Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue Progress Report SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE During the weeks of July 26th to August 9th Rosedale Avenue North   The landscape contractor is working towards completion of the paving stones in the apron area in the roundabout. Paver stone installation in the centre medians will commence.   NOTE: The two power poles in the paving stone apron on the south east corner of the roundabout are temporary and will be removed when the underground power is connected within the next few months.   Rosedale Avenue South   Work on the south end of Rosedale Avenue will continue with installation of irrigation water lines, underground electrical ducting and installation of streetlight bases. Sub-excavation and import of road gravels between Jubilee Road Ea... 07/23/2010

Bill Hibberd fine art - Summerland, South Okanagan, BC Artist Summerland BC and its surrounding area has so much to offer which is the main reason that we live here or want to live here.  My good friend Bill Hibberd is a local artist that captures some of the ‘untouched' beauty we have been given. artist's statement - Bill HIBBERD  I am an oil painter. Commissioned work aside, I paint in response to my surroundings. People, clouds, land, water, shade and light. I will often use colour shifts instead of contrastng values. I don't have a final image in mind at the genesis of a painting; I allow the piece to direct me and find that the adventure is in the process. Towards the end of a work I'll give some consideration to how a viewers' eyes will explore a composition and will make some adj... 07/21/2010

Bank of Canada Hikes Key Interest Rate Today - Summerland Penticton Okanagan BC Real Estate     Bank of Canada Bank of Canada Hikes Key Interest Rate Today  The Bank of Canada hiked its key interest rate by a quarter point today, for the second month in a row.  In its statement the Bank noted that it “expects the economic recovery in Canada to be more gradual than it had projected in…April, with growth of 3.5 per cent in 2010, 2.9 per cent in 2011, and 2.2 per cent in 2012. This revision reflects a slightly weaker profile for global economic growth and more modest consumption growth in Canada.”  Most lending institutions are expected to respond to the Bank’s rate hike by increasing their prime lending rates by a quarter point.  However, lenders do vary in when exactly they adjust their ... 07/20/2010

Hot tub in mind? How to get the best deal - Summerland & Penticton BC Okanagan Real Estate and Homes for Sale Hot tubs are a great way to entertain, allowing family members and guests to socialize in a comfortable atmosphere. But hot tubs are expensive and take a lot of time to maintain, right? That might not necessarily be the case.Finding the right hot tub for your house doesn't have to be a costly hassle. You just need to figure out exactly what you want and work with a qualified dealer in your area.Here are some things that I suggest you consider when shopping for a hot tub:* Most buyers prefer to install their hot tubs outside. Look at your yard and landscape and decide on potential installation locations. Hot tubs can sit above or below the ground.* Sizes of hot tubs vary from sma... 07/19/2010

 Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue Progress Report - Summerland BC Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue Progress Report SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE During the weeks of July 19th to August 2nd Rosedale Avenue North Work on the north end of Rosedale Avenue will include installation of irrigation and streetlights. Telus will work on the overbuild installation on Peach Orchard Road and the landscaper will continue to install the paver stones in the mountable aprons in the roundabout. Rosedale Avenue South Work on the south end of Rosedale Avenue will continue with sub-excavating and the import of road gravels between Jubilee Road East and Wharton Street. Installation of the main and irrigation water lines will continue south as will the installation of the underground electrical ... 07/16/2010

Real Estate Market Update for the week ending July 10th, 2010 - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan BC Homes for Sale     Real Estate Market Update for the week ending July 10th, 2010 - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan BC Homes for Sale   07/10/2010

It was 12 years ago that I took my first baby steps into the world of real estate, yet when I look back it seems like I have been through 2 lifetimes in this period. I was 27 years old when my wife and I moved to the small town of Summerland, BC to begin the next stage of our life together.  We had just returned from traveling around the world for a year and were anxious to ‘plant some roots’ and start a family and career.   That’s what we did, in fact we did it so well that from a family of two we went to 6! I started my career with a job in a real estate franchise and after working with 3 companies started my own- South Okanagan Realty.  After a few years though I shut it down to retire and went back to learning, earned a degree in theology and homeschooled my two oldest girls only t... 07/08/2010

Summerland Penticton South Okanagan BC June 2010 SOREB Market Recap - Raymond MAASKE   See full report at:  http://www.okanaganstar.com/SOREB_Stats/page_2307494.html   Summerland Penticton South Okanagan BC June 2010 SOREB Market Recap - Raymond MAASKE   07/06/2010

Free Camping Up Trout Creek, Summerland, South Okanagan, BC  Have you ever wanted to get away from it all (even if for a night)?  Well, that is what we like to do........ No internet, no cell phones – just you and the great South Okanagan outdoors! This weekend I took our four children out 22 km from Summerland along the Princeton – Summerland Road and camped along Trout Creek. I was worried that we may not find a spot at one of the three picnic tables as we left Summerland late Saturday afternoon and was sure it would taken. But no, one of the three spots was waiting for us!! Free Camping Up Trout Creek, Summerland, South Okanagan, BC View Larger Map 06/28/2010

Referendum considered for Summerland BC police station - Where do you stand on this issue? Sgt. Mona Kauffeld of the Summerland RCMP detachment shows the fingerprinting area in the police station. The cells surrounding the fingerprint area have been condemned and the building, converted to a police facility in 1975, has not seen significant renovation work done in many years. Elsewhere in the building, officers are working from a cramped office area and electronic equipment is being housed in inadequate places. John Arendt Summerland Review By John Arendt - Summerland ReviewPublished: June 22, 2010 4:00 PM Updated: June 22, 2010 4:07 PM Now that a counter petition on the proposed police station has failed, the municipality will likely go to a referendum to consider whether the community... 06/24/2010

A half marathon held in Summerland in early August has been renamed to pay tribute to a legendary runner. The Summerland Centennial Half Marathon was renamed the Willis Greenaway Half - Run To Beat Alzheimer's. Greenaway, who died of Alzheimer's in 2008, was a long-time Summerlander who held numerous national age category running records. In 2003, at the age of 81, he ran four marathons in 12 months. Ron Sherk, director of the race, said it is fitting to name the race after Greenaway. "It's both a chance to honour the memory of Willis and to raise money to fight Alzheimer's," he said. One in 11 Canadians over the age of 65 is diagnosed with Alzheimer's or a related dementia and that figure is expected to more than double in the next 20 years. The race, to be held on Sunday, Aug. 1 at 8... 06/23/2010

Home and Garden - Summerland BC and Penticton BC Real Estate and Homes for Sale Save $ on utility bills with new windows Spring is here and the weather has changed from cool to warm. If you have older windows, you're probably noticing this change inside your home as well. Why? Old windows are inefficient at regulating heating and cooling internally, so changes outside are highly noticeable inside, as well as on your utility bill. More You could get a 99% return on a kitchen remodel National research has indicated that a kitchen remodel can earn you between a 70 and 99 percent return on your investment, depending on the cost of the job. More Unhappy timeshare owners trade for land ownership For whatever reason, if you're an unhappy timeshare owner, wouldn't it be nice to have land instea... 06/21/2010

Real Estate Market Update for the week ending June 19th, 2010 - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan BC Homes for Sale   Real Estate Market Update for the week ending June 19th, 2010 - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan BC Homes for Sale 06/19/2010

Never Miss The Perfect Home Again! - Summerland Penticton South Okanagan BC Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Raymond MAASKE                   Never Miss The Perfect Home Again! Here's your chance to be notified of all new listings that meet your criteria, absolutely FREE! Not only will you be notified by email of all new listings that match your search criteria within our system, but your home search will also be compared against other participating agents' listings within your desired area(s). All new listings added to system that match your criteria will be emailed to you. Note: Our home search form lets you create and save multiple Home Search profiles. You may update these profiles or cancel at anytime. Never Miss The Perfect Home Again! - Summerland Penticton South Okanagan BC Real... 06/16/2010

Home Renovations - Summerland Penticton South Okanagan BC Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Raymond MAASKE  How to get an $850 home alarm system for free You've worked hard for the good things you have in your life - your home, your belongings and your beautiful family. That's why it's so important to make sure these things are protected with a reliable and trustworthy home security system. More Seeking a siding contractor? Where to look You always want your home to look good and remain a valuable asset. One way to do to that is to put new, maintenance-free siding on your house. More Get the hot tub of your dreams with these tips Get a great deal on a home spa. More Who will protect your family while you sleep? Protecting your family is one of your top priorities, whether it is the middl... 06/15/2010

  Consider this your home buyer's toolkit. Open it up, take a look around, and if you like, start equipping yourself with the tools necessary to make your best purchase. In most businesses, knowledge equals power, and real estate is certainly no exception. I hope you enjoy the free reports I've provided, and I hope you learn a little more about what it takes to make your important purchase a great one. The real estate market in Summerland BC and Penticton BC is certainly volatile, and all of the information about buying a home can be overwhelming. I can help.When you're ready to act, contact me. I fight on behalf of my buyers.I negotiate the absolute best price.I protect you.I simplify your transaction for you as much as possible. I look forward to working with you. Thanks for stopping... 06/14/2010

Real Estate Market Update for the week ending June 12th, 2010 - Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan BC Homes for Sale   Address Unit BR Bth List Price SqFt Fin Ratio Price Sold SqFt Fin Ratio DOM Status Area                           11320 WARD STREET   2 1 328,900 1,200 274.08 307,000 1,200 255.83 110 SOLD Summerland 2164 SANDSTONE DRIVE   6 4 667,000 4,570 145.95 637,000 4,570 139.38 120 SOLD Penticton 130 HERON DRIVE   2 2 284,900 1,375 207.2 265,000 1,375 192.72 92 SOLD Penticton 2 KINGFISHER DRIVE   2 2 369,900 1,480 249.93 358,000 1,480 241.89 101 SOLD Penticton 3333 SOUTH MAIN STREET 47 2 2 499,000 1,705 292.66 469,600 1,705 275.42 172 SOLD Penticton         429,940 2,066 234 407,320 2,066 221 119                               108 JEWELL PLACE   3 3 598,900 3,078 194.57   3,078   5 A... 06/12/2010

Pricing Strategy - Summerland Penticton South Okanagan BC Real Estate and Homes for Sale General Rules…   Let’s review some important considerations. There are certain factors that are beyond our control and certain factors that are within our control. Those factors outside of our control are: the location of the property, the finished square footage and types of rooms and the amenities that are in place.   Those factors we can control are: the appearance of the property inside and out, how aggressively we market the property and the price we set for your home. It is critical for us to accept those factors that are beyond our control and focus on pricing and preparation.   Local Market Observations…   Our market is currently steady. Properties are not moving very fast but are not langui... 06/10/2010

  How do we determine fair market value?   My goal is to sell your home for the…                                     BEST PRICE, in the                                                 SHORTEST TIME, with the                                                                                MOST FAVORABLE TERMS                                                                                                                 and CONDITIONS   Factors that affect value are:                                                       * SUPPLY AND DEMAND                                                       *  SEASONAL MARKETS                                                       *  MORTGAGE MARKET                                                       *  CONDITIONS                                         ... 06/09/2010

Making Your Home "Show" Ready -THE OUTSIDE - Summerland Penticton Okanagan BC Real Estate  and Homes for Sale - Raymond MAASKE  IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT ....YOU CAN'T SELL IT!!............(Photo courtesy of http://www.propertyplace.ca/)  Making Your Home “Show” Ready THE OUTSIDE Take the time to walk your property as if you were a buyer. Anything that stands out to you, make a note of it and be sure to correct it if possible before any real buyers show up. THE HOUSE:  Take a close look as you walk the property.  Clean anything that looks unkempt or dirty; repair or replace anything that looks loose, dingy, rusted or broken.  Make sure the doorbell works.  Replace a tired looking mail box; clean the exterior light fixtures and wash the windows.  Try to spot hanging or rusty gutters, crooked a... 06/08/2010