The plan is to build a 360-cell correctional facility will be on Osoyoos Indian band land by 2015.

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The clients and I had a wonderful and memorable real estate experience. It’s a little lengthy as I am detail oriented when it comes to clients and real estate.

We looked at seven units in the Lakeshore Towers. Six that were listed and the seventh was one I scouted out from harassing local agents for sleeve listings.

I previewed most of the condos before they came to town and
marked out the parking spots that came with each condo.

We started off in 160 Lakeshore, the 2nd phase of “Lakeshore 3.” The Buyers were pleased with the first unit and I asked them to make note of the view that they were currently admiring and the basic Venetian blinds. The Husband mentioned he would really enjoy a fireplace. This unit had one parking spot and looked over the water but, being on the 6th floor, also looked into the top floor of a neighbouring deteriorating apartment complex.

We moved on up to the 10th floor and viewed the same layout but this view was far superior, no neighbouring apartment view and a richer, unobstructed, lake view. This unit was priced $20,000 more. So, this replicated unit with engineered hardwood enjoyed the exact same layout but featured blackout gorgeous drapes, a closet-organizing system in the master walk-in closet, extra cupboards in the laundry room, an extra parking spot and The Fireplace! This unit had $50,000 in upgrades including professional paint and design with classy wall paper and an additional parking space. These parking stalls sell anywhere from $10,000-plus.

We looked at the third unit on the 10th floor and it only confirmed that No. 2 was a front runner as this view looked right into one of the other towers….olla neighbour!.

We scurried down to the second floor to view the pool, hot tub, gym, looked at all three lounges, talked about the guest suite arrangements and pet weight restrictions.

We viewed three more. One in 100 Lakeshore, the first of the three towers, and it was the second choice but a far cry from the value of No. 2. We ventured over to the 3rd phase of Lakeshore 3 which is 75 Martin only to find the view also faced neighbours. We viewed another that was a penthouse but only offered one bedroom and a shared patio.

We knew what we had to do. It was to be No. 2, known as the “$400,000 Baby.”
The buyers were making this purchase to be closer to their daughter, who announced she is pregnant. This also happened to be their daughter’s 26th birthday. Grandma to be hadn’t finished the scrap-booking of the wedding and now she is planning on enjoying summers in Penticton with her daughterand future grandchild.

We agreed to meet at the office to write up an offer on the unit that was listed “contingent”. This was a little worrisome as it was a clear winner by a long stretch.

What would we do if we couldn’t get it? There was no answer, it just wasn’t an option. Or hoped it wouldn’t be. We wrote a strong offer. The seller’s real estate agent notified us that there was one contingency and it was that a local lady had “first dibs” to purchase this condo. She didn’t have an offer with a 48-hour clause involving real estate agents. She was trying to sell her house and had it on the market. The deal was made that if she could sell her house, or come up with the money the property would go to her. She was given a certain amount of time (7p.m.) to make the call of coming up with the funds or selling her home.

She did manage to secure the funds but this was frustrating to the seller who had given her “first dibs” just to discover she could have done this the whole time. The seller then opted to sell the unit to my clients as he was miffed with the “drama” around the other buyer, as she had wasted two months of his time.

I drove to Mt. Baldy, one-and-a-half hours away, to get the last initials as our offer was accepted as is, with our price (we were prepared to pay more ), if we would bump up the dates.

My favorite real estate saying is  “Values Grow Where People Go.”

As a long time local I just love to see that Penticton is continually on travellers’ radar. So many people I sell homes to that are from out of town have childhood memories of camping in Penticton for the summer, or where originally drawn from their kids having attended the Hockey school and just never wanted to leave.

Many people are capitalizing on the opportunity to get into the market when prices are lower and rates are at an all time low.

As an investment real estate is tried and true. Real estate is local in nature. Real estate has a use whether business or personal we all need a place to live and work.  Downpayments are low even for investment properties and someone else can pay down your mortgage. It is difficult for families to find a rental property in Penticton(especially if there are pets involved).

If you live here, or dream of living here it is always a good solid investment to have your own piece of the Okangan!

We found this spectacular condo done up by an interior designer. It was so perfect I almost wrote my own items into the contract but felt that wouldn’t be appropriate (yes I am talking about the silver pear in the living room)!

We had our home inspection completed by a gentleman who had completed over 4000 inspections in the Okanagan, yet he had never been in this complex! It is hidden away in Uplands on a quiet street called Farrel.

In the end, as sad as it is to not be showing homes to this funny, talented couple, I will be attending their house warming and in awe of the one that got away (and ended up in well deserving hands)!

Congratulations, I know you made a spectacular decision!

6 Ideas to Holiday Staging

The key to holiday decorating is to keep the decor high quality and color-coordinated. If you plan on staging a home for the holidays, here are some important things to keep in mind.

1. Don’t overdo the holiday cheer.
   When the number of Santa statues start to outnumber the rooms in the house, you may want to start being more selective in what you display. Don’t overwhelm the space with clutter; you want buyers to notice and appreciate the permanent features of the home. If your fireplace is almost impossible to see because your highly personalized stockings are blocking the view, then buyers will not appreciate this focal point for what it is.
2. Add splashes of holiday colors.
   How about some holiday red? Psychology research on color responses has shown that warm colors, such as red, can increase excitement and energy in those viewing it. Pops of seasonal colors — such as red or green — add festive cheer to a home too and can be as simple as just adding  poinsettias throughout the home.
   But when bringing in holiday colors, be careful not to clash with your home’s current color scheme.  For example, if turquoise is the room’s dominant color, you might want to hold off on adding bold holiday reds; try silver instead.
3. Stage for the senses and belly.
   Get buyers in the mood, bake some gingerbread cookes, offer home buyers (and their Realtors®) some fresh baking. This is always appreciated and gets that Christmas baking smell we love so much throughout the home. Consider plastic cups and warm hot chocolate so the buyers take a moment to relax and take in the lovely features your kitchen has to offer. If there is a Realtor® tour planned this is most highly recommended just ask how many attendees there are and provide napkins!
4. Keep the tree simple, yet elegant.
   The Christmas tree will likely be your biggest decor piece so it needs to make a statement. I personally like the frosted white smaller elegant trees. Ensure that the tree isn’t taking up the entire living room or causing a cluttered look. If your tree is larger than six feet, consider removing a piece or two of furniture so the space doesn’t feel crowded. And don’t forget to use ornaments all in one basic color palette with “show piece” ornaments mixed in that add extra style.
5. Wrap up your family
   If you have family pictures on the wall, wrap them as presents, I have had buyers just love this, do it in every room it is cheap and adds character. It also keeps the buyers from being distracted by looking at the family photos.
6. Give a holiday impression from the curb.
   Twinkling clear, white lights (preferably non-blinking) tend to be the favorite among staging and real estate professionals for classy holiday curb appeal that adds a classic glow.  For a little extra curb appeal, it is always nice to hang a wreath on the front door.
7. Remove decor after the holidays.
   * Most Important* Christmas in July isn’t for everyone,  owners remove all holiday decor promptly by New Year’s

Check out Dori’s holiday Penticton Real Estate Listings!

And while we are all preparing for a fun evening, I wanted to post some safety tips for kids, not only for big night but for general road safety.

1. Children under 9 should be with an adult or a responsible older child.
2. Teach your child to never rely on traffic signals alone – use your eyes and ears to make sure it’s safe to cross.
3. Always cross at crosswalks, street corners or intersections.
4. Stay on the sidewalk or path when walking from house to house.
5. Have a bright colored costume and avoid masks (making it hard for kids to see).

On Monday night, there will be kids everywhere, so for the drivers, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Take EXTRA care.
2. Drive slowly in residential areas.
3. Watch out for kids, many of whom may be wearing dark costumes with masks that make it difficult for them to see.
4. Keep in mind there are a lot of excited kids out there and they may forget simple pedestrian safety rules.
5. Reduce your distractions and stay alert, that means cell phone usage and loud music should be minimized.
6. Remember to enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully.

View the full article on Halloween Safety

View Dori’s Website & Penticton Real Estate Listings

As stats can be skewed and real estate information is localized in nature it can often be inaccurate to take something that is happening in a different market and relate it here in the Okanagan. Vancouver, even though it’s just a few hours away, has a very different market with very different buyer profiles. Even local general statistics can be skewed by a large waterfront sale, series of Foreclosures in one cluster of the market (more recently the Holman properties in Naramata reflecting acreages in receivership), and fire sales.

I recently was at a clients home and she informed me that “all the real estate in Summerland was going up and going up fast.” As an anxious seller this was reason enough to ask a premium for her home. I asked her where she had heard this information. She said it was from an agent at an open house. I mentioned that the inventory levels of new listings supply was heavy and most listings come on at this time of year. The prices realized through the sales are a different story. She pondered for a moment and said “maybe that is what they are referring to.” If you hear something real estate related; consider the source and the context (and maybe ask for some proof!)

I have been professionally involved in 2 sales this year that both sold a few years ago. I was acting as an agent for both these properties when they sold in 2007 and then the same home again in 2011. Both are similar in price and you can draw your own conclusions of today’s Penticton real estate market relative to the past few years. (with some ammo!)

My conclusion is that there has never been a better time to buy. I am working with some friends right now who are looking to buy their first home and they have lots to choose from at this special time in their investment lives.

Real estate for investment has to be carefully selected, well understood and based on personal objectives- flipper, move up/down buyer, or investor.

Blairmore sold in 2007 and 2011 showing, same time of year. Blairmore had some improvements and still showed a loss of $56,600.1184

Lots of FREE fun for the whole Family. Hope to see you everyone there!