Nov.19, 2010 - Market Update: Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC - Real Estate - Raymond MAASKE Nov.19, 2010 - Market Update: Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC - Real Estate - Raymond MAASKE 11/19/2010

Benjamin FORBES, Manager, Residential Mortgage, TD Canada Trust, Summerland Penticton BC Real Estate speaking on Title Insurance with First Canadian Title Benjamin Forbes Manager, Residential MortgagesTelephone: (250) 859-5626Fax: 1-888-304-3148Toll free: 1-888-774-5606 Dear Customer,Whether you are a first time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, arranging a mortgage can be a very confusing and daunting task. With over 15 years experience in the financial industry, I take great pride in providing professional financial advice and exceptional customer service. My role as a Mobile Mortgage Specialist with TD Canada Trust is to work exclusively with mortgage customers; I can get you the mortgage you need.  I specialize in new construction, equity lending, multi-unit properties, purchases for r... 11/18/2010

Tire and Automotive repairs at Big O Tires 9305 Jubilee Road, Summerland BC 250-494-7471 Brian & Carrie TAMELING and Nick Mennell   Tire and Automotive repairs at Big O Tires 9305 Jubilee Road, Summerland BC 250-494-7471 Brian & Carrie TAMELING and Nick Mennell 11/16/2010

The right Real Estate agent (or not) - Summerland & Penticton BC What is the best way to find an agent and know that he or she is the right one for you? Good question. For starters, let’s look at how buyers find agents much of the time. They’re scanning the paper or surfing the Internet and spot an ad that interest them … or they see a For Sale sign in the piano teacher’s neighbourhood … so they pick up the phone and call the agent representing the listed property and its owner. They make an appointment to view the property where they meet the listing agent. For some reason the house is not right but the agent’s next question is (and they only do this about 100% of the time ) “Can I show you something else?” And if the answer is “Yes”, the chances are good that after showing you thirty... 11/14/2010

Nov.13, 2010 - Market Update: Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC - Real Estate - Raymond MAASKE Nov.13, 2010 - Market Update: Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC - Real Estate - Raymond MAASKE 11/13/2010

How Summerland and Penticton BC Real Estate Commissions Work First some facts: Real estate agents – officially called salesperson or broker – work for a real estate brokerage. All fees paid to a real estate agent pass through the brokerage. Only a brokerage can pay a real estate commission and make a listing agreement with a seller. How Are Real Estate Agents Compensated by the Brokerage? Divisions vary. New agents can receive as little as 30% to 40% of the total commission received by the brokerage. From that amount, other fees may be deducted such as advertising, sign rentals or office expenses. Top producing agents might receive 100% and pay the broker a desk fee. Everybody else falls somewhere in between. Listing Agents’ Fees The most common type of listing agreement between a sell... 11/13/2010

Hand Held House-Hunting is now available in Summerland and Penticton BC  The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) unveiled its latest home buying and selling innovation, a new mobile application of REALTOR.ca for Windows® Phone 7. REALTOR.ca is operated by CREA, and is the most visited real estate website in Canada, with about 350 000 property listings available at any one time. “Allowing people to check out houses whenever they want, wherever they want, will make the home and property hunt that much easier,” said CREA President Georges Pahud. “Today’s consumers want portable, on-the-go information and REALTORS® across Canada are happy to be able to meet this need with the new REALTOR.ca app.” The REALTOR.ca app provides house hunters with the functionality of REALTOR.ca while taking... 11/13/2010

Driving tips for roundabouts They’ve been around for decades in Europe. Over the last decade, we’ve starting to see more of them in B.C. Don’t confuse them with your local neighbourhood traffic circles. Roundabouts are really just intersections in a circular shape— they force you  to go around a central island and make new vehicles that want to enter yield the right-of-way. What’s so good about roundabouts? They improve traffic flow. You just have to simply slow down and go around until making your turn instead of stopping and waiting. They reduce serious crashes involving injuries because they virtually eliminate the chance of a head-on collision. They slow you down. And they improve safety for anyone walking or cycling. All without traffic signals. How do I use a roundabout? 1. Appro... 11/11/2010

as we ALL remember:  War photo has Summerland link   Warren Bernard runs to say goodbye to his father Jack Bernard in New Westminster in 1940. The photo, which appeared in many international magazines, is probably the most famous Canadian war photograph. The Bernard family lived in Summerland. Published: November 09, 2010 2:00 PM Updated: November 09, 2010 3:18 PM by David Gregory   Probably the most famous Canadian photograph of World War II was taken in 1940 in New Westminster. It shows the British Columbia Regiment leaving by Ship to Nanaimo. The award winning photograph was taken by Claud Detloff and used in many international magazines, including Life Magazine. The five-year-old youngster is Warren Bernard. He breaks away from the grip of his mother Bernice to run to the outstretc... 11/11/2010

Buyer’s Remorse -  Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC - Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Home Star Realty - Raymond MAASKE   (cognitive dissonance) Even in a market where you can pick and choose whatever house you want, many buyers experience what is known as Buyer’s Remorse. It’s the feeling you get, after having an offer accepted, that you made a big mistake and are now somehow stuck with a home you no longer want. This is such a common occurrence that the term, “Buyer’s Remorse” is widely used. One of the best ways to combat this feeling is to go into the housing search knowing that after your offer on a home is accepted, there will no doubt be a strong surge of emotions – especially if you are a first time home buyer. Whether those emotions include remorse is dependent upon how pre... 11/10/2010

      Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue Progress Report   SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE   During the weeks of November 8th to November 22nd   Prairie Valley Road West Paving will occur on Wharton Street, Prairie Valley Road south of Wharton and the west side of the roundabout on the 8th. This will be followed by paving from the roundabout to Giant's Head Road. Again this will create much congestion and this will be an intersection better avoided next week if possible. The landscaper will continue placing paving stones in the roundabout mountable aprons but will bring planting to an end with colder temperatures approaching. The sidewalk will be completed during the next two weeks.   Prairie Valley Road East Paving will take place towards the end of the week of the 8th from Atkinson... 11/08/2010

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) Revises Real Estate Forecast - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC -  Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Home Star Realty - Raymond MAASKE The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has lowered its forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®)Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations for 2010 and 2011. Sales activity in the third quarter of 2010 began on a weak footing, but gained traction as the quarter progressed. Improving momentum for home sales activity suggests the resale housing market is stabilizing, but weaker than expected third quarter activity has reduced CREA’s annual forecast. National sales activity is now expected to reach 442,200 units in 2010, representing an annual decline of 4.9 per... 11/06/2010

Monthly Market Update - South Okanagan Real Estate Board - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC -  Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Raymond MAASKE Email me at: raymondmaaske@gmail.com for the full report     Email me at: raymondmaaske@gmail.com for the full report Monthly Market Update - South Okanagan Real Estate Board - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan, BC -  Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Raymond MAASKE 11/05/2010

Harmonized Sales Tax - HOW IT APPLIES TO SUMMERLAND, PENTICTON, OKANAGAN, BC - RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE GENERAL DISCUSSION On July 23, 2009, British Columbia announced its plans to implement a Harmonized Sales Tax (“H.S.T.”) for B.C. effective July 1, 2010. The H.S.T. is a combination of the 7% Provincial Sales Tax (“P.S.T.”) with the 5% federal Goods and Services Tax (“G.S.T.”) for a single sales tax rate of 12%. For consumers, goods and services (with some exceptions) will be subject to the H.S.T. in the same manner as they are currently subject to GST. This applies to real estate as well. For both used and new homes, there are some extra costs for buyers or sellers but these are for the services required to buy or sell, not on the price of the home. Buyers of used residential real est... 11/02/2010

Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue Progress Report - During the weeks of November 1st to November 15th - Summerland, Okanagan, BC - Raymond MAASKE     Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue Progress Report   SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE   During the weeks of November 1st to November 15th Prairie Valley Road West Curb is now complete except for a few small areas that require hand forming. Construction on the island planter retaining wall is complete in the centre of the new roundabout and sidewalk continues to be prepped and poured. The landscape contractor is also nearing completion of paver stones behind the roll over curb in the centre of the roundabout and will start in the mountable apron on the outside shortly. We would ask again that all drivers slow down when entering the ... 11/01/2010

Real Estate Market Update October 30, 2010 - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan BC  - Raymond MAASKE Real Estate Market Update October 30, 2010 - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan BC  - Raymond MAASKE 10/30/2010

Bryce Johnston, Reinhold Numsen and Sabrina Maaske, all from the 902 Summerland Air Cadet program, were recently presented with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The international award presented to youth between 14 and 24 years of age and is based on skills, service, expedition and physical activity.     Top cadets Bryce Johnston, Reinhold Numsen and Sabrina Maaske, all from the 902 Summerland Air Cadet program, were recently presented with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The international award presented to youth between 14 and 24 years of age and is based on skills, service, expedition and physical activity. 10/28/2010

Kirk Roberge shows the site where a modular structure will be set up for Kindergarten students at Giant’s Head School. The site is near his house, which is at the right of the picture. John Arendt Summerland Review By John Arendt - Summerland Review Published: October 27, 2010 4:00 PM Updated: October 27, 2010 4:44 PM The view from Kirk Roberge’s kitchen and dining room windows is about to change as the school district is preparing to set up a new modular Kindergarten facility near the edge of the Giant’s Head School property. “This is going to drop the value of the place by at least $100,000 — probably $150,000,” Roberge said. “By putting it where they are, they’ve just devalued my home.” His new home on Prior Place was recently constructed and he has not yet received his final occupa... 10/28/2010

    Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue Progress Report SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE During the weeks of October 25th to November 8st   Prairie Valley Road West Most of the curb has now been placed. Construction on the island planter retaining wall is complete in the centre of the new roundabout and sidewalk continues to be prepped and poured. The landscape contractor will begin laying paver stones behind the roll over curb in the centre of the roundabout next week. We would ask again that all drivers slow down and pedestrians be cautious when entering the roundabout as there are delineators and concrete barriers in place to protect the newly pulled curb until fully cured. Because the lane widths on the east and west sides of the roundabout are currently reduced the contractor has ... 10/25/2010

Appraisals and Home Inspections: What’s the Difference?  Summerland, Penticton Okanagan Real Estate and Homes for Sale Variable rate mortgages from as low as Prime minus 0.65%. Prime Rate is 3.00%.*  *Note that Prime rate may vary according to lender.  Lower rates may be available in certain regions, or to those with higher credit scores or higher net worth – be sure to check with your Invis mortgage professional for full details.     Rates are subject to change without notice.  Fixed mortgage rates shown in table above and quoted variable mortgage rates are available nationally to qualified individuals. Appraisals & Home Inspections Appraisals and Home Inspections: What’s the Difference?  A home is one of life’s most important purchases.  Before committing to a purchase it makes sense ... 10/25/2010