Kelowna Real Estate Trends: The Outdoor Kitchen Revolution

Outdoor kitchens are one of the biggest trends in Kelowna real estate because of the convenience and quality they add to the Okanagan lifestyle.

Outdoor KitchenWhen you barbecue at home, is it a solo mission? Do the rest of your family and guests socialize elsewhere while you slave away over the grill? You’re certainly not alone in this, but there’s a culinary revolution going on in the Kelowna real estate market these days that’s about to change all that.

Outdoor kitchens are quickly becoming a must-have addition for luxury homes. And really, why wouldn’t they be? Whether you’re in the Okanagan kicking back at your summer home, or you live in the valley year-round, enjoying the outdoors is what it’s all about. If you live on the lakefront, even better.

Outdoor KitchenJust like everything else you do during summer in the Okanagan, mealtime is best enjoyed outside, and a well-positioned and sheltered outdoor kitchen will offer a cool place to relax with your guests over a flame-broiled feast.

 

Advancements in Outdoor Kitchen Appliances

Outdoor Kitchen

Gone are the days when the only barbecue accessories you carried with you were tongs and a spatula. These days, there’s are countless add-ons that make the outdoor cooking experience a treat. In addition to a high-quality grill capable of searing and cooking the thickest ribeye steaks to perfection, imagine what it would be like to have these items at your disposal:

  • Icemakers
  • Cocktail bar
  • Beer keg dispensers
  • Heat lamps
  • Sinks
  • Warming drawers

Ask a Kelowna Realtor: 5 Hiking Trails Near the City

5 Easily Accessible Hiking Trails Near the City

Enjoy stunning scenery, such as this cityscape from Knox Mountain, as you venture out on nearby hiking trails highly recommended by our Kelowna realtors.

One of the advantages of living in the Interior’s largest city is the access to all the modern conveniences—dining, shopping, theatre, museums, nightlife and cultural and sporting events. Yet, when your Kelowna realtor shows you around the city’s various neighbourhoods, you might be surprised at just how many hiking and walking pathways you have at your fingertips.

While the region’s lakes, wineries and orchards get all of the fanfare from tourists, there are many trail networks dotted throughout the city just waiting to be explored.

Here are some of the more popular choices, all within a few minute’s drive from the city centre:

 

Brandt’s Creek Linear Park

Difficulty level: Easy
Distance: 5 km (one way)
Dogs: Not allowed

Featuring a crushed asphalt hiking trails. The Brandt’s Creek Linear Park takes you through residential and commercial areas, connecting six different parks as well as the Valley Glen Wetland. The trail begins at the intersection of Yates and Valley Roads, ending at Milard Glen Park.

 

Dilworth Mountain

Difficulty level: Easy
Distance: 1-3 km
Dogs: On-leash

Dilworth Mountain is worth a visit just for the unparalleled city views it offers. Tucked in behind the Kelowna Golf & Country Club, this landmark can be seen from almost any location in the city. Access to this park is off Chilcotin Court, and there is a parking lot available.

 

Knox Mountain


Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Distance: 1–5 km
Dogs: On-leash

Most hiking trails in the network feature steep inclines. Though you’ll be rewarded with some amazing views of the city. Alternatively, you can take an easier route towards an historic point of interest—Paul’s Tomb—named after an Okanagan pioneer. The park entrance on Ellis Street offers the best access to the trail network.

 

Mill Creek Regional Park

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: Varies
Dogs: On-leash

Situated just east of Kelowna International Airport in the Ellison area, this 15.3-hectare park offers a cool, quiet hiking trail system along the Mill Creek corridor, culminating in a charming waterfall. The black cottonwood trees by the creek offer an ideal picnic setting.

 

Mission Creek Regional Park and Greenway

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Distance: 17 km (various)
Dogs: On-leash

With ample parking and easy access off Springfield Road, this green space is a haven for cyclists, runners and walkers alike.

There are two phases of the trail, the first phase being a wide, flat pathway for the first 7km. The trail becomes narrow as it travels along a canyon for the final 9km.

 

For other fun activities around the city, read 5 Must-Do Summer Activities in Kelowna.

6 Handy Real Estate Apps

More and more Kelowna real estate owners are discovering just how useful apps can be for life at home.

 

Apps for smart devices have found a way into every aspect of our lives. These clever inventions have become integrated with everything we do. Apps allow you to check the local weather forecast, order pizza, or find the nearest gas station. For Kelowna real estate owners who are looking for latest in homeowner innovation, here is a list of apps you might find handy.

 

Real Estate Apps1.    ColorSmart by Behr Mobile  (Apple, Android)

Whether you’re moving into a new home and want to redecorate, or it’s simply time to freshen up your existing home, this handy app will help you find the perfect colour, discover new designer-coordinated colour combinations, and preview your colour choices in room scenes and on exteriors. You can even take a picture with your smartphone then tap on the image to find the closest matching Behr colour. With more than 2,500 to choose from you’re likely to find a close match.

 

 

Real Estate Apps2.    Houzz Interior Design Ideas  (Apple, Android)

Called the “Wikipedia of interior and exterior design” by CNN, this stunning app features more than 5 million high-resolution photos that’ll get your creative design juices flowing. Search for ideas by style, room and location and store them in your personal ideabook.

 

 

Real Estate Apps3.    Dual Level  (Apple, Android)

If you have a fine art collection, this clever app will help you make sure it’s hung perfectly level. Best of all, you can easily manage it with one hand—as opposed to some of the more cumbersome construction levels—and you’ll likely have your leveling done in the time it takes you to walk to the workshop and back.

 

 

Real Estate Apps4.    BrightNest  (Apple, Android)

From home organization to cleaning schedules to maintenance tips, this useful app does it all. Whether you perform the household chores yourself or hire someone to help, this tool will help you make sure you keep your home in great shape.

 

 

Real Estate Apps5.    AroundMe  (Apple, Android, Blackberry)

Especially useful for newer Kelowna real estate owners, or established homeowners who want to break up their routine, this helpful app helps you locate the nearest bars, restaurants, coffee shops, banks, hospitals, movie theatres, pharmacies, grocery stores and gas stations.

If you’re new to the area, be sure to read the Quincy Vrecko & Associates Kelowna Relocation Guide.

 

 

Real Estate Apps6.    Sum+it Billing Buddy for Easy Estimates  (Apple)

If you’ve got a home renovation project in mind, this app will help you calculate how much it’ll cost. Simply create a project and enter the cost of labour, materials and other expenses—there’s even a feature to include taxes—to come up with a budget. Even if you’re not doing the work yourself, you can use this tool to compare quotes from contractors to see if they’re overcharging.

 

Ensuring the best quality of life at home starts with choosing the right Kelowna real estate. At Quincy Vrecko & Associates, we take the time to match your lifestyle needs and budget to find your ideal home.

Why Summer Homeowners Love Kelowna Storage Container Rentals

More and more Okanagan summer residents are turning to Kelowna storage container rentals to secure and protect items such as ATVs and motorcycles while they’re away.

 

At Quincy Vrecko & Associates, we see more and more summer residents taking advantage of the bountiful outdoors opportunities here in the Okanagan. Whether it’s boating on the lake or camping in regional parks, they’re taking full advantage of what the region has to offer. To help them make the most of their limited time, we’ve invited the Space Centre Storage to write a guest post showing the benefits of a Kelowna storage container.

 

For those who can’t live in the Okanagan full-time, owning a summer home is an enviable alternative. Kelowna home owners come from Alberta and beyond. When it comes time to make the trek from your primary residence you want to start enjoying your time here. Here’s how a Kelowna storage container rental can help you with that:

Container Rentals

Container Rentals

Easy Access to Safe Storage

Depending on the size of the home, you may not have adequate storage. Things like outdoor furniture, barbecues, and bikes take up valuable storage space. A storage container can easily accommodate all of these things, consequently keeping them protected from the elements while you’re away.

 

Toys, Toys, Toys

To truly enjoy the Okanagan lifestyle, you’re going to need some toys. Renting a storage container is the ideal storage solution for motorcycles, ATVs, gators, and any tools. Thieves target these kinds of machines. Consequently, by locking them away from prying eyes, you’re less likely to show up and find they’ve been stolen.

 

Your Place or Ours?

The Space Centre Storage company is happy to leave them at your place or to store them at the centre. Storing containers at our temperature-controlled facility adds an extra element of security as our premises is continually monitored. We can always arrange to have it dropped off to coincide with your arrival.

 

If you have a boat at your summer home and looking for storage options, read our 5 Tips to Find the Best Boat Storage in Kelowna.

 

About Space Centre Self Storage
Looking for a convenient way to stow your summer home belongings? Visit our Space Centre Storage website to learn about the benefits of a Kelowna storage container rental. We also offer both indoor and outdoor storage for boats, RVs and other vehicles, so all of your toys will be ready to go when you arrive at your summer home.

People come to the Okanagan Valley on holiday, and often find themselves wanting to stay a lot longer. If you’re at a point where a few week’s holiday in summer just isn’t enough, come talk to the Kelowna real estate experts at Quincy Vrecko & Associates. We’ll match your lifestyle preferences with one of the many desirable neighbourhoods throughout the city. We will find the home that’s just right for you.

Consequently, by locking them away from prying eyes, you’re less likely to show up and find they’ve been stolen.

Why Okanagan Vacations Turn into Lifelong Affairs

Okanagan Vacations

Some people come to Kelowna for a holiday and end up staying forever. Kelowna realtors have helped many such visitors find their new Okanagan home.

 

Many travelers to the Okanagan agree once here you don’t want to leave and it is difficult to leave your Okanagan Vacations. We’ve been invited by BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelowna Hotel & Suites and shed a little light on what the higher-end real estate market is all about by posting a guest blog on their website.

“Kelowna realtors have seen it happen all too often. A family or a couple come… for a summer holiday, and end up staying a whole lot longer—as in permanently. Whether it’s the allure of the endless acres of nearby vineyards and orchards and the tantalizing bounties they offer, or the endless seasonal activities the region has to offer, people are constantly enchanted by the City of Kelowna.

Quincy Vrecko and Associates have compiled some information regarding some of the specific Kelowna neighborhoods you’ll find useful:

  • Glenmore Valley Highlands
  • Upper Mission
  • Downtown Kelowna”

Read the full post: Kelowna Realtors Understand Why Okanagan Vacations Turn into Lifelong Affairs

 

Looking for detailed information on Kelowna’s neighborhoods for a luxury home? Call or email Kelowna realtors at Quincy Vrecko and Associates for local area insight that’ll help you choose the right home. Okanagan Vacations

Downtown Marina Boat Rentals

 

The Nautique Super Air G21 is one of the most sought-after boat rentals Kelowna locals would love to call their own.

One of the main attractions of the Okanagan Valley is Okanagan Lake. Stretching 135 km from Vernon to Penticton, it’s both a lifeline and a source of pleasure for everyone. However, to enjoy it at its finest, you need to experience it by boat. That’s why we’ve invited the Kelowna Downtown Marina to discuss the merits of using their rental services.

Every summer, like clockwork, visitors from all over Western Canada flock to the Okanagan Valley for a little fun in the sun. The valley attracts families with a little more disposable income or those that know a good property investment when they see one. They choose to buy a second home so they can settle in quickly and make the most of their time. It’s that time-saving mindset that causes many of these visitors to seek out boat rentals Kelowna residents are so impressed by.

Here are a few reasons why renting a boat is a much more convenient option over owning one:

 

Show up and Go

Boat ownership is kind of a love-hate affair. You love it when you’re out frolicking on the water with your friends and family. Those feelings are somewhat dampened when it comes to the towing, maintaining and storing your vessel.

 

Plenty of Options When it Comes to Boat Rentals Kelowna Lake Lovers Admire

Downtown Marina offers a full line of performance boats by Tigé and Chapparal, pontoon boats by Sweetwater. They cater to every need and budget:

 

Super Air Nautique G21: With seating for up to 14 riders, 2,850 pounds of ballast for huge wakes, and touchscreen controls, this bad boy represents the latest in comfort, performance, style and entertainment.

Chapparal SSi 206: With seating for 10, this is an ideal vessel for groups looking to tour around Okanagan Lake in search of idyllic lakeshore views.

Premium Pontoon: If you like to take things slow, then this 14-person pleasure cruiser is just the thing for you. Ideal for fishing or just hanging out on the water, you’re sure to have a relaxing outing.

 

For additional information on which type of boat might be best for you, read our article: Wakeboard Boats or a Cruising Watercraft

 

Leave Your Other Boat at Home

If you have a boat at your primary residence, hauling it to your Okanagan summer home can be a major undertaking, especially if you’re driving through mountain passes to get here. You can alleviate that burden with boat rentals Kelowna watercraft enthusiasts would happily drive themselves.

About Downtown Marina Kelowna
Want to get on the water without the hassle of owning a boat? Learn about boat rentals Kelowna residents would be thrilled to call their own by visiting Downtown Marina. We also offer convenient services such as marine fuel, temporary moorage and a snack shop. 

Quincy Vrecko & Associates want our clients to experience the Okanagan Valley for the paradise it truly is. Getting out and exploring Okanagan Lake by boat is part of that experience. Who knows, you might become so enamored with it that you decide you want to live right on the lakeshore. If that’s the case, there a number of exciting property investments in neighbourhoods like the Lower Mission, Downtown Kelowna, Westside Road and Lakeview Heights in West Kelowna.

Downtown Marina

Appliance Do’s and Dont’s for Real Estate

Appliance Do’s and Dont's

The quality and condition of your major household appliances matters more than you may think. They can have a substantial affect on how quickly your home sells in the Kelowna Real Estate Market. 

Appliance Do’s and Dont’s

Appliances are something common to every home. Sure, they can vary tremendously in quality, features and condition, but they all serve similar purposes. When it comes to selling Kelowna Real Estate, it can sometimes be a little tricky figuring out how to make the best of your current appliance situation.

We’ve been invited to write a guest post for our friends at Genier’s Appliances in Vernon that offers a few pointers: Appliance Do’s and Don’ts When Selling Kelowna Real Estate.

 

Contact Quincy Vrecko and Associates for all your Real Estate needs 

Kelowna Hotels Give You the Inside Scoop on Golf and Wine

Sampling a glass of exquisite Okanagan wine is just part of the experience that awaits visitors of Kelowna hotels.

Photo by Tourism Kelowna

 

If you’re on our website, chances are you’re contemplating investing in some Kelowna real estate. If you’ve been to the Okanagan before, you’ve already got a good idea of why it’s such an attractive destination for visitors and people fortunate enough to call it their home. With so much to do and see, it can be difficult to know where to start, which is a nice problem to have. To help get you up to speed, we’ve asked BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelowna Hotel & Suites to give you the lowdown on two must-do activities during your Okanagan stay.

 

It’s no secret that the Okanagan Valley is the perfect holiday getaway—or at least we like to think so. Our bustling Kelowna hotels are proof of that. Heck, most locals choose to spend their vacations at home during the glorious summer months. With so much to do and see, it’s not overly surprising.

And while Kelowna residents might have insider knowledge on what the best attractions are, we at Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites have devised a couple of guides to give you a crash course in two of the region’s favourite pastimes—golf and wine (usually, but not always, enjoyed in that order).

 

Swing Your Golf Game into High Gear

If you’re the type of person who’d contemplate leaving your youngest child at home to make room in the car for your new TaylorMades—someone needs to look after the cat, right?—then The Ultimate Okanagan Golf Guide is just the thing for you.

With nearly 40 courses across the Okanagan Valley to choose from—ranging from family-friendly nine-hole par-3s to award-winning championship courses that’ll severely test your handicap—you need to plan your time well. And that’s exactly what this guide is meant to do.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • A user-friendly Kelowna golf map detailing all of the top golf clubs within a short drive of Kelowna hotels (a high-resolution PDF is also available).
  • Information on ‘Stay and Play’ golf packages
  • Tips on how to get golf discounts and other deals

 

Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris? Or Both?

If you thought you were spoiled for choices of golf courses in the Okanagan, the number of wineries is even more impressive. There are more than 200, and counting.

So if visiting a winery—or twelve—is on your to-do list, then The Ultimate Guide to Okanagan Wine Tours should be on your reading list. It contains the information you need to get you to the vineyards in the most practical and enjoyable way possible:

  • Popular Okanagan wine festivals
  • White, red, and specialty varietals grown in the valley
  • Organized wine tours and wine trails

From sampling fine wine to playing the back nine, Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites has the guides to keep you on course during your holiday. And after a day of cavorting in our Okanagan playground, come back and unwind with a massage at our Wellness Centre or a soak in our hot tubs.

 

Those of us blessed to live in the Okanagan Valley have year-round access to the best sightseeing and outdoor activities to be found anywhere. For people interested in investing in Kelowna real estate, it just comes as part of the package and it’s why we love doing what we do at Quincy Vrecko & Associates. Specializing in fine homes and luxury real estate, we’ll help you discover a better quality of life.

How to Modernize an Older Luxury Home with Kelowna Appliances

State-of-the-art Kelowna appliances like this range can help modernize any older luxury home.

How to Modernize an Older Luxury Home with Kelowna Appliances

Front Door Luxury Real Estate

 

At Quincy Vrecko & Associates, we deal with all manner of luxury real estate properties. From state-of-the-art architectural wonders perched along cliff tops to older homes on prime Kelowna real estate, we see it all. When it comes to the latter, we’ve decided to turn you over to the Kelowna appliances experts at Genier’s. They have some useful tips that’ll bring your appliance technology into the 21st century.

Luxury real estate has been available in the Okanagan for a lot longer than people realize. Market prices weren’t as steep 20 or 30 years ago, but the properties and homes built on them were no less magnificent. On occasion, some of those older properties come back on the market, and if you’re fortunate enough to snatch one up, one of the first things you should see is if it needs modern Kelowna appliances.

 

Look past the surface-level esthetics

Being able to look past the surface-level esthetics of an older luxury home—especially one that hasn’t been updated in recent times—is important when trying to ascertain its true potential. Here is a list of things that can detract from a home’s true value (and possibly get you a better deal when it comes time to make an offer):

  • Tacky window coverings
  • Bizarre paint schemes
  • Flooring (think shag carpet)
  • Antiquated cupboard hardware
  • Shabby furniture (if it was used to stage the home)
  • Outdated appliances

 

 

Lakefront Community

Rolling Door & Hidden Pull-Out ~ Closed

Modern & Sleek design

When it comes time to restore your luxury home to its rightful glory, you can easily expedite the process by installing high-end Kelowna appliances. Here are a few examples of how the cutting-edge technology available at Genier’s will revolutionize any home:

 

 

Custom Ranges

Say goodbye to your old harvest gold coil top oven, and say hello to a whole new approach to cooking:

  • ✓ Gas: For ease and precision in cooking, it’s hard to beat the BTU power of a six-burner gas range.
  • ✓ Steam: Convection steam ovens are quickly becoming sought after for their healthy, yet flavour-preserving, qualities.
  • ✓ Induction: It’s difficult to beat the speed and safety of induction cooking technology.

 

Refrigeration

Remember when refrigerators kept some things cool and other items frozen?  These days, they do a whole lot more than that. They crush ice, provide hot and cold water on demand, and even the more basic models look a lot more stylish than they once did.

 

 

Laundry

One way to incorporate Kelowna appliances with an environmentally friendly theme into your modernization project is to consider a laundry set featuring a high-efficiency top load washing machine. Not only do they require less water, they also use a fraction of the electricity of their older counterparts.

 

 

If you do buy a washer and dryer, check out this post for some helpful hints: Buying a New Washer & Dryer? What to Do Before Your Kelowna Appliances Arrive.

 

Buying a luxury home—whether it’s your primary residence or an Okanagan summer property—represents a massive investment. If you’re on the market for high-end real estate, Quincy Vrecko & Associates have the experience and knowledge of the local area that’ll help you pinpoint the home you’ve been looking for.

Has the Kelowna Real Estate Market Bounced Back for Good?

Has the Kelowna Real Estate Market Bounced Back for Good?

The Kelowna real estate market saw an unusually busy month in February. In fact, it was the strongest February the central Okanagan’s seen in nearly 10 years, and yet the typical Alberta buyers are sitting out, for now. As our Kelowna realtor Tracey Vrecko explains, another type of buyer is taking advantage of opportunities.

So, who is it that’s doing all the buying, what kind of properties, and why?

 

Watch the video:

Central Okanagan housing market bounces back

 

Video Transcript

These days, single-family homes are a hot-ticket item in the central Okanagan. An indication, says Vrecko, that the Kelowna real estate market is bouncing back.

“We’re seeing acreage sales up, condominium sales are up, but mostly single family homes under $500,000. That seems to be driving our market.”

Compared to the same time last year, residential sales went up by more than 45 per cent. While sales of single family homes soared by 68 per cent.

The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) says low mortgage rates and a growing contributed to February’s booming sales.

“As a matter of fact, the strongest February in something like 10 years we’ve experienced,” says Lynette Keyowski, executive director of OMREB. “Again, it bodes well that the Okanagan in general is coming out of that recessive state and is not only on the road to recovery but is certainly becoming more buoyant again.”

Balmy weather and scenic views typically attract Alberta buyers to the sunny Okanagan. Although with the plummeting oil and gas industry, fewer people from that province are in a position to buy.

“We conduct a monthly survey of the buyers in the Kelowna real estate market and we’ve seen about a six to seven per cent decline month over month, so February over January, of the Albertan buyers in particular,” says Keyowski.

But this Kelowna realtor says she’s still selling homes to people from Alberta. A different demographic than the oilpatch workers we’re used to seeing.

“My last three deals have gone to Alberta buyers. Whether they’re looking for a change of lifestyle, better climate or a better economy.”

For people looking to buy, Vrecko predicts there will soon be even more Kelowna real estate to choose from.

“I think we’re going to have a very healthy spring market. With 60 per cent of our sales happening between May and July, I think it’s going to be very busy.“

 

Read the article on CHBC – Global News Okanagan.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking to take advantage of low interest rates or you’re a seller ready to seize the buzz in activity, contact a Kelowna realtor that delivers results! The trusted team at Quincy Vrecko & Associates offer both luxury properties and single family home listings across central Okanagan, including Kelowna, Lake Country and Naramata.