Sales Continue to Soar

September continued the trend we have seen throughout a good part of the year with sales 48% ahead of September last year. That puts the real estate board activity at 11%
overall ahead of last year. At the same time, the listing inventory continues to decline each month, however, there certainly continues to be a substantial supply of good properties for sale which helps keep prices stable.

As we move into the fall season, activity is expected to slow down some but we predict activity will still continue to be stronger than last year. There appears to be greater consumer confidence which always generates more spending activity. With entry level properties being the most active and interest rates still low, it is expected more first time buyers will venture into purchasing their first home. Even though sale prices have remained stable so far, one has to wonder when we may see real estate prices starting to edge upward. With more sales happening and listing inventory declining, sooner or later we will start to see upward movement. Some are predicting next spring, others say we are more than a year away. Regardless, the good news is prices have remained constant now for quite awhile which has allowed more buyers the opportunity to enter the market.

Courtesy of Cliff Shillington

Real estate sales up almost 50 per cent - Central Okanagan News - Castanet.net

Real estate sales up almost 50 per cent - Central Okanagan News - Castanet.net

BC Housing Market.

Check out this link to see how the BC housing market is doing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVE66g3NDmg&feature=c4-overview&list=UUiK9hex2u-kM7UHOXGVboZw

Kelowna's Market Remain Strong!

Traditionally, July tends to be somewhat of a quieter month than May or June but this year was certainly not the case. July continued the strong activity we saw in June with 472 properties sold, an increase of 13% over July, 2012 according to the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board statistics. Our RE/MAX Kelowna office saw an outstanding increase of 46% over the same month last year giving us close to a 35% market share in July.

The board stats also show an increase again this month for average sales price at 3.45%. Single family homes were up 2.72% and condos up 14.43% indicating that if buyers are still sitting on the fence waiting for prices to drop likely have missed their window of opportunity. This does not mean we are now going to start seeing significant price increases but it does indicate we are in a solid balanced market. Meaning sellers are still going to have to list their properties competitively but buyer’s can no longer think they can pick up a steal of a deal with a low ball offer.

It will be interesting to see if this momentum continues into August and September before we see the seasonal market slow down.

New Listing #201 250 Dougall Road, N

Bright Corner Unit close to bus loop and shopping. Immaculate Condition. Furnished if desired. Just move in! Walking distance to bus loop and Shopping. Very nice building. Some furniture and dishes included. Verify measurements if important. Call Steve Higgins RE/MAX Kelowna 250.864.7893 for showings.

Vacation Time

Summer vacation time is here, if you are planning on going away. Here are some helpful do's and don'ts.
Most burglars check for four things: something worth stealing, easy access to the house, low visibility, and a home that is unoccupied. If all of these conditions are met, your home is an easy target. Here are some quick Do’s and Don’ts will help towards protecting your home.

Do

• Fool thieves by making your home look occupied at all times. Use light timers, or timers for the TV or a radio.
• Change the pattern of the lights you leave on when you’re away. Leaving the same light on always could tip-off thieves and signal you aren’t home.
• Maintain an everyday appearance by leaving some curtains and blinds open.
• Turn down the volume on your phone ringer and answering machine so they can't be heard outside.
• Keep outside gates locked.
• Keep the door between the garage and the house locked.
• Install motion detector lights outside to ensure the perimeter of your house is well lit.
• Organize or participate in a community watch program.
• Lock valuables and important documents in a safe or other secure location.
• Ask one of your neighbours to park their car in your driveway.
• Cancel newspapers and have a neighbour pick up fliers and other papers from your porch.
• Trim back bushes and shrubs that might obstruct entries to your home.

Don't

• Leave a message on your answering machine saying that you aren’t at home.
• Let newspapers and mail pile up. Ask someone you trust to collect your newspapers and mail daily while you are away.
• Leave garbage cans out on the curb.
• Leave a key hidden outside under a flower pot or window sill. Thieves know where to look!
• Leave tools or ladders outside which can be used to gain access to your home.
• Leave valuable items in clear view of the windows.

Also, ask someone you trust to "house sit", especially if you plan to be away for an extended period of time. If possible, leave an itinerary and contact details with a reliable neighbor, friend, or family member. Ask them to keep an eye on your home and report anything suspicious to police.

Come Check out my Newest Listing 229 Ranchland Court!

Amazing Family Home on Huge Private Lot. Could be 5 Bedrooms or Keep as 2nd family room and office on Main. Suite Potential. Garage can be converted back. All new floors, roof and much more. Open concept. Cul-de-sac location. Room for RV. Bright spacious updated kitchen. 3 beds up. This is a wonderful family home ready with a great layout offering many options for the family. Great for home office or could be suited for the in-laws or mortgage helper. This home shows very well. Call Steve Higgins RE/MAX Kelowna for easy viewing. 250-864-7893

New Listing Priced to Sell in Dilworth Estates

4 total of bedrooms includes a new 1 bedroom suite with separate entrance. New hardwood & slate flooring. Bright island kitchen withstainless steel appliances, gas f/p, dining area with rear yard access, den on main plus new. Fenced & private rear yard backing onto park space with hot tub, c/air, rv parking, recent landscaping enhancements. Beautiful Dilworth location only 6 houses to Dilworth Mountain Park. Best location in Kelowna. 5 minutes to downtown, Orchard Park Mall & Costco. 12 minutes to Airport. Call Steve Higgins RE/MAX Kelowna for private showing 250-864-7893. For more details check out my website: www.stevehigginsrealestate.com

Summer is a good time to add Curb Appeal

A fresh coat of paint can work wonders, whether it’s applied to the entire house or just on the front door. If your house is painted a neutral color like white or cream, be adventurous and try an energizing red or soothing aqua on your front door; a pop of color will add appealing interest.

Window boxes or planters are an easy and cost-effective way to add natural beauty to your home’s facade. Learn how to build a container garden that will provide extra dimension and color to a front porch or patio.

Take a look at your house from the street. Do your windows look bare? Try adding shutters, but make sure they are appropriately sized. Buying shutters that are smaller than the windows they flank is an all-too-common mistake homeowners make, which leads to the windows looking disproportionately small.

A garage door can account for up to 30 percent of a home’s exterior that is seen from the street, so having an attractive one is important to good curb appeal. A garage door should be appropriately matched to its house’s architectural style. A new garage door will give you the best return on your investment and provide the most value for your home. And most people, to some degree, factor in resale when making their home improvement decisions. Both structural and decorative curb appeal is important when it comes time to sell a home, bringing in a larger number of prospective buyers and making it more likely that they will make the purchase.

So don’t let budget constraints keep you from improving the appearance of your home’s exterior. There are many low-cost changes that can be made that have a big impact on how your home looks. Whether you’re making these changes to enjoy for yourself, or to make your home more marketable, the summer is a great time to get outside and focus

Kelowna Housing Market

The demand for new and existing homes is expected to strengthen later this year and in 2014. Stronger employment growth coupled with low mortgage interest rates will support increased demand for housing in Kelowna.

MLS home sales are forecast to remain stable in 2013. Expect sales to move higher, increasing 11 per cent in 2014. Buyers will continue to benefit from an ample supply of listings and price competition among sellers.

Prices are forecast to stabilize in 2013 and edge higher in 2014 as demand improves and the supply of listings is drawn down.

Kelowna area housing starts are forecast at 1,000 homes this year and 1,100 homes in 2014. Both single-detached and multiple-family starts are forecast to move higher.

Kelowna’s apartment vacancy rate is expected to edge lower in 2013 and 2014.

Mortgage rates are not expected to increase until mid 2014. The anticipated small and steady increases in mortgage rates will lead to somewhat higher mortgage rates by the end of 2014. However, these rates will remain low, by historical standards, over the forecast horizon.

This is BC's Family Fishing Weekend

The 14th Annual BC's Family Fishing Weekend (Friday 14th, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of June 2013), Father's Day Weekend, there are many free to attend special Community Fishing Events taking place around British Columbia. These events offer an opportunity to learn how to fish and provide lots of useful educational information in a fun and supervised environment. There are knowledgeable volunteers present to show you the tricks of the trade and help you on your way to catching your first fish! Here in the Kelowna area you can fish at Okanagan Lake from sunrise until 3pm and Lamby - Bear Lake from 10am - 2pm

New Listing 2140 Chilcotin Cres. Kelowna BC $629,000

 
Huge Family Home in Desirable Dilworth. Two Story with Walk Out Basement. Vaulted Ceilings in Great Room. Beautiful Views. Extra Deep 2 Car Garage. Maple Cabinets, Stainless Steel Appliances, Underground Irrigation, Central Vac, Large enough for your pool table & home theatre. Room for the whole family. 5 minutes to Costco, Walmart & Downtown. 12 min. to Airport. Best location in Kelowna. You will love living in the neighbourhood. One of the nicest view parks in the city only 6 houses down the street. If you have thought about living in Desirable Dilworth, now is the time. Call Steve Higgins RE/MAX Kelowna to schedule your private showing. 250-864-7893
Click on link for virtual tour http://www.preptours.ca/gallery/11065