| Recent Blog Posts by CENTURY 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. | ||
An Award that Really MattersThis time of year we salespeople get awards for our sales achievement from the past year. Awards are fun, but none of my friends that are carpenters, electrictians, nurses etc. get trophies for their great work but they sure deserve one.
I AM very proud of this award that our Kelowna office received this year for being the 3rd top fundraising firm for Easter Seals in Canada - we're proud to ...
Posted by Grant Wiebe
on April 5, 2012
|
More | |
BC Govt. Announces up to $10,000 Tax Break for First Time Home BuyersA new tax break for first-time buyers of new homes will help stimulate the construction industry and create plenty of new jobs, an industry executive said of Tuesday’s 2012 provincial budget. “This is welcome,” Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association president and chief executive officer Peter Simpson said of a temporary bonus for first-time homebuyers that will be effective ...
Posted by Bo Skapski
on March 12, 2012
|
More | |
January 2012 Buyer's Survey Results For Kelowna And Central Okanagan Real EstateBelow is a recently released Buyers Agents survey by OMREB (Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board). A total of 119 real estate agents participated in this survey – representing 58% of the 207 OMREB sales representatives who acted as Buyers Agents and 40% of the 297 deals closed on behalf of Buyers in January.
JANUARY SURVEY SUMMARY
Property Type:
23.6% by First Time Buyers ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on March 2, 2012
|
More | |
January 2012 Buyers Survey Results For Kelowna And Central Okanagan Real EstateBelow is a recently released Buyers Agents survey by OMREB (Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board). A total of 119 real estate agents participated in this survey – representing 58% of the 207 OMREB sales representatives who acted as Buyers Agents and 40% of the 297 deals closed on behalf of Buyers in January.
JANUARY SURVEY SUMMARY
Property Type:
23.6% by First Time Buyers ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on March 2, 2012
|
More | |
Proposed new HST Transition Rules should boost new Okanagan home sales!The BC Government has announced new Transition Rules for HST applicable to new home purchases in BC. As they apply to the Okanagan, the two most important considerations are as follows:
BCT HST credit on new homes of 5% previously applied only to homes priced up to $525,000. It will now apply to all new homes priced up to $850,000, at which point the credit will cap at $42,500 and apply ...
Posted by Bo Skapski
on February 21, 2012
|
More | |
Two steady housing years ahead: CMHC
By steve ladurantaye
Globe and Mail Update Published Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 8:39AM EST Canada’s housing market has two good years ahead of it yet, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Monday, with low interest rates and a “moderately” expanding economy keeping price corrections at bay.
The Crown corporation – which insures Canadian ...
Posted by Amanda Westrheim
on February 18, 2012
|
More | |
Two steady housing years ahead: CMHC
By steve ladurantaye
Globe and Mail Update Published Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 8:39AM EST Canada’s housing market has two good years ahead of it yet, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Monday, with low interest rates and a “moderately” expanding economy keeping price corrections at bay.
The Crown corporation – which insures Canadian ...
Posted by Amanda Westrheim
on February 18, 2012
|
More | |
Buyers Guide To Understanding Foreclosure And Court Ordered Sales In Kelowna And Okanagan
Foreclosure: A foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgagee, or other lien holder, usually a lender, obtains a termination of a mortgagor's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law (after following a specific statutory procedure).
Court Ordered Sale: A Court Ordered Sale is the legal process where the BC Provincial Court is petitioned to approve ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on February 16, 2012
|
More | |
Would You Buy a Certified Pre-Owned Home?Would you be more inclined to buy a home if it had already passed a full home inspection and came with a one year warranty? A new program to certify pre-owned homes has just been launched in the Central Okanagan. The first of its kind program in B.C.is modeled after a certification concept popular in the used car industry and is used by sellers who pay for the inspection before they sell their properties. ...
Posted by Amanda Westrheim
on February 10, 2012
|
More | |
Kelowna Named Most Business Friendly City In BC
The City of Kelowna was recently voted the most business friendly city in B.C. according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
The CFIB's Communities in Boom: Canada's Top Entrepreneurial Cities, compares 100 of Canada's large and mid-sized municipalities based on: the number of small businesses in a community, the degree of business optimism, and on the effectiveness ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on November 1, 2011
|
More | |
Snow at Big White on October 28th!The ski and snowboard season is just around the corner and we’ve woken up at Big White this morning to some fresh snow! It’s chilly up here this morning and winter had graced us with its presence. La Nina is back again this winter with above average amounts of precipitation, and that means huge dumps of snow for our skiing and snowboarding pleasure.
Our ...
Posted by Chris Maxwell
on October 29, 2011
|
More | |
Home Buyers Guide To Understanding The Foreclosure And Court Ordered Sale Process In Kelowna British Columbia
Foreclosure: A foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgagee, or other lien holder, usually a lender, obtains a termination of a mortgagor's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law (after following a specific statutory procedure).
Court Ordered Sale: A Court Ordered Sale is the legal process where the BC Provincial Court is petitioned to approve ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on September 15, 2011
|
More | |
Inexpensive things you can do to make a great first impression on buyers
Get rid of the clutter! Cleaning and de-cluttering always rank near the top of suggested home improvements for sellers. Start sorting your belongings and get rid of what you don’t need—or box it up and put it in storage. If it looks like your home can’t accommodate your belongings, buyers will believe it can’t accommodate theirs, either!
Rearrange your furniture to ...
Posted by Amanda Westrheim
on September 14, 2011
|
More | |
Welcome to the team - Chris MaxwellWe are pleased to welcome Chris Maxwell, the newest member of the Century 21 Assurance Realty team. For more information about Chris, visit his website at www.ChrisMaxwellSells.com
Posted by Terry Peters
on August 23, 2011
|
More | |
Welcome to the team - Mervin MascarenhasWe are pleased to welcome Mervin Mascarenhas, the newest member of the Century 21 Assurance Realty team. For more information about Mervin, visit his website at www.mervinhomes.com
Posted by Terry Peters
on August 23, 2011
|
More | |
Is now a good time to buy Kelowna and Okanagan foreclosure homes?The Central Okanagan foreclosure inventory is now starting to show signs of steady increases from month to month in 2011. The overall active foreclosure listings pale in comparison to the total inventory in the Central Okanagan which continues to be a good sign. Buyers ask me all the time if I foresee a huge influx of court ordered sales to the Kelowna real estate market? In my opinion, having watched ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on July 19, 2011
|
More | |
The Reverse Sales Process.Clients will say; “I have to find a house before I sell mine.” Or... “We cannot miss out on this home.”
A professional Consultant will always advise their clients of the risks associated with this strategy. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. Sometimes timing, finances or opportunity mean you have the ability or a good reason to buy first. However, in over ...
Posted by Steven Bergg
on June 6, 2011
|
More | |
What to Look for When Viewing a HomeWhen buying a home it is easy to fall in love with a home's appearance, but it’s important to look deeper into the home before you decide to purchase. A careful inspection of the home during your viewing can help you eliminate the homes with too many defects.
First Impressions Count
The Outside of the House can tell you a lot. Look at the condition of the roof and external walls. External ...
Posted by Elena King
on May 30, 2011
|
More | |
Best Of Kelowna And The Okanagan Valley - Things To Do And Places To VisitAre you new the Kelowna area? Perhaps you are visiting here from out of town? Kids saying they are bored and not quite sure where to take them for some fun and excitement? Well here's a list of some very fun family oriented places in the Kelowna area:
ATV Tours
Boat Rentals
Boat Tours
Camping
Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan Inc.
CrocTalk Conservation & ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on May 20, 2011
|
More | |
Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. Goes Green In The OkanaganRecently, my Brokerage Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. released to the media how our Kelowna office has made an effort to be more "Green" in its business model. The environment should never be taken for granted and every little bit helps when we choose eco-friendly ways to travel, paper usages etc. Below is a copy of the press release:
Real Estate Office Thinks Green ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on May 9, 2011
|
More | |
Plumbing MaintenancePlumbing Maintenance
Something as small as a leaky faucet can waste up to 5,000 gallons of water each year. With a little maintenance, you can prevent the little problems as well as the big problems.
Basic Plumbing Tools
Keep these tools around the house for simple maintenance procedures.
Adjustable wrench
Basin wrench
1/4-in. flat-blade screwdriver
Philips head screwdriver
Pliers ...
Posted by Chuck Hardy
on March 16, 2011
|
More | |
Top Ten Tips on Pricing Your HomeIt is no secret that selecting an asking price can cause a lot of anxiety. Realtors offer their clients a thorough education in pricing strategy and current marketing conditions. Once you have all the facts and understand how to interpret them the stress is significantly reduced. You can select your own selling price based on the facts. However, in the final analysis the true market value of any property ...
Posted by Elena King
on February 26, 2011
|
More | |
6 tips for showing your home in winterWinter isn't the most popular season for home sales, but the market is still active in colder months. Follow these simple tips to make your property shine for winter home buyers.
Keep pathways clear First impressions are everything, and snow and ice are dangerous hazards. Shovel sidewalks, your driveway and front steps and de-ice them. Ensure that pathways to your home ...
Posted by Elena King
on February 6, 2011
|
More | |
BC Assessment for Central Okanagan 2011Recently, 80,000 property owners in the Central Okanagan received their property assessments in the mail. The majority of these assessments showed little change from 2009 as overall real estate sales in Kelowna and area were quite sluggish in 2010. It is important to note that BC Assessments do not reflect current real estate market conditions and are more of a general guide ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on January 18, 2011
|
More | |
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveils new mortgage regulations
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced today new rules for the Canadian mortgage industry that he says will "protect the stability of the economy."
The announcement comes on the heels of a recent warning from the Bank of Canada that Canadians' domestic debt burden is the highest on record, even higher than our neighbours to the south. The ratio of household debt ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on January 17, 2011
|
More | |