CALGARY - Recreational property sales in most major Canadian markets have soared this year compared with a year ago, according to a report released today by Re/Max.

The 2010 Re/Max Recreational Property Report found that 79 per cent of recreational areas reported an upswing in the number of properties sold during the first three months of the year. Starting prices for recreational product were also on the move with 43 per cent posting a nominal increase.

The report said the number of units in Canmore was up a substantial 130 per cent over a year ago with 90 properties sold between January and March as opposed to 39 sales for the same period in 2009.

But the average price dipped by 17 per cent to $583,000 from $684,000, “bringing values more in line with markets further afield like Fernie and Invermere.”

“Lower values — combined with rock-bottom interest rates — have finally kick-started Canmore’s recreational property market,” said the Re/Max report. “The popular resort area lagged behind Calgary and Edmonton in terms of housing recovery, but with prices now at or near bottom, cautious purchasers are coming out of the woodwork.”

It said entry-level condominiums have sparked the greatest attention with one-bedroom units most popular with first-time buyers of secondary properties.

“Demand in the top end of the market has also been on the upswing as buyers take advantage of softer prices. The most expensive sale so far this year was priced at $2.1 million.”

As a contrast to Canmore, Sylvan Lake, the other recreational property market surveyed by the report, has seen buyers “continue to sit on the sidelines.”

“No waterfront sales have been recorded to date, although a handful of back row properties have sold under $500,000,” said Re/Max. “The starting price for a three-bedroom, winterized recreational property on a prime waterfront lot on Sylvan Lake is now $1.2 million. Water-access properties can be had from $800,000 while smaller, more modest cottages can be purchased from $600,000.

“Pricing will be critical this season as well-priced properties are expected to move while those that are overpriced will stagnate.”

The report said oil executives, aged 35 to 45, with young children, have eclipsed the Baby Boomers as the most active purchasers in the Sylvan Lake market.

Re/Max said many potential buyers are being lost to bargain U.S. markets.

At the national level, “stronger than expected economic recovery, combined with additional incentives such as rising interest rates, stricter lending criteria, and a new sales tax, have served to kick-start activity in recreational property markets from coast-to-coast,” said Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada. “Entry-level product is experiencing the greatest demand this year as value-driven purchasers look to stretch their dollar as far as it will go. This is especially true in Western Canada, where values have softened considerably year-over-year, but are now starting to firm up.”