2013/14 OMREB Board of Directors Installed Today Mar Mar 6     The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) is pleased to announce the election of REALTOR® Karen Singbeil of Sicamous to the position of President for the 2013-2014 term. She will be installed along with 11 Directors representing the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and Shuswap zones this afternoon at OMREB’s Annual General Meeting (March 6, 2013). Singbeil replaces outgoing President Rob Shaw of Vernon who stays on as Past President. Karen has been an OMREB Member for nine years (2004), and has served as a Director since 2009 – holding the Membership and Professional Standards portfolios (2010 and 2011), acting as Zone media contact for two years (2010 and 2011), and sitting on the Finance Committee (2011 to present).... 03/06/2013

Some people do not see the value of a real estate professional because most realtors are so good at what they do (I did say most just like in any industry, there are some that give everyone a bad name) that it seems all it takes to sell a house is put an ad in the paper, a sign on the lawn and ta da!!! Many companies have become very wealthy by selling a do-it your self kit. It's only after a professional's value comes to light. Why do some people try and reinvent the wheel? Because of lack of information. When the time comes to either buy or sell your home, call me Tom Ikonomou for an in-depth analysis. I'll make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Lets make sure your selling experience becomes an exciting one!!! 04/19/2012

Anthem at Merrill Ranch brings spectacular amenities and a small-town feel where you can truly live, work and play. As a Resident in Anthem at Merrill Ranch you can get to know your neighbors and keep up to date with news and events on your very own community webpage,www.OurAnthemMR.net. I also want to remind you thatPoston Butte Golf Club is operated byTroon Golf, widely regarded as one of the world’s premier golf management companies. The rare combination ofDel Webb, Gary Panks and Troon Golf ensures pristine playing conditions, a challenging layout and impeccable service. Whether playing with your regular foursome or guests, you’ll be proud to say this is your home course. For more information, you can view our website atwww.PostonButteGC.com The Del Webb Community of Anthem is locat... 10/25/2011

    Your Kamloops home has all the benefits: hardwood, fresh paint, a great security system, heated pool, and a built-in barbecue pit.  But, why is your perfect home still on the market after 4 long months?  In today’s buyers market, your home may be overpriced.  That may be a tough pill to swallow after all of the hard work you put into your home, but the market just isn’t on your side right now.  So, how can you tell if your home is priced to sell or priced to stay?  Here are a few warning signs that you’ll be holding onto that mortgage for awhile:     No showings After two months, you’ve only has one prospective buyer through your Kamloops home.  This is a huge red flag that something is wrong.  If no one is bothering to view your home, you have no chance of selling it.  Even if you... 10/14/2011

Kamloops residents have long understood that they have a wonderful life.  From skiing and hiking to fine arts and dining, there is something for everyone. Today, it is apparent that more and more people understand the great life Kamloops has to offer. Canadian Real Estate Magazine recently named Kamloops as one of the top 5 investment towns in BC.  Thanks to increasing home sales, a strong rental market, and less of an oversupply of condominiums in comparison to other town, Kamloops is making a name for itself. In addition, the $50M put into renovating and building additional sports facilities is quickly making Kamloops a destination of choice for tournaments, training camps, and tourism.  Please follow this link to view the article in its entirety. http://www.canadianrealestatemagazin... 10/12/2011

For the last several decades, tile has been one of the most common choices for flooring in many Kamloops homes.  It’s durable, comes in various sizes and colors, and has products to match most budgets.  In recent years, however, many consumers have turned to polished concrete as a flooring alternative.  Although it started as cost-effective flooring for commercial spaces, homeowners have started to discover this durable, cost-effective flooring option.  However, which one is the right choice for you?  Whether your choose tile and polished concrete, both are durable, have reasonable price options, and look great.  Both can support radiant floor heating systems, are resistant to moisture damage, and are sustainable flooring alternatives.  Whether you’re deciding on new flooring for your n... 10/03/2011

In today’s busy world, friendships have changed.  We no longer live in a time where hand-written letters and cards are exchanged or weekly “social calls” are a way of life.  Instead, we live in a world of cell phones, Skype, and text messaging.  With all of these inventions, you would think that keeping up with long distance friends would be easy… somehow; we seem to be losing the battle of maintaining long distance friendships following a move.  But, there are some easy ways to stay in touch with old friends when you move to Kamloops:   1.    Set aside time: Remember, you are friends because you enjoy each other’s company.  Make a plan and set specific times in your schedule to cultivate the relationship and share those things that kept you close before.  Whether it is your favorite f... 09/23/2011

It’s hard to believe Halloween is just six weeks away!  The weather is perfect for parties, ghost stories, and trick-or-treating in Kamloops.  Whether you’re a resident, or looking for a great place for a weekend get-away, Kamloops has activities for every level of scare!  So, pick out your costume, carve the pumpkin, and take advantage of the many spooky Halloween events Kamloops has to offer during October. Pumpkin Picking:  Kids of all ages will enjoy picking their own pumpkin at Tranquille Farms.  In addition to a U-pick pumpkin patch, you can enjoy free tractor rides, animal encounters, and trampoline jumps.  The farms are open daily starting in Early October.  Carving the jack-o-lantern is much more fun when you’ve picked the pumpkin yourself!   BOO at the Zoo:  This family frien... 09/16/2011

September is here. Soon, fall breezes will replace warm sunny afternoons and trees will begin to shed. And that can only mean one thing—winter isn’t far away.  Fall brings a great opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and finish the projects we started on our Kamloops home over the summer.  It also gives us a chance to get a jump on preparing for the harshness of winter. Therefore, as your summer vacations end, here are some home projects to focus on this fall:         1.     Windows:  The beauty of Kamloops  is best viewed through clean windows.  The inside, outside, and even the tracks could use a good cleaning.  Also, be sure to check that the windows seal and weather stripping is in good shape. If your windows are a less efficient single pain, don’t open and close smoothly, or won’t se... 09/09/2011

Selling your Kamloops home can be an exhausting experience—from the challenges of keeping your home clean to working around last minute showings, your house can feel like it already belongs to someone else.  Today’s market is tough, and there is a lot of competition for homes.  Phoebe Chongchua of Realty Times recently identified the top mistakes many sellers make—and these mistakes can result in you getting less money for your home or not selling the home at all.  To be sure you get top dollar for your home, be sure to avoid these common mistakes: 1.      Staying for Showings:  Simply put, don’t do it.  It is understandable to want feedback about a showing—let your agent get that for you. Remember, a potential buyer needs to see the home as his own—picture where the couch will go, how... 09/05/2011

While learning from experience is great in most areas, it is not the best way to learn about mortgages.  In fact, learning from experience can cost you thousands of dollars and many headaches.  Before signing on that dotted line to purchase your new Kamloops home, be sure to do your research and understand exactly what you are signing.  According to a recent article by PJ Wade on Realty Times, here are five things to think about when determining which mortgage and which lender is right for you: 1.    Consider the source:  While the internet is a great research tool, it can be hard to differentiate between unbiased facts and marketing ploys.  According to a recent Mortgage Consumer Survey released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the internet provided 86% of recent ... 08/28/2011

For many of us, buying our own home in Kamloops is a dream come true.  It is the reward for years of saving, planning, and searching for the perfect floorplan and neighborhood.  As you plan for this major purchase, it is easy to focus on getting your down payment together and budgeting for monthly mortgages. There are other costs, however, that catches many people by surprise and sometimes raises the total cost of the home by thousands of dollars. Legal fees, inspections, insurance, and appraisals are just a few costs that most home buyers have to pay, but many fail to plan for.  “Before purchasing a new home, we recommend you take some time to understand and plan for those expenditures that go beyond the purchase price of the home,” explains Tim Bzowey, vice president, Home and Auto, R... 08/16/2011

Summer is here…time to put away your snow skis and winter clothes for awhile and enjoy the warm weather and the outdoors!  In Kamloops, there is no better way to enjoy summer than to spend time on one of our many lakes and rivers.  Whether you’re looking for speed and adventure or a quiet place to relax and read a book, there are plenty of places to explore in Kamloops.  Are you an adrenaline junkie?  Do you like the thrill of speeding down the rapids? If you said yes, then you’re ready for whitewater rafting. Riding the rapids on Kamloops’ rivers provides some of the best thrills in nature.  There are 1-hour, 2-hour, and half-day trips available on the Adams River and the breathtaking Clearwater River, all led by some of the most experienced rafters in the area.  Is your style a little... 07/25/2011

The City of Kamloops is moving forward with the installation of water meters in your area. The program is already in place for all businesses and multi-family properties serviced by the City of Kamloops and we are now installing meters in all residential homes. Neptune Technology Group Canada Ltd. has been contracted by the City to supply and conduct the installation in your home. In the next few weeks, you will receive a booklet from Neptune Technology Group providing additional information on the meters, the standard installation process, water conservation tips, and how to book your installation appointment. There will be no additional charge to you for the meter or the standard installation. With the introduction of water meters, our community is taking a very important step toward... 06/08/2011

Transform your customers into lifetime champions! Learn from the master, Howard Ware. Buy your tickets now for this outstanding event on May 31, 2011 from 1:30-4:30. Tickets are limited to only 275 so call or  email me now for tickets, We are selling tickets at our office.  Call 250-377-7653 for details.   05/13/2011

Several important announcements were recently made in regards to mortgages and interest rates.  These changes affect anyone who is currently or is planning to purchase or refinance a home:  Mortgage Rule Changes:  As expected, on Jan 17th, 2011, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced changes to mortgage rules in Canada.  These changes will directly affect anyone looking to take out a mortgage on a home or refinance a current home:  1. The maximum amortization period has been lowered from 35 to 30 years for government-backed insured mortgages. This affects mortgages when the down payment is less than 20 percent.  This new amortization limit will take effect on March 18th, 2011.   2.  Effective March 18th, 2011, the maximum amount that can be borrowed when refinancing a mortgage has bee... 01/22/2011

When selling your Kamloops house there will be open houses.  While these may seem a nuisance that interfere with your busy daily life, they are a necessity for getting people in and seeing your beautiful home who may otherwise not have taken the initiative to see it.   Besides the open houses, there will also be agents bringing potential buyers into your home during the week and at different times of the day.  Here's a list a list of do's and don'ts for you to follow when Eric Putoto tells you he'd like to hold an open house.   If you'll be living in the house while it's on the market, you will be visited by other agents bringing their potential buyers to have a viewing and this list applies then too. Do: This tops the list: Your house needs to be clean, white glove clean. The kind of c... 01/19/2011

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) have been used for homebuilding in Canada for over a decade, but it is just recently that we saw the first such home build in Kamloops.  Sitting at the corner of Linfield Dr and Aberdeen Way, this energy-efficient home looks much like others in the area. But its innovative, energy-saving construction has people talking about the benefits of SIPS, from how quickly a SIPS home can be build to the long-term benefits of using this creative product.First of all, let's start with a little background.  SIPS are a Canadian invention that have been around since the late 1990's. They a constructed from sheets of OSB wood that are structurally laminated to a core of high-density rigid expanded polystyrene foam.  The newest generation of these panels are prebuilt ... 12/30/2010

Everywhere you look there are signs of the Christmas season: songs filling your ears of jingle bells and Frosty the Snowman, shoppers carrying more bags than they can handle, and the glistening of lights. Whether you've checked everyone off your Christmas list or you're a last-minute shopper like me, how often do you take a minute or two to truly enjoy the spirit of the season? What better way to de-stress than to visit the Wildlights display at BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops, British Columbia. Wildlights is an annual celebration which brings numerous visitors from near and far. You can beat the cold by sipping a nice cup of hot cocoa or apple cider. There's nothing like having a warm and toasty tummy to keep the flow of happiness going. The display consists of thousands of miniature ligh... 12/25/2010

It's that time of the yearonce again where the cold and wintry Kamloops weather wakes you up in the morning.  As you look outside and gaze at the beautiful snow covering the houses and the roads, you can't help but redirect your attention from getting ready for work to getting ready to hit the slopes! There's nothing like breathing in the fresh air and getting your adrenaline fix for the day.  But before you put on your gear and take on that white powder, it's best to prepare your body for a tough workout.  Even if you are an athlete or one who exercises on a regular basis, you still have to physically prepare yourself for skiing.  If you are planning to hit the slopes on a weekly basis, go to the gym or work out at home once or twice a week.  You can also try cycling and yoga to streng... 12/21/2010