This blog is about me, Paige Guernsey, and the things that happen around my job as a Kelowna Real Estate agent with Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty. I talk about listings, sales activity, market conditions, market trends, promotions, green real estate, and sometimes funny things that happen to me during the course of my day. There's links and videos to great information as well as access to my 2 websites, kelownahome.com and greenkelownarealestate.com
Every now and then I do something so silly and every now and then someone, in this case, hears me doing that silly something!
My daughter loves to sing and I decided I would support her and start singing too (FYI… I’m a very bad singer). We sing in the car with the windows down and when we’re on the highway we sing quite a bit louder! Yesterday someone called me while I was singing AND driving on the highway. I didn’t realize I pressed the answer button on the steering wheel and that person listened to me sing. Incredibly, for about 2 minutes! Completely embarrassed I called them back when I realized what happened. Kinda’ wierd they didn’t answer the phone!
If you’re looking for a real estate investment or a place to call home in Kelowna, and like to laugh, call Paige Guernsey at 250-862-6464
The City of Kelowna has opened up applications for the NeighbourWoods tree program.
On a “first come first serve” program you can receive a discounted tree for your Kelowna real estate and help sustain our GREEN goals! Trees are similar to lungs, they remove carbon dioxide from the air and use it for growth energy. Over the lifetime of a tree, not only is several tons of carbon dioxide consumed, they provide shade, release oxygen, reduce erosion and ground water runoff, and form microhabitats for wildlife. Trees can reduce the amount of pollutants entering the air, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide and various particulates. Most urban tree species are carefully chosen for their ability to greatly improve air quality.Don’t delay Kelowna, sign up today for your tree and keep your real estate GREEN!
If you’re wondering how to make your home more attractive to a GREEN buyers, call Paige Guernsey at 250-862-6464.
With real estate prices and interest rates being low, coupled with the fact there are some great deals to be had in the condo market with a flood of inventory, more and more people are looking at real estate to bolster their financial portfolio.
Consider this, you take a mortgage out on a newer 2 bedroom condo that you can rent, factoring in property tax, payments on this are approximately $850. Turn around and rent this unit out for $900-$950 a month and you’ve got a money-maker. Interest on this loan is deductible as are any expenses to maintain the property. I used 30% that came from a Line of Credit and a conventional mortgage of $110,000, making this a 100% financing scenario. If you have cash to put down, your payments would be substantially less. We all know the real estate market in Kelowna will go up again. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone pay off a loan for something you bought today for $165,000 that in 5 years time is worth $200,000?
I know that all sounds so simple, but if you are considering a Kelowna real estate investment, call Paige Guernsey on her direct line at 250-862-6464 for some useful information that can provide for your future!
If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, investing in a few well-conceived improvements could pay you bigdividends in terms of improving your resale value The big question is: where to spend your money? Whether you’re selling in the near future or at some later date, your first consideration should be the value you place on the improvements while you’re continuing to live in the home. After taking that into consideration, there are several guidelines that can help you achieve the best return on your investment.
Kitchen renovation tips, all for under $1,500
The kitchen is normally the focal point of any house. It’s the high point of virtually every potential buyer’s walk-through – male and female alike. As such, improvements to this area are almost always a worthwhile investment. Here’s a great video on a cost effective cabinet upgrade for as little as $1,500!
Cabinet upgrade
As a general rule, the more visible an improvement is, the better your chances for a good return on your investment. For example, mentioning you have a new water heater or plumbing upgrade won’t have the powerful visual impact of a new kitchen counter top or tile backsplash — even though they may cost the same. Refacing your existing kitchen cabinets is a lower cost option than replacing all your cabinetry. If you’re thinking of a major kitchen renovation, focus your energy – and your budget – on creating new work surfaces and improving function or traffic flow, rather than simply focusing on adding more floor space. Here’s a great video on updating counter space for under $1,500.
Counter-top upgrade
For the more budget conscious, a fresh coat of paint is one of the least expensive improvements that can create a favourable first, and lasting impression on buyers. In fact, dollar for dollar, a fresh coat of paint often delivers one of the best returns on your investment. Painting your kitchen and simply replacing your handles with updated hardware can revitalize the entire look of your kitchen and strengthen its visual appeal. Remember when choosing your colours that light colours can make a room appear larger, and neutral shades will be most appealing to the greatest number of potential buyers. Another optical effect that will help create the illusion of more space is to install new flooring or backsplash tiles on the diagonal to draw the eye up and away on the longest line possible. All for under $1,500…
Upgrade paint and wall finishings
A new tap, and possibly even a new kitchen sink are also very affordable options to give your kitchen a quick and affordable ‘facelift’.
Lighting is also a very affordable way to improve the look and the function of your kitchen space. For a very minimal investment, the new halogen light fixtures can illuminate your workspace while adding ambiance to your kitchen. Small under the cabinet halogen pot lights take up little space, and can add a modern flair.
Lighting upgrade
If you’re not sure what’s worth doing or where to start, call Paige Guernsey direct at 250-862-6464. A great source of information, I can tell you what improvements will show well to prospective buyers in the future.
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty’s managing broker, Susan Tough, has written a new blog. She’s a natural at it, and she’s called it “Across the TOUGH Desk“. In it she answers all kinds of questions buyers and sellers have before, during, and after a sales transaction. One of her blogs deals with the simple question “Can I sign for my spouse?”. A tougher question, (no pun intended!) is addressed in another blog post titled “When is it a good time to use a Fee Agreement?” This blog promises to be a winner. Watch for it in the future and learn all kinds of things about Kelowna real estate.
If you have a question about buying or selling a home in Kelowna that you’d like answered, call me, Kelowna real estate agent, Paige Guernsey direct at 250-862-6464.
Although overall sales for Kelowna real estate are down, there’s been some healthy sales happening! In the last 2 months we’ve had 7 homes sell under $400K in the Kelowna North, Glenmore neighborhoods. This bright and cheery older home in Glenmore with new kitchen and windows sold for $365,000. There is a park, tennis courts and great schools nearby.
This newer home pictured below in North Glenmore recently sold for $375,000. Built in 1994, a few cosmetic updates will bring it up to date and the fenced private yard is fantastic! Close to all ammenities including some easy to advanced walking/hiking trails, this house is a winner!
If you’re looking for something new with no HST and still have all the fantastic ammenities the above houses have, check this listing out. Unique and beautiful open plan 2 bedroom 2 full bath townhouse with spacious deck, magnificent views, and upgraded interior. Concrete soundproofing, granite, stainless appliances, hardwood & tile are top notch for this very central location.
Call me on my direct line to learn about successful strategies for buying a house at the best price possible. Paige Guernsey at 250-862-6464.
A well known Montreal architect is speaking for Cascadia Green Building Council on Building a Net Zero house. This home strives to generate all the energy required for household use as well as integrate sustainable agriculture for the property. Pretty crazy technology available out there that can actually work. If you’ve ever wondered about “green” technology be sure to mark this date on your calendar. October 27, 2010 at Rotary Center for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theater from 5:30 to 7:00.
I’m working with an amazing family who is looking after their grandmother. They’re currently selling grandma’s home using Power of Attorney. Many fine details are involved when looking to sell property using this tool. I came across this informative article dealing with these details. Banks and lending instutions can also have their own rules surrounding Power of Attorney, particularly with mortgage fraud being in the news lately. The business of buying and selling real estate is complex and ever-changing. I’ve been in this business for almost 25 years and I learn something new weekly!
I had a busy weekend working with 2 couples looking to buy. One of these couples is buying their second home and had a lot of houses they wanted to see in different Kelowna neighborhoods. I had it set up to run smoothly from house to house and neighborhood to neighborhood. The second house we saw was quite amazing. I had a feeling something wasn’t quite right when we drove up. I checked the address… yup, right house. I knocked on the front door, used the lock box, opened the door and said “hello”. The sellers answered back that she was in the bathtub and would be right out. She was very gracious but said she didn’t know there was a showing. Another alarm bell is ringing in my head. No worries she said, she’d just head out and leave us to take our time looking around. While we waited for her to vacate, we went into the back yard. Wow would be a good word to describe it and again I’m thinking something isn’t right. When we started looking through the house I know for sure that something was wrong. The buyers are falling in love and I’m sure it’s not the right house. Sure enough, I spy the feature sheets and the price listed is $100,000 more than their budget allows. How did this happen? I went outside again to check the address and realized that the address of this house and the one 2 doors down that we were supposed to be in had the same numbers just in a slightly different order. Groan… had to go back and tell them that this wasn’t actually the house of their dreams but a mistake on my part and I didn’t real the address correctly. They were very good sports about it and we all had a chuckle. When I called the listing realtor later to explain the situation, she too had a good sense of humor. I hope the sellers see it that way too!
This house was truly amazing and one-of-a-kind… check it out!
There is some incredible lakeshore real estate in Kelowna. I was hiking on Knox Mtn. today and saw this home on Okanagan Lake that’s for sale… check out the link to a multi million dollar home and imagine what it could be like to call this home!
