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