Quesnel Cariboo Observer, January 17, 2014

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Design flooring up and running PAGE A3

piper’s back PAGE A

former thunder to play all-star PAGE A17

OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO

SINCE 1908

Friday, January 17, 2014

VOL. 100 NO. 40

www.quesnelobserver.com

PM 40005365

1

$ 30

includes GST

Average local sale prices hold strong AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter Despite trying times, Cariboo North, including the Gold Pan City, continues an upward trend in the housing market. While housing sales were slightly down in Quesnel, from 295 in 2012 to 250 in 2013, the average sale price held strong at $183,500; additionally fewer homes are on the market, from 233 in 2012, to 207. Real estate members of the BC Northern Real Estate Board (BCNREB) reported 4,891 property sales worth $1.2 billion in 2013 through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), up from last year’s 4,696 sales worth $1.08 billion. “The BC Northern area continued its upward trend in sales volumes for the fourth year in a row and the average sale price for the entire area rose by more than four percent,” BCNREB president Gisela Janzen said. By comparison in Williams Lake, 336 sales worth $68.6 million were reported through MLS in 2013, up from 315 sales worth $68 million the previous year. Half of the 118 single family homes sold in 2013 sold for less than $221,500. Thirty parcels of vacant land, 85 homes on acreage, 14 townhomes, 27 manufactured homes in parks and 34 manufactured homes on land were also sold in 2013. At the end of December there were 358 properties of all types available through MLS in the Williams Lake area, up slightly from 352 properties at the same time last year. In the City of Prince George, 1,291 properties worth $314 million sold in 2013, compared with 1,244 properties worth $294 million in 2012. At year-end there were 639 properties of all types available through MLS compared to 620 properties at the end of 2012. “Markets in the Northwest region performed extremely well, mostly driven by large economic projects and developments,” Janzen said. “Markets in the Southern region remained largely unchanged from the previous year mainly due to a poorly performing labour market. Overall, BC Northern appears to be most resilient in this post-recession period when compared to the rest of the province.”

Quesnel Winter Carnival Saturday, February 1 st West Fraser Timber Park 1 pm - 5:30 pm

First time for everything A class of new skiers works their way up on of the smaller hills at Hallis Lake at the annual open House. For more coverage See PAGE A17. Jonas Gagnon photo

Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber D. Schweyer! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.

Deb Quick, Travel Consultant 250-992-5169 in Quesnel

Deb Quick offers all travel services as a Flight Centre Travel Agency. www.AskDeb.ca

BCReg#23929


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