Sellers AdvantageThe Gold Standard in Real Estate 18 January 2022

Choose The Gold Standard in Real Estate


Selling or Buying real estate is competitive! It might surprise you to learn that Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. in Kelowna is not the largest real estate office in the Okanagan.  Yet, you see our signs everywhere!  That’s because our team of unique, highly skilled, and fun agents produce results. Agent for agent, our top producers beat out the competition in sales volume and customer satisfaction, year after year*.

Backed by the advanced technology of Elevate21, our team of Realtors are specialists in the Okanagan with hundreds of years of marketing, negotiation, and communication experience. It’s our team approach that works.

If you’re looking to join a high-performing brokerage, choose the Gold Standard in Real Estate… we have time for you!

*CENTURION Award* is given to the top 6% of agents across Canada. 29 agents or 36% of Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. agents achieved this mark in 2021.


2 November 2021

Another one of our “High Performing Realtors “ at Century 21 Assurance Realty. Go Emily, go Emily!


The life of an elite athlete can be comparable to that of a real estate agent: The competition is fierce, the future is uncertain and he/she has to be playing their “A” game 24/7. Due to these similarities many high-performing athletes have made the transition to the real estate industry.


STORY CONTINUES HERE

https://www.realestatemagazine.ca/emily-zurrer-kicks-off-her-real-estate-career/?fbclid=IwAR1zc4e7pYWXkqWa10lwaZg5rh-ST3JDMa_tgGqwHiyUWVPtJW54linp7qI



28 September 2021

Easter Seals BC/Yukon: Drop Zone 2021 Video

A big THANK YOU to our brave rappellers and generous supporters of our drop zone fundraising event in support of Easter Seals Yukon/bc.  Together we raised over $10,000 for individuals with disabilities. #C21CaringForOurCommunity


Home Buyers 20 September 2021

How Do You Market A Property?


How do you market a property?

The best way to market a property is really to take a multi-faceted approach; having a professional photographer, high-resolution pictures, is a must. Secondarily, something we’ve been doing for over two years with all of our listings is to have a virtual tour. Watch to learn more.

 

Home Buyers 13 September 2021

NatGeo Home Rediscovered: Trailer


 

Check out more videos on our C21 YouTube channel

View more C21 Blogs


 

Home BuyersHome BuyersHome BuyersRealtor KnowledgeRealtor Knowledge 27 August 2021

Who Is Buying Property?

Who is buying property?

So many people are asking, who’s buying now in the marketplace? The market consists of a whole bunch of different groups of demographics. The millennials are buying and you’ve got the baby boomers…. Watch to learn more.

27 July 2021

Habitat For Humanity Okanagan | Proud Supporters


Support the Community! Help build affordable homeownership within the community.


“Sponsors, supporters, and volunteers! Thank you for all your support. With your help, we can build strength, stability, and independence for Okanagan families.”

To support: www.habitatforhumanityokanagan.ca to make a donation or to become a sponsor!

 

More Blog Posts 


Photo: www.habitatforhumanityokanagan.ca

20 July 2021

Why Is Kelowna So Popular?

Why is Kelowna so popular?

Kelowna is a very entrepreneurial environment and it’s based on multiple industries and activities. Obviously, there’s the agriculture, there’s the wineries, the tourism activities, but we also have a strong aviation industry.

Watch to learn more!


Check out our other Blog Posts or take a look at our YouTube Page for more videos like this one.

Realtor Knowledge 19 July 2021

Tuesdays and the Power of Local Market Knowledge


Traditionally on Tuesdays mornings across the Okanagan, local agents gather at their real estate offices to share a coffee, learn market stats, local issues, new listings and tips and tricks from their esteemed managing brokers and leaders. Some offices hold these meetings, and some do not. This week, I am reminded of the importance of Tuesday Team Meetings.

July 13, 2021, marks the return of my brokerages’ weekly in-office meetings for agents and support staff. Since March 2020, my office (Century21 Kelowna) has diligently held zoom and or hybrid zoom and in-personal meetings when allowed by the health order. Each week we did our best to connect our agents to fellowship, education, local knowledge, and inspiration. Yet, something is missing from internet webcam meetings.

Realtor® local knowledge and connection to local colleagues, business practices benefit consumers. Agents who attended these meetings, in my opinion, learn more, learn faster and often give their clients better service. To me, Tuesday morning meetings are part of our “great agent recipe.”

What are the benefits for agents and consumers who work with these agents? There are many, and here are my top five.

5) Better problem-solving. I am not talking grade nine math here. Agents are professional problem solvers, and every transaction, home, contract, negotiation or client need can present a unique challenge. Consistently I have been assisted by a comment, habit or suggestion from a colleague during a Tuesday morning office meeting.

4) Motivation. Real estate can be lonely work. Showing homes and writing contracts is exciting work but hundreds of hours organizing paperwork and conducting research and due diligence is more common. So a weekly boost of energy by sharing time with motivated colleagues is essential.

3) Regulatory and Ethics. Each week, it seems, agents in BC have a new rule and a new form. Yet, these rules and forms protect consumers and give the public trust that they will be treated fairly during a transaction. In addition, weekly meetings are one of the best places for my managing broker to impart her knowledge and ethical guidance to our team of agents.

2) Recent Selling and Buying Trends. My office gives agents a chance to share their new listings. We tour a selection of hi-def photos while the agent pitches the unique features of the property. It’s common for most of our office to be exposed to 30 or more new listings each week on Tuesdays alone. Afterward, we talk about buyer needs, upcoming listings, unique clients requests and troubleshooting. Client information stays private, yet knowledge and wisdom are shared.

1) Better Negotiation Skills. I believe our Tuesday morning meetings help make our agents the best negotiators in the valley. Information is power, and up-to-date and accurate information gives our agents an added advantage at the negotiating table for their clients.

Real estate trading (buying and selling) is complex. Realtors are human. Humans need connection. Tuesday are back! Let’s get it on!

Happy negotiating!


Dean Desrosiers
Associate Broker | REALTOR®

CENTURY 21 Assurance Realty Ltd
Agent Development & Recruiting, Commercial

250-863-4707
dean.desrosiers@century21.ca

Real Estate Coach (NORE®)
www.deandesrosiers.com

Hot TipsHot TipsHot TipsHot TipsHot Tips 19 July 2021

Increased Stress for your Stress Test!

There are a lot of different stressors in the world of real estate right now, particularly for those who are
trying to “get in the game” to buy their first home or investment property. On June 1, the Canadian
government will be adding a little more stress to the lives of those looking to purchase real estate.

**Disclaimer: this is not professional mortgage advice. For particulars of your own financial situation,
you should consult with your mortgage broker.**

Now, onto the good stuff.

What is the Stress Test?

The Stress Test was introduced by the Canadian Government in late 2017 as a market control and
mortgage-default prevention measure. Essentially the premise was this, ‘make Buyers qualify at a
higher mortgage interest rate than what they will actually pay so that if/when the interest rates
increase, homeowners won’t suddenly find themselves underwater and defaulting on their mortgage
payments.’ Some logic there, arguably.

Now there are plenty of opinions for and against this move, but that is neither here nor there for today’s
discussion. Today we are talking about what the changes to that stress test are and how they might
impact you.

So, what are the changes?

The current stress test requires that you qualify for a mortgage at your rate plus 2% or 4.79%, which
ever is higher. As of June 1, 2021, all borrowers will have to qualify at the new stress test levels of either
your rate plus 2% or at 5.25% — whichever is higher.

WOWZA!

What does this actually mean for YOU?

Clearly, these changes will have a large impact on borrowers and their capacity to enter the market.
According to the Green Mortgage Team, this change to the Stress Test will “decrease borrowing power
by approximately 4% to 4.5%,”1 depending on the purchaser’s specific situation.

What should you do?

You could buy a bucket of ice cream, close all the blinds in your house, put on some Adele and eat your
sorrows away… or you can call your mortgage broker and find out exactly how this will affect you and if
there are any measures that you can take to counteract the increased Stress Test rates.

If you don’t currently have a mortgage broker and are thinking about getting into the market, call me or
your Realtor and we will be able to direct you to some stellar Mortgage Brokers who can help give clarity
to what these new rules mean, specifically, for you!

 

More Blog Posts

 


Written by: Justina LeeStolz, PREC2

Connect. Local. Community.

1 https://www.greenmortgageteam.ca/mortgage-stress-test/
2 Personal Real Estate Corporation