And, of course, it is also important for them to have other kids in the neighborhood that could potentially become their friends.Several academic studies have shown that “kid-friendly” neighborhood features can have a significant impact on a child’s well being, psychological growth and academic performance.

Need help selecting the ideal neighborhood? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!

Ideally, the first property you see when shopping for a new home will be the one you fall in love with and buy. But let’s face it. You’ll probably end up seeing several homes before reaching the decision to make an offer on one.

When you’re viewing homes, you want to make sure that the experience is enjoyable (rather than stressful) and that you get all the information you need to make the right decision. 

To help you do that, here are a list of items you should consider taking with you:

• A notepad. Have something with you so you can take notes – a pad of paper, laptop computer, iPad, even a voice recorder.
• Flashlight. Just in case there is an area in a home that is not well lit, such as the furnace room.
• Maps. Map out your route in advance. This will reduce a lot of potential stress.
• Water and snacks. If you’re viewing more than two properties, take some healthy refreshments with you, rather than relying on fast food restaurants. These will help keep your energy level up. (This is especially important if you’re taking kids with you.)
• A plan. Don’t just view properties randomly. Work out an itinerary in advance. This will help you make the most of your time.

Want more tips on making your home hunting experience less stressful and more productive? Call The Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!!

Has a new job or a new direction necessitated your moving to Kelowna, British Columbia? Or perhaps you visited, fell in love with one of BC’s fastest growing yet laid-back communities and have decided to retire there. Whatever it is drawing you to Kelowna, you’ll best start the process of finding a Kelowna home by approaching a qualified Kelowna Real Estate agency. When it comes to Kelowna properties for sale, no one’s going to have their thumb on the pulse of the market quite like the friendly folks at Royal LePage Kelowna.

First and foremost, their realtors won’t aim to find you a house, condo, townhouse etc. – they’re goal is to find you a home, and the definition of what is an ideal home differs with every individual and every family. Being receptive to the particular needs and wishes of the client is of the utmost importance and a value every Royal LePage Kelowna realtor places front and center in their service. Anyone can evaluate any number of Kelowna homes for sale on their own. Where a quality realtor provides real value is in fine tuning your search by combining his or her market expertise with an understanding of what distinguishes you as a buyer. It starts with a lot of listening, is followed by a lot of hustle and ends with a satisfied homebuyer.

The consistency seen in the large numbers of quality Kelowna properties for sale is a testament to the way the city has grown and the attractiveness it has for people at different stages of their lives. Like any mid-sized city, folks come and go but those who are on their way in are sure to feel good about what Kelowna has to offer. It features a burgeoning economy with a growing high-tech sector and other similarly strong industries. In addition, there is a real quality of life in Kelowna that is buoyed by the ample opportunities available to one and all to enjoy its spectacular natural beauty.  Add to it all the fact that Kelowna homes for sale and their properties offer good value for your dollar and some might say it’s a slam dunk in favour of BC’s interior gem of a city.

Do yourself a favour and weigh the many Kelowna properties for sale with the help of one of the experts at Royal LePage Kelowna. They’ll narrow the field of Kelowna homes for sale that meet your criteria and streamline the process of getting you into the one that’s perfect for you. Visit http://kelownahomefinders.caand get the ball rolling.

Shopping for a home doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. In fact, with a little planning, you can make the entire process fun for everyone – even if there are kids involved.

Here are some tip's for doing just that:

• Get the whole family involved in deciding what kind of home you should consider. The more everyone, especially kids, feel a part of the process, the more likely they are to adjust well to the idea of moving.
• Bring healthy, light snacks and drinks with you when viewing more than a couple of homes in a row. It’s difficult to have fun when your energy level is low.
• Easy does it. Don’t see too many properties at one time.
• Feeling burnt out after viewing the tenth home on a Saturday afternoon will impact your judgement. Your fatigue might cause you to pass on a property that is actually a good fit.
• Kids often enjoy the first viewing of a new home, but are generally less interested in the second and third visits. So when you’re going back to take a closer look at a property before you submit an offer, consider leaving your children with a babysitter.
• Look for a good fit, not for perfection. You probably have an idea in your head of your perfect home. There’s nothing wrong with that! Just keep an open mind when you look at what’s available on the market.
• Work with a REALTOR® who can make the entire process of searching for and buying a home go smoothly for you.  

Do you have a question about how to find your next dream home in today’s market? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!

Few Canadian cities can boast the successful growth and rapid development of an identity like Kelowna can. In a little more than two decades, it has gone from being a not-so noteworthy interior town to one that has everything most people look for in a place to live. It’s all the more common now that folks from the Lower Mainland of BC and others from all across Canada are seeing Kelowna as a viable alternative to the stresses of bigger-city life. Opportunities abound, the cost of living is much less daunting and there’s a genuine warmth to the people. It’s no surprise that more and more folks are looking at Kelowna real estate listings with an eye to moving to this vibrant city.

Your Kelowna home search should begin with the proven professionals at Royal LePage Kelowna. A Royal LePage Kelowna realtor understands the importance you are attaching to the potential purchase of a Kelowna home and responds by pairing their expert knowledge of the area’s housing market with your specific needs. You can expect him or her to be at your every beck and call and be proactive in establishing what Kelowna listings meet your criteria before arranging viewings that work with your schedule. While it’s not Vancouver, the number of Kelowna real estate listings is considerable and you want a realtor who is exactly in tune with what will work for you and what will not.

Having a realtor who’s attuned to your needs in this way is an essential component of your Kelowna home search. This is due to the fact that properties that perfectly match your criteria are very likely meeting those of other potential homebuyers as well. This is what makes for a “HOT” listing and being able to identify them quickly and give them precedence over others is a characteristic of an expert realtor. Such expertise comes standard with a Royal LePage Kelowna realtor and they’ll waste no time in preparing and presenting your offer on any Kelowna home, all the while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism throughout the process.

You will be hard pressed to find anyone who has relocated to Kelowna and isn’t thrilled with the life they have discovered there. There’s just enough hustle and bustle and an abundance of natural beauty with readily-accessible means of enjoying it. The fact that Kelowna real estate listings don’t come with the same hefty price tag you’d find in Vancouver really appeals to most folks as well, and yet you are still only 4 or so hours away from the Lower Mainland.

Start your Kelowna home search the right way at http://kelownahomefinders.ca