When asked to describe a typical Kitsilano home in two words, realtor Faith Wilson answers easily.
Character house, she says.
The quintessential Kitsilano dwelling could include two bedrooms, one bathroom upstairs and one bathroom on the main floor and have the charm of being built in the 1930s or earlier.
It has that age to it, she says. That character is what a lot of Vancouverites look for. I think thats typical for Kits.
Recently, Wilson sold a two-level character home with a basement for $1.4 million. The asking price was $1.3 million and it was only listed for a week.
It was a beautiful house, she says. Nice street, porch, big steps and completely renovated. We had multiple offers on it.
But beyond the character homes, Wilson says that what helps define Kitsilano and make it unique is the diversity of housing in the community. From rental properties, to townhouses, to duplexes, to condos, the realtor says that the area has very diverse housing options, resulting in a very eclectic and vibrant community.
I think that is whats really nice about Kitsilano, that it has the options that some neighbourhoods dont, she says.
In addition to the diversity of living accommodations, Wilson adds that the community is full of very attractive amenities.
Its very walkable and theres also great public transportation, she says. And there are also a lot of different shops, parks and theres the beach. Its very much a neighbourhood its very community oriented.
In recent years, Wilson says it has been a sellers market, but she says in the past month, the market has started to become more balanced, moving towards a buyers and sellers market.
Its a good time to buy, says Wilson, who has been in the realty business for more than 20 years. It was a sellers market for so long. But now, interest rates are so great right that its a good time to be coming into the market.
So what are buyers looking for when house shopping?
Buyers are looking for a match for their lifestyle, she says, quoting a coworker. But I guess in essence, every house is a lifestyle house, matching somebodys lifestyle. But Kits can accommodate a variety of lifestyles.
By Gen Handley
