Where do Campbell River’s buyers come from?

Where do Campbell River’s buyers come from? MLS does an Island wide annual survey but as we know Campbell River is very different from Courtenay, Nanaimo, Parksville etc

At Remax Check Realty, when we sell a home we have to complete a survey about the buyer. Our admin department has been tracking our survey results since 2010. So where do Campbell River’s buyers come from? Here’s Campbell River’s results for 2012 in a snapshot:

– 42% of buyers are from within the Campbell River area, 24% of buyers are from elsewhere on Vancouver Island, other BC 9%, Alberta 9%, Vancouver 3% and Victoria 2.4%. It pays to market locally! But not necessarily in print, keep reading and see below
– Before their purchase, 40% of buyers have lived in the community for less than a year. Try before you buy!
– 49% of buyers purchase their home for retirement. Baby Boomer alert! In 2010 it was only 40% and 2011 43%
– 71% of the buyers purchase a single family home, 8% apartment condo, 6% patio home, 0.7% acreage with house

– 36% of buyers first become aware of a property by their Realtor bringing it to their attention, 34% the internet, 3% relative or friend, 12% signage, 7% mls catalogue, 2% newspaper (it’s true, the Homefinder is typically where sellers shop for a listing agent, and the curious community check out what homes in their neighbourhood are going for. It’s not necessarily the lift out guide for buyers. What’s interesting is, Sellers are for the most, adamant about having their homes advertised in the local paper)
– 27% of buyers choose a Realtor recommended to them by a friend or family member (please don’t hesitate to mention my name), 16% prior client, 8% out of town Realtor referral, 9% trawling the internet, 5% walking into the office.
As a Realtor I genuinely appreciate the collation of stats, it better directs my advertising and marketing, it’s what helps me to know how to get my listings SOLD!