March 2022

One of the more significant expenses you must pay when buying a home is the down payment. You might think you have to pay at least 20 percent, but there are options to pay less. With this information, you can determine what you will be required to pay and how to decide whether to pay the minimum or more.

Paying a Standard Down Payment

For decades, lenders have held a standard down payment to be 20 percent or more. Lenders believe that if you share a significant stake in the ownership of the home, you will be more committed to paying the mortgage. If you apply for a mortgage with this down payment, you will pay one-fifth of the home's sale price. As a result, you will hold that much equity in the house.

A standard down payment is ideal for most

Spring has sprung and a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of... real estate? Perhaps not, but now that the weather is warming up in the Okanagan, real estate sales tend to pick up along with the temperature. Does that make it a good or bad time to consider buying a home? Here are a few thoughts on why you should buy a home this spring.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Early Bird Gets the Worm

Spring is typically the time that homeowners considering a move start trying to sell their property. The resulting boost to inventory means that this season is the best time to find that perfect-for-you home. The longer you wait, the more

Security and convenience.

Both are crucial for today's homebuyers. According to polls by Rakuten.ca, almost a third of Canadians already own smart home technology, and the market is only growing. For today's home sellers, this means security, high-tech gadgets and convenience in your Joe Rich home become even more valuable than ever. That's why smart home features help sell homes.

Planning on some home upgrades? Check out these 11 smart home options that offer either security, convenience, or an attractive mix of both.

Smart Thermostat

Constantly having to adjust the thermostat is inconvenient, and hefty electric bills from wasted energy are downright painful. Smart thermostats alleviate both with the ability to easily program the time of

When selling a home, every homeowner wants to do whatever they can to help ensure that it finds the right buyer. However, some things can make selling a home a bit trickier, especially selling a home in a buyers market. Selling a home with pets in residence is a common home seller conundrum.

But how can a seller make their home the best it can be to sell without resorting to something drastic like giving up their beloved pets? Keep reading for a few strategies homeowners can use to make their home appealing to all buyers while keeping pets where they belong.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Repair Damage Left By Pets

It’s a fact

Smart homebuyers never skip the home inspection, so smart home sellers should be prepared for it. No one, buyer or seller, wants a poor home inspection result to complicate the transaction, especially if the flaws are minor details. Keep reading for some cheap quick-fix tips to eliminate minor problems on inspection reports.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Get Out the Vacuum Cleaner

Cleaning out filters is one of the easiest ways to keep a home comfortable and healthy. Find out where the filters are and how often they should be changed out. Here are some common maintenance schedules:

• Vacuum out bathroom fans monthly.
• Change the

Townhome communities are an excellent option for homebuyers in Kelowna who want to own their own home while having more space than condos provide. Additionally, townhomes are great for downsizing from a larger property. Owners also have fewer maintenance responsibilities because their properties are generally smaller than single-family homes.

Townhome communities offer access to incredible amenities that might not be present in residential neighbourhoods. Keep reading to discover some of the best townhome communities in Kelowna offering fantastic amenities for their residents.

Brighton

Brighton Townhomes have small fenced yards and double side-by-side garages. These lovely tri-level homes are in the Lower Mission neighbourhood, just a short

If you have an old wood-burning stove in your home, like the old pot-bellied stoves you see in the movies, the provincial government and the B.C. Lung Association are encouraging you to get rid of it. Read on to learn how replacing your wood-burning stove can benefit you and your region today.

Get Financial Rebates for Replacing Your Wood Stove

Wood stove exchange programs throughout British Columbia offer rebates of $300 for qualified purchasers who trade in their old clunkers in favour of electric inserts or brand new, cleaner-burning appliances that are EPA and CSA-certified. Those who choose even more environmentally friendly options like natural gas, propane, pellet stoves, and heat pumps are eligible for even more.

The Regional District

Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular because they help homeowners save money and also help homeowners reduce their home's carbon footprint. Despite this rising popularity, many homeowners are unaware of the benefits of solar panels and are uncertain about how solar panels work. This FAQ can help answer homeowner questions about solar panels.

Can Solar Panels Increase a Home's Value?

Studies show that property values increase by as much as $6,000 for every 1 kW installed. Modern solar panels tend to be more valuable than older solar panels because they do degrade somewhat with time. This can add up as much as an additional 3 or 4 percent to the value of a property.

The increase in value will depend on a variety of factors

Staging a home enables buyers to envision themselves living in your space. For some sellers, staging means hiring a company to come in, redecorate the entire home, and place fresh, new furniture in every room. For others, staging rearranging furniture, repainting, and doing other economically prudent tricks. Home staging, regardless of how the seller goes about it, will give the seller an edge in competitive markets like Dilworth Mountain. When selling your home, keep these staging tips in mind.

Boost Curb Appeal

As the saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." From the moment a potential buyer walks up the driveway, they are forming an opinion of your home based on the curb appeal that has been prepared. Does

Packing to move is a big job for anyone, and it takes a lot of preparation and time to make sure everything gets safely put away in time for the movers to haul it all away. With such a big job, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and at a loss for how to pack an entire home’s worth of possessions in a timely manner, so here are seven effective tips for any homeowner to help make sure all their things get packed up in time for the big move after selling a home.

1. Start Sooner Rather Than Later

It’s easy to get behind with packing when focusing on selling a home, so as soon as the homeowner knows they’re going to sell, they should pack some of their extra things that aren’t used often. Getting started earlier will mean there’s less that needs to be done