Winter in the BC Interior is a unique and captivating season, with its snowy landscapes and cozy ambiance. While some might think that the real estate market slows down during this time, there are actually many advantages to buying or selling a home in Salmon Arm and the Shuswap region during the colder months.

For those looking to buy a home, winter can offer a distinct advantage. With fewer buyers in the market, competition is reduced, giving you more negotiating power and potentially better deals. Sellers are often more motivated during this time, making it an opportune moment to find your dream home at a more affordable price.

The BC Interior, known for its natural beauty, transforms into a winter wonderland during the colder months. From...

Are you torn between the age-old question of whether to rent or buy a home? It's a decision that countless individuals face at some point in their lives, and the choice can have a significant impact on your financial future. Let's dive into the pros and cons of each option to help you make an informed decision.

When it comes to renting, one of the biggest advantages is flexibility. Renting offers the freedom to move from one place to another without the burden of selling a property. This is especially beneficial for individuals who frequently change jobs or desire to explore different areas. Additionally, renting often requires less upfront financial commitment compared to buying a home.

On the other hand, buying a home is a major financial ...

When prospective buyers visit your listed home, the room they tend to check out most closely is the kitchen. So, it pays to ensure it looks its best.

However, no matter how tidy, clean, and well-adorned you’ve made your kitchen, there are some issues — which can seem minor — that can distract a buyer from appreciating those positive qualities.

Here are just a few to watch out for:

1. Stained sink. Use a specialized cleaner for the type of sink you have. (For example, Stainless Steel Sink Cleaner.)
2. Garbage in the garbage bin. Buyers don’t mind seeing the bin, just not garbage in it! Don’t forget to also empty the organic waste bin.
3. Left-over cooking scents. Avoid cooking anything prior to a viewing that may create lingering...

Imagine you have a growing family, and you want to trade in the small sedan for something larger. So, you visit the dealership and come back with a bus.

Well, that would be upsizing a bit too much – unless you have a huge family!

That’s the challenge of upsizing or downsizing. You need to be careful not to take it too far and end up with something that isn’t suitable.

This often occurs in the real estate world. For example, homeowners might decide to sell their home and find a smaller one. But, if they go too far, they end up with a property so small they feel claustrophobic.

How do you avoid a similar scenario happening to you?

If you’re thinking of upsizing or downsizing, the best place to start is in your own home....

When you read or watch the news about the real estate market, it may seem reasonable to make the assumption that the information applies equally to your street or community.

But, that isn’t always true.

In fact, the characteristics of your local real estate market can differ in many respects from the regional or national market.

Say the regional real estate market is most active during certain months of the year. That might be true of your neighbourhood, too. But, there may also be some caveats. If, for example, buyers are eagerly awaiting listings to come up in your community, then that micro market might heat up faster than other areas in the region.

Knowing how your local market works and how it differs from the larger regional market...

It’s easy to assume that you don’t need a Realtor™ to sell your home. But using an experienced Realtor™ can bring a lot of value to your sale. Here are a few benefits to using a Realtor™:

1: You’ll probably make more money.

A July 2017 study by Collateral Analytics found that For Sale by Owners (FSBOs) rarely make any savings, and in some cases the sale may end up costing more. The study showed that FSBOs sold for around 6% less than similar properties sold by Realtor™.

2: You’ll get greater exposure with a Realtor™.

Only Realtor™ are allowed to market homes for sale on the MLS, consequently, homes sold without a Realtor™ will not show up on the MLS, which is...

There’s no doubt about it. Buying a home that is “move in ready” is a real convenience. All you need to do is get your belongings in place, and you’re ready to enjoy living in your new home. You don’t even need to paint. That’s why move-in-ready homes tend to attract more buyers.

However, there are advantages to buying a property that needs work. And, if you’re currently shopping for a new home, a listing that requires some repairs, upgrades, or renovations might be worth considering.

Why?

Properties that need work tend to be priced lower than comparable movein-ready listings. Depending on market demand, the price savings can range from modest (just a few thousand dollars) to substantial.

Also, homes...

As winter releases its icy grip, the snow starts to melt away, revealing beneath it the lush soils that soon begin to thrive with life. Springtime is here in the Shuswap, and now we can begin to see what a wonderful place this is, and why is so good to move here.

Temperatures can still be chilly overnight here, but daytime warms up and the afternoons can be pleasantly warm, stimulating the growth of plants, flowers, trees and grasses.

And of course, it pays to be aware that bears come out of hibernation at this time, so if you go out spring hiking on the many beautiful trails, make sure you take your bear bangers!

Springtime events and things to do are abundant around the entire Shuswap region; here’s a shortlist of some of them:

• Experience...

Imagine you’d been keeping your eye on a desirable neighbourhood over the years. You had hoped that one day you could buy a home there. But then you saw prices creeping up — to a point where they became unaffordable.

“Oh well,” you’d thought. “I guess we won’t be moving there!”

That scenario is familiar to many homeowners. In fact, you too may have been keeping your eye on a neighbourhood you’d love to get into but have decided it’s become too expensive.

If that’s so, it might be worth taking a second look.

The real estate market changes. One year an area might be a red-hot seller’s market with prices soaring. The next year, things may have cooled, and prices stabilized....

Spring is often associated with moving, but now is the time to start preparing your home if you want to sell a house fast this coming springtime.

Sure, you can wait until the weather starts turning warmer if you just want to put your property on the market and hope for the best. However, clever sellers know there’s more to be made with a bit of forethought than simply selling a house ‘as is’ once spring is already here.

So, if you are wondering how to sell your home fast this springtime, here are some hints and tips.

1. Do your spring cleaning now

If you are planning to sell your property before the summer, now is the time to start getting it ready for sale...and that includes spring cleaning.

Not only will cleaning and decluttering...