Urban Lofts in Downtown Kelowna

The third development to lock down Vantage West's productivity is a sharp new in-town development called Martin Lofts.

Windmill Developments, the team behind Martin Lofts came to Vantage looking for a fresh, young company to market their quality, urban-style lofts.

For Vantage West, they know they've acquired a great opportunity to offer their clients something different. The value Martin Lofts is offering on fantastic floor plans is unlike anywhere else in Kelowna. For the most part, you can check out any of the apartment complexes in Kelowna and find the same thing, re-done. Martin Lofts takes the bull by the horns and finally mixes it up a bit; match that with the quality of the builder Kevin Edgecomb and that is a perfect combo.

Not to mention that the professionals a Vantage West are willing to get creative with how sales are made. From; Mortgage Buy-downs, trades, rent-to-own, whatever works best for the perspective client.

Martin Lofts are where comfortable, fun living is heading. A great location, a nice gym, quality throughout, all with the look and feel of a stylish, big city centre. Trendy, might be the word.

And they found they'd be the perfect fit with Vantage West Realty.

All this speaks nicely to the development of the company that's been making major real estate inroads in Kelowna. Take a look at the brilliant floor plans and new prices.



http://www.vantagewestrealty.com/developments.php

StoneBridge Lodge, StoneGate Resort and Big White Ski Resort

Time to take notice of Vantage West for the other major real estate company, is it not?

They just continue to further solidify themselves as the young, energetic, vibrant real estate group in town, and they continue to be a thorn in the side of the big names. With the corporate giants, clients find themselves getting lost in the shuffle, and not getting attention they deserve.

Enough people have found Vantage to be the complete opposite that just this past month, Vantage has secured deals with three large development projects.

Two brand new, stylish Big White communities - Stone Bridge and Stone Gate - will be introducing Vantage West's services to both the resort world, and for the first time, to the Big White market.

For these two mountain projects, the appealing part of Vantage West was the unique manner in which the company operates. Simply put, they've got a better grasp on what works today. Better than the larger, lumbering agencies of yesterday that are unable and unwilling to adapt to the specific needs of the current market.

The high-end, beautiful properties at both StoneBridge and StoneGate are a nice fit with the style of the high-end company in Kelowna. It's chalet living with optimum amenities, class, style and fun - exactly what the type of people who hit up Big White are looking for.

These major developments have shown a serious trust in Vantage West: never before have the properties been available to be sold by anyone but the developer prior to now, which speaks volumes to what they know Vantage West can do for them.

As Joel Sherlock and AJ Hazzi have pointed out, it's a great fit for them as well. They'll have two offices at the hill to meet the needs of clients, as well as a home at StoneGate. "With it being the best location on the mountain. Aggressive new prices coupled with the apres ski lifestyle that Stonegate delivers made for a perfect fit to launch Vantage West's Development marketing division."

Negotiating in Today's More Active Market

After a brief slowdown for a few months, the real estate market is roaring back in most of Canada's urban markets. The big question now for many home buyers is

- In today's market, will sellers be more or less open to negotiating their price?

As with most aspects of real estate, there's no one right answer to that question. Every transaction is different. Sellers will tend to determine their negotiating position due to a number of factors, such as their financial goals, personal time lines, their own motivation to move and many other factors, including market conditions.

However, it goes without saying that in an active market with limited inventory, such as we're seeing now in most of Canada's major urban centers, sellers tend to have more options. It's easier to hold firm on your price if you think there are other buyers out there who will be prepared to meet it. Of course, the seller is in an even stronger position when it comes to an all-out bidding war. Negotiating a price between one buyer and a seller tends to be a more measured process. When bidding wars come into the mix, emotions run high, time lines are tight and a greater sense of urgency exists.

This is when the expertise of your real estate professional really shows its worth. Buyers need to prepare their negotiating strategy with their sales representative in advance. They should know their limits going in, so they won't get caught up in the frenzied pace of a bidding war and make an impulsive decision.

Your Vantage West REALTOR can arm you with a wealth of information to help you plan your negotiating strategy. Information such as past sales, competition from other comparable listings currently on the market, and trends in the local marketplace can all be used in negotiations and help you to make an informed decision.

Want to know more about negotiating strategies? Contact your Vantage West REALTOR to find out more. You'll be glad you called us first!

http://www.vantagewestrealty.com/contact-us.html

First Annual Commercial Building Awards

The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board Commercial Zone is looking for
nominations for its first annual Commercial Building Awards which will be held November 5, 2009 at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort and Conference Centre.

The gala event will highlight the best in commercial building in OMREB’s jurisdiction - from Peachland north through the Okanagan to Revelstoke - and will celebrate the best in commercial building projects that were completed between January 1, 2008 to September 1, 2009.
“we are pleased to be recognizing the unique variety of quality commercial, industrial and investment real estate developments throughout the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board,” says Gary Bowker, Vice Chair, Commercial Zone.

There will be at least nine categories represented at this event, although more could emerge once the nominations close in September. The categories are: Mixed Use, Community - Seniors Housing, Community Institutional, Retail, Industrial, Multi-Family Apartment, Multi-Family Townhouse, Hospitality, Commercial Renovation-Restoration. There will also be a “Judge’s Choice” award for best of show.

Nominations need to be received by OMREB by September 30, 2009. Eligible projects can be selfnominated. Nomination forms are available through the OMREB website: www.omreb.com

Sponsorships of the event are the Canadian Western Bank, Interior Savings, FortisBC Inc. and
Terasen Gas.

Men are from Mars and Woman are from Venus, but somehow they both buy homes.

When it comes to the home buying process, there are some definite differences between how men and women approach it. Some recent findings of a consumer survey that tracked the gender preferences of more than a thousand home buyers turned up some interesting facts.

Here are some of the highlights:

Women may be inclined to make up their mind more quickly than men
· When asked how long it took before they knew their home was "right" for them, almost 70 percent of women had made up their mind the day they walked into the house. (62 percent of men)
· Men needed two or more visits: (32 percent vs. 23 percent of women).

Women would rather live closer to their extended family than to their job
· 55 percent of women find it more important to be closer to their extended family to their job ( compared to only 37 percent of men). A home's security is a deal-breaker for both men and women
· 64 percent of women said if they found the home of their dreams but had concerns about its security, they'd no longer be interested. More than half of men agreed (51 percent). Couples say that "no one wears the pants in the relationship" in terms of major financial decisions
· When asked who wears the pants in the relationship (when it comes to major financial decisions, such as purchasing a home), almost 70 percent of respondents living with their significant other said it's actually mutual. Men and women tend to agree on how they would use a spare room (Sellers are you listening?)

When asked how they would use an extra 12 x 12 room if it could be anything they wanted, men and women agreed on the top three most popular, and very practical, responses:

· Additional Bedroom: 25 percent
· Office/Study: 15 percent
· Family Room / Den: 11 percent

Call your Vantage West Agent and we can help you find that Safe/secure home closer to extended families, all you will need to agree on is what to do with that extra room.

Joel

BC Home Sales Brightest Light in Economy

BCREA Forecast Update - Third Quarter 2009

August 27, 2009. -The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its Forecast Update for the third quarter of 2009 today.

BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are forecast to climb 15 per cent from 68,923 units in 2008 to 79,400 units this year. This brings us just below the ten-year average of 82,800 units. Residential sales in 2010 are forecast to rise an additional 6 per cent to 84,200 units. For comparison, a record 106,310 units were sold in 2005.

“After 12 months of significant volatility in BC’s housing markets, greater stability is expected through 2010,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Robust housing demand is a strong signal that the economy is coming out of the recession, with a recovery in the broader economy expected to develop over the next three quarters.”

“Home sales have doubled since January, with prices edging higher in Metro Vancouver and Victoria in recent months,” said Muir. The average annual MLS® residential price in the province is forecast to reach $451,200 in this year, down 1 per cent from a record $454,599 in 2008.

“Market conditions vary depending on the region of the province,” added Muir. “While the Metro Vancouver and Victoria markets have rebounded sharply, interior markets are demonstrating a more gradual trend toward balance between supply and demand.”

The Penthouse with “Big City Swagger”

“Big City Swagger” available in the Okanagan

An ultra chic “Hard rock style” Penthouse is being sold high above Okanagan Lakes deep waters.

Picture an ultra chic, Las Vegas penthouse – cut right out of the Hard Rock Hotel – and hung high above Lake Okanagan’s deep waters.

Vantage West Realty recently listed a home fit for a rock star in Sunset Waterfront Resort just down from Prospera Place. Kelowna has seen an emergence in style – exemplified in this custom-designed 3,750 square foot double suite, originally built in 2006 and listed for the first time since construction.

“This is a special property that combines the best of both worlds,” said AJ Hazzi, Director of Vantage West Realty. “This is a unique opportunity to show people that Kelowna has more than one speed – and properties that capture all the style and glamour of the world’s most exciting cities.”

The view from this Sunset Drive residence encompasses all of Kelowna’s traditional beauty – anunobstructed view of Lake Okanagan, picturesque mountains and glorious sunsets. But the visioninside this newly listed property is something rarely seen in the interior of British Columbia – a glimpse of Las Vegas flash, with an ostrich-leather pool table, fused glass and metallic flooring and eight flat-screen televisions.

A rising percentage of high-end homeowners are turning to Vantage West to find and move the type of places that cater to a very specific home-buyer. They’ve been a beacon of change – focusing on being responsive to the demands of a style migration that’s been sweeping the city.

Kelowna is attracting interesting and successful people from around the world – entrepreneurs,professional athletes and high-profile celebrities who appreciate the region’s natural beauty. Withinternational style and flair gaining hold in the Valley, the value of a property like 1902-1128 Sunset Drive is on the rise.

Style has come to Kelowna – and its here to stay.

http://www.vantagewestrealty.com/details.php?id=111

Greg Norman and a $1-Billion Golf Resort and Winery in Peachland

Legendary golf professional Greg Norman and Norm Porter CEO of Treegroup Developments unveiled a $1-billion golf, winery and housing development for Peachland on Monday.

With 425 acres on the south-eastern slopes of Pincushion Mountain, Ponderosa will have a 7,100-yard championship golf course, winery, hotel, golf academy, tennis courts, amphitheatre, trail system and 2,200 housing, units ranging from 10% affordable housing to single-family homes, townhouses, condos and villas.

Treegroup Developments Corp. bought the Ponderosa Golf Course in 2007, but received a stalled development application. With a few additional purchases the company bought surrounding property and added 138 acres through a joint venture with Westbank First Nation. The signature golf course will be capable of hosting world-class golf tournaments and other major events, said Treegroup CEO Porter.

When Norman‘s team inspected the property, VP Jason McCoy told Porter: “We‘ve designed and developed 60 to 70 golf courses around the world, and this is one of the most spectacular properties we‘ve been on.”

Norman, stated it‘s “I completely concur with what Jason said. This is a magnificent piece of property, it’s like the Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe comes together.” Greg Norman aka The Shark continued to say “It really is, when you think about the wineries you‘ve got here, the lakes, the beautiful vistas and the Ponderosa pines. It‘s just a combination of everything. Very rarely do you get that anywhere in the world and you have it right here,” “From our perspective, we‘re very, very fortunate to be involved here because this will turn out to be a gem, no question about it. We look where the growth corridor is going. If you look where Kelowna is now and West Kelowna, it‘s a very fast growing part of Canada.”

The goal is to open the golf course in the late spring of 2011 and have the first residents move in early in 2011.

Contact Vantage West with any questions info@vantgewestrealty.com

BC Housing Market Exhibits Balanced Conditions

Vancouver, BC – August 14, 2009. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province climbed 53 per cent to 10,051 units in July 2009 compared to the same month last year. After six consecutive months of rising home sales and declining inventories, the province moved into balanced conditions in July, the first time since April 2008.

"Record home sales in Metro Vancouver and Victoria propelled the province into balanced conditions last month,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “While conditions in many interior markets are getting much better, their reliance on the struggling resource sector and a recent spate of forest fires have contributed to a more gradual pace of improvement."

Year-to-date, MLS® residential sales dollar volume declined 10 per cent to $21 billion over the same period last year. A total of 46,380 units were sold in the first seven months of 2009, down 6 per cent from 2008, while the average MLS® price declined 4 per cent to $451,758.

Housing Sales Improve and Market Shows Signs of Stability

Kelowna, BC - July 9th, 2009 The Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported June 2009 sales activity of all MLS® property types continued to improve with a total of 438 sales – increasing by 15% from 381 sales in May and up 23% from 356 units sold in June 2008. While single family residential units sold in May increased by 16% from June, sales improved by 35% from this time last year – up from 189 units to 220 in June compared to the 163 single family units sold in June 2008. Brenda Moshansky, OMREB Director and REALTOR® in the Central Zone said “The year-over-year sales activity improved significantly this month and unit sales remain relative to 2000/2001 levels. Signs of greater market stability are helping to stabilize prices as we slowly move towards more balanced conditions,”

“Improved affordability and low mortgage rates are pushing unit sales higher and reducing inventory as first-time buyers continue to enter the market. However, banks are tightening up qualifications for financing and there is only so much home a first-timer can buy. “While we are still lagging behind the Lower Mainland where the condo market is recovering faster and the change of ownership is creating a lot of activity as sellers move out and up, we could see similar movement in the coming months,’” she adds, “especially as BC – the Okanagan in particular – continues to attract retirees, the largest demographic. The overall market is expected to strengthen once consumer confidence comes back and buyers are more comfortable with their personal economic situations.” Moshansky notes, “If a home is priced well, it will sell. The guidance of a REALTOR® to help determine market value in this competitive marketplace is important for both Buyers and Sellers.”

Melnyk, A Garage Sale and Propaganda

Vantage West Realty co-founders AJ Hazzi and Joel Sherlock recently played golf with Stanley Cup winning defenseman Larry Melnyk.

The relationship was forged at the Hockey Greats Fantasy Camp last August, where Larry was able to fulfill his fantasy by playing on a team with AJ.

They've been inseparable ever since.

*****

Vantage has been taking an active role in the community lately, partnering more and more with local ventures that will bring people and money into the Okanagan Valley.

-

The most recent relationship has been formed with Inspirative Promotions, and their "Garage Sale", that features over a dozen items such as boats (including the Miami Vice classic, MoJo), a vintage car, a new car, a plane, two motor-coaches, a custom motorcycle and four pieces of real estate (including an estate property at Sheerwater). Over 80% of the ticket prices for the event will be given to charity.

-

That ticket takes care of your weekend. Food, drinks, live entertainment, transportation, you name it.

-

For more information on this exciting event, check out http://www.the-garagesale.com/.

*****

Vantage West's clientele and property list, as you may have noticed by now, is both unique and distinct. Recently, this became so clear that Okanagan Life Magazine featured a press release on one of Vantage's listings for its distinct "swagger", a condo on Sunset Drive. The release was also picked up by the online magazine Red Mill Propaganda (http://www.redmillpropaganda.com/propaganda/home-with-big-city-swagger-available-in-the-okanagan/)

-

Professional photography, classy customer care and a dogged work ethic has helped Vantage to continue to grow their business at a steady rate. Check out their office at 1329-2 Ellis St. to inquire about any and all of your real estate needs.

New Developments

When the market started to hit the skids in 2008, Vantage West got creative.

Necessity creates innovation, and from necessity was born www.tradethishouse.ca.

This site has meaning for anyone looking to sell their home quickly, or for someone trying to find a new home that's tailored to their needs.

Essentially, it functions as a dating website would, minus the awkward "you look different from your picture" moment. Someone listing on the site would list the attributes of their own home from drop down menu's, as well as the attributes of a home they're looking for, and tradethishouse.ca scours it's vast database, and comes up with a couple matches.

Instead of risking buying before having your own home sold (and paying two mortgages), or selling before having somewhere to go, this work as a simultaneous buy and sell, partnered with someone looking to do the exact same, but has needs that can be met by your home.

Pretty sweet, right? Check it out.

And, at Vantage, the growth continues. As new bio's get put up on the website next to new listings (www.vantagewestrealty.com), there are rumblings of another new hire. Four-time Stanley Cup Champion Bob Bourne has recently met with one of the owners at Vantage West about partnering with the company to form an exclusive sales niche. More on that story as it develops.

Lastly, co-founders AJ Hazzi and Joel Sherlock have partnered with Bourne to sponsor this years "Hockey Greats Fantasy Camp" in Kelowna BC, August 5th through the 8th (www.bournevents.com). The camp brings 10 NHL stars of the past to town, who repeatedly fall in love with the town and threaten to move here.

Returning NHL Hall-Of-Famer Clark Gillies, a teammate of AJ Hazzi's in the 2008 edition of the vacation weekend has insisted on once again being linemates, as both men contributed four goal games at one point. Sadly, their team lost badly in the Cup final.

Redemption, apparently, is on the horizon.

How to get more Money for your Home…

Home Staging.

1. Take Home More Money.
Fact: Staged homes generally sell for more when compared to those left in "as is" condition.

2. Speed up that Sale.
Fact: Staged homes typically sell faster than un-staged homes. A home that doesn't show well and sits on the market longer. Homes that get stale result in thousands of lost dollars through price reductions. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes, sellers need to put your best foot forward and stage first!

3. Get the advantage on your competition.
With the abundance of inventory in the Okanagan valley you need to every advantage to set yourself apart from the competition. The purchase decision often starts with an emotional connection between the buyer and their new home. You want to leave the buyer feeling that your home can feel like their home.

4. Your taste may be exceptional, but it’s still exactly that … Yours?
It's difficult to be objective with your personal belongings. A stager looks at your home through the eyes of a buyer - taking into account functionality, flow, selling features, colors and style to appeal to a larger audience.

5. The cost of home staging is not what you think.
Staging often results in selling your home for more thus recovering your staging costs. This means allocating a very small % of your home investment towards staging less than 1%. This could mean a huge difference between profit and loss, take a chance and stage your home.

6. One-stop shopping.
Staging services offer a turn-key solution, quality furniture, design concepts and setup, all in one.

7. Your most valuable commodity, Time.
Using a professional home stager will take the guesswork out of staging. Our stagers have the experience and local resources to meet your deadline.

8. Few buyers can visualize the potential of a space.
An empty room can seem much smaller without appropriate furniture, and buyers might not imagine how beautiful and stylish a space could be. Staging can eliminate many questions/concerns buyers may have about a home. More importantly, staging can excite a buyer about living their dream lifestyle in your home - leading to an offer (is that not what were looking for?)

9. A well cared for home is a more valuable home.
Buyers view a staged home as a well cared for property. Simple … any questions please ask.

10. Are you doing everything in your power to sell fast and for top dollar!
Why wouldn't you do everything you could to protect your investment? Is selling your home the largest transaction you will be doing this month? Using all the tools and resources available to sell your home is the best way to go. In this challenging market and there are many variables, use everything in our toolbox.

Playgrounds Abound

Big things at Vantage West folks. Big things.

As company expansion continues, a niché slowly forms.

Vantage has become home to multiple big listings that are tailored to a new crowd, a crowd that seems to be waking up from its vanilla and beige slumber.

For future homeowners looking for something different, Vantage stands out like a flamingo in March of the Penguins. A Highpointe palace and a Sunset Drive penthouse crackle with the type of fresh life that Kelowna is trending towards. This infusion of vivacity should serve to remind us all that just because you live in a safe, respectable community doesn't mean you can't have fun.

Wetbars, rec rooms and colours that range from sultry to spicy make these homes perfect for summer entertainment, and perfect for the rock-star in us all.

As Vantage matures into its founder’s vision, success has become apparent for a host of reasons, all of which work because of one main focus:

Service.

A company unequalled in work-ethic and attention, clients of Vantage West have experienced their exceptional marketing and luxury service since its inception.

And, as the weather has warmed, some special opportunities have presented themselves to Kelowna's fastest growing real estate company and its clients – apparently adults need playgrounds too.

To go with the movement towards the high-end listings, the company has proven to work with all price ranges, earning an endless string of positive testimonials.

Check out the website for a peek at the type of life you could be living, at http://www.vantagewestrealty.com/.

Spring has Sprung at Vantage West

The trees are budding and the flowers are blooming. Spring has come to the Okanagan.

Vantage West is in bloom too. After a successful 2008 in what was described as a "tough market", our small but expanding company has continued it’s torrid pace, expanding both our sales and our staff.

Thriving with a small office of eight licensees in an industry that boasts over 800 on the Okanagan Mainline Realty Board, Vantage West took a substantial 14% of the market share last month. Our office has become a group of young and hungry agents, people proving themselves to be capable of working harder, faster and smarter than their competitors.

That’s under 1% of the people doing 14% of the work. Somehow, Vantage West became that smart kid in class that got put in with the group of slackers. Everyone knew he’d be doing more than his share, but in the end, he’s the one people want to hire.

The rising prominence of Vantage West in the valley has brought new buyers, new sellers, and with them, new work. To maintain diligence in keeping customer care our priority, we wanted to take further measures to meet the growing demand, and that’s lead to one thing: new staff.
We were excited to have the opportunity to bring aboard three new employees, Veronica Campbell, formerly of Coldwell banker, Lucas Jackson from Sarras Marketing in Calgary, and Justin Bourne from Creative Fire.

When you have the opportunity to hire young talent, you take it – just ask the Canucks. Veronica Campbell has two years of productive service under her belt, so when the opportunity to lure her to Vantage West came about, we did our best, and sure enough she made a smooth transition to joining the our team.

Veronica is ready to help us meet the demands of our clients. She knows Kelowna inside and out, is well connected in town, and is willing to put in the hours needed to keep up with the hectic pace of the Kelowna market.

But there’s more: In a clever move for the future of the company, we managed to pick up Lucas Jackson to be a part of our marketing team. He’s a perfect fit for the feel of our office: ambitious, talented, and hell-bent on doing a good job.

Lastly, we brought in a copywriter who can bring life and color in capturing the unique traits of our clients properties. Justin Bourne, who plays hockey better than most writers and writes better than most hockey players, has built a following in The Hockey News, Max Hockey and his own personal blog, which has been recognized by the New York Times as must-read material. But above all, he is a product of the Okanagan who understands what makes every property special – and has the words to convey that to others.

So, with a long winter behind us here in the Okanagan, we turn our focus to spring. The sun is scrapping its way through the clouds to give us golf weather while the Canucks are in the thick of a playoff run full of promise.

How could you not be excited? We look forward to seeing you in Kelowna this summer!

Great Line I had to Post.

I recently came across this great line as I was getting my daily intake of real estate newsletters and books... This may be a little pointed but the point he is crystal clear. Enjoy!

A BUYERS MARKET SHOULD BE JUST THAT – A Buyers Market. It’s not a fence sitting, waiting, loitering, delaying, doddling, postponing, vacillating, hesitating, wavering, faltering, pussy footing, foot shuffling market. It’s a buyer’s market. By its very name it means buyers should be doing one thing and one thing only, Buying! So where are these buyers and why aren’t they buying.

So Lets go BUY.

Joel

window of opportunity

I am Proud to say that all three of the hot deals I have posted on the Facebook group have gone to members. Which means that there are people looking to take advantage of this BUYERS market.

It's called a buyers market for one reason and one reason only, If you can, you must be buying. This is perhaps the best buying opportunity we will see in the okanagan in the next 20 years. We have all time lows in interest rates (2.5%) and prices have come down by over 20%. Thats 150k off the average house! This is not the time to be waiting around or trying to time the bottom of the market. We never know the bottom until its on its way back up. By that time the sellers are aware of the upswing and are no longer willing to take huge discounts or give favourable terms.

If you think theres another 10% of price drops yet to come, whats stopping you from preying on seller fear and offering 10-15% less than their asking price. Our average lately when working with a buyer has been 10.4% off the list price. FYI when working for my sellers I have been able to protect pricing and have an average of 96.5%

The typical spring surge of sales activity has been reported by the Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board, increasing by 42% in one month from 114 sales in January to 162 in February. The federal incentive plans such as the home renovation tax credit and the increase to the Home Buyers Plan from a maximum of $20,000 per individual to $25,000 for first-time home buyers to draw from their RRSPs for a down payment will also help sweeten the pot for buyers.

Sorry there hasnt been a deal of the week in 3 weeks. I take the scouting of these deals very seriously and when I post them, you can bet they're the real deal. Hopefully one presents itself soon, I know there are many of you waiting. Thanks for reading this novel Ive written, next time wont be so wordy!
AJ Hazzi

Budget - Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC)

With record setting low interest rates, Real Estate prices that are back at about the 2003 levels and now tax credits for renovations there has really been no better time to get into the market.

Here are some relevant points from the recently released budget.

Joel

Action to Stimulate Housing Construction.

Providing $8.4 billion to build quality housing, to stimulate construction and enhance energy efficiency. Measures include a renovation tax credit providing up to $1,350 to an estimated 4.6 million Canadian homeowners.

British Columbia will receive its share of the investments in social housing.

Implements a temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC), which will benefit homeowners in British Columbia up to $419 million over two years.

Vantage West Client Appreciation Evening

http://www.snapokanagan.com/display/63818/514/

Vantage West Realty hosted their first annual Client Appreciation Evening at the Laurel Packinghouse. There was great food and wine with live entertainment provided by Kelowna's own Scott Theilman as the guests mixed and mingled. If you like your real estate service served up on a silver platter Vantage West is for you. Since it's launch in early 2008, the partners and realtors at Vantage West have dedicated themselves to creating a high end real estate service offering unique and creative approaches to finding, buying, and selling residential and commercial real estate.

The Oprah Show-Solutions in a tough market

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081008_tows_thriftiest/19
Mike and Pam found Lauren and Ryan, homeowners in Elgin, Illinois, who wanted to upgrade their home. It was the perfect match for Mike and Pam, who were looking to downsize. Mike and Pam sold their home for $295,000 and purchased Lauren and Ryan's home for $180,000.

"We were able to sell our house at the price we wanted, and they were able to sell their townhouse at the price they wanted," Pam says."We're all happy," Ryan says. "It was an even trade in the sense we both got exactly what we wanted. We were looking for a house with four bedrooms, a basement and a backyard that would be fenced in for our dogs, and we ended up getting that."

If you're interested in finding a creative way to sell your home, make sure to contact a Vantage West Professional 250.717.3133 (Alright... Oprah may not have said that last part)