About Linda Klein

Kamloops drivers who travel the Red Bridge are going to have to make alternate arrangements for the next month.

The bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic starting Monday September 15 while the Ministry of Transportation conducts repairs.

The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and bicycles, but there will be some intermittent delays.

Drivers will still be able to get over the South Thompson River by re-directing to the Overlander Bridge or Highway 5.

The Ministry estimates the closure will last until the middle of October.

Like many aspects of your life, obtaining financing on a new or existing home can be a lot less stressful and a whole lot more straight-forward if you’re prepared. But if you’re not prepared, there are many common mistakes you can make. Most of these mistakes are easily avoidable with some preparation and informed advice – feel free to call or email with any questions/concerns!

Below are the Top 5 Mortgage Mistakes people make when trying to secure financing for their home:

1. Failing to choose the best product for their situation
2. Automatically renewing their current mortgage with their existing lender
3. Signing documents without reading them
4. Taking it to the limit – running up credit
5. Not planning for your mortgage application

1. Failing to choose the best product for your situation
There are many different types of loans out there. There are fixed- and variable-rate products, hybrid and no-frills mortgages, lines of credit, term options, amortization choices, and more.

And although choice is great, it can be quite overwhelming without expert advice. While one person would benefit from a variable-rate product, their neighbour may be better suited to a fixed-rate product. The key is to always explain your current situation and future goals in detail so we can select a product that best meets both your current and longer-term needs.

2. Automatically renewing with your existing lender
Although you may feel an allegiance with the current financial institution that holds your loan, they may not be able to offer you the best choices. When refinancing or renewing, it’s important to always shop the market for your best available option, much like you did when

securing your first mortgage. This ensures you end up with the best mortgage rate and terms customized to your unique situation. In many cases your bank will offer you the posted rate in hopes that you’ll simply sign and return the commitment without shopping around. Make sure you do your due diligence when refinancing and renewing. After all, this is your home, your mortgage and your money!

3. Signing documents without reading them
Never sign documents without reading them. If you’re unsure about something, always ask for clarification. Remember that you’re the one entering into the agreement, so you need to understand and agree with that commitment.

4. Taking your credit to the limit
Make sure that your credit balances are in your favour when it comes to your mortgage application. Lenders are looking for an appropriate debt-to-income ratio. In other words, you need to have more income than you have debt. Avoid running up a balance on your credit cards and pay down existing debts as much as possible.

5. Failing to plan ahead
If you know that you’ll need to obtain, renew or refinance a mortgage, it’s essential to plan for it by ensuring your credit is in order. If it’s not, start preparing. Don’t make any purchases on your credit cards that you can’t pay off and if you carry a balance on your credit cards, start paying them down. Refrain from making any large purchases before securing your mortgage. If you’re planning to buy a car, wait until after you have secured financing, as your debt-to-income ratio will rise and you don’t want this to occur while trying to secure a mortgage.

Understanding how the mortgage process works and how lenders qualify your loan will help you avoid the above mistakes.

KAMLOOPS – If you want to get up close and personal with Lord Stanley’s Cup head to the Interior Savings Centre on Saturday.

Kamloops native and Los Angeles Kings Assistant Coach Davis Payne will be bringing the cup with him to the arena from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23.

The Kings beat the New York Rangers in five games to win the championship, the second for the team in three years. Since June players and staff have been toting the cup around to more than 30 different home towns as well as many beaches and parties.

While the Kamloops event is actually free Payne is asking for those who want to get a picture with hockey’s most coveted prize to make a donation to the Royal Inland Hospital.

After a lacklustre start to the year, Kamloops Real Estate sales are on the upswing. Find out which area is the most popular here: http://cfjctv.com/story.php?id=20814

Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary remain the wealthiest cities in the country but the gap between them in average household net worth is narrowing, according to data released Monday by Environics Analytics, a marketing services and data analytics company.

WealthScapes 2014, a database on the assets, liabilities and wealth of Canadians to December 2013, found that the average household net worth in Vancouver was $710,095 followed by Toronto at $693,652 and Calgary at $680,377.

“But the difference in affluence is getting smaller as the net worth in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary grew by 6.5 per cent, 8.8 per cent, and 10.8 per cent, respectively, compared to 2012,” it said. “While increases in liquid asset and debt were similar among the three cities, the key differentiator was real estate values — up a modest 2.8 per cent in Vancouver, a strong 6.6 per cent in Toronto and roaring 9.1 per cent in Calgary.

“Vancouver continues to reign as Canada’s wealthiest city because of its pricey real estate — averaging $579,250 per household compared to $535,002 in Toronto and $485,364 in Calgary. Canada’s most populous city, Toronto, benefitted from a 6.1 per cent rise in savings — nearly triple the national average — and a 3.7 percent decline in consumer debt — which is a significant drop given that nationwide consumer debt remained essentially unchanged. And in addition to its healthy real estate performance, Calgary benefitted from a 2.9 per cent decline in consumer debt; those two indicators ranked among the best for large cities.”

Already a fantastic annual event in many parts of Eastern Canada and the United States, Ribfest is coming to Kamloops!

This summer, Ribfest will take over Riverside Park from Friday, August 8th – August 10th (11am to 9pm all three days) in Kamloops’ for a full weekend of fantastic, free, family fun.

In conjunction with Hot Nite in the City, the highly successful Ribfest offers a rib cook-off between five champion barbeque teams; music and entertainment throughout the entire event; entertainment and activities for children and youth, as well as a Refreshment Center and a whole whack of great vendors.

Come and enjoy the fun!

In the summer months, municipal water use doubles. This is the season when Canadians are outdoors watering lawns and gardens, filling swimming pools and washing cars. Summer peak demand places stress on municipal water systems and increases costs for taxpayers and water users. As water supplies diminish during periods of low rainfall, some municipalities must declare restrictions on lawn and garden watering. By applying some handy tips, your lawn and garden can cope with drought conditions and you can minimize water wastage.

General tips
Much of the summer peak demand is attributed to lawn and garden watering. Often, water is applied inefficiently, resulting in significant waste due to over watering, evaporation or run-off.

Here are some general watering tips to help avoid wasting water:

• Before watering, always take into account the amount of water Mother Nature has supplied to your lawn or garden in the preceding week. Leave a measuring container in the yard to help monitor the amount of rainfall (empty it once per week). Also bear in mind any watering restrictions that may apply in your municipality.
• Water in the early morning, before 9AM, to reduce evaporation and scorching of leaves from the sun. Water on calm days to prevent wind drift and evaporation.
• Set up your sprinkler or hose to avoid watering hard surfaces such as driveways and patios. If you’re not careful, it’s water and money down the drain.

Water slowly to avoid run-off and ensure the soil absorbs the water.

• Regularly check your hose or irrigation equipment for leaks or blockages.
• Collect rainwater from your roof in a rain barrel or other large container and keep it covered with an insect screen. Direct the down spout of your eavestroughs into the rain barrel.
• Choose an efficient irrigation system. A soaker hose placed at the base of plants on the ground applies water to the soil where it’s needed – rather than to the leaves – and reduces evaporation. Drip or trickle irrigation systems are highly efficient because they deliver water slowly and directly to the roots under the soil surface. This promotes deeper roots, which improve a plant’s drought resiliency. If you use a sprinkler, choose one with a timer and that sprays close to the ground.

Other outdoor activities
Lawn and garden watering is not the only outdoor activity contributing to summer peak demand. You can lower your water bill and relieve the burden on municipal water supplies by doing the following:

• Use a broom instead of water to remove debris from paved surfaces such as driveways.
• Use a bucket and sponge to wash and rinse your car, instead of a hose.
• Cover swimming pools when they’re not in use to reduce evaporation.

Looking for your favourite food truck? Here is a guide to where you can find your favourite food truck downtown till the end of the 2014 season.

SAMIDGES Food Truck was located. Despite, some impressive menu items including their signature Samidge made up of thinly sliced roast beast, lettuce, tomatoe, sautéed mushrooms, onions, cheddar and mayo on a toasted hoagie while looking and tasting like a cross between a beef dip and a sub.

 BELLRINGER Espresso is perhaps the biggest of the bunch in terms of physical size, neatly housed in a converted school bus. Despite room to move inside that also includes a few chairs and tables in the back in case of inclement weather, Bellringer keeps it fairly simple offering hot and iced coffee drinks, impressive organic smoothies plus signature sandwiches, special culinary plates of the day and fair trade coffee by the pound. 

PIG RIG Cat & Joe’s precisely featuring southern BBQ  succulent smelling food truck . Who could resist pulled pork tacos?  BBQ pulled pork topped with slaw and in between Tequila Habanero sauce and chipotle aioli on a “Fresh is Best” corn tortilla.

EAT AMORE specializes in homemade pastas, salads, sandwiches, and deserts. To the best of their abilities they serve S.S.O.L. Food, (seasonal, sustainable, organic and local) in all dishes. Like the Italian Delight  featuring whipped bourzin, lots of local arugula, fresh mozza, prosciutto and balsamic drizzle or the  Meatball sub featuring local grass fed beef.

SCHEDULE TILL END OF THE SEASON

                                                   2nd and Seymour      5th and Victoria      by TNRD