VANCOUVER - Whistler has set a real-estate record with the pending $17.5-million sale of a sprawling luxury home on 1.9 hectares with a view of Blackcomb Mountain.
The house, a five-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot wood and stone luxury home at 6715 Crabapple Dr., was listed on the Multiple Listing Service last July at $22 million.
The property's listing firm, Thornhill Real Estate Group, confirmed the sale, while realtor Maggi Thornhill declined to discuss the deal in detail.
The deal has not yet closed; however, the $17.5-million price will make it the second most expensive home to sell in B.C., according to data compiled by Landcor Data Corp. from the provincial land titles registry.
The most expensive transaction, according to Landcor's list was the $28.2 million sale of 3330 Radcliffe Ave. in West Vancouver.
That house attracted attention in 2004 when it sold for what was then a record $17 million.
Thornhill, in a previous interview, said she has noticed money coming back into Whistler over the last 10 months or so after a lull in the market that has lasted a few years.
However, while buyers were taking a breather on Whistler, other high-end resorts saw their markets rise, Thornhill added, so now Whistler isn't the highest-priced real estate.
Patrick Kelly, with Whistler Real Estate Co., said market activity has not been the strongest at the "super high-end," but "certainly interest has increased for more expensive family oriented property.
"And that's a trend right across North America. That's not just a Whistler thing."
Kelly added that Whistler is becoming more of an icon resort because of the Olympic venues that have been built there.
"I haven't talked to anybody who's been to the new [Olympic] Nordic centre who isn't just raving about it," he said.
"I don't think it will ever be an Aspen or a Vail," Kelly said, but right now Whistler's stock is rising.