Happy New Year!

As this year draws to a close Tracy and I would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.  All the best to you in 2012.
Steve and Tracy

Constant Paddler's journey nears the end.

 Four days left and it will be exactly one year of stand-up paddling for Bob Purdy on Okanagan Lake. The Kelowna resident will complete his 365 day Paddle for the Planet 2011 on Saturday with a fun pledge paddle at 11 am at Rotary Beach on Lakeshore Road and the a wind-up party from 1-5 pm the Unitarian Church Hall 1310 Bertram St. Everyone is welcome to come out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my Family, Friends and Clients!

Hope your days are filled with family, fun, love and laughter!

Safe travels to those of you that may be traveling over this holiday season!

THINKING OF SELLING?

REMAX SELLS THE MOST HOMES AND HAS THE MOST BUYERS.*

I will work harder and smarter to sell your home.
I will market your home on multiple websites.
I will use print, social media and online virtual tours.
I will host open houses and use full color feature sheets.
I am an expert negotiator and I will work hard to get you
the highest price possible while providing exceptional customer service.

Do you want to know what your home is worth?
I will email you all recent sales in your area for you to compare. Just call or email and tell me:
What AREA and I will email them to you IMMEDIATELY.
Call Today for your FREE No Obligation Market Evaluation!!
Cell - 250.864.7893
Email - Steve@SteveHigginsRealEstate.com

SERVING KELOWNA AND AREA.

*Based on MLS® Sold Units as Reported by OMREB in 2010 for Central Okanagan.
Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract.

Global Website Benefits Every Associate

In his most recent blog post, RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger highlights the competitive advantages of the new global.remax.com website. Noting that the site includes a robust cache of listings in more than 60 countries, Liniger points out that the launch of the new site is a positive advantage for every single RE/MAX Associate in the network, regardless of whether or not they participate in an international transaction. Something extremely positive happened last week that will impact every RE/MAX Associate, regardless of whether or not they ever participate in an international real estate transaction. The debut of global.remax.com represents an enormous step forward for our organization. The project is still in its infancy – even with roughly 60 countries already on board – but it will ultimately connect our worldwide sales force, and their listings and buyers, in a way that’s never been done before. Over time, global.remax.com will generate more listings, more cross-border sales, more investor clients, more in-network referrals and more brand exposure. The impact will be phenomenal. RE/MAX Sales Associates will be able to show sellers how their listing will be seen around the world, in the language and currency of the potential buyers. They’ll be able to explain that many of these same buyers are already working with a RE/MAX Sales Associate in their countries. That’s a strong message to add to a listing presentation, wherever you are. And even if the properties you deal with don’t fit the international profile, you’ll still benefit from the increased exposure, visibility and credibility produced by global.remax.com. More than ever, people who prefer major brands over small ones will be even more apt to choose a RE/MAX agent. Being aligned with a powerhouse global brand gives you resources and advantages that others can’t match. That competitive gap – the difference between RE/MAX and everyone else – just got a whole lot wider.
RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.

When Showing Your Home

For your safety, be sure to put these things away: 

Cash, Jewelry and Jewelry boxes, Liquor or Wine, Political Memorabilia, Religious Items, Prescriptions Medications or Over the Counter Drugs,Pets or Pet Supplies, Anything Valuable or Irreplaceable ,Credit Cards, Credit Card Bills and Computer Passwords   

Family Sundays

Here's a way to spend some family time and make a gift.
This week features Fantastic Frames. Participants will be making frames they can use to surprise a friend or family member.
Cost $4.00 per person.
Info online www.kelownaart-gallery.com
or call 250.762.2226
Place: Kelowna Art Gallery 1315 Water St.
Time; 1-4 pm Drop-ins welcome!

Contributor: Kelowna eVent

Tracking Santa Claus

As Christmas approaches the age old tradition of tracking Santa Claus's flight from the North Pole will begin on Christmas eve so all kids will know when to go to bed.
If you would like to track Santa's flight with your child it can be found at this website:
www.noradsanta.org

Hijacked!! Today it's all about Me!!

Hi... today is about me and that me is Tracy! I am Steve's wife and assistant. Every so often I am going to Hijack Steve's blog. Now, I will tell you a bit about me! I use to work in the health care industry for 18 yrs. I was a certified personal trainer but even though I am not currently practicing,  still love working out and doing physical activities. I am also a certified cake decorator and have taken a course in Redesign and Home Staging. I look forward to hearing from you with any questions that you may want to ask. Or if you would like to send a photo for my Home Staging and Redesign opinion please feel free to do so. Have a wonderful day!

It's a Concert for the Food Bank

Jay Ess Music Studio student's concert "Peace and Joy" that is scheduled for Sunday will be a fundraiser for the Kelowna Food Bank.
"Knowing how desperate the food bank is this year, we are urging everyone to come and support us and bring  non-perishable items", said Robert Jay owner of the music studio.
The concert takes place at 7pm at the Mary Irwin Theatre, located on Cawston Ave. opposite Prospera Place.

Contributor: Kelowna eVents

Beautiful December Sunset in Kelowna

Para surfing in Kelowna

Looking for a Realtor

Whether you are looking at Kelowna as a place for investments, a vacation spot or to make it your home, it will be a place you will want to return to or spend the rest of your life. Not very many people who come to Kelowna or live in Kelowna ever want to go elsewhere and I can see why. The people who live here say it is the "best city in the world". Everyone you talk to loves it here, they are so welcoming, friendly and helpful it is hard to believe that you can find that many friendly people in one place.
There are many great places to live in or around Kelowna. What you will have to decide is, do you want prime real estate that is right on the lake, or would you like a nice home nestled in the hills overlooking a vineyard, the Okanagan Lake or the city of Kelowna? Could it be a condo on one of the many golf courses here or would you like an acreage outside of Kelowna?

Whatever your decision may be, it is important that you find the best real estate suited to your needs. Hire a knowledgeable Kelowna Realtor. It will make the entire process so much smoother if you have a real estate agent that knows what they are doing and is willing to work for "you" to get "you" the best price.

Selling your home?

Here are a few staging tips;

•   De-clutter, de-clutter the more space you create, the bigger the house feels and the more money people are willing to spend.
•   Depersonalize your home. Buyers want to come in and see the home as their home.
•   Prospective buyers look everywhere, don't hide things make sure everywhere is presentable.
•   Your house should smell clean, not air freshener clean as that can turn a person off fast and this is the first impression they will have of your home!
•   Hide all evidence of housework.  No one wants to think that you only cleaned your house because you had possible buyers coming.

Welcome to Kelowna and the Okanagan!

Hello my name is Steve Higgins and I would like to welcome you to my blog.
This Blog is my opportunity to share the things I have learned about Real Estate and the Okanagan with you.

My goal is to provide valuable and enjoyable posts which you will benefit from. If there is anything you would like to know don't hesitate to email me. Once a month I will post the "HIGGINS REPORT ON THE MARKET" to let you know what the market is doing in Kelowna and area.

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you enjoy it, subscribe or come back often.