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Kamloops a great place to live and move to.

Sunday, February 28th, 2016

Kamloops Named 7th Top Growing City in Canada by U-Haul

Kamloops Named 7th Top Growing City in Canada by U-Haul

Canada’s Tournament Capital is also one of the top growing cities in the country, according to U-Haul.

The moving and storage company has been ranking Canada’s top growing cities, revealing them daily until March 4th.

Kamloops comes in at number seven on the list.

Why move here:

Sunniest City in Canada

Affordable cost of living

Lots of outdoor activities

Excellent transportation and highways in all directions

“Kamloops is a very beautiful, affordable place to live,” said Horace Martin, U-Haul Company of British Columbia President. “It has Riverside Park, a world-class ski resort, and the right mix of big city/small town feel. It’s billed as the Tournament Capital of Canada. There’s no shortage of activities in one of the sunniest cities of Canada.”

For this particular list, growth is determined by the number of incoming one-way U-Haul truck rentals versus outdoing rentals.

According to U-Haul, 53.2 per cent of truck rentals were coming into Kamloops rather than leaving.

Thrifty secrets for home sellers

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016

Thrifty secrets for home sellers

linda,When preparing your home for market, tackle improvements that will help you obtain the best price and sell within the shortest amount of time. These inexpensive projects can go a long way:

  1. Clean and clear. Declutter top to bottom and store the excess offsite. Clean thoroughly, clear cupboards and countertops and keep décor items to a tasteful few.
  2. Tear up dingy broadloom. Replace it with a choice of cost-effective, neutral flooring options. Or if you like what you see underneath, have it professionally refinished.
  3. Paint it. Opt for neutral colours, in matte or eggshell finishes to camouflage flaws. Finish trim in satin, semi- or high-gloss.

Put my expertise to work for you! Ask me about preparing your home for optimal resale value.

Linda Klein
Agent
250 374 1461 (Office)
lindaklein@royallepage.ca
http://www.royallepage.ca/lindaklein

Royal LePage Westwin Realty- Kamloops

All offices are independently owned and operated, except those marked as indicated at www.royallepage.ca/disclaimer. Not intended to solicit currently listed properties or buyers under contract. The above information is from sources believed reliable, however, no responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of this information.
This email was sent by Linda Klein of Royal LePage Westwin Realty- Kamloops
800 SEYMOUR Kamloops, BC, V2C2H5
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The most expensive City is Vancouver

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

Home Costs 2015we are only 3 hours away but so much more affordable, Kamloops a great place to call home.

Variable or Fixed rate Mortgage

Friday, November 27th, 2015

 

Courtesy of  4Front Mortgages!

Rates Are Rising
After the Liberal majority win, the government of Canada bond yields started climbing, most likely due to the fact the Liberals have larger spending plans.

Variable Rates
Variable rates have gone up.  What this means is the discount that lenders give off of the Prime Rate has decreased.  A few months ago you could negotiate discounts around .60% – .80% below Prime.  Now discounts are around .30% – 40%. This takes the average variable rate you can get to the 2.35% level.  Previously at 2.00% a variable was an easy sell.  Now, with 5 year fixed rates at around 2.70% the choice isn’t as obvious.

Prime – 2.70%
The Prime Rate, currently at 2.70% may go up earlier than we all thought. With spending promises to keep, combined with a strong US economy it looks as though the long-awaited rate hike could take place in mid-2016. The first rate hike will likely be .25%, which would bring a variable rate to 2.60% (assuming you can still obtain .40% off of Prime), narrowing the gap between fixed rates to a lowly 0.10%, making fixed very appealing now. If you do choose a fixed rate, it is possible that you will qualify for more.  Lenders are required to ensure you can afford your mortgage if rates go up and if you’re in a 5 year fixed term that is all the assurance a lender needs.

Additional Considerations for Fixed Rates

Penalties – Penalties from some lenders (mainly banks) can make getting out of a fixed term very punitive.  Therefore, if you’re considering a 5 year fixed term but not too sure if you’ll be in the home for the full term consider going with a lender who offers a fair penalty calculation.

3 Years – The average time a first time homebuyer keeps in their property is 36 months. Going with a 5 year term may not be the best option if you’re unsure of how long you’ll need that mortgage for. Yes, you can always move mortgages from one property to another, however it can add some complexity to your application

Historical Considerations – Variable rates have been proven to be cheaper in “the long run”. Yes, math doesn’t generally lie, but what’s good in the long run may not necessarily be good for the next 5 years.

Home Sales up 15% in the first 10 months of 2015

Friday, November 6th, 2015

Sales of Kamloops homes up 15% from 2014

Sales of residential units in Kamloops were down in October, a slip in what has otherwise been a year of double-digit sales increases.

The number of homes sold last month, at 202, is down about five per cent from the same month in 2014.

Sales in the city are up by 15 per cent through the first 10 months of the year. The median price for a single-family home in Kamloops came in at $367,000.

Cyndi Crossley, president of Kamloops & District Real Estate Association, said one trend that will affect both buyers and sellers is a decline in inventory. Residential listings on MLS are nearly 10 per cent lower than a year ago.

She said other markets, including Chilliwack, are experiencing the same decline in listings — a factor that can lead to increasing prices and a so-called sellers’ market.

Another notable aspect for the month was sale of 10 units valued at more than $600,000.

“That’s not what the Kamloops market is typically made of,” she said. “That should be encouraging for those with higher-priced homes.”

The busiest slice of the market is in the $320,000 to $360,000 range.

Just Sold

Thursday, June 25th, 2015

West Pines Villas 46-650 Harrington Just Sold

Thank you for listing and buying with me, it was a pleasure and best of luck in your new home.

This home sold right away. Great location beside Dunes Golf Course.

Linda Klein Kamloops Real Estate Weekly Mortgage rates for week of June 15th 2015

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

DLC Weekly Rate Minder courtesy of Starr Webb

Terms Bank Rates Our Rates
6 Month 3.14% 3.10%
1 YEAR 2.89% 2.29%
2 YEARS 2.84% 2.19%
3 YEARS 3.39% 2.25%
4 YEARS 3.89% 2.54%
5 YEARS 4.64% 2.54%
7 YEARS 5.30% 3.39%
10 YEARS 6.10% 3.84%
Rates are subject to change without notice. *OAC E&OE
Prime Rate is 2.85%
Variable rate mortgages from as low as Prime minus 0.65%

Linda Klein, Kamloops real estate. How to Finance your Renovation

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015
Courtesy of Mark Bertoli, Abbott Wealth
Home improvement is always in fashion. But the big question for many homeowners isn’t what to do, it’s how to pay for it. There are many ways to secure the financing you need, and each has advantages in certain situations.

Home equity line of credit
A line of credit gives you access to a predetermined amount of credit on demand. Generally, you can borrow up to 75% of the appraised value of your home — up to 90%, if the line of credit is insured. You take what you need, when you need it, and pay interest only on the outstanding amount.

A line of credit secured against the value of your house will typically be issued at a lower rate than an unsecured loan or personal line of credit. Accessing the home equity line of credit is easy and convenient. You may have the option of writing cheques or using a credit card or bank card.

Repayment is also flexible. You can pay some or all of the outstanding balance at any time without penalty, or make interest-only payments.

Increase your existing mortgage
Increasing the amount of your mortgage may be the right renovation-financing option for you if your mortgage is coming due, if you are selling one house to buy another, or if you are taking out your first mortgage.

It may also be a smart move if you’re locked in to a long-term mortgage at a significantly higher rate than is currently available. In this case, any penalty you may incur could be offset by the savings in interest over the long term.

While this option lacks the flexibility of a line of credit, the advantage for many is knowing that the borrowed funds are structured to be paid back in a set amount of time. And interest rates can be fixed, if you choose — unlike a line of credit, which floats against prime.

A second mortgage
A second mortgage is just that — a mortgage that is in addition to your first mortgage. Like a first mortgage, a second mortgage is a loan with a specified rate of interest and repayment schedule.

A second mortgage can be a good choice for homeowners who are locked in to a longer-term mortgage, but wouldn’t benefit from breaking their first mortgage. Lending rates for a second mortgage may be higher than a first mortgage.

Like increasing your mortgage, this option trades repayment flexibility for the peace of mind of knowing the debt will be paid down if you stick to the repayment schedule. Every situation is unique. But we can help you determine your best option.

Kamloops Real Estate Linda Klein cut water costs

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

CUT WATER COSTS

Up to half of water consumed in your home is used in the bathroom. Here are some easy ways to save hundreds of dollars – and gallons of water from going down the drain.

Slow the flow. New toilets are equipped with water-saving, low-volume flushers. Have an older toilet? Save by filling a quart-sized plastic bottle with water and placing in tank. Flow should be reduced by 40%.

Cool the water. If your water heater is set higher than 120degrees F., water is hotter than you need for showers or hand washing. For every 10 degrees you go down, you save up to 5%.Check for leaks. A leaky toilet can waste 250 gallons of water in a month. Test a leak by dropping some food coloring in the tank without flushing. If the color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak.

Courtesy of Cliff Brauner Pillar to Post home inspections

Kamloops real estate Linda Klein Easter weekend family activity

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

Home | BC Wildlife Park Kamloops

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