The change in weather and colour of the leaves has prompted a few people to ask me if they should list their home in the winter or wait until spring. I have always had the opinion that winter is a great time to sell! And there are a few reasons for that.

First, there is less competition. With less to chose from you’re more likely to sell. A lot of Sellers wait until spring to list, would you rather be one of fifty houses on the market or one of ten? I think I would rather beat the crowd and sell in the winter!

Which brings me to my second point, the Buyers that are out there in the winter tend to be more serious about Buying. If they are out on dark winter days house hunting it is most likely they are doing it because they have to move not because they are thinking of moving in 6 months. Whatever the reason, job transfer, they sold, or their rental is no longer working for them, people still need homes in the winter!

My final point is price, you are more likely to get more money for your home in the winter months. If you are priced for the market the Buyers that are out there are serious and don’t have much to chose from and will see the value in your home.

So, if you are thinking about selling, there is no reason to wait until spring!

 

With our province being in a state of emergency right now, one thing to consider is Fire Insurance. Most people have some sort of fire insurance protection for their home. Home insurance is a mandatory precaution required by the bank even before they will consider financing your home purchase. While this complicates things for us Realtors a bit, we do have actions we can take to try to move forward in situation like this.

Being that most insurers are not issuing policies at this time, one thing that can be done, is to try to transfer the current home owner’s insurance to the new home owner. In some cases, this will help the new home owner to be insured during the time when insurers are not issuing new policies. This can often give the new home owners time to get into a new policy, or change the policy to their comfort level, once the danger has passed.

The other thing that can be done in this situation, is to grant the new home owner early possession. The new owners are able to move in, and get settled, but the old owner still owns and insures the home. Once the fire threat has been considered removed by the province, then insurers will start to issue policies again. At this time, the new home owner will be able to receive binding insurance, so the financing can complete and the title can be moved into the new home owners name.

If you are effected by the fires, be sure to get in touch with your insurance company and start the claims process immediately. Most policies will cover, accommodation for your self and your pets. In addition to meals and of course the cost of replacing any damaged items, from smoke or fire.

 

If you do not have insurance, you can apply for financial aid by visiting the government of BC website.

This link will provide information on what areas are eligible for financial aid:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/emergency-response-and-recovery/disaster-financial-assistance/eligible-events

 

This link provides forms and further information if you have been effected by the fires:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/emergency-response-and-recovery/disaster-financial-assistance/forms-and-information

If you’re the kind of person who considers their pup another member of the family, then your likely of the mind frame that they should go with you anywhere they can! With BC being voted one of the pet friendliest provinces in Canada, I thought I would share with you a list of all the amazing dog friendly places you can take your dogs in the Okanagan.

First, the obvious one, off-leash dog parks!

• Becker Park (behind the parking lot for the Vernon Recreation Centre Curling rink)
• BX Ranch Park (fenced) 1.5 km east on BX Road from 46th Ave & Pleasant Valley Rd
• Coldstream Valley Estates – Uplands Drive & Ridgemont Place in Coldstream
• Creekside Park (designated area) 8101 Kidston Road
• DND Grounds (designated area east of diamond #8) 2950 15th Ave
• Forest Tree Plantatio 0.9 km north on Bench Row Road, off Mission Road
• Heritage Natural Trust Area (fenced area behind Heritage Park) 5025 Heritage Drive
• Marshall Fields Park (designated areas) 6601 Okanagan Landing Road
• Mission Hill Park (fenced) 3900 15th Ave
• Vi Morphet Dog Park (fenced) – Buchanan Road
• Mutrie Road Park (fenced) located at the east end of 43rd Ave; turn right onto Mutrie Road
• Pioneer Park 3501 35th Ave
• Stenquist Park 9255 Heritage Lane & Paisley Drive in Coldstream
• Grey Canal Trail – designated sections are off-leash:
  • Bella Vista/OK Hills – Vineyard Way
  • East Vernon – DeRoo Road
  • Coldstream Estates – Cypress Drive
  • Turtle Mountain – Turtle Mountain Blvd
  • Silver Star Foothills Silver Star Road

(Information Source: http://www.petfriendly.ca/dog-parks/dog-park-bc.php)

 

Pet friendly beaches

• Kin Beach – Dogs are allowed on the beach here, but only on the beach side, not on the park and recreation area. Local signage will point you and your pups in the right direction
• Ellison Provincial Park – Park you vehicle in the day use lot; the pet beach can be accessed via the trail leading out between campground sites 11 and 12. Dogs are NOT permitted in any other beach areas and must be leashed in all other areas.
• Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park Pet Beach – Parking at the end of Kidston Road; pet beach is a 10-minute walk. Dogs are allowed ONLY in the designated area at the eastern end of Cosens beach; they must be leashed in all other areas.
• Pauls Tomb Trail & Beach – Knox Mountain Park, Kelowna
• Cedar Creek Park – Full dog beach 5167 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna
• Okanagan Lake Park Dog Beach – 15 Ellis Street, Penticton
• Three Mile Beach – Three Mile Road, Penticton
• Skaha Lake – 4851 Lakeside Road, Penticton

(Information Source http://www.petfriendly.ca/dog-parks/dog-park-bc.php)

 

Dogcontral.ca provides a detailed map on all the dog friendly areas in Vernon, check out the map here

 

 My personal favorite, dog friendly WINERIES!

• 50th Parallel Estate (allowed on leash on site, in some buildings)
• Ancient Hill Estate Winery (allowed, on or off-leash)
• Arrowleaf Cellars (allowed in picnic area/outside of tasting room)
• Beaumont Family Estate Winery (allowed outside tasting room, water bowl available)
• CedarCreek Estate Winery (allowed on-leash in some areas of vineyard)
• Gray Monk Estate Winery (allowed in fenced area, water bowl available)
• House of Rose Winery (on leash)
• Intrigue Wines (allowed in picnic area/outside tasting room, water bowl available)
• Kalala Organic Estate Winery (on-leash)
• Quail’s Gate Winery (allowed outside the tasting room, water bowl available)
• Rollingdale Winery (allowed on leash – Bella the German shepherd is the winery dog)
• SpierHead Winery (on-leash, not during food events)
• Hubertus & Oak Bay Winery (allowed outside the tasting room, water bowl available)
• The View Winery (allowed on-leash in shop)
• Volcanic Hills (allowed on-leash in some areas of vineyard, not in wine shop)

(Information Source tourismkelowna.com)

 

Lastly, pup friendly patios!

• Sturgeon Hall – 1481 Water St, Kelowna
• Doc Willoughby’s – 353 Bernard Ave, Kelowna
• Salted Brick – 243 Bernard Ave, Kelowna
• Bean Scene – 2923 30^th Ave, Vernon
• El Taquero – 1443 Ellis Street, Kelowna
• Antico Pizza Napoletana – 347 Bernard Ave, Kelowna
• The Grateful Fed – 509 Bernard Ave, Kelowna
• Kal Lake General Store – 13904 Kal Lake Rd, Coldtream
• Predator Ridge – 301 Village Center Place, Vernon

 

I hope you have fun taking your pups all the cool places they are welcome in the Okanagan!

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been asking yourself what would liven up your outdoor space this summer? While there are many ways to achieve this, an obvious one is to plant some beautiful flowers. Although if you struggle with tending to said plants like I do, (being a busy Realtor and all!) then you’ve come to the right blog!

I thought it might be advantageous to look into plants that are easy to maintain, both because they will flourish in our Okanagan climate, but also because they are found naturally here. We are pretty fortunate to have a large selection of beautiful plant life here!

During my search for such plants, I found a great resource for information on native Okanagan plants, which you can check out for yourself at Okanagan Xeriscape (Xeriscape is a word by definition that refers to a landscape design that requires little to no irrigation or other maintenance – Which is right up my alley!) If you are interested in learning more about our local plant life or finding the perfect plant for your outdoor space, this database is a great resource, both for finding great plants, as well as where you can purchase them.

Here are some of my favorite finds from the database:

Double Bubble Mint (Agastache Cana)
Perennial Blooms Jul – Oct
Height 24” – 36” Spread 16” – 24”
Attracts Humming Birds & Pollinators Repels Mosquito’s
Requires  Full or Partial Sun

 

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)
Perennial Blooms Jul – Aug
Height 12” – 24” Spread 12” – 24”
Attracts Pollinators
Requires Full Sun

 

Balloon Flower (Platycodon Grandiflorus)
Perennial Blooms Jun – Jul
Height 24” – 30” Spread 12” – 24”
Attracts Butterflies
Requires Full or Partial Sun

 

Alpine Skullcap (Scutellaria Alpina)
Perennial Blooms May – Aug
Height 8” Spread 12”
Attracts Humming Birds, Self Seeding
Requires Full Sun

 

Bertram Anderson Stonecrop (Sedum ‘Bertram Anderson’)
Perennial Blooms in August
Height 4” – 6” Spread 12” – 18
Attracts Pollinators
Requires Full or Partial Sun

 

I’m looking forward to adding some colour to my outdoor space this year, I hope you are too!

 

 

 

With all the flooding that is happening right now, I can’t help but think of what this will mean for our lake shores, streams, creeks and ravines in the future?

 

If you’re not familiar with riparian areas, and how they can affect you, then you’ve come to the right place. Riparian areas are the boundaries which are bordering on streams, lakes, and wetlands, that link water to land. The blend of stream-beds, water, trees, shrubs and grasses within a certain parameter, directly influence and provide for fish habitats. BC has put regulations in place that protect waterways and their natural habitats. However, these regulations typically only affect those who are building new developments or rebuilding a current development within an assessment zone.

Currently within the regional district of the North Okanagan, if you are located in a “riparian assessment area”, any building in the region must be at least 30 meters from the riparian area. In addition to this, the builder is required to hire a qualified environmental professional to provide an assessment report. The report must be presented to the Ministry of Environment, as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, who must approve it before the local jurisdiction can issue a building permit.

Now that we have established a new “high water” mark in the Okanagan, I find myself curious about how this will potentially affect the riparian areas and regulations that are currently in place. While we may not have those answers today, I am positive that riparian area regulations will be re-evaluated in the future. It should be interesting to see what changes may come of our current situation, in regards to these regulations.

If you would like more information on riparian areas you can visit:

Riparian Area Information – Government of BC

Alternatively, if you would like to read about our current regulations, you can visit:

Riparian Regulations – Regional District of the North Okanagan

 

Our Chaotic Real Estate Market & How to Navigate it…

 

Buying or selling a home is a huge financial decision, one that should not be taken lightly, especially in our crazy real estate market! I have written a lot of informative blogs recently and I thought today that I might cover the emotional side of things, but don’t worry I won’t get all sappy on you!

One of the biggest issues were facing in a market like this one, is that you’ll likely be making some big decisions more quickly than you are comfortable with. Unlike in the past, when the market worked for the buyer, the ball is currently in the seller’s court. For this reason, I am working hard to help mentally and emotionally prepare my clients for this market, even before we start looking. Of course, this doesn’t mean I’m putting my clients at risk, it just means that the sequence in which we would usually make decisions, is a bit of a different route.

This means that we will likely bring an offer to the table immediately upon finding a home that you love. Then we’ll use the “subject removal” stage to gather all our information and decide if the home is truly a fit for you. By being aware of the pace at which things are expected to move forward, you will be better prepared to deal with making an offer as soon as you come across “THE House”.

Another thing to be aware of, is the negotiation process in our current real estate market, which is always a very stressful time for all involved. Typically, the average individual will react emotionally to this part of the process, which is why its great to have a skilled negotiator in your court.  Managing emotions during this phase is the key to making it a successful process. By keeping emotions in check and using non-combative as well as strategic wording, a successful outcome is more likely for both parties involved.

As a seller, you’ll be dealing with showings and the feedback that comes of them, while also looking for your new home. The constant interruption of your normal life can cause a fair amount of stress in a family. It is a good idea to make a plan prior to listing your home, regarding how to manage the showings, schedules, and individual family tasks, which can help ease this stress.

A few suggestions for making this process smoother are:

• Keep a nice set of bathroom towels on hand to make a quick switch for a showing,
• Spread out the work, have a set job for everyone to break up the work load before a showing
• Make a plan for pets, including stashing away their bedding and dishes
• Manage the smells in your home, by making sure to air out your home as often as possible
• Always take the showing feedback with a grain of salt, it is not personal

Lastly, make sure to have open communication with your agent about your expectations for the entire process. With our real estate market being as chaotic as it is, ensuring proper communication, will prevent issues from creeping up and becoming bigger then they need to be. If you don’t want any showings after a certain time in the evening, tell your agent. If you are not willing to part with certain items in the house, either remove them before you list the house or make a list for your agent. No need to add undue stress to an already crazy time in your life. The better prepared you are physically and emotionally, the easier this entire process will be!

Remember, my job as Realtor is to make this transaction happen quickly, at the best price possible and with the least amount of stress for all involved!

If you are interested in buying or selling a home, let me help you Find Your Perfect Home

Are you adequately insured?

With all the concerns around the recent flood in the North Okanagan, many insurance companies are not issuing new policies to those who are in higher risk areas. I feel that this would be a good time to remind everyone to check your policies!

There are many definitions of “flooding” and at a time like this, it is important to know what your policy may or may not cover. I am sure we have all experienced some sort of water related incident at some point in our lives, my hot water tank once gave up in the middle of the night and filled my basement with water. At the time, I told friends and family that my basement flooded, because in my mind it had!  When I spoke to my insurance company, from their perspective, it was not considered a flood but just water damage. Their definition of a flood is when a large amount of water seeps over dry land and into a home. This most commonly occurs from spring run off, a drastic storm, tidal flooding or some sort of structural failure.

Helping my clients stay protected through the home buying process is my first priority. I currently have two clients whom are in the midst of purchasing a home. So, when I drew up their contract to purchase I ensured that one of the conditions I put forward was confirmation of insurance coverage. Which is obviously more important right now because of the flood risk. It is imperative that they are able to obtain adequate binding insurance coverage before we remove that condition.  If something does occur that affects their new home, they won’t end up in a financially burdened situation because they had a great realtor working with them to ensure their new investment is taken care of no matter the circumstance.

If you have questions or concerns regarding flooding, you can get more information at
http://www.getfloodinsurance.ca/

If you have been effected by the flood and are seeking financial aid you can get more information by going to:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/emergency-response-and-recovery/disaster-financial-assistance

 To see if your area qualifies for government aid visit:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/emergency-response-and-recovery/disaster-financial-assistance/eligible-events

My hope is that all of you are currently safe and dry this wet spring season!

I love working with first time home buyers, they are very excited about the endeavour and I’ve helped them to reach a new milestone in their life, purchasing their first home.  Of course, one of the most nerve wracking moments through the entire process is making the offer, and having that offer accepted by the seller. It feels like we have climbed a mountain to get here…

Congratulations, you have an accepted offer!

Now what?

As a Realtor®, I know the home buying process can be very stressful and confusing. Let’s review what the process looks like once you have picked the home that’s right for your family and achieved an accepted offer. If you have a good agent, they will have guided you through the contract for purchase and helped you put some conditions in place for your protection. These conditions must be satisfied by a certain date, so I always suggest that my clients get started on them right away.

The first thing that should be tackled on your list is getting the signed contract to your mortgage specialist so they can start working on securing your mortgage. In many cases, you can avoid facing potential issues by ensuring your lender has everything they require to complete the loan process. Sometimes the bank will ask for an appraisal, which they may not be able to book immediately. If this is the case, making sure your lender has what they need, so they may book this appointment as soon as possible, can help to ensure that you meet your contractual dead lines.

The next step should be securing a qualified home inspector. This is a crucial step for anyone who is purchasing a home, which ensures that the new owner avoids any unexpected and potentially costly surprises after moving in. I always recommend that my clients get a home inspection done, as it will provide confidence in their investment as well as peace of mind.

Reviewing documentation as it becomes available to you. Like the title search, which is a document that once you receive, is very important to read & understand. If there are any concerns with the home, they would be listed on the title. Things such as easements, restrictive covenants, right of ways, pending litigation’s and financial encumbrances, which may be registered against the property, will appear on this document. Don’t panic if you find one or more of these things on title, most properties have some of these items listed but are generally of little consequence to the new home owner. If you do see something of concern to you, this can be discussed further with your agent or lawyer. They can help you understand and make sense of anything your unsure about. Your lawyer will also pull the title again before the sale closes, to ensure nothing has been added since you wrote the offer.

The property disclosure statement is another document that is good to review in full. It is completed by the seller to the best of his/her knowledge. Reading this document should make you aware of any small issues with the home. Once you have explored all the items on the document, you should find yourself satisfied with everything on there. If you are uncomfortable with something on the disclosure statement, talk to your agent about the best way to proceed with resolving the issue.

At this point you will want to contact your insurance agent and confirm you can get insurance on the home at a rate that you are satisfied with.

By now you should have also acquired a lawyer, assuming that all contractual conditions have been met and you are satisfied with the findings. Your Realtor® will need to know which lawyer or notary you are working with. The legal representative is necessary to prepare the documentation, hold the funds in trust until everything is in order, as well as doing that final check on title as we discussed earlier to ensure that it is clear of any outstanding financial encumbrances.

Once all the legal paperwork, financing, & conditions are satisfied, you can prepare for the final step, making your moving arrangements. Hire movers, change your address, swap your utilities, get home insurance, register children in school, hire cleaning help if necessary and start packing!