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Seniors Real Estate Specialist

darci.sellers@century21.ca darcisellers.com C 250.575.1733 O 250.869.0101 Assurance Realty Ltd. 251 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6C2 Each office is independently owned and operated.

Volume 17 | Number 10

PREPPING FOR A HOME RENOVATION Winter is a common time for homeowners to start a renovation project, which means fall is the time to start planning. After you've determined which room, rooms or household system you want to tackle this winter, make detailed plans that include what must change, what you'd like to change and what can stay if your budget or timeline can't incorporate everything you desire. Consider what will make the room or your home more functional and appropriate for the way you live as opposed to only what would look the best. Once you know what your renovation goals are, it will be much easier to communicate with a contractor.

Before consulting with a contractor, you should do some investigating to see what options are available in your area and what you like and don't like so you have a better idea when telling the contractor what you are looking for. Saying you want new carpet in your living room is a different conversation than saying you want a Berber carpet. The more information and knowledge you bring to the table, the better you and your contractor will be able to plan the project. Of course, you don’t have to use a contractor – some projects can be DIY but they too require extensive research, planning and goal setting to ensure you stay within your means.

courtesy of delish.com

GOULASH

Yields: 6 servings | Prep Time: 15 mins | Total Time: 45 mins

INGREDIENTS • 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1 lb. ground beef • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste • 1 (15-oz.) can diced tomatoes • 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce • 1¼ c. low-sodium beef broth • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning • 1 tsp. paprika

DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. 2. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Drain fat. 3. Add tomato paste and stir to coat, then pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth. Add Italian seasoning and paprika, then stir in macaroni. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, 10-15 minutes. 4. Stir in cheese until melted; season with salt and pepper, if needed. Remove from heat. Top with fresh parsley.

• 1½ c. elbow macaroni • 1 c. shredded cheddar • Chopped fresh parsley

EVEN BEFORE YOU’VE EARNED IT, TREAT YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER WITH THE LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT YOU HOPE TO ONE DAY DESERVE. - Catherine O’Hara

Catherine O’Hara Canadian actress known for a multitude of roles including SCTV , Schitt's Creek and Home Alone .

SOUNDBAR BASICS Adding a soundbar to your home theatre system can really elevate your in-home viewing experience. Overall, soundbars are affordable, take up little space and are relatively easy to set up. If you've never shopped for a soundbar before, you'll be happy to know that for the most part, soundbars are connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth so you can pair them with really any device and use them for more than just watching movies. When you're choosing a brand, experts suggest matching the brand of your television if that's going to be the main use for it. Beyond that, you'll want to ensure the streaming services you use support the type of sound your soundbar will feature. Be aware you may have to increase your subscription level for some enhanced audio options. Finally, for the best sound quality, you may need to disable your television's internal speakers and only use the soundbar for sound.

Doing a little bit of research ahead of time so you know the basics and then consulting with experts at your local home electronics store will help you discover the best sound system for your needs.

Replacing unoriginal or builder-grade fixtures in your home can help you feel like you're turning your house into a home that you're proud of and feel comfortable in. The majority of the following projects can be done yourself over the course of a few minutes or hours (depending on your skill and the task at hand.) If you're not up to a DIY project, you can always consult a friend or family member that is handy or hire a professional. 10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE PERSONAL

1. Upgrade your interior door handles 2. Install new showerheads 3. Replace toilet seats with soft-close ones 4. Change up the cabinet hardware

5. Invest in a smart thermostat 6. Install curved shower rods

7. Add motion sensor lights in the pantry and closets 8. Replace light bulbs so they're all the same brightness throughout the house 9. Replace light fixtures with new ones 10. Invest in fancy furnace vent covers that match your decor.

What do you call a small pepper in the fall? A little chili! Unbe-leaf-ably Funny October Jokes

Did you know that October is a heartbreaker? It's the month everyone falls for every year!

What do you call someone who imitates your fall centerpiece? A cornucopier!

Why did the tree giggle? It heard acorn-y joke!

What do you call a bear in the autumn rain? A drizzly bear!

OCTOBER THEMED WORD UNSCRAMBLE

1. NGIKSAHTVING

6. UAONDLCR

2. OLESTNEK

7. NGAEOR

3. UTCESMO

8. UUNAMT

4. DCYNA

9. NOLEHAWLE

5. UNMKPPI

10. EWAERTS

9. HALLOWEEN 10. SWEATER

7. ORANGE 8. AUTUMN

5. PUMPKIN 6. CAULDRON

3. COSTUME 4. CANDY

1. THANKSGIVING 2. SKELETON

ANSWERS:

Central Okanagan Stats

BENCHMARK PRICES

$1,018,000 detached

$505,600 condo/ apartment

UP 4.6% year-to-year

UP 0.6% year-to-year

1,046 NEW LISTINGS

SOLD LISTINGS 286

14.8 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

66 DAYS ON MARKET

4,230 ACTIVE LISTINGS

95.95% LIST/SELL RATIO

Local Residential Real Estate Activity Down as Listings Rise

relief to rate-sensitive buyers,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS ® President Kaytee Sharun, adding that “stimulus from recent policy changes, such as the potential for 30 year mortgage amortization and the increase in insured mortgage rate cap, could bolster real estate activity in the coming months.” “There may still be some disconnect between buyers’ and sellers’ expectations, with sellers potentially holding out for a higher payoff while buyers are continuing to take a more cautious approach, which could potentially be contributing to slower decision-making in the market in the region,” notes Sharun. Statistics reflect market activity in September 2024 | Source: Association of Interior REALTORS ® | Market values stated are of the benchmark of the city of Central Okanagan. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

KELOWNA, B.C., October 3, 2024 – Residential real estate sales in September saw lower than anticipated activity despite a healthy stock of active inventory, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS ® (the Association). A total of 1,025 residential unit sales were recorded across the Association region in September. New residential listings saw a decrease of 6.7% compared to September 2023 with 2,370 new listings recorded last month. The total number of active listings saw 27.1% boost of total inventory compared to September 2023 with 9,972 recorded across the Association region. “While active listings are trending upwards, September marked a seemingly sluggish month for sales activity despite anticipation of recent rate cuts potentially providing some

Seniors Real Estate Specialist

darci.sellers@century21.ca darcisellers.com C 250.575.1733 O 250.869.0101

The best compliment you can give me is a referral to your friends and family.

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