January Agenda: What to do in Kelowna

We’re only a week away from 2018! 2018 is going to be the best year yet. With a new year comes new adventures, goals and events in Kelowna! If one of your new year’s resolutions is to be attend more events in the community, our monthly agendas are perfect for you. Every month we feature 3 events that are happening in Kelowna. What is on our agenda for the month of January? Check it out!

Indian Cooking Class

indian spices for cooking class

Learn a new cuisine

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to learn to cook or learn to make new dishes, then this is perfect for you. On the 3rd Wednesday of every month, Poppadoms is hosting a Indian Cooking Class at Urban Fare. These classes are kept to 10 people and are approximately 3 hours in length (5:30-8:30PM). Learn how to cook with local Okanagan ingredients and add a few new recipes to your recipe book at the same time.

CRIS Kelowna Polar Bear Dip

What a great way to start 2018! Head over to Tugboat Beach on January 1st from 1:00PM-3:00PM and participate in the Polar Bear Dip. This year it is hosted by UBCO JDC West Team. This popular activity helps raise funds for CRIS Adaptive Adventures. Dip by donation! Come as a spectator or come to do the dip. Regardless, it is a great event. Warm up with some treats from Peter Ze German Street Food, Bare Taco and Canoe Coffee Roasters.

organic labelled green onions at a market

Earth to Table Vegan Market

Earth to Table Vegan Market

Are you looking to change up your diet in 2018? Looking to eat more plant based food? Head over to the Earth to Table Vegan Market at the Laurel Packing House in Downtown Kelowna. This market brings together local vendors making it easily accessible to give vegan products a try. There is everything from food to personal care and cosmetics at this market. From 10:00AM-4:00PM enjoy all this market has to offer. A portion of this market’s proceeds will be donated to Twin Hearts Sanctuary.

Well there you have it, your January 2018 agenda for Kelowna. From the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates of RE/MAX Kelowna, we hope that 2018 is the best year yet. Filled with joy, laughter and new adventures.

If you are looking to relocate to our beautiful city to enjoy all of what our city has to offer, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our dedicated team of real estate agents have years of selling real estate in Kelowna and are ready to assist you with your next home purchase. Call 1-778-760-2860 today! 

 

Christmas Movie List to get you through the Holidays

The Holidays are finally here. For most of us that means some down time off of work and relaxing in our Kelowna real estate. One of our favourite parts of the holidays is binge watching all of the classic Christmas movies. The hardest part is choosing which ones to watch! The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have put together a list of our top three favourite classic Christmas movies you should watch this Holiday season.

The Grinch

sitting by the fire watching a Christmas movie

Warm up to a nice fire

One of our top movies to cuddle up to is the Grinch. A classic family favourite that has been around for ages! If you are looking for a funny movie with a different approach to a traditional Christmas movie, then The Grinch is a must see for you and your family. Our favorite way to watch The Grinch is by warming up to a hot fire and drinking some hot chocolate. A portion of the movie is set outside on cold winter day. The hot chocolate and warm fire are a great way to keep you warm watching this family favourite. 

Elf

This is a no-brainer… the Elf! This movie will have your family craving pasta with chocolate sauce, candy and pop… well maybe! A fun classic movie! After all,

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear”

Our favorite way to watch the movie Elf is by playing Christmas Movie Bingo! You can either make up your own bingo cards or find handy printable ones online. Anytime you see an object from your bingo card on the movie, you mark it off your bingo card. A row of 5 wins! A non-traditional way of watching a movie and makes it more interesting.

three children sitting in indoor movie theatre

Create an indoor movie theatre

The Polar Express

Another traditional family favourite is the Polar Express. A mysterious train ride to the North Pole is all that we will say for this classic! You’ll have to watch it to find out why we love this Christmas movie so much!! Our favorite way to watch this Christmas Movie is by making a family fort. Grab the family and some warm blankets and you’re set. The trick to a family fort is to let your children take the lead on this one. Give them the blankets, pillows and anything else they made need to make the fort.

There you have it, our top three Christmas movie picks for 2017. From the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates, we hope you all have a great Holiday break. Enjoy the time off and stay warm! If you are looking for Kelowna luxury real estate to watch one or all of these Christmas movies in, contact the Quincy from Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Quincy Vrecko has over 28 years of luxury sales experience. If you are looking for a real estate agent who is knowledgeable in the luxury real estate market, look no further! Quincy specializes in buying and selling luxury waterfront homes. Contact Quincy Vrecko today 250-863-8810!

The Advantages of Buying a new Kelowna Home

With the Kelowna real estate market not slowing down, it’s not a surprise that there is new developments being constructed. Are you searching for Kelowna real estate?  Are you hesitant to purchase a new home build? The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have put together a list of some advantages of buying a new Kelowna home.

It’s Brand NEW!

brand new kitchen with white cabinets and grey accents in a Kelowna home

Cypress Point listed with Quincy Vrecko and Associates

This one is a no-brainer. If it is a new build in Kelowna, no one has ever lived in it. Some of the advantages of this are, it is generally modern and up with the new home trends. There is no out-dated kitchen you have to renovate. Old and stained carpets don’t need to be ripped out either! Just a modern and brand new home with brand new finishings.

Your Choice – for the most part

If you are purchasing a brand new home, chances are you are able to pick some of the finishings, colour schemes etc. This is all dependant on each development so check with your Kelowna real estate agent first beforehand. This is a huge advantage of purchasing a new home. If you have dreamed of a white kitchen with grey accents, now may be the time!

Black Mountain golf course

Golf Course located beside new development

Amenities for your Kelowna Home

Are you looking for a new gym to join in Kelowna? Do you enjoy an outdoor dip in the swimming pool? Are you a golfer? One of the advantages of a new development for Kelowna real estate is amenities. Most of the new Kelowna developments are building amenities within or around the new build. If you enjoy swimming, working out in the comfort of your own home, or golfing then this may be the perfect fit for you.

If you are looking for a new development in Kelowna, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our Cypress Point development is located in Black Mountain. It is close to golf courses, has stunning views and outstanding features. Chris Ward, our Kelowna Cypress Point expert is ready to assist you with your next development purchase! New year and a new build? That flows nicely! Call 1-778-760-2860 today!

Market Statistics November 2017

graph showing trends in Kelowna real estate market for November 2017

Monthly November Kelowna Real Estate Stats

The Kelowna real estate market shows no sign of a slow down as we approach the end of 2017.  

For the month of November, the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) posted a 12.8% increase in sales over the same month last year in market statistics.  The average price for a single family residential home continues to rise with a 10.4% over this time last year and a strong 14% year to date.

What are the factors affecting our Kelowna Real Estate market statistics?

Inventory vs. Demand

Inventory of homes for sale in Kelowna remains low, and there is still demand from buyers looking to buy a home in the Okanagan.  There may be a light at then end of the tunnel for those buyers as we saw a much-needed 20% increase in new listings in November.  This is a welcoming change for the tight Kelowna real estate market.  

For those still looking to sell their home, we are still very much in a sellers’ market and with only 3.5 months of inventory to sell, it is forcaseted this trend will continue into 2018.  In order to make the shift to a more balanced market, we would need to a significant increase in new listings to raise the inventory to 5-8 months of sell through.  

Average Sale Prices

The overall average sale prices in the Central Okanagan has increased over last year.

Year to date, the Kelowna luxury home market has seen an increase of 20% in sales of luxury homes over 1 million dollars, which has made a significant impact on the average home sale price.   The average price breakdown are as follows:

Single family residential $674 598

  • Townhouse $469 053
  • Condos $334 106
  • Building lots $285 126

This increase in sales in a typically slower time of the year could be due to the pending new mortgage rules to be implemented January 1st.  Home buyers are scrambling to have a purchase contract in place to qualify for their mortgage before their buying power is decreased in the new year.  For more details on the new mortgage rules, read our most recent blog with our thoughts.

Whether you are buying or selling Kelowna real estate, it is important to use a professional real estate agent that knows the current market conditions and watches market statistics and can look after you best interest.  Whether you are buying and selling a condo or townhouse, or looking to build, Tracey and her team can guide you through the process.  For expert advice in waterfront properties and luxury homes in Kelowna, Quincy is your best choice.  He is the a leading waterfront and luxury specialist dealing exclusively in properties over 1 million dollars.  The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates has professional real estate agents that cover every part of the market. Call 1-778-760-2860 today! 

Kelowna Real Estate: New Mortgage Rules for 2018

,

It was just recently announced that new mortgage rules will be coming into effect starting January 1st, 2018. Many of our Kelowna homebuyers have been asking “How will the new mortgage rules for 2018 affect me?” In October, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) released its new guidelines called B-20. This was created to establish new guidelines which included the stress test.

If you have been trying to decide if this is the right time to buy or sell, this change in mortgage regulations could be a good signal that the time is right now. – John Antle of John Antle Mortgages

Why the sudden change to the mortgage rules?

coins in a jar in front of a toy sized home

Why the sudden change?

Over the last 10 years, Kelowna real estate has grown substantially. This is a great sign when all other variables grow at the same rate. What we do not want to see is the price of homes increasing at a rapid rate and causing chaos in the Kelowna housing market. Simply what the government is trying to do is keep home prices at an affordable rate while keeping real estate supply and demand in check.

What can we expect to see for the Kelowna real estate market in 2018?

It’s hard to predict what the Kelowna real estate market will do with the new mortgage rules taking place in

graph of real estate trends

What will the Kelowna real estate market do?

January of 2018. The OSFI has announced that all homebuyers interested in taking out a mortgage for Kelowna real estate will have to qualify for a mortgage that is 2% points higher than what they are currently applying for. This only applies to homebuyers who do not have a downpayment of 20% or higher and do not require mortgage insurance. We expect that the housing market will continue to be steady we will just see an increase in a different part of the market. For example, people looking to purchase a $500,000 home may now be looking at a smaller home or condominium.

With the new mortgage rules coming into play in just over 2 weeks, it is important to work with a Kelowna real estate team that understands the market. A Kelowna real estate team that knows the ins and outs of the market is Vrecko Real Estate Group. Our dedicated team of real estate professionals is knowledgeable in the Kelowna real estate market and can assist you with your next Kelowna home purchase. Call 1-778-760-2860 today!

 

Kelowna Real Estate: 2018 Home Trends

With a new year approaching comes new home trends for Kelowna real estate. Each year we see new paint colours, accent furniture and the list goes on. So with January right around the corner, what will 2018’s biggest home trends be for Kelowna real estate? Here is what is predicted for 2018…

Bold Kitchens for Kelowna Real Estate

modern kitchen with bold accents

Bold Kitchens for Kelowna Real Estate

One of the trends we are starting to see make a return is colourful and bold kitchens. Now we don’t mean go and paint your kitchen walls a bright green and call it a day. Kitchens are becoming more modern looking featuring white cabinets, light walls, grey accents and then adding a pop of colour. Most popular ways of adding a pop of colour is with colourful bar stools or with decorative objects.

Unique Accents

Forgo the traditional silver brushed faucets and it’s time to bring out the unique brass faucets and handles. Brass was popular in 2016 and it is about to make a return in 2018 again. If you are a bit hesitant to introduce brass accents in your home, try adding it slowly. Think small accents such as vases and decor pieces. You do not need to start with large accent pieces in order to introduce this trend into your Kelowna real estate.

modern bedroom with calm neutral tones

Calm and Modern Bedrooms

Calm and Modern Bedrooms

Contrary to the previous point, 2018 is the time for calm and modern bedrooms. Neutral tones such as grey, whites and greenery are making a statement this upcoming year. Not only are calm and modern bedrooms in this year but also the minimalist lifestyle is as well. Large arm-knit blankets, light grey and white bedding, soft neutral tones for furniture are sure to keep your home on trend for 2018.

Well, there you have it! These are just a few home trends predicted for 2018 Kelowna real estate. If you are looking for a home in Kelowna to add these 2018 home trends to, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our dedicated team of real estate agents have years of experience selling Kelowna real estate. One of our knowledgeable real estate professionals can assist you with your next Kelowna home purchase. Call 1-778-760-2860 today!

Top Waterfront Communities: West Kelowna

Recently, we wrote a blog about the top waterfront communities located in Kelowna. Now it’s time to take a look across the lake at West Kelowna. West Kelowna is a visually appealing city. If you are a wine connoisseur or simply love a glass of Okanagan wine, West Kelowna is the perfect place for you. West Kelowna is where you will find most of the top wineries. Mount Boucherie, Mission Hill and the list goes on. West Kelowna is known for their great hiking and biking trails, and of course some of the top luxury waterfront homes. If you are in search of a luxury waterfront home, consider some of West Kelowna’s top neighbourhoods such as these.

Westside Road in West Kelowna

view from Westside Road West Kelowna luxury home

Westside Road View

Are you are looking for a luxury waterfront home in West Kelowna with spectacular views of Lake Okanagan? Then Westside Road may be the perfect fit for you. This sloped waterfront community is known for having lots of privacy. You are not directly on the Lake Okanagan when you purchase your luxury waterfront home on Westside Road. This top waterfront community has steps down to Lake Okanagan which is a plus! You can enjoy the waterfront from higher up and in turn have tons of privacy.

Casa Loma in West Kelowna

This older waterfront neighbourhood is turning over to new builds and updated family homes. Enjoy the sun rise off of the waterfront and take in the evening sunset. This flat waterfront community is located just over the William Bennett Bridge. So living in this quaint private area puts you just minutes to downtown.  Get the best of both worlds, a quiet community with beaches and walking trails and the convenince of being close to the hustle and bustle downtown Kelowna.

view from luxury home in West Kelowna Lakeview Heights

Lakeview Heights Lake View

Lakeview Heights in West Kelowna

Well wine lovers… this neighbourhood is for you. This waterfront community is close to some of the top wineries in West Kelowna. Mission Hill, Quails Gate to name a few! You can frequently find Quincy Vrecko and Associates in Lakeview Heights. This luxury waterfront community features some of West Kelowna’s top waterfront homes and condominiums.

If you are looking for a luxury waterfront home in Kelowna, contact Quincy Vrecko. Quincy Vrecko is a luxury real estate agent with Quincy Vrecko and Associates of RE/MAX Kelowna. Quincy has over 28 years of luxury sales experience. He is knowledgeable in the luxury real estate market. Quincy specializes in buying and selling luxury waterfront homes. He can assist you with your next West Kelowna luxury waterfront home. For more up-to-date information on the luxury real estate market, contact Quincy Vrecko today 1-250-863-8810!

 

Relocating? Make Kelowna your Home

The Okanagan is an amazing spot in British Columbia. Surrounded by beautiful parks, sandy beaches, Okanagan Lake and award-winning wineries. Are you thinking of making the move to Kelowna?  What does this beautiful city have to offer you? What are some things we are known for? If you are considering making the move to our beautiful city, here are just a few reasons why you should…

Housing in Kelowna

stunning Kelowna home located in Wilden

183 Lost Creek Court – previously listed with Quincy Vrecko and Associates

Kelowna has a wide range of housing. We feature everything from affordable condominiums, family homes, waterfront homes and luxury real estate. The Kelowna real estate market is continuously growing. New developments are being built to keep up with the strong real estate market. There is something for everyone and in everyone’s price range. 

Lake Okanagan

Lake Okanagan is one of the main features for our beautiful city. If you love any sort of water activity, you will love it out here then. In the summer months, you will find people boating, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking and much much more! It was also just announced that there is going to be a new park named “Bluebird Beach Park” on Lakeshore Road in the near future. Check out more information about this park here.

lady sitting on top of Knox Mountain

Beautiful summer weather

Beautiful Weather

If you have ever visited Kelowna in the summertime, you are well aware of the beautiful weather we get! In the summer months, it is paradise! Forget going away on a tropical vacation, you’re living in Canada’s California. Long hot summer days and beautiful cool summer nights. You’ll often find a lot of activity in Downtown Kelowna over the summer nights. It is the perfect temperature over the summer time!

If you are considering making the move to Kelowna, check out our handy relocation guide. The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates want to make sure this move is as smooth as possible. Our team of real estate professionals have years of experience selling real estate in Kelowna. From condominiums all the way to luxury waterfront homes, our knowledgeable team of real estate agents are ready to assist you with your Kelowna home purchase. Contact one of our agents today 1-778-760-2860!

The Best Decorating Idea

Quincy and I have 2 boys that just turned 8 and 10. As they grow up (boo, hoo) we wanted to transform their bedrooms from little babies rooms to ulitmate boys room.  Looking through hundreds of photos for the best decorating ideas for a boy’s room, we thought we should let our little men decide.

Starting with a clean slate, we re-painted out all the rooms white. Our oldest son Gabriel is really into Pokemon and was convinced this was how he wanted to decorate.  Not my choice for the best decorating idea for a boy’s room, however, we wanted to empower him to make his own choice.  After a few weeks of throwing ideas around, he decided on what I think is THE BEST idea I’ve ever heard of.

The best decorating idea for a boy’s room is…

He decided wanted a collage of all of his favorite things and wanted it done with graffiti.  I was impressed with his creativity!! So we began the search for a graffiti artist that could get the job done.  It’s harder than I thought to find such an artist and while everyone thought is was the best decorating idea for a boy’s room, they had no idea who could paint it.

We tried for 3 months placing ads on Castanet and Kijiji. With no luck, my son and I made up a flyer. We posted them at the skate park at Ben Lee Park in Rutland.  A week later, a graffiti artist contacted me and was excited to do the job.  He came and learned about my son’s interest and put together a preliminary sketch of what it would look like.  

In a day of and half, we had an original art wall shown here in time lapse.  

We were all very happy with end result.  The artist who completed my son’s wall in has incredible talent. Although we do not condone illegal graffiti,(this would be any graffiti done to property without consent), Quincy and I would encourage anyone to employ the services of a graffiti artist.  

Not only is graffiti the best decorating idea for a boy’s room, this art could be used for personal or business. Try personalizing a wall in your home, brand your vehicles or feature an outdoor murals for your local Kelowna business.  

If you are looking for a Kelowna home to add a graffiti wall to, contact Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Tracey Vrecko is a dedicated real estate professional with years of industry experience selling Kelowna homes, condominiums, and townhouse. If you are looking for real estate in Kelowna, call Tracey Vrecko today! 1-778-760-2860!

December Agenda: What to do in Kelowna

Well Kelowna, with another month comes another agenda. This is the last agenda for 2017! We are just one short month away from a new year, a new start and a new adventures. This December agenda is going to be the best one yet. How do you want to finish off your 2017? Check out one or all of these local events which are sure to put a great end to your 2017.

Cars and Toys 2017

local event in Kelowna held by August Motor Cars

Cars & Toys at August Motor Cars

Back for another successful year by August Motor Cars. Sunday December 3rd head to August Motor Cars on Harvey Ave and bring a unwrapped toy and give back to those in need this Holiday Season. Get your free photo with Santa, and take a look at their amazing supercars while you’re at it. How is Santa coming to August Motor Cars this December? You’ll have to look high up in the sky to find him… arriving in a helicopter! You do not want to miss out on this event!!

Big White Village Movie Series

New to Big White this year is the Village Movie Series. Head up to Big White on Wednesdays from 5-7:30PM to enjoy a free Christmas movie as they countdown to Christmas Day! Get the family together, dress VERY warm and enjoy a movie with your loved ones. What a great family idea after school on a Wednesday. Movie titles will be released soon by Big White! 

Christmas tree decorated for the Festival of Trees

Head over to the Festival of Trees

Festival of Trees in Kelowna

This amazing event is put on by Mission Hill Estate Winery. Mission Hill has partnered with the BC Children’s Hospital to host Kelowna’s “Festival of Trees”. This holiday event is put on to raise money for the Children’s Hospital. The Festival of Trees started on November 24th and goes until January 5th. Locals are encouraged to head over to Mission Hill and make a donation to vote for your favorite tree! What a great event put on by such a great winery.

Well Kelowna, there you have it, the last and final agenda for 2017. Stay tuned for our first agenda for 2018 in January. What will be the best events to head to in 2018? Keep an eye out on our blogs and you’ll soon find out. From the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates, we hope everyone had a great 2017. We are thankful for each and everyone of our past and present clients who made this year the best of the best.