The baby steps of the real estate market slow down have been set in motion. More listings mean better selection of homes for buyers and stiffer competition for sellers. Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary have had real estate prices drop up to 20% in recent months. However British Columbia is still holding strong with an estimated appreciation rate for 2008 of 6% according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. So what can we expect in the Okanagan with all this? We expect South Okanagan prices to rise slightly this year and then flatten, the times of doubling your home value may be gone. These are signs that we are shifting from a sellers market to a more balanced market.