Large 4 Bedroom Home at Park Lake Estates

12-3270 Shannon Lake Road

SOLD - COMPETING OFFERS - $1000 OVER LIST. 1,200 sq.ft. 4 bedroom mobile home in Park Lake Estates. Half of the sundeck was enclosed to created two more bedrooms. The additional was professionally done and the proper permits were taken out to complete the work. This is a family friendly park centrally located in the heart of Shannon Lake. Laminate flooring through the main living space (carpet in two of the bedrooms). It’s a nice open living room with vaulted ceilings. Generous sized kitchen with lots of cabinets and spacious dining area. Brand new washer and dryer, and new cupboards in the bright laundry room. Large fenced private backyard. Park Lake Estates allows pets (with restrictions), and no rentals. 

Pad rent is $390.00 per month. Walking distance to the Shannon Lake Convenience store, Neighbours Pizza and Neighbours pub.

For more details and photo's and virtual tour go to www.connectwithkaren.com and then call Karen Guy, Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty #102 - 3480 Carrington Road, Westbank BC V4T 3C1 at 250.768.8001 or 250.878.3605. MLS® 10077947.


I am the GUY that will make a difference! I specialize in selling homes in the in the Okanagan Valley including Westbank, West Kelowna, Peachland with a focus on Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake.


Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
C 250.878.3605 O 250.768.8001


http://www.connectwithkaren.com/

Playa del Sol Condo

309 - 654 Cook Road, Kelowna BC

Potential summer home, or great investment opportunity!! POOL LEVEL condo at Playa del Sol. Beautiful turn-key 749 sq.ft. condo ready for you! This one bedroom with a large den is fully furnished, has easy care tile floors and includes everything needed to move in today. Fantastic kitchen has dark stain cabinets, lots of counter space, breakfast bar for 3 and a full dining area overlooking the bright living room. Enjoy direct access to the large covered patio with a bonus open space to enjoy the Okanagan sunshine. In addition it’s just steps away from the large open community patio area and is located steps away from the pool. Playa del sol offers a fitness center, swimming pool, hot tub and…..oh! did we mention the fabulous location, a short walk to beach, Rotary park, Restaurants and Mission Park Greenway. 

Ask me for the rental revenue information and an inventory list of items included in this sale.

I am the GUY that will make a difference! I specialize in selling homes in the in the Okanagan Valley including Westbank, West Kelowna, Peachland with a focus on Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake.

Karen Guy, REALTOR®
 Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
C 250.878.3605 O 250.768.8001


http://www.connectwithkaren.com

MLS® 10077343.

Merry Christmas from Santa's Helper

Best Wishes for 2014

Karen Guy

There's just so many things to be thankful for throughout the year; we all get busy and tend to let the minutes, the hours, and the days drift past without acknowledging the people who are most important to us and that have the most impact in our lives.  Christmas time seems to be that time of year when we are reminded to reflect.

The "C" word, and no I don't mean Christmas I mean Cancer,  seems to touch many people around me.  Did you know that one of four people in your life will be touched one way or another by this dreaded disease I'm starting to refer to as phenomenal....  and not in a good way phenomenal.   For me I'm thankful for my dear friends and family around me.

I am so very proud to refer to my clients as friends.  I wish you all a season of health, happiness and peace.

From my family to yours!!  I wish you all the best of this holiday season and remember.... be kind and patient out there as you never know the struggles of your fellow man or woman.

It's soooo much fun to Elf-around....

I am the GUY that will make a difference! I specialize in selling homes in the in the Okanagan Valley including Westbank, West Kelowna, Peachland with a focus on Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake.

Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
C 250.878.3605 O 250.768.8001
http://www.connectwithkaren.com/

TO STAY OR NOT TO STAY – THAT IS THE QUESTION?

TO STAY OR NOT TO STAY – THAT IS THE QUESTION?

Fixture vs Chattel

“But my Mom bought us that espresso maker - it cost us a fortune to pipe the water line to it. What do you mean I can’t take it??!!”

“That mirror was my great grandmother’s – there is no way I’m leaving it for the Buyers – they should have asked for it if it was important.  It’s a family heirloom and we are taking it!”

Thank you to Susan Tough, Managing Broker for Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty for this great article and insight into this subject.  Here is what she has to say...

Through my real estate career as a producing REALTOR®, an Educator and Managing Broker, I use one test that I have found to be the most reliable in getting the point across to the client, very clearly.

I walk through the house with a screwdriver in my hand..... And simply say, “If you have to use this to take it – it stays – so take it down now - before we list the home or be prepared to leave it behind”



If the property is not affixed to real property it is considered chattel property. Fixtures are treated as a part of real property. A classic example of a fixture is a building, which in the absence of language to the contrary in a contract of sale, is considered to be part of the land itself and not a separate piece of property (a garden shed). 

Law students are taught in first-year property courses that chattels are items of moveable or transferable property, unlike land and buildings that are fixed and immoveable. If the items are neither land, nor permanently attached to land or a building, they are, by definition, chattels. (The word chattel dates back to feudal times when cattle were the most valuable item of property — except for land.) 

Typically, if an item is attached to land only by its own weight, it is not usually considered part of the land unless the surrounding circumstances make it clear that they were intended to be part of the land. 

By the same token, a fixture is a piece of equipment which has been attached to real estate in such a way as to become part of the premises, and its removal would do harm to the building or land. 

Using these definitions, a mirror that is hanging on a hook is a chattel and can be removed by the seller. 

The same mirror becomes a fixture if it is permanently attached or mounted to a wall in the house. 

A furnace delivered to a house, for example, is a chattel or item of moveable personal property when it leaves the store. When it is installed in the owner's house, and permanently connected to the ductwork, floor, electrical and plumbing systems, it becomes a fixture that remains with the building when the owner moves out. 

Over the years, courts have attempted in many cases to determine whether an object is a chattel or fixture. Judges will often examine the purpose of the attachment or annexation of the item to the property, and the actual degree or extent of the attachment.

The courts have developed two tests for determining whether an asset is a fixture or a chattel:

• the method and degree of annexation,
• the object and purpose of annexation. 

It is human nature that people want what they are told they can’t have – even if they really don’t want it.  I bet you would be hard pressed to find a REALTOR® who, at some point in their career, hasn’t replaced a mirror, special light fixture, under mount espresso maker, or similar to keep their seller or their buyer happy.

Buyers and sellers of land — and their agents — should always direct their minds to the question of chattels and fixtures before the agreement of purchase and sale becomes firm. 

I posted this blog because I recently had this scenario happen to me and believe me I have learned a lot and have taken away from very insightful knowledge now so that I can do everything in my power for this not to happen again.

I am the GUY that will make a difference!

 I specialize in selling homes in the in the Okanagan Valley including Westbank, West Kelowna, Peachland with a focus on Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake.

Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
C 250.878.3605 O 250.768.8001

http://www.connectwithkaren.com/

Looking for that perfect home? ~ The survey says..................

Looking for a perfect home can be an emotional roller-coaster, but a new study suggests finding the right property often comes down to love at first sight.

In its report titled Psychology of House Hunting, the Bank of Montreal found that 80% of prospective homebuyers know if a house is the right one for them the moment they step inside.

But it’s usually a long journey before they get to that point.

The study found that on average, house hunters visit 10 homes before they decide to buy a home, while 68% say they’re willing to settle for a property that’s not “perfect.”

Thirty-three percent say they feel rushed into making a purchase, with that figure rising to 39% among first-time homebuyers.

Those looking for a new home also express a wide variety of emotions, from 48% saying they’re excited, 41% saying they feel cautious and 31% saying they’re optimistic. Twenty-five percent of those polled say they’re stressed through the process, while 21% say they feel anxious.

First-time homebuyers are also more likely to feel stressed and anxious, compared to those who have owned a property before.

“It’s important to take a practical approach when house hunting and have a clear idea of where you stand financially to ensure you make a responsible home buying decision,” said Laura Parsons.

“Doing research ahead of time and setting realistic expectations can help you avoid making an uninformed or rushed purchase.”

The study also looked at the motivations behind a home purchase. It found 44% buy because they felt it was a good investment and 37% say it was a good time to jump into the market.

Twenty-three percent say exploring a new neighbourhood was one of the reasons why they bought a new home, while 18% say it was because they were expecting a baby.

The survey was conducted by Pollara using online interviews with a random sample of 2,000 Canadians 18 years of age and over conducted between Feb. 25 and March 5.

The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

I am the GUY that will make a difference!

I specialize in selling homes in the in the Okanagan Valley including Westbank, West Kelowna, Peachland with a focus on Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake.

Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty

C 250.878.3605 O 250.768.8001

http://www.connectwithkaren.com/

Pleasant Surprise

I just received this the other day by email ~ what a nice surprise! 

It's always the highest form of compliment when you receive such a wonderful testimonial. 


Back in 2008, after accepting a job transfer to Alberta, we listed our house in West Kelowna. Unfortunately, it was just after the market began to soften, and our house was listed high. After 2 years had passed, and many price reducgtions, we decided to list with a different REALTOR®. I then remembered back to when we first put our house up for sale, having received a visit from a very pleasant and friendly REALTOR® while working in the yard. Her name was Karen Guy. We called Karen, and she helped us set a fair market price and quickly went to work. In less than 2 weeks our house was sold for 99% of asking price.

This winter we decided to invest in a West Kelowna vacation property, so we called Karen. With us not knowing exactly what we were looking for, or what the current market conditions were like Karen patiently and courteously again went to work. We only knew Karen from the sale of our hoouse a couple years earlier, but she had stayed in touch and we felt very comfortable dealing with her. Enough so that when she found us a great deal, we made an offer and closed the sale long distance without ever viewing the property!

If you are buying or selling proeprty, we strongly recommend you give Karen Guy a call, you'll be happy you did.

Melinda and Kim Brigden

Thanks Kim and Melinda for your kind words they mean a lot to me :-)

I am the GUY that will make a difference!

I specialize in selling homes in the in the Okanagan Valley including Westbank, West Kelowna, Peachland with a focus on Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake.

Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty

C 250.878.3605 O 250.768.8001

http://www.connectwithkaren.com/

Can I put a swimming pool in the backyard?

Can I put a swimming pool in the backyard?
Written by Kelowna Real Estate Lawyer Peter Borszcz.



I can still remember the day when my dad told me that we were putting in a pool at our old Nathan Road home in the Okanagan Mission in Kelowna, BC. It was better than Christmas. My sisters and I lived in that pool every summer thereafter. Swimming has always been an integral part of my life, as Kelowna Aquajet, as a lifeguard at Swim Bay in Peachland, and now taking my daughter swimming every weekend to the H20 Centre.

I get excited when Buyers and Realtors ask, “Can I put a pool in my backyard?”, but the answer depends on a number of factors including:

1. Land Title Restrictions
2. Bare Land Strata Restrictions
3. City of Kelowna Building Permit Requirements
4. Water Input and Discharge Considerations
5. Security and Safety Concerns

A. Land Title Issues

Many different land title charges on a property can affect the placement of a pool on the property. The terms of these charges need to be obtained from the Land Title Office and reviewed with your Real Estate Lawyer. Among the potential “red flags” are Easements, Statutory Rights of Way, and Covenants which may prevent the placement of a pool in the preferred location.

B. Bare Land Strata Restrictions

Bare Land Strata subdivisions “look” like fee simple residential subdivision, but the Strata Property Act will apply and the strata will be able to place rules and restrictions on the use of the property (Ironhorse is one local example). When considering a pool in one of these neighborhoods, the strata bylaws and rules need to be reviewed to ensure a pool is permitted.

C. City of Kelowna Requirements

i. Fences – the City of Kelowna requires that a fence maintained in good repair surround the pool having a height of not less than 1.07m (3.5 ft.) that has no more than a 10 cm gap and designed to prevent climbing. Any gates must be “self-closing”. This is a minimum, and from my experience as both a lawyer and lifeguard, I would recommend that clients go further and install at least a 5 foot fence that does not allow a child to “see through” and be tempted to climb over into the pool area.

ii. Water Input and Management – the City of Kelowna prohibits the filling of a pool until the fence is complete and the home owner should note that some local municipalities have, in the past, prohibited filling of pools in times of drought (City of Vernon). Chlorinated pool water cannot be discharged into the a municipal storm water system (this is both a municipal and federal requirement). A water discharge plan should also be part of the any pool design. If a home owner discharges water and it flows onto a neighboring property, the home owner may be liable under the tort of nuisance for damages that are caused to the neighbor.

Summary

A home owner wishing to install a pool will need to consult a number of professionals, including a Lawyer, BC Land Surveyor, municipal officials, and the pool contractor.

1. Consult your Lawyer and obtain the terms of all registered non-financial charges from your lawyer, including easements, rights of way, registered no build/ no disturb zones, septic easements.
2. Ensure you know the location of the non-financial charges, if unsure contact a BC Land Surveyor and obtain a consolidated site plan.
3. Ensure you have a water discharge plan for the property.
4. Review the current building permit requirements with a City of Kelowna official.

I am the GUY that will make a difference! I specialize in selling homes in the in the Okanagan Valley including Westbank, West Kelowna, Peachland with a focus on Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake.

Karen Guy, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty

C 250.878.3605 O 250.768.8001

http://www.connectwithkaren.com/