteristics Waterfront - Ocean 52%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 161 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Islands Sub-Area

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2017 - 2019

Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Survey Data Comparisons from 2017 - 2019

Questionnaire survey data analyzed in the past three buyer profiles are summarized in the following table.

Three Year 2017 2018 2019 Average

Questionnaire Mail 9,731 8,428 7,357 8,505 Outs Completed 1,738 1,524 1,378 1,547 Questionnaires

Total Responses (%) 17.9 18.1 18.7 18.2

Overall, the total questionnaire response rate for the entire board area has been very similar for the past three years, ranging from 17.9% to 18.7%. When comparing the various areas, we see slight up- and-down variations in year-to-year responses (see figure below), which is to be expected since the data records are much smaller in number for each area compared to the entire board area.

For all years, there were a few consistent patterns in survey responses rates, as follows:  The Parksville/Qualicum sub-area had the highest survey response (three-year average is 22.9%, a decrease from last year’s three-year average of 23.6%).  Three of the eight sub-areas saw an increase in response rate from 2018 (Campbell River, Nanaimo, and Port Alberni / West Coast).  The overall response rate increased by 0.6% from 2018.  The North Island sub-area had the lowest three-year-average response of 6.3%; therefore, survey results were not analyzed in further detail for any year.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 163 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Community Movement 2017 - 2019 The ‘Community Movement’ trends (top three frequencies for each of the past three years) are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends in the board area are:

 In 2019, the most common community migration was ‘New to this community’ for the board area, remaining at 56.1% in 2017 through to 2019. The category ‘New to this community’ is the most common in all sub-areas in all years except for Campbell River in 2019, ranging from 43.1% in Campbell River in 2019 to 76.2% in the Islands in 2017.

 The second most common movement pattern was ‘Moving to a new residence in the same community,’ which has remained relatively constant since 2017. It is also the second most common category in all the sub-areas, except for Campbell River in 2019 where it is the most common category.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 164 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2017 2018 2019 New to this community (Less New to this community (Less New to this community (Less 56.1% 57.4% 56.1% than one year) than one year) than one year)

Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Board Area 30.8% 31.3% 34.7% same community same community same community

Moving back to this Moving back to this Moving back to this 8.5% 8.2% 6.7% community community community

New to this community (Less New to this community (Less Moving to a new residence in 52.3% 44.8% 47.9% than one year) than one year) same community

Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in New to this community (Less Campbell River 34.7% 41.4% 43.1% same community same community than one year)

Moving back to this Moving back to this Moving back to this 8.5% 9.0% 6.9% community community community

New to this community (Less New to this community (Less New to this community (Less 55.1% 50.8% 55.4% than one year) than one year) than one year)

Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Comox Valley 27.5% 36.1% 35.8% same community same community same community

Moving back to this Moving back to this Moving back to this 11.4% 9.5% 6.9% community community community

New to this community (Less New to this community (Less New to this community (Less 56.2% 67.6% 65.7% than one year) than one year) than one year)

Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Cowichan Valley 29.6% 23.6% 25.7% same community same community same community

Moving back to this Moving back to this Moving back to this 9.6% 6.8% 6.5% community community community

New to this community (Less New to this community (Less New to this community (Less 56.8% 47.3% 46.6% than one year) than one year) than one year)

Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Nanaimo 32.4% 40.5% 42.3% same community same community same community

Moving back to this Moving back to this Moving back to this 7.5% 9.4% 7.7% community community community

New to this community (Less New to this community (Less New to this community (Less 55.9% 69.4% 66.9% than one year) than one year) than one year)

Parksville / Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in 31.6% 21.2% 25.4% Qualicum same community same community same community

Moving back to this Moving back to this Moving back to this 7.7% 7.2% 6.0% community community community

New to this community (Less New to this community (Less New to this community (Less 68.5% 58.0% 55.4% than one year) than one year) than one year)

Port Alberni / Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in 23.3% 26.0% 33.8% West Coast same community same community same community Not moving, but purchasing an Moving back to this Moving back to this additional residence in the 4.1% 10.0% 6.8% community community same community

North Island

New to this community (Less New to this community (Less New to this community (Less 76.2% 42.5% 75.0% than one year) than one year) than one year)

Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in Moving to a new residence in 16.7% 42.5% 20.8% Islands same community same community same community Not moving, but purchasing an Not moving, but purchasing an Moving back to this additional residence in a 7.1% 10.0% additional residence in the 4.2% community different community same community

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 165 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Time Resident in Community Prior to Purchase 2017 - 2019 This table summarizes two questions. The first was, ‘How many years have you lived in your current community?’ This isolated those respondents who were moving to a new residence within the same community. The second was ‘You have indicated you are moving back to this community. How many years have you been away?’. This isolated those respondents who were moving back to a community after having lived elsewhere for a time. The ‘Time Resident in Community Prior to Purchase’ trends (top three frequencies for each of the past three years) are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends in the board area are:

 the most common category for the board area for time in the same community is ‘More than 20 years’, staying relatively constant over the past three years. The second and third most common categories have also stayed the same, with ‘6 to 10 years’ being the second most common and ‘3 to 5 years’ being the third;

 time away has more variability, where ‘More than 20 years’ was the most common response for 2019, ‘1 to 2 years’ was the most common in 2018, and ‘3 to 5 years’ in 2017; and

 in 2019, the most common length of time for those moving within the same community was ‘More than 20 years’ for the board area at 35.2% and most common for all sub-areas except the Islands.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 166 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 Same Community Time Away Same Community Time Away Same Community Time Away More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 36.7% 3 to 5 21.6% 36.3% 1 to 2 20.0% 35.2% 30.5% years years years years More than 20 Board Area 6 to 10 19.2% 18.9% 6 to 10 15.6% 3 to 5 19.2% 6 to 10 18.2% 3 to 5 19.6% years

3 to 5 13.6% 6 to 10 18.2% 3 to 5 15.5% 6 to 10 19.2% 3 to 5 14.3% 6 to 10 17.4% More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 46.4% 26.7% 41.8% 6 to 10 30.7% 45.7% 11 to 15 30.0% years years years years Campbell 6 to 10 21.7% 6 to 10 20.0% 1 to 2 17.9% 11 to 15 0.0% 3 to 5 18.1% 1 to 2 20.0% River 16 to 20 3 to 5 14.5% 20.0% 6 to 10 16.4% 1 to 2 15.4% 6 to 10 15.3% 16 to 20 20.0% years More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 39.3% 16 to 20 26.3% 40.5% 6 to 10 27.7% 36.1% 38.8% years years years years Comox Valley 6 to 10 17.0% 6 to 10 21.1% 11 to 15 17.4% 3 to 5 20.7% 11 to 15 16.5% 3 to 5 27.8% More than 20 3 to 5 11.6% 18.4% 3 to 5 14.0% 1 to 2 17.2% 3 to 5 15.5% 11 to 15 16.7% years More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 36.0% 3 to 5 29.0% 44.8% 1 to 2 20.0% 40.6% 3 to 5 26.7% years years years Cowichan 6 to 10 20.7% 11 to 15 22.6% 3 to 5 18.4% 3 to 5 20.0% 3 to 5 14.1% 6 to 10 26.7% Valley 1 to 2 13.5% 1 to 2 16.1% 6 to 10 10.5% 16 to 20 20.0% 16 to 20 14.1% More than 20 years26.7%

More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 40.1% 6 to 10 25.0% 31.6% 1 to 2 21.1% 27.3% 6 to 10 24.1% years years years More than 20 More than 20 Nanaimo 3 to 5 14.5% 3 to 5 22.2% 6 to 10 18.7% 21.1% 3 to 5 22.7% 20.7% years years More than 20 6 to 10 14.5% 19.4% 3 to 5 16.4% 3 to 5 15.8% 11 to 15 15.3% 11 to 15 20.7% years More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 27.8% 3 to 5 26.1% 24.7% 3 to 5 31.5% 29.6% 40.0% years years years years Parksville / More than 20 6 to 10 21.3% 26.1% 6 to 10 21.5% 1 to 2 26.3% 6 to 10 17.6% 3 to 5 20.0% Qualicum years 3 to 5 15.7% 11 to 15 17.4% 3 to 5 16.9% 6 to 10 15.8% 16 to 20 17.6% 6 to 10 20.0%

More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 More than 20 31.8% 100.0% 49.9% 11 to 15 40.0% 57.2% 60.0% years years years years years Port Alberni / More than 20 6 to 10 22.7% N/A 6 to 10 25.0% 40.0% 3 to 5 21.4% 1 to 2 20.0% West Coast years 11 to 15 22.7% N/A 1 to 2 12.5% 1 to 2 20.0% 1 to 2 10.7% 3 to 5 20.0%

North Island

6 to 10 36.8% N/A 1 to 2 33.3% 16 to 20 100.0% 6 to 10 33.3% N/A

Islands 1 to 2 15.8% N/A 3 to 5 33.3% N/A 0.0% 3 to 5 33.3% N/A

3 to 5 15.8% N/A 11 to 15 16.7% N/A 0.0% 11 to 15 16.7% N/A

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 167 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Buyer Origin 2017 – 2019 The ‘Buyer Origin’ trends (top three frequencies for each of the past three years) are shown in the table below. A few obvious stand-out tends are:

 For the entire board area, the top three categories remained largely the same from 2017 to 2019 (‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’, ‘Vancouver’, and ‘Other B.C.’). The category ‘Other B.C.’ was the second most frequent category in 2019, having moved up from being the third most frequent category in previous years. Combining these categories makes up the majority of buyers’ origins, with totals ranging from 50% in 2017 to 56.5% in 2019.

 In 2019 the top categories were ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’, ‘Vancouver’, and ‘Other B.C.’, totalling 56.5%, up from the 2018 total of 52%.

 For 2019, ‘Elsewhere on Vancouver Island’ was the top option for each of the sub-areas except ‘Islands. For this sub-area, ‘Vancouver’ was the most frequent response.

2017 2018 2019 Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 20.9% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 22.6% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 27.4% Board Area Vancouver 16.6% Vancouver 17.2% Other B.C. 15.0% Other B.C. 12.4% Other B.C. 12.2% Vancouver 14.1% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 24.0% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 34.6% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 26.7% Campbell River Vancouver 16.7% Vancouver 15.4% Fraser Valley 14.1% Fraser Valley and Other BC 10.4% Other B.C. 14.1% Other B.C. 14.1% Vancouver 18.8% Vancouver 19.0% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 23.8% Comox Valley Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 17.3% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 17.4% Vancouver 18.1% Other B.C. 14.7% Ontario 12.5% Other B.C. 15.6% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 24.2% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 28.9% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 34.5% Cowichan Valley Other B.C. 12.4% Greater Victoria 16.4% Greater Victoria 16.1% Greater Victoria 11.8% Vancouver 10.0% Other B.C. 13.7% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 19.5% Vancouver 22.3% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 21.8% Nanaimo Vancouver 17.6% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 21.9% Other B.C. 18.5% Greater Victoria 12.4% Other B.C. 10.3% Vancouver 16.6% Parksville / Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 21.7% Vancouver 19.2% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 25.2% Vancouver 19.3% Other B.C. 16.9% Vancouver 15.5% Qualicum Other B.C. 14.3% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 15.5% Other B.C. 13.3% Port Alberni / West Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 20.8% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 26.7% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 42.5% Vancouver 16.7% Vancouver 17.6% Other B.C. 12.8% Coast Alberta 14.6% Greater Victoria 14.7% Greater Victoria 8.5%

North Island

Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 26.7% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 23.6% Vancouver 33.2% Islands Vancouver 13.3% Vancouver 17.6% Elsewhere on Vancouver Island 27.8% Fraser Valley 13.3% Fraser Valley 14.7% Gulf Islands 11.1%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 168 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Major Reason for Purchase 2017 - 2019 The ‘Major Reason for Purchase’ trends (top three frequencies for each of the past three years) are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are:  The most common category in the Board Area (ranging from 81.1%-82.9%) for all three years, and in all areas, was ‘Principal Residence’.  The second most common category across all sub-areas in 2019 is ‘Downsizing’, with the exception of the Islands sub-area (Recreation/vacation home).  The third most common category was ‘Investment/rental home’ in 2017, with a frequency of 3.7%. In 2018 and 2019, the third most common category was ‘Other’ at 2% and 2.1%, respectively, of which the most common response was ‘Family’.

2017 2018 2019 Your principal residence 81.1% Your principal residence 82.2% Your principal residence 82.9% Board Area Downsizing 11.0% Downsizing 12.7% Downsizing 12.3% Investment / rental home 3.7% Other 2.0% Other 2.1% Your principal residence 85.2% Your principal residence 83.5% Your principal residence 79.8% Campbell River Downsizing 9.0% Downsizing 10.3% Downsizing 12.5% Investment / rental home 3.2% Investment / rental home 3.4% Other 3.5% Your principal residence 78.0% Your principal residence 78.3% Your principal residence 83.4% Comox Valley Downsizing 11.3% Downsizing 15.1% Downsizing 12.7% Investment / rental home 6.2% Other 3.6% Investment / rental home 1.5% Your principal residence 83.7% Your principal residence 84.5% Your principal residence 83.5% Cowichan Valley Downsizing 8.5% Downsizing 12.5% Downsizing 12.2% Investment / rental home 2.5% Investment / rental home 2.4% Other 2.6% Your principal residence 81.4% Your principal residence 81.0% Your principal residence 85.0% Nanaimo Downsizing 11.6% Downsizing 14.2% Downsizing 9.5% Investment / rental home 2.9% Other 2.0% Other 2.6% Your principal residence 80.0% Your principal residence 83.8% Your principal residence 79.5% Parksville / Qualicum Downsizing 13.6% Downsizing 11.9% Downsizing 17.7% Investment / rental home 2.8% Recreation / vacation home 1.8% Recreation / vacation home 1.2% Your principal residence 80.6% Your principal residence 84.0% Your principal residence 83.8% Port Alberni / West Coast Downsizing 9.0% Downsizing 10.0% Downsizing 10.8% Investment / rental home 7.5% Investment / rental home 4.0% Investment / rental home 2.7%

North Island

Your principal residence 75.8% Your principal residence 82.5% Your principal residence 83.4% Islands Downsizing 18.2% Recreation / vacation home 7.5% Recreation / vacation home 8.3% Investment / rental home 3.0% Other 7.5% Downsizing 8.3%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 169 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence 2017 – 2019 The ‘First-Time Purchase of Principal Residence’ trends (Yes or No frequencies for each of the past three years) are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are:  The most common response with frequencies from 77.3% to 95.5% for all three years and in all sub-areas was ‘No’.  These trends were relatively unchanged for all areas over the past three years, with minimal variation, except for the Islands sub-area, likely due to the smaller sample size.  The Parksville/Qualicum sub-area had the highest three-year average of the ‘No’ frequency, at 92.1%.  The Islands and Campbell River sub-areas had the highest three-year average ‘Yes’ frequency, at 17.6 and 17.5% respectively.

Three-Year 2017 2018 2019 Average No 84.9% No 86.5% No 85.8% 85.7% Board Area Yes 15.1% Yes 13.5% Yes 14.2% 14.3% No 85.8% No 80.7% No 80.9% 82.5% Campbell River Yes 14.2% Yes 19.3% Yes 19.1% 17.5% No 83.6% No 84.2% No 87.4% 85.1% Comox Valley Yes 16.4% Yes 15.8% Yes 12.6% 14.9% No 84.8% No 88.9% No 87.7% 87.1% Cowichan Valley Yes 15.2% Yes 11.1% Yes 12.3% 12.9% No 84.1% No 83.1% No 81.0% 82.7% Nanaimo Yes 15.9% Yes 16.9% Yes 19.0% 17.3% No 86.1% No 94.8% No 95.5% 92.1% Parksville / Qualicum Yes 13.9% Yes 5.2% Yes 4.5% 7.9% No 90.2% No 81.2% No 77.8% 83.1% Port Alberni / West Coast Yes 9.8% Yes 18.8% Yes 22.2% 16.9% North Island

No 78.1% No 91.9% No 77.3% 82.4% Islands Yes 21.9% Yes 8.1% Yes 22.7% 17.6%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 170 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Used RRSP for Down Payment 2017 - 2019 The ‘Used RRSP for down payment’ trends (Yes or No frequencies for each of the past three years) are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are:  the most common response was ‘No’ for all three years and in all sub-areas, with frequencies ranging from 57.1% to 100.0% in the Islands sub-area and from 54.8% to 92.9% in all other sub- areas; and  the Nanaimo sub-area had the highest average ‘Yes’ frequency, with a three-year average of 37.5%.

Three-Year 2017 2018 2019 Average No 64.7% No 66.8% No 64.7% 65.4% Board Area Yes 35.3% Yes 33.2% Yes 35.3% 34.6% No 68.4% No 80.0% No 66.7% 71.7% Campbell River Yes 31.6% Yes 20.0% Yes 33.3% 28.3% No 54.8% No 66.0% No 64.3% 61.7% Comox Valley Yes 45.2% Yes 34.0% Yes 35.7% 38.3% No 74.4% No 56.7% No 59.3% 63.4% Cowichan Valley Yes 25.6% Yes 43.3% Yes 40.7% 36.6% No 67.2% No 61.5% No 58.6% 62.5% Nanaimo Yes 32.8% Yes 38.5% Yes 41.4% 37.5% Parksville / No 60.6% No 92.9% No 72.7% 75.4% Qualicum Yes 39.4% Yes 7.1% Yes 27.3% 24.6% Port Alberni / No 80.0% No 66.7% No 81.2% 76.0% West Coast Yes 20.0% Yes 33.3% Yes 18.8% 24.0% North Island No 57.1% No 100.0% No 100.0% 85.7% Islands Yes 42.9% Yes 0.0% Yes 0.0% 14.3%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 171 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Purchased as Retirement Residence 2017 - 2019 The ‘Purchased as Retirement Residence’ trends (Yes or No frequencies over each of the past three years) are shown in the table below. The stand-out trend is:  The response ‘Yes’, for the board area has been the most frequent response across all three years except for Nanaimo in 2019, and ranges from 46% in the Nanaimo sub-area to 75.1% in the Parksville/Qualicum sub-area.

2017 2018 2019 Three-Year Yes 57.2% Yes 58.8% Yes 56.7% Yes 57.6% Board Area No 42.8% No 41.2% No 43.3% No 42.4% Yes 64.1% Yes 53.0% Yes 53.8% Yes 57.0% Campbell River No 35.9% No 47.0% No 46.2% No 43.0% Yes 56.8% Yes 56.2% Yes 52.6% Yes 55.2% Comox Valley No 43.2% No 43.8% No 47.4% No 44.8% Yes 57.5% Yes 56.4% Yes 58.6% Yes 57.5% Cowichan Valley No 42.5% No 43.6% No 41.4% No 42.5% Yes 56.2% Yes 52.0% No 54.0% Yes 51.4% Nanaimo No 43.8% No 48.0% Yes 46.0% No 48.6% Parksville / Yes 54.5% Yes 75.3% Yes 75.1% Yes 68.3% Qualicum No 45.5% No 24.7% No 24.9% No 31.7% Port Alberni / Yes 60.0% Yes 51.4% Yes 54.0% Yes 55.1% West Coast No 40.0% No 48.6% No 46.0% No 44.9% North Island Yes 51.7% Yes 81.8% Yes 65.0% Yes 66.2% Islands No 48.3% No 18.2% No 35.0% No 33.8%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 172 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Became Aware of Property 2017 - 2019 The trends for ‘How Buyers First Became Aware of Property’ for the past three years are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are:

 The most common category, for all three years, was ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS (private client services)’ for the Board Area and ranged from 34.2% in 2019 to 37% in 2018.

 The second most common category was ‘Internet- REALTOR.ca site’ for the entire Board Area. This has remained very consistent for the last three years, ranging from 20.6% in 2017 to 21.1% in 2018.

 In 2017 and 2018, all sub-areas had ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS (private client services)’ as the most common category. In 2019, all subs areas had ‘My REALTOR® supplied PCS (private client services)’ as the most common category, except for the Port Alberni / West Coast and Islands sub-areas, which had ‘Internet – searched on REALTOR.ca’ as the common category.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 173 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2017 2018 2019 My REALTOR® supplied PCS 34.8% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 37.0% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 34.2%

Board Area Internet– REALTOR.ca site 20.6% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 21.1% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 21.0% My REALTOR® contacted me My REALTOR® contacted me Internet – other than 12.6% 11.0% 14.9% (other than PCS) (other than PCS) REALTOR.ca site My REALTOR® supplied PCS 30.7% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 38.6% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 39.4% Internet – other than Campbell River Internet– REALTOR.ca site 20.5% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 17.9% 16.7% REALTOR.ca site My REALTOR® contacted me My REALTOR® contacted me 14.2% 12.4% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 16.0% (other than PCS) (other than PCS) My REALTOR® supplied PCS 30.5% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 36.0% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 32.7%

Comox Valley Internet– REALTOR.ca site 20.4% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 20.7% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 22.7% My REALTOR® contacted me My REALTOR® contacted me Internet – other than 14.4% 14.8% 13.1% (other than PCS) (other than PCS) REALTOR.ca site My REALTOR® supplied PCS 38.3% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 36.5% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 32.6% Cowichan Internet– REALTOR.ca site 15.7% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 23.3% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 23.0% Valley My REALTOR® contacted me Internet – other than Internet – other than 12.7% 10.1% 16.5% (other than PCS) REALTOR.ca site REALTOR.ca site My REALTOR® supplied PCS 31.5% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 38.0% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 36.7%

Nanaimo Internet– REALTOR.ca site 24.6% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 22.0% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 21.6% My REALTOR® contacted me Internet – other than Internet – other than 14.0% 10.1% 12.6% (other than PCS) REALTOR.ca site REALTOR.ca site My REALTOR® supplied PCS 43.8% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 38.0% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 38.5% Parksville / Internet– REALTOR.ca site 17.2% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 19.4% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 16.5% Qualicum My REALTOR® contacted me My REALTOR® contacted me Internet – other than 9.8% 11.9% 15.7% (other than PCS) (other than PCS) REALTOR.ca site My REALTOR® supplied PCS 32.4% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 34.0% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 25.6%

Port Alberni / Internet – other than Internet – other than Internet– REALTOR.ca site 25.7% 22.0% 20.3% West Coast REALTOR.ca site REALTOR.ca site Internet – other than My REALTOR® contacted me 12.2% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 16.0% 14.9% REALTOR.ca site (other than PCS)

North Island

My REALTOR® supplied PCS 32.5% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 27.5% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 33.3%

Islands Internet– REALTOR.ca site 27.5% Internet– REALTOR.ca site 22.5% My REALTOR® supplied PCS 25.0% Internet – other than Internet – other than 15.0% Other 22.5% 16.7% REALTOR.ca site REALTOR.ca site

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 174 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR® 2017 - 2019 The ‘How Buyers First Chose a REALTOR®’ trends for the past three years are shown in the following table. A few stand-out trends are as follows:  The top three categories are the same for all three years; however, the order changes from 2017 to 2019. All three top categories for the board area for all three years are referral or relationship-based.  In all three years, the most common category was ‘Previously dealt with this REALTOR®’, ranging from 17.1% in 2018 to 18.3% in 2017.  The second most common category for the board area in 2017 and 2019 was ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my co-worker or associate’ at 14.4% and 14.8%, respectively. In 2018, the second most common category was ‘REALTOR® was recommended by my family or relative’ at 13.8%.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 175 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2017 2018 2019

Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this 18.3% 17.1% 17.6% REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR®

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended Board Area by co-worker, associate or 14.4% 13.8% by co-worker, associate or 14.8% by my family or a relative friend friend

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended 12.7% by co-worker, associate or 13.6% 13.8% by my family or a relative by my family or a relative friend

Previously dealt with this REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended 20.4% 19.3% 19.2% REALTOR® by my family or a relative by my family or a relative

REALTOR® was recommended Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this Campbell River 16.1% 16.6% 18.1% by my family or a relative REALTOR® REALTOR®

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker, associate or 14.2% Other 11.0% by co-worker, associate or 13.2% friend friend REALTOR® was recommended Previously dealt with this REALTOR® was recommended 17.8% 17.0% by co-worker, associate or 23.5% REALTOR® by my family or a relative friend

REALTOR® is a friend or co- Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this Comox Valley 12.0% 17.0% 17.7% worker REALTOR® REALTOR®

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended 11.7% by co-worker, associate or 16.4% 12.3% by my family or a relative by my family or a relative friend

Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this 18.1% 18.0% 19.1% REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR®

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended Cowichan Valley by co-worker, associate or 13.8% by co-worker, associate or 14.5% 16.1% by my family or a relative friend friend REALTOR® was REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended 13.4% recommended/referred by 12.8% by co-worker, associate or 13.5% by my family or a relative another REALTOR® friend

Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this 18.9% 18.2% 16.6% REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR®

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended Nanaimo by co-worker, associate or 13.5% by co-worker, associate or 14.4% by co-worker, associate or 15.2% friend friend friend

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended 12.8% 13.7% 13.4% by my family or a relative by my family or a relative by my family or a relative

REALTOR® was recommended Previously dealt with this Previously dealt with this by co-worker, associate or 18.6% 15.8% 19.8% REALTOR® REALTOR® friend

REALTOR® was REALTOR® was Parksville / Previously dealt with this 17.2% recommended/referred by 15.5% recommended/referred by 16.5% REALTOR® Qualicum another REALTOR® another REALTOR®

REALTOR® was REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended recommended/referred by 12.4% 14.0% by co-worker, associate or 10.1% by my family or a relative another REALTOR® friend

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 176 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

REALTOR® was recommended Previously dealt with this REALTOR® was recommended by co-worker, associate or 16.1% 18.0% 22.8% REALTOR® by my family or a relative friend

Port Alberni / REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was recommended 14.9% 16.0% Other 13.5% West Coast by my family or a relative by my family or a relative

REALTOR® was REALTOR® was REALTOR® was recommended recommended/referred by 11.9% recommended/referred by 14.0% by co-worker, associate or 12.2% another REALTOR® another REALTOR® friend

North Island

REALTOR® was REALTOR® is a friend or co- Internet-REALTOR® was the 24.2% 22.5% recommended/referred by 20.8% worker agent on listed property another REALTOR® REALTOR® was REALTOR® was recommended Previously dealt with this Islands 18.2% recommended/referred by 15.0% 16.7% by my family or a relative REALTOR® another REALTOR®

REALTOR® was recommended REALTOR® was by co-worker, associate or 15.2% recommended/referred by 15.0% Other 16.7% friend another REALTOR®

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 177 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Survey Data Comparisons

Survey Data 2017 – 2019 The three-year comparisons that follow are based on survey data for individual areas. The yearly totals and three-year average from each area are listed in the table and figure below. From 2017 to 2019, every sub-area had fewer surveys sent out than it did it the previous year, except for the North Island sub-area, which had more surveys sent out in 2018 than it did in 2017. Number of Surveys Mailed Out Change (%) Three Year 2017 2018 2019 from 2017 Average to 2019

Campbell River 949 815 714 826 -24.8% Comox Valley 1,719 1,586 1,413 1,573 -17.8% Cowichan Valley 1,750 1,573 1,260 1,528 -28.0% Nanaimo 2,728 2,336 2,065 2,376 -24.3% Parksville / Qualicum 1,414 1,139 1,071 1,208 -24.3% Port Alberni / West Coast 686 526 498 570 -27.4% North Island 213 223 177 204 -16.9% Islands 272 230 159 220 -41.5% Board Area 9,731 8,428 7,357 8,505 -24.4%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 178 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Response Data 2017 – 2019 The three-year comparisons that follow are based on survey data for individual areas. The yearly totals and three-year averages from each area are listed in the table and figure below. From 2017 to 2019, the number of responses decreased in all sub-areas, with the exception of the Port Alberni / West Coast sub-area. Number of Responses Change Three Year (%) from 2017 2018 2019 Average 2017 to 2019 Campbell River 176 145 144 155 -18.2% Comox Valley 334 305 260 322 -22.2% Cowichan Valley 324 296 230 305 -29.0% Nanaimo 479 395 388 444 -19.0% Parksville / Qualicum 298 278 248 313 -16.8% Port Alberni / West Coast 74 50 74 60 0.0% North Island 14 15 10 14 -28.6% Islands 39 40 14 34 -64.1% Board Area 1,738 1,524 1,378 1647 -20.7%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 179 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Board Area Selling Price Range 2017 - 2019 To best illustrate three-year selling price trends, two frequency graphs are presented on the next two pages for the board area. They are:  frequency (Total numbers of Sales); and  frequency (Percent of Sales) The information is presented in price categories (in $50,000 increments) from $0 up to greater than $1,000,000. Analyses of trends within areas can be found in the next section (Selling Price Range 2017-2019). The top trends for the board area from these comparative figures from 2017 to 2019 are as follows:  In 2017, the selling price with the highest frequency (i.e., 1,110 homes or 11.4%) was $400,001-$450,000.  In 2018, the selling price with the highest frequency (i.e., 930 homes or 11%) decreased to $350,001-$400,000.  In 2019, the selling price with the highest frequency (i.e., 791 homes or 10.7%) returned to $400,001-$450,000.

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 180 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 181 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 182 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Selling Price Range 2017 - 2019 The trends within areas are shown in the table below with comparisons of the three highest selling price categories from 2017-2019.  The top selling price categories for the board area was $400,001-$450,000 at 11.4% in 2017, $350,001-$400,000 at 10.9% in 2018, and $400,001-$450,000 at 10.7% in 2019.  From 2017 to 2019, the areas with the highest selling price ranges were Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, and Parksville/Qualicum, with $500,000+ represented. Parksville/Qualicum had the highest selling price ranges, being the only sub area with $550,001-$600,000 represented in the top three categories in 2019.  The North Island sub-area exhibited the lowest price categories and frequencies from 2017 to 2019, with $0-$50,000 being the most frequent category in 2019.

2017 2018 2019 $400,001 to $450,000 11.4% $350,001 to $400,000 10.9% $400,001 to $450,000 10.7% Board Area $350,001 to $400,000 10.5% $400,001 to $450,000 10.7% $450,001 to $500,000 9.9% $300,001 to $350,000 9.9% $450,001 to $500,000 10.1% $350,001 to $400,000 9.8% $350,001 to $400,000 17.2% $350,001 to $400,000 20.4% $350,001 to $400,000 15.1% Campbell River $300,001 to $350,000 17.1% $400,001 to $450,000 18.2% $400,001 to $450,000 15.1% $400,001 to $450,000 11.0% $300,001 to $350,000 10.4% $450,001 to $500,000 11.9% $450,001 to $500,000 11.7% $350,001 to $400,000 12.3% $350,001 to $400,000 11.0% Comox Valley $400,001 to $450,000 11.1% $300,001 to $350,000 11.7% $400,001 to $450,000 10.7% $300,001 to $350,000 10.9% $450,001 to $500,000 11.3% $450,001 to $500,000 9.6% $400,001 to $450,000 12.6% $350,001 to $400,000 11.8% $450,001 to $500,000 11.8% Cowichan Valley $350,001 to $400,000 11.3% $400,001 to $450,000 11.1% $500,001 to $550,000 10.8% $300,001 to $350,000 11.1% $450,001 to $500,000 10.3% $400,001 to $450,000 10.0% $400,001 to $450,000 12.4% $450,001 to $500,000 12.0% $500,001 to $550,000 10.7% Nanaimo $450,001 to $500,000 10.4% $400,001 to $450,000 10.0% $400,001 to $450,000 10.2% $350,001 to $400,000 10.2% $500,001 to $550,000 9.5% $350,001 to $400,000 9.7% $400,001 to $450,000 13.2% $400,001 to $450,000 10.4% $450,001 to $500,000 11.5% Parksville / $450,001 to $500,000 11.7% $450,001 to $500,000 9.7% $400,001 to $450,000 11.1% Qualicum $350,001 to $400,000 9.7% $500,001 to $550,000 8.9% $550,001 to $600,000 9.4% $200,001 to $250,000 23.5% $250,001 to $300,000 15.3% $250,001 to $300,000 14.7% Port Alberni / $250,001 to $300,000 13.8% $200,001 to $250,000 14.8% $300,001 to $350,000 14.3% West Coast $150,001 to $200,000 13.3% $300,001 to $350,000 13.5% $350,001 to $400,000 11.6% $100,001 to $150,000 18.2% $50,001 to $100,000 18.2% $0 to $50,000 17.4% North Island $50,001 to $100,000 17.1% $150,001 to $200,000 17.5% $50,001 to $100,000 15.5% $0 to $50,000 16.6% $100,001 to $150,000 17.0% $150,001 to $200,000 14.4% $300,001 to $350,000 11.2% $350,001 to $400,000 13.3% $400,001 to $450,000 15.7% Islands $400,001 to $450,000 10.4% $300,001 to $350,000 12.6% $450,001 to $500,000 11.4% $350,001 to $400,000 9.5% $400,001 to $450,000 10.4% $500,001 to $550,000 10.8%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 183 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Home Type 2017 - 2019 The ‘Home Type’ trends for the past three years are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are:  The most common category was ‘Single-Family’ for the entire board area, but this has decreased from 56.6% in 2017 to 54.4% in 2019.  The second most common category for the board area was ‘Condominium (Apt)’, with frequencies steadily increasing from 11.5% in 2017 to 13.3% in 2019.  The third most common category for the board area was ‘Condominium (Twnhse)’, with frequencies increasing from 7% in 2017 to 8.1% in 2019.

2017 2018 2019 Single-Family 56.6% Single-Family 54.7% Single-Family 54.4% Board Area Condominium (Apt) 11.5% Condominium (Apt) 12.1% Condominium (Apt) 13.3% Condominium (Twnhse) 7.0% Condominium (Twnhse) 8.4% Condominium (Twnhse) 8.1% Single-Family 64.8% Single-Family 61.7% Single-Family 61.2% Campbell River Condominium (Apt) 13.3% Condominium (Apt) 13.4% Condominium (Apt) 14.8% Patio Home 5.3% Patio Home 9.7% Patio Home 6.7% Single-Family 51.3% Single-Family 48.7% Single-Family 50.7% Comox Valley Condominium (Apt) 18.8% Condominium (Apt) 17.3% Condominium (Apt) 17.1% Condominium (Twnhse) 7.6% Condominium (Twnhse) 13.0% Condominium (Twnhse) 9.6% Single-Family 53.6% Single-Family 50.8% Single-Family 49.7% Cowichan Valley Single-Family (Strata) 11.3% Condominium (Apt) 9.0% Single-Family (Strata) 9.7% Acreage With House 8.5% Condominium (Twnhse) 8.3% Condominium (Apt) 8.0% Single-Family 57.4% Single-Family 54.8% Single-Family 52.7% Nanaimo Condominium (Apt) 13.2% Condominium (Apt) 14.9% Condominium (Apt) 16.8% Condominium (Twnhse) 9.6% Condominium (Twnhse) 9.2% Condominium (Twnhse) 10.0% Single-Family 57.0% Single-Family 56.0% Single-Family 55.4% Parksville / Patio Home 8.4% Patio Home 9.2% Condominium (Apt) 11.7% Qualicum Condominium (Apt) 8.3% Condominium (Apt) 8.5% Patio Home 9.7% Single-Family 67.8% Single-Family 68.3% Single-Family 68.4% Port Alberni / Acreage With House 6.5% Condominium (Twnhse) 7.2% Condominium (Twnhse) 6.8% West Coast Condominium (Apt) 5.8% Manufactured/Mobile On 5.1% Manufactured/Mobile on 6.0% Single-Family 56.9% Single-Family 58.0% Single-Family 57.1% North Island Condominium (Apt) 11.6% Condominium (Apt) 12.6% Condominium (Apt) 19.2% Condominium (Twnhse) 8.8% Condominium (Twnhse) 10.3% Condominium (Twnhse) 7.3% Single-Family 46.9% Single-Family 57.1% Single-Family 54.8% Islands Acreage With House 31.1% Acreage With House 26.5% Acreage With House 30.2% Single-Family 19.5% Single-Family 14.3% Single-Family 13.2%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 184 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bedrooms 2017 - 2019 The ‘Number of Bedrooms’ trends for the past three years are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are as follows:  The three most common categories for the board area were ‘Three’, ‘Two’, and ‘Four’ bedrooms, at frequencies ranging from 40% to 41%, 26.3% to 28.6%, and 16.7% to 17.8% respectively, from 2017-2019.  The decreasing frequency order of ‘Three’, ‘Two’, and ‘Four’ bedrooms remained unchanged for the Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, and Parksville/Qualicum sub-areas from 2017-2019.  In the Islands sub-area, the third most common category in 2019 was ‘One’ at 11.6% instead of ‘Four’, which was the third most common category in all other sub-areas

2017 2018 2019 3 41.0% 3 40.4% 3 40.0% Board Area 2 26.3% 2 28.2% 2 28.6% 4 17.8% 4 17.3% 4 16.7% 3 48.6% 3 48.0% 3 48.0% Campbell River 2 22.5% 2 22.9% 2 26.8% 4 18.2% 4 16.9% 4 16.1% 3 43.5% 3 44.5% 3 43.9% Comox Valley 2 29.7% 2 30.6% 2 26.9% 4 15.9% 4 14.7% 4 18.3% 3 41.4% 3 41.4% 3 40.2% Cowichan Valley 2 24.2% 2 26.0% 2 27.3% 4 20.6% 4 20.5% 4 19.4% 3 33.9% 3 31.7% 3 31.8% Nanaimo 2 25.2% 2 27.8% 2 28.1% 4 18.6% 4 19.1% 4 16.3% 3 48.1% 3 47.0% 3 44.1% Parksville / Qualicum 2 30.8% 2 33.2% 2 36.2% 4 11.3% 4 12.0% 4 10.9% 3 37.7% 3 39.0% 3 38.4% Port Alberni / West Coast 4 24.9% 2 23.5% 2 24.6% 2 22.3% 4 21.2% 4 21.8% 3 44.7% 3 45.5% 3 52.9% North Island 4 24.7% 2 24.5% 2 18.6% 2 21.9% 4 18.6% 4 18.0% 3 39.7% 2 40.1% 3 38.7% Islands 2 33.8% 3 34.2% 2 37.4% 4 13.7% 1 11.7% 1 11.6%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 185 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Number of Bathrooms 2017 - 2019 The ‘Number of Bathrooms’ trends for the past three years are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are as follows:  The most common category for the board area, as well as most individual sub-areas, was ‘Two’ bathrooms at 45.6%. This is a decrease from 2017, where this category was selected with a frequency of 44.1%.  Also, the frequency ordering of ‘Two’, ‘Three’, and ‘One’ bathrooms remained constant from 2017 to 2019 for the entire board area and most sub-areas, except for Port Alberni/West Coast, North Island, and Islands sub-areas

2017 2017 2019 2 44.1% 2 44.5% 2 45.6% Board Area 3 29.0% 3 29.0% 3 28.3% 1 19.6% 1 20.1% 1 19.4% 2 49.0% 2 50.1% 2 50.9% Campbell River 3 29.8% 3 27.5% 3 26.4% 1 15.3% 1 18.3% 1 19.5% 2 46.5% 2 45.1% 2 45.7% Comox Valley 3 27.5% 3 31.5% 3 32.9% 1 19.8% 1 19.3% 1 17.9% 2 41.3% 2 42.8% 2 43.0% Cowichan Valley 3 34.2% 3 31.3% 3 31.6% 1 16.2% 1 17.9% 1 16.6% 2 38.8% 2 39.1% 2 39.9% Nanaimo 3 33.1% 3 33.0% 3 31.3% 1 18.9% 1 19.5% 1 19.0% 2 52.8% 2 53.4% 2 54.8% Parksville / Qualicum 3 24.1% 3 23.5% 3 21.6% 1 16.8% 1 16.9% 1 17.8% 2 41.9% 2 44.9% 2 47.1% Port Alberni / West Coast 1 32.3% 1 28.8% 1 28.0% 3 19.3% 3 19.8% 3 18.1% 2 43.3% 2 49.3% 3 42.9% North Island 1 30.9% 1 30.0% 2 35.3% 3 20.8% 3 18.8% 1 20.6% 2 40.7% 1 39.4% 2 50.7% Islands 1 36.7% 2 38.4% 1 31.3% 3 17.7% 3 16.7% 3 14.7%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 186 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Exterior 2017 - 2019 The ‘Exterior’ trends for the past three years are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are as follows:  The most common category for the board area was `Vinyl`, ranging from 30.6% in 2019 to 33.3% in 2017.  The second most common category for the board area was `Wood’, ranging from 18.8% in 2019 to 21.5% in 2017.  `Vinyl` was the most common category in the Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, and Nanaimo sub-areas.  ‘Wood’ was the most common category in the Parksville/Qualicum, Port Alberni/West Coast, and Islands sub-areas.

2017 2017 2019 2 44.1% 2 44.5% 2 45.6% Board Area 3 29.0% 3 29.0% 3 28.3% 1 19.6% 1 20.1% 1 19.4% 2 49.0% 2 50.1% 2 50.9% Campbell River 3 29.8% 3 27.5% 3 26.4% 1 15.3% 1 18.3% 1 19.5% 2 46.5% 2 45.1% 2 45.7% Comox Valley 3 27.5% 3 31.5% 3 32.9% 1 19.8% 1 19.3% 1 17.9% 2 41.3% 2 42.8% 2 43.0% Cowichan Valley 3 34.2% 3 31.3% 3 31.6% 1 16.2% 1 17.9% 1 16.6% 2 38.8% 2 39.1% 2 39.9% Nanaimo 3 33.1% 3 33.0% 3 31.3% 1 18.9% 1 19.5% 1 19.0% 2 52.8% 2 53.4% 2 54.8% Parksville / Qualicum 3 24.1% 3 23.5% 3 21.6% 1 16.8% 1 16.9% 1 17.8% 2 41.9% 2 44.9% 2 47.1% Port Alberni / West Coast 1 32.3% 1 28.8% 1 28.0% 3 19.3% 3 19.8% 3 18.1% 2 43.3% 2 49.3% 3 42.9% North Island 1 30.9% 1 30.0% 2 35.3% 3 20.8% 3 18.8% 1 20.6% 2 40.7% 1 39.4% 2 50.7% Islands 1 36.7% 2 38.4% 1 31.3% 3 17.7% 3 16.7% 3 14.7%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 187 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Parking 2017 – 2019 The ‘Parking’ trends for the past three years are shown in the table below. A few stand-out trends are as follows:  The most common category for the board area from 2017 to 2019 was `Garage-Double`, ranging from 45.9% to 48.5%.  `Garage-Double` was also consistently the most common category for the Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, and Parksville/Qualicum sub-areas from 2017 to 2019.  Garage single was the most common category for the Port Alberni/West Coast, North Island, and Islands sub-areas in 2019

2017 2018 2019 Garage-Double 48.5% Garage-Double 45.9% Garage-Double 45.9% Board Area Carport-Single 24.7% Carport-Single 27.3% Carport-Single 27.3% Garage-Single 16.5% Garage-Single 17.0% Garage-Single 16.3% Garage-Double 49.9% Garage-Double 51.2% Garage-Double 46.9% Campbell River Carport-Single 23.7% Carport-Single 29.2% Carport-Single 28.1% Garage-Single 17.6% Garage-Single 11.7% Garage-Single 13.7% Garage-Double 43.6% Garage-Double 38.2% Garage-Double 45.2% Comox Valley Carport-Single 32.6% Carport-Single 38.2% Carport-Single 33.2% Garage-Single 14.7% Garage-Single 14.2% Garage-Single 14.5% Garage-Double 47.7% Garage-Double 44.9% Garage-Double 44.4% Cowichan Valley Carport-Single 24.1% Carport-Single 24.2% Carport-Single 25.7% Garage-Single 16.6% Garage-Single 20.5% Garage-Single 17.0% Garage-Double 51.8% Garage-Double 48.9% Garage-Double 49.5% Nanaimo Carport-Single 22.3% Carport-Single 25.5% Carport-Single 25.8% Garage-Single 16.7% Garage-Single 15.7% Garage-Single 15.2% Garage-Double 60.1% Garage-Double 59.9% Garage-Double 53.6% Parksville / Carport-Single 20.4% Carport-Single 19.2% Carport-Single 24.5% Qualicum Garage-Single 8.5% Garage-Single 12.4% Garage-Single 10.5% Garage-Double 28.5% Garage-Single 30.6% Garage-Single 32.3% Port Alberni / Carport-Single 27.7% Garage-Double 28.4% Garage-Double 26.4% West Coast Garage-Single 26.3% Carport-Single 26.1% Carport-Single 26.4% Garage-Single 46.7% Garage-Single 37.8% Garage-Single 44.4% North Island Carport-Single 23.8% Carport-Single 31.5% Carport-Single 32.2% Garage-Double 19.0% Garage-Double 15.3% Garage-Double 15.6% Garage-Double 38.0% Garage-Single 32.4% Garage-Single 32.7% Islands Garage-Single 25.3% Garage-Double 29.6% Garage-Double 30.9% Carport-Single 24.1% Carport-Single 23.9% Carport-Single 27.3%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 188 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2019 Buyer Report Site Characteristics 2017 - 2019 The ‘Site Characteristics’ trends for the past three years are shown in the table below. A few obvious trends are as follows:  The three most common categories for the board area remained the same: ‘View-Mountain’ ranging from 40.5% to 41.8%, ‘View-Ocean’ ranging from 38.2% to 40.4%, and ‘Waterfront- Ocean’ ranging from 8.8% to 11.4%, from 2017-2019.  Within the sub-areas, the trends remained consistent from 2017 to 2019, with only slight changes in order and percentage in certain areas (most noticeably Parksville/Qualicum).  ‘View-Ocean’ was the most common in the sub-areas of Campbell River, Nanaimo, Parksville/Qualicum, and the North Island.  ‘View-Mountain’ was the most common in the sub-areas of Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, and Port Alberni/West Coast.  The Islands sub-area ‘Waterfront – Ocean’ was the most common.

2017 2018 2019 View - Mountain 41.8% View - Mountain 41.8% View - Mountain 40.5% Board Area View - Ocean 38.2% View - Ocean 39.1% View - Ocean 40.4% Waterfront - Ocean 11.4% Waterfront - Ocean 8.9% Waterfront - Ocean 8.8% View - Ocean 70.1% View - Ocean 67.3% View - Ocean 69.7% Campbell River View - Mountain 19.7% View - Mountain 22.4% View - Mountain 19.2% Waterfront - Ocean 8.7% Waterfront - Ocean 5.7% Waterfront - Ocean 6.7% View - Mountain 61.7% View - Mountain 63.9% View - Mountain 56.7% Comox Valley View - Ocean 20.7% View - Ocean 22.3% View - Ocean 25.8% Waterfront - Ocean 11.7% Waterfront - Ocean 7.2% Waterfront - Ocean 8.0% View - Mountain 46.8% View - Mountain 46.2% View - Mountain 41.6% Cowichan Valley View - Ocean 29.7% View - Ocean 30.2% View - Ocean 33.1% View - Lake 10.5% View - Lake 11.4% View - Lake 10.5% View - Ocean 49.2% View - Ocean 49.7% View - Ocean 49.5% Nanaimo View - Mountain 37.4% View - Mountain 36.0% View - Mountain 36.6% Waterfront - Ocean 7.0% Waterfront - Ocean 5.1% Waterfront - Ocean 5.6% View - Ocean 42.1% View - Ocean 39.6% View - Ocean 45.6% Parksville / View - Mountain 26.3% Waterfront - Ocean 25.4% View - Mountain 29.7% Qualicum Waterfront - Ocean 25.1% View - Mountain 25.1% Waterfront - Ocean 18.4% View - Mountain 62.6% View - Mountain 69.6% View - Mountain 69.1% Port Alberni / View - Ocean 17.7% View - Ocean 15.9% View - Ocean 14.5% West Coast Waterfront - Ocean 7.3% Waterfront - Ocean 7.1% Waterfront - Ocean 7.6% View - Ocean 52.2% View - Ocean 60.1% View - Ocean 54.3% North Island View - Mountain 38.0% View - Mountain 30.5% View - Mountain 32.6% Waterfront - Ocean 8.7% Waterfront - Ocean 9.4% Waterfront - Ocean 10.9% Waterfront - Ocean 61.1% Waterfront - Ocean 50.0% Waterfront - Ocean 52.2% Islands View - Ocean 33.1% View - Ocean 44.0% View - Ocean 44.8% View - Lake 1.6% View - Mountain 5.0% View - Mountain 3.0%

2019 VIREB Buyer Profile 189 Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Data Comparisons

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2016 Buyer Report