Deciding whether to sell your home before buying a new one can feel like standing at a crossroads, with each path offering its own set of advantages and challenges. The choice often boils down to timing, finances, and personal circumstances. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each option to help you make an informed decision.

Starting with selling your home first, one of the biggest benefits is the financial clarity it provides. Knowing how much you can invest in your new home can simplify your search and prevent you from overextending your budget. Additionally, selling first means you won’t have to juggle two mortgages, which can ease financial pressure. If your current home sells quickly, you can leverage that equity to make a competitive offer...

When it comes to buying a home, the excitement of searching for the perfect property can often overshadow the important details that come with the purchase. Among these details, one question looms large: is a home inspection really worth the investment? For many prospective homeowners, especially first-time buyers, this decision can feel overwhelming. Yet, understanding the significance of a home inspection can save you money, time, and potential heartache in the long run.

Imagine this scenario: you find a charming house that perfectly fits your vision. It has a cozy kitchen, spacious yard, and that extra bedroom you’ve always dreamed of. With excitement in your heart, you make an offer, only to later discover underlying issues that could have...

Deciding to move is a significant life choice that requires careful consideration of various factors. When contemplating a move, it is essential to reflect on both the financial and emotional aspects that come into play. While the excitement of a new beginning may entice you, taking a step back to evaluate your current situation can help you make a more informed decision.

If you are thinking about moving, consider the following:

• Length of time living in your next home: When evaluating a move, consider how long you'll need to stay in your new home to cover initial expenses like the down payment and moving costs through appreciation or savings.

• Mortgage penalties: Aligning your home sale with your mortgage renewal can help you avoid penalties or ...

As the leaves change and the air cools, the Shuswap region, especially Salmon Arm, becomes a stunning autumn haven. Known for its vibrant foliage, beautiful lakes, and local events, Fall is a perfect time to experience life in Salmon Arm.  Shuswap Lake, framed by mountains and forests, offers a serene backdrop as trees transform into rich oranges, reds, and gold.  Outdoor activities abound in the Fall, from mountain biking, hiking and kayaking to scenic drives to admire the colors. The Shuswap region’s stunning landscapes make it a perfect destination for photographers, nature lovers, and families.

A highlight is the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival each August, setting the stage for Fall events. After the festival, the town continues...

It can be tough to make the decision to sell. In fact, for many homeowners, it can be overwhelming. If you’re considering making a move and struggling with the decision, here are five helpful questions to ask yourself:

1. What is your practical reason for selling?

This question refers to what you’ll get by moving to a new home. The reasons could include a bigger backyard, a shorter commute to work, an extra bedroom, a more desirable neighbourhood, etc. Maybe bullet point what you’ll gain against what you’d lose by moving home.

2. What are your emotional reasons for selling?

This question refers to how you’ll feel about living in a new home. For example, you might feel safer, less cramped, less worried about your kids because the local schools are...

Are you considering buying a home but worried about your limited budget? You're not alone. Many prospective homeowners face the challenge of navigating the real estate market with low incomes and tight budgets. But rest assured, with the right guidance and resources, owning a home can be within your reach.

As a experienced local REALTOR^®, I understand the financial constraints that can come with buying a home, especially for first-time buyers, and I'm here to support and guide you through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth and successful home buying experience.

One of the key aspects of buying a home is understanding the mortgage process. Exploring the myriad of financing options can be daunting. A good REALTOR^® can help to...

Whenever you’re planning a big move - such as from the BC coast to the BC interior - it’s a good idea to do some research about the area that you want to move to: what the weather is like, what the schools are like, and the job opportunities available. Depending on what type of life you live the interior might be a better option for you than the coast. However, there are some differences that you should know before committing to the big move.

WEATHER

The weather in the interior versus the coast has some dramatic differences. While the coast is known for its heavy rainfall, cloud cover, wet slushy winters, and tends to have a chill for many days that gets into your bones, the interior is quite the opposite. With warmer summers, dry...

We all know how stressful moving can be, with so much to think about and so much to do, but it’s how moving can impact those who are closest to us - our children and pets that we need to really be aware of.

Here’s some advice on how to make a successful family move.

Moving with Kids

These tips can make it easier for your kids to cope with the move and help make it more of a fun experience for the family.

1. Talk to your kids about the move.

The best way to prepare your kids for the move is to talk about it. Have a family meeting and explain why it’s best for the family and encourage them to talk about their feelings. Don’t wait until the last minute to talk to them as your kids will need time to digest the information...

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...

If you are thinking about selling your home this coming spring, one factor that may hold you back or delay your preparations is time. You may be worried that you won’t be able to find the time in your busy schedule to prepare your property so you can sell successfully.

If so, here are four strategies that can help:

1. Understand what needs to be done

Do you know what you’ll need to do in order to sell your home? Do you understand the steps involved? Do you have a clear idea of how long it will take to complete these various tasks, such as getting repairs done, decluttering, and doing some ‘staging’?

The more accurately you can anticipate your tasks and how long it will take to complete them, the better you’ll be...