Real Estate

What does 'sold' smell like?

  Photo: Contributed By Shannon and Tamara Stone We just finished the REMAX office tour where we went and previewed a lot of new listings this morning. I was inspired to write about the importance of smell in the sale of a home. In life, whether you are...

Live like a millionaire

Live Like a Millionaire, Even if You’re Not   by Sam Shakura   Photo: Contributed - Rock House of Design Cher and I, at Rock House of Design Inc., have been privileged to work with monstrous budgets, international zip codes, high profile...

Inject a little spring into your home

  Photo: Contributed - sheknows.com By Shannon and Tamara Stone Stoneteam.com If you are like us, this time of year can start to feel a little dreary. The holiday season is past, there’s still a bit of snow on the ground and winter is still...

A 'cool' summer housing market

Housing sale activity was slower in August then this time last year, the Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported.   Photo: Trevor Rockliffe OMREB also reported that MLS property types were down marginally in August compared to...

Home sales remain down from 2009

The Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported October 2010 sales activity of all MLS property types increased from last month, but continues to be well down from sales reported this time last year. A sharp decline in new listings continues to bring down overall...

Video: BC housing stock shrinking

BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) Chief Economist Cameron Muir discusses the September 2010 statistics and an in depth look at population growth and the housing stock.

Be at home at Sonoma Pines

Jean and Dennis Wandler's first view of Sonoma Pines was in 2004. They were sitting on the patio of golf course enjoying lunch on a perfect Okanagan summer day. “We were so impressed with what we saw that we visited the sales centre and picked up some information from salesman Harty...

Housing sales pick up as summer ends

If you're in the market for a new home, you're in luck. According to the Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board, it continues to be a buyer's market. OMREB figures for August indicate sales activity for all MLS property types picked up as the summer comes to a close. While total...

Home starts moving higher

Kelowna area housing starts, led by the single detached home sector, totalled 64 homes in July, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. “Detached home starts have moved higher from the same seven month period in 2009,” says CMHC Market Analyst Paul Fabri. “Low mortgage...

Housing market becomes buyer's cycle

The Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board reported June 2010 sales activity of all MLS property types has levelled off as the market shows a steady but slow recovery. While property listings continue to increase and widen the selection for buyers, unit sales are down from last...

Rental construction boosted in June

Rental apartment construction boosted Kelowna area housing starts to 131 homes in June, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Both detached home and multi-family starts were up from last June. Construction began on a 71 rental apartment in June. “More favourable construction...

Lower costs fuel small housing boom

Lower construction costs are contributing to an increase in new home construction over the first five months of 2010. According to figures released earlier this month by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, construction began on 82 single-detached and multiple family homes in Kelowna in...

Home construction and sales edging up

A new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation forecasts new home construction and sales in the Central Okanagan will move higher in 2010 and 2011. CMHC Market Analyst, Paul Fabri, says demand for new and existing homes are expected to pick up as both regional and provincial economies...

INvue offering big discounts

The Rykon Group, which owns the INvue complex on Springfield Road, has partnered with Rennie Marketing Systems in an attempt to sell the rest of the development's unsold units. The group announced the partnership Friday, also announcing 40 per cent discounts to go with it. According to the...

Housing starts continue to rise

Low interest rates continue to boost housing starts in Kelowna. Paul Fabri, Market Analyst for the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, reports that housing starts increased to 77 homes in April, compared to 29 homes at the same time in 2009. "Both detached home and multi-family starts have...

Real estate market continues recovery

The Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported April 2010 sales activity of all MLS® property types improved over 2008, the early part of 2009 and last month as the local housing market continues to rebound. “As listings continue to increase, the wider selection of...

Kelowna leads luxury home rebound

For folks who have no issues with mortgage rates or down payments - people who buy luxury homes - Kelowna, again, is one of the places in Canada to do just that. The latest Remax survey says Canada's luxury home sales have rebounded and soared in this year's first quarter, and Kelowna has led the...

Detached home construction rising

Housing starts over the first quarter of 2010 continue to far outpace levels from a year ago. In Kelowna, construction began on 249 homes (122 single-detached and 127 multiple family units) over the first three months of 2010. That's an increase of 246% over 2009. Vernon and Penticton saw similar...

Kelowna's oldest home up for sale

If you want to own a piece of Kelowna history, it'll cost you a cool $1.8 million. For only the fifth time in its 120-year history, the W.T. Small house is for sale. Believed to be the oldest continually inhabited home in Kelowna, the house was built in 1890, at a time when the population of...

Housing starts up in February

Construction began on 44 homes in February, up more than 30 homes from the same time in 2009. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says only 11 homes were built in February last year. “New home construction, led by the detached home sector, has picked up from the very low levels recorded...