Okanagan is a place in British Columbia in Canada. It is also called Okanagan Valley or Okanagan Country. It is situated on the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian part of the Okanagan River. The main city is called Kelowna and in the Okanagan language it means,Transport towards the head or top end. The main occupation there is agriculture with special emphasis on fruit orchards. Now they also have vineyards. It is famous for outdoor activities such as boating, snow skiing, hiking and water sports. The climate there is dry and sunny.
This place is a primarily a vacation spot. There are many recreational facilities available. All these facilities are reasonably priced and are close by. Kelowna airport allows you to travel easily to other major cities. It is also connected to Vancouver by the highway. The beautiful surroundings place along with the recreational facilities makes it a great vacation spot.
Since it is primarily a vacation spot, many people like to buy vacation homes there. Before buying any property it is best to make a thorough survey about the properties available. Browse the internet and get all the details about Okanagan. Find out what are the places you would be interested in buying. You can contact the website where you find the place that you like. Get in touch with them. They will send you the digital photos.
Go personally and check out the homes you are interested in. Get all the information you want in advance and then go there. Once you have seen the home, negotiate the price. Choose a real estate professional to help you through the deal.
You should check out whether the real estate professional represents the buyer, the seller or both. There is a difference. In British Columbia, the real estate professionals have to say it in writing as to what their relationship is with the buyer and the seller. A sellers agent will keep the interests of the seller first. A buyer should not tell him anything that he does not want the seller to know. A buyers agent must keep the interests of the buyer first and the buyer should not disclose to him what he does not want the seller to know. When the real estate agent represents both, he is a dual agent. He has a duty to both and has to keep their interests in mind. He should sign the Limited Dual Agency Agreement and disclose his position to both of them.
When you are buying property, the agent should give you all the information that you want. He should let you know how much you can pay for the home and tell you the difference between pre-qualified for a mortgage and pre-approved for a mortgage. He should also brief you about the main things needed in a home and what you might want to have. He should help you to judge the houses that you see. The agent should also give you the local standard contract for purchase.
After getting all the information, you can see the property and contact the real estate professional. He will help you in settling the deal. Many Americans and Canadians prefer investing in vacation properties. With its recreational facilities and beautiful surroundings, Okanagan is a place to live in part time at the present, and a place to stay after retirement. Having a vacation property is a status symbol and gives a sense of achievement. So, check out the available places to buy in Okanagan.