It appears Yukoners are continuing to spend the most they've ever spent on homes in the territory.

The Yukon Bureau of Statistics released its most recent real estate figures this week. They show more than $69 million in real estate transactions for the third quarter of 2007, which represents sales between July and September.

The amount spent is the highest value of any quarter since the survey started in 1977, it's noted.

While Whitehorse saw $60.5 million spent on real estate, the remaining approximately $8.8 million was spent on properties outside the capital.

That means Whitehorse had the highest transaction value of any quarter to date, with an increase of 42 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The rest of the territory saw its sales drop by 5.7 per cent over the year.

So far, the total value of sales in the territory for the first three quarters of 2007 sits at approximately $135.8 million compared to $121.9 in the same period of 2006, representing an increase of 11.4 per cent or more than $13.9 million over the year.

Looking at the type of housing sold in Whitehorse, it was noted Yukoners spent approximately:

$35.9 million on single houses;

$2.5 million on family lots which are properties purchased by individuals (rather than contractors) before homes are built on them;

$2.4 million on mobile homes;

$2.1 million on condominiums;

$2.6 million on duplexes;

$1.3 million on multi-residential homes;

$12.2 million on commercial property; and

$1.3 million on industrial property.

On average, the price of single houses has gone up $42,300 or 16.6 per cent from the same time period in 2006, when the average single home was $255,100, to this year, when the average is $297,400.

Between neighbourhoods in the city for the third quarter of this year, the average cost of a single home is:

$256,700 in Riverdale, compared to $224,400 in 2006;

$281,700 in Porter Creek, compared to $259,800 in 2006;

$353,100 for a country residential home, compared to $308,300 in 2006; and

$331,800 in Copper Ridge compared to $254,800 in 2006.

While home values have risen, Mike Racz, the Yukon Real Estate Association's president, argued the sale of homes seems to be slowing down.

The bureau's figures show there were a total of 207 sales in the third quarter of this year, compared to 197 in the same period of 2006.

However, with only 52 listings for single homes (including mobile homes) on the market currently, Racz said things seem to be slowing down simply due to a lack of availability.

Looking at the availability of single homes (including mobiles), he pointed out there are only listings for 52 in Whitehorse, and of those, only six are under the $300,000-mark.

'It makes it harder to make a living,' Racz said, noting it's left realtors like himself knocking on doors to find out if there are residents interested in selling.

Some people, such as those retiring, are ready to sell a larger family home and move into a condo. But for the most part, Racz said, he doesn't see a whole lot changing in the realty market in the capital until the spring.

Hopefully by then, he said, all the latest Copper Ridge lots that were purchased last March by contractors will have houses built on them and be ready for sale. He pointed out the lots have to have a structure on them within a year of the land lottery.

While more lots will become available as well when the city further develops the Takhini neighbourhood, Racz doesn't believe prices will drop because there's so much going on with development and mining in the territory, he said.

'I think Whitehorse has missed the boat on this one,' Racz said.

With more mining throughout the territory and the Yukon government hiring more staff, there are more people coming here to work.

Although much of the mining happens outside the capital city, he pointed out workers are off for a couple of weeks at a time, which means they can live anywhere.

Racz pointed to the high prices of houses, an increase of 7.5 per cent expected in 2008 property taxes (city council still has to pass its budget for next year), water metering expected for city homes in 2011, and a general lack of available homes.

With those factors combined, it's unlikely new workers coming into the territory especially for camp jobs would uproot their families to move to Whitehorse, the veteran realtor said.

With the price of homes, it's unlikely single workers would either, he suggested.

In a community like Faro, though, where single-family houses can be purchased for substantially less than a mobile home in Whitehorse, a worker staying in camp might be tempted to buy a home there or in other communities where homes are more affordable and taxes are less.

In Whitehorse, entry level home buyers aren't purchasing the single-family houses they once might have.

Instead, they're buying more affordable mobile homes, condos or even sharing the cost of a single-family home with others provided there's enough room for all the purchasers.

'Things are changing and they're changing all over,' Racz said.

In cities like Vancouver or Calgary, he said, it's extremely difficult to start out, especially if a first-time home buyer is paying student loans, vehicle payments, rent and trying to save enough to buy.

There are numerous programs in place to help first-time buyers get started, including the Yukon Housing Corp.'s program which requires only a 2.5 per cent down payment provided the buyer has good credit.

There are also zero down payment programs at various banks and other options available, he said.