Okanagan | Kelowna | Vernon | Kamloops | Penticton | Osoyoos
Real Estate/Housing in Kelowna, British Columbia feature lakefront acreages from housing complexes such as Sheerwater and elegant homes & first-class retirement services such as Mission Villas. If you're looking for more Kelowna Real Estate then click on the links below to discover what Kelowna BC has to offer.
Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley boasting all the amenities of a major city - fine dining, unique shops and a vibrant cultural life - yet orchards and vineyards thrive within a 10-minute drive of the downtown core. Spectacular vistas await those ready to explore; a delightful day can be spent sampling the award-winning wares of our numerous internationally-acclaimed wineries, or you may wish to visit one of several championship golf courses in the area.
Situated on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake mid-way between Penticton in the south and Vernon in the north, Kelowna residents and tourists alike find the lake offers wonderful opportunities for boating, swimming or fishing. The nearby mountains attract hikers, skiers and outdoor enthusiasts of all descriptions. There are three major ski hills within a one hour drive - Big White, Silver Star and Apex.
Kelowna has become the main marketing and distribution centre of the Okanagan Valley, with a flourishing tree fruit industry and a growing light industrial sector that competes on a world scale. Best known for forestry, boats, plastics, fibreglass, body armour and oil-field equipment, Kelowna also has a growing high technology sector that includes aerospace development and service.
Prospera Place, a 6,000-seat multi-purpose facility that’s home to the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, attracts major entertainers and events to the heart of our Cultural District.
The Rotary Centre for the Arts is a significant feature of the district, which was named a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2003.
Waterfront Park is a showcase of the area with lagoons, an outdoor amphitheatre and a wooden boardwalk that links Tugboat Beach and the residential area to the north with the Grand Okanagan Hotel and the downtown.
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a native term for "female grizzly bear."
First settled by missionaries in 1859, Kelowna was officially incorporated in 1905. Nearby communities include Westside to the west across the lake, Lake Country and then Vernon to the north, Westbank and then Peachland to the southwest and further to the south, Summerland and Penticton.
The service industry employs the most people in Kelowna, the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan Valley. In summer, boating is popular, and in winter, Alpine skiing at the nearby Big White Ski Resort.
With roots dating back to 1965, Okanagan College is the predominant centre for vocational and undergraduate post-secondary education in Kelowna. With over 5000 full-time students it constitutes the largest college in British Columbia outside the Lower Mainland and Victoria. The University of British Columbia took over the North Kelowna campus of Okanagan University College (now Okanagan College) on July 1, 2005. While UBCO continues to offer many of OUC's undergraduate programs, UBC Okanagan also offers Engineering and Management undergraduate programs and has developed Graduate programs in most disciplines.
For Kelowna news, check out Castanet, The Daily Courier, or the Kelowna Capital News.
The purchase of a new home involves many different real estate professionals. At RedKey, we believe there'a logical process of involving all of the professionals that you'll need, and we've compiled some of the best in the business below based on an easy step by step process.
1. Determine how much you can afford. Consulting with a financial advisor will help you understand the appropriate price level of a home that you should be looking for.
2. Pre-qualify for a mortgage. There are two ways to accomplish the pre-qualification step. You can either negotiate directly with the banks and credit unions, or rely on the expertise of a mortgage broker that is familiar with all of the mortgage options available. There are many Kelowna mortgage brokers that can provide excellent service.
3. Find a home. Now that you've set your budget and you've pre-qualified for a mortgage, it's time to start looking. Your search will be influenced by your preference for the type of home ownership you're looking for and the amenities you would like close to your new home. Kelowna has many diverse areas, from golf course communities like Black Mountain, to affordable condos like Artisan. At this stage, you should seriously consider using a local Kelowna Realtor that has knowledge of the area and can provide advice about which area will suit you the best. Of course, if you're focused exclusively on new Kelowna real estate, there's no better place to explore your options than on RedKey.ca. The most popular for sale by owner website in Kelowna is Okhomeseller.com. For a Kelowna Realtor we recommend Jason Neumann.
4. Make an offer. We assume at this point you've reviewed all your options and have found the house that suits your needs and is in a location that you like at a price point that suits your budget. You're ready to take the plunge. If you haven't involved the services of a Realtor yet, you may want to consider it now. If you're entirely comfortable with the process of buying real estate, you're not reading this anyway and will be driving a hard bargain with the sellers knowing that they or their Realtor will be saving half or all of the commission. Most new developments will have a standard offer to purchase contract that you should have reviewed by a lawyer at the very least. Whatever your situation, ensure the deposit you place on the home is placed in trust.
5. Do your due diligence. Your contract should have included several conditions that require the use of additional real estate professionals in Kelowna. Typical conditions will involve having an inspection, reviewing the legal title, completing an appraisal and confirming that appropriate insurance can be placed on the home. At a minimum, you'll need an home inspector to confirm the quality of the home, an appraiser to confirm the value for the mortgage company, and an insurance agent to confirm the appropriate insurance can be placed on the home to satisfy the mortgage company.
Once all your conditions are satisfied, waive your conditions, and your are now contracted to buy a home!
6. Prepare for closing. If you are using a Realtor and haven't chosen a lawyer yet, now is the time to choose a Kelowna lawyer to ensure the closing documents can be prepared. There are many Kelowna lawyers that can provide excellent service and advice, one of which is Farris LLP.
7. Get ready to move in. In our experience, moving sucks. If you can afford it, hire movers. Your friends will thank you. Aside from Kelowna moving companies, you'll also have to contact utility and services companies. We've compiled a list of Kelowna contacts for you here.
8. Have a housewarming party. You're in your new place and it won't feel like home until you have a bunch of family and friends over to help break it in.