News
Win tickets to a WHL game!
Posted: Tuesday, 04 October, 2011
Your local RE/MAX agents want to send you and your group to enjoy some great local major junior hockey action. RE/MAX is proud to support the Western Hockey League and excited to offer fans a chance to win a group of 24 tickets to see your local WHL team in an upcoming game! By offering this promotion we want you to know that we appreciate your business in the communities in which we live and work. To enter your group, click on the link below and fill out the form for your chance to be sitting in the RE/MAX Home Team Contest Winners Section! VISIT: http://www.whl.ca/remax-home-team-contest
Contest Rules:
Contestants may apply as many times as they like and must be 12 years or older to apply.
Winners will be chosen at random draw
WHL will follow up with the winner directly
Tickets are only available in Canadian Markets
Includes live game day coverage, audio and video clips, exclusive stories, game tickets, stats, standings, schedules and features.
Summer Finishes with Steady Home Sales
Posted: Wednesday, 28 September, 2011
Summer Finishes with Steady Home Sales
Kelowna, BC – The Central Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported August 2011 sales
activity of all MLS® property types slower than this time last year and down marginally compared to July as a
buyers’ market continues into the fall.
During August, overall sales dipped 2.05% over last year (to 286 units from 292) and were down 16.12% over July
(from 341), with sales volumes of $113.3 million compared to $155.7 million in 2010. Total residential sales last
month were down 3.72% compared to August 2010 (to 259 units from 269). Single family home sales rose 1.54%
over last year (to 132 compared to 130) – a 2.94% drop from the 136 homes sold in July. While inventory
continues to decline over last year (down 1.23% to 5,230 units from 5,295), new listings for the month rose over
last August (up 0.97% to 832 from 824) but declined 13.6% compared to listings taken in July (from 963).
“The summer finished with steady home sales and stable home prices in the Central Zone. Most market segments
continue to move along and hold their own in the Okanagan‐Shuswap, while the recreation and investment
segments are still sluggish – being most affected by attractive U.S. opportunities and a slower than expected
recovery in Canada,” says Kent Jorgenson, OMREB Director and REALTOR® in the Central Zone. “Concerns over
personal debt loads, net worth and employment fueled by reports of American economic instability have cooled
consumer confidence and overall demand in most BC markets, and volatility in the equity markets could result in
further belt‐tightening and apprehension about making big purchases moving into fall. However, we’re hopeful
the BC Government will reveal its HST transition plan quickly to alleviate some market uncertainty. ”
Jorgenson notes, “Serious buyers are looking for well‐priced properties – recognizing that now is the time to buy
while there is still a good selection of homes and room to negotiate, and knowing that higher interest rates
anticipated later this year could impact their purchasing power and determine the home they can afford.
Sellers can benefit from working with a professional REALTOR® to price strategically at current values and make
the most of buyer activity. Homes with good curb appeal that are listed by vendors with the sharpest pencils are
selling quickly in this competitive market. “
The results of OMREB’s Board‐wide monthly Buyers Survey profiling who the buyers are, what they are buying
and where they are from shows that the majority of buyers are from within the Board area. First‐time buyers and
move‐up buyers are a driving factor, and stimulate the chain of ownership.
The Central Zone of OMREB covers an area from Peachland to Lake Country and east along Highway 33 to
Westbridge (including the Christian Valley). The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) is comprised of
1,126 member REALTORS® and 92 real estate offices in the Southern Interior of BC.
For the most comprehensive source of all real estate listings, home buying and selling information, visit our
national websites at www.realtor.ca and www.icx.ca. To find out about the advantages of using a REALTOR®,
check out www.howrealtorshelp.ca
All OMREB listings are published in the MLS® Real Estate Review magazine available at all real estate offices and
various locations in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, the Shuswap and Revelstoke areas. For
comprehensive Board‐wide statistical information, please visit our local public site: www.omreb.com
courtesy of omreb.com
REALTORS making a difference!
Posted: Wednesday, 28 September, 2011
REALTORS® MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
$6,000 Raised for Okanagan Hospice and Women’s Shelter
Kelowna, BC – Despite a slowdown in the pace of home sales in the Central Okanagan, the community
spirit of local REALTORS® is undeterred. The members of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board’s
Central Zone have raised $6,000 to benefit the local hospice and women’s shelter.
The Central Zone Committee recently donated $3,000 each to the Central Okanagan Hospice Association
and to the Kelowna Women’s Shelter. The donations are the result of fundraising efforts of the
REALTORS® of OMREB’s Central Zone during the 2010 Golf Tournament, Annual General Meeting, and
Christmas Luncheon. The main theme of these events was to raise much‐needed funds for the Central
Zone’s two selected charities.
“We consider our local fundraising efforts a great success in a year with so much uncertainty. It is good
to see that as a community we are still able to lend a hand to those less fortunate,” says Nancy
MacKellar who manages the Charities and REALTORS® Care portfolio for the Zone.
The monies for the Hospice Association will go towards the training of additional volunteers as the
request for hospice services and the need for practical and emotional support for the terminally ill and
their families increase. Bedside vigil, respite for caregivers and patient advocacy are important
components that require skilled volunteers.
The Women’s Shelter plans on using the funds for a variety of programs and services offered. During
2010, the shelter served 242 women and 155 children for a total of 397 who stayed for 4,210
overnights. The shelter handled 1,670 crisis support calls, and offered 554 group counselling sessions
and 500 individual counselling sessions last year.
“One hundred percent of all funds earned in 50/50 raffles, silent auction and donation proceeds are
annually donated to these two recipients as well as to student bursaries,” says OMREB President George
Cwiklewski. “We are proud to showcase our REALTORS’® commitment to enhancing the ‘Quality of Life’
in the communities we live and work in as our members give of their time, money and expertise.”
The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) is comprised of 1,144 member REALTORS® and 86
real estate offices in the Southern Interior of BC. The Central Zone of OMREB covers an area from
Peachland to Lake Country and east along Highway 33 to Westbridge (including the Christian Valley).
RE/MAX Western Canada Bursary Deadline
Posted: Tuesday, 15 February, 2011
RE/MAX Western Canada is again distributing bursaries to deserving students! Enter on-line at www.remax-western.ca for instructions and application forms.
RE/MAX of Western Canada will award 16 bursaries of $1,000 each to qualifying Grade 12 students. In addition, each award includes a Certificate of Excellence signed by the Regional Executive Vice President of RE/MAX of Western Canada. Winners will be notified in May, 2011 and posted on the website.
Who Can Participate?
The Quest for Excellence is open to all Grade 12 students attending high school from September, 2010 - June, 2011. Grade 12 students may not have participated in graduation commencement ceremonies in the past. Applicants must be a resident of one of the following provinces/territories:
• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Yukon Territory
Win Tickets to watch Your Favourite WHL team
Posted: Tuesday, 15 February, 2011
RE/MAX Kelowna is giving you a chance to win tickets to see your Favourite WHL team (like the Kelowna Rockets!) Visit remaxkelowna.com to enter for your chance to win!
You can view more of our news articles in our archive section.
