Bank of Canada Rate Cut: Lower Borrowing Costs for Homebuyers

Bank of Canada Rate Cut: Lower Borrowing Costs for Homebuyers

The Bank of Canada's (BoC) decision on October 29, 2025 to cut the target for the overnight lending rate down .25% is a significant development for the Canadian housing market and anyone considering a mortgage.

The BoC's rate cut has a direct and beneficial influence on the rates offered by commercial banks. This reduction is expected to result in lower interest rates for consumers, especially those with variable rate mortgages. 

For prospective and current homeowners, the most immediate effect is on mortgages.  The interest drop to 2.25% will help consumers see lower interest rates on their loans, making home financing more affordable. This reduced cost of borrowing could provide…

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Kitchens are the Hearts of our Homes

 Kitchens are the Hearts of our Homes

The kitchen is where life unfolds, not just in meals prepared, but in memories made. It’s where conversations linger long after the dishes are done, where morning coffee meets quiet reflection, where you’ve danced around while dinner’s on the stove and helped with math homework at the counter. The kitchen has seen it all; birthday cakes and burnt toast, late-night snacks and Sunday roasts. It’s more than just a room, it’s the center of life’s daily rhythm. Your home is your sanctuary, and the kitchen is its heart - and if you ask any realtor, they’ll likely tell you it’s the heart of the sale, too.  I recently spoke with three experienced realtors — Jessica, Murray, and Doug — to get their take on the role of…

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Shuswap Spirit Shines: Our Roots and Blues Weekend Recap 2025

Shuswap Spirit Shines: Our Roots and Blues Weekend Recap 2025

Salmon Arm, BC, just wrapped up another spectacular edition of the beloved Roots and Blues Festival, and what an event it was! This year marked a significant milestone – 33 years of bringing incredible music and vibrant energy to our beautiful Shuswap community. From Thursday's kickoff to Sunday's final notes, the festival once again proved why it's a highlight on the Salmon Arm summer calendar.

The festivities kicked off with a bang on Thursday, July 24th, with a fantastic opening night concert held right in downtown Salmon Arm. The intersection of Hudson Ave NE and McLeod St SE transformed into an open-air venue, with the lively sounds echoing down the streets! This event was the…

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Shu Lake Life Living

Shu lake life living

Have you ever pictured a life where stunning natural beauty meets a vibrant, welcoming community? Where every season brings new adventures and a deep sense of belonging? Welcome to the Shuswap, British Columbia - a place that isn't just a destination, but a lifestyle, and perhaps, your next home. 

The Shuswap is located on the Traditional Unceded Territory of the Secwepmec First Peoples, communities nestle amidst ancient mountains and spread along the shore lines of the expansive Shuswap Lake. Our region offers a unique blend of tranquility and activity. It's a collection of charming neighbourhoods, each with touches of their own character, yet all sharing those breathtaking lake views and majestic mountain backdrops.…

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Spring 2025 Garage Sale for Shelter

The "Garage Sale for Shelter" presented by Royal LePage Access Real Estate is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM PDT at the Royal LePage Access Real Estate office located at #2 - 551 Trans Canada Highway NE, Salmon Arm, BC.

This annual event is a significant fundraiser for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and the local S.A.F.E. Society (Shuswap Area Family Emergency Society), which supports women's shelters and domestic violence prevention in the Shuswap region.

Here are some important details about the event:

Beneficiaries: 100% of the proceeds from the garage sale will go directly to the S.A.F.E. Society and the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.

Donations: The community can donate gently used items.…

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BC NDP Budget Set to Kill BC Economy

You've most likely heard about the BC NDP Government's budget with it's sweeping taxation of real estate. The focus has been much on the "Speculation Tax" where owners of secondary and mostly vacant homes will be subject to an annual tax of .5% of property value for 2018 and then 2% for 2019 and beyond. It's been said that this is focused on people who pay "little or no tax in BC" and thought to be applicable mainly to Albertans but also anyone outside of BC. That part of the plan is true.

What is not so clear with many is the implementation of the tax.  According the the BC Government "The speculation tax will initially apply to the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Capital and Nanaimo Regional Districts, and in the municipalities of Kelowna and…

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Salmon Arm Real Estate Market Cooling ... Slowly

 Like the difference from summer to autumn, the real estate forecast for Salmon Arm and the Shuswap has cooled as seasonal change affects both the weather and the real estate market.

The real estate market generally cools off in the fall, and, so far this year, it's cooled off ever so slightly in the Sushwap area.

For the area from Revelstoke to Salmon Arm and the Shuswap regiion, a total of  142 units were sold in September, down from 161 in August. Of those sales, 53 were residential. And those residential sales are also down 19 units from August's sales.

In terms of home prices on single-family homes and acreages in Salmon Arm and the Shuswap for September, the average selling price was $523,530, down ever so slightly from August's average…

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Key Things to Keep in Mind When Viewing a Home You Might Buy

Most people get pretty excited when they're viewing a home they might end up buying. While at first glance a home may appear to be perfect, with everything you need; however it's very important to make sure the home actually does meet all your requirements. You, the potential homebuyer, need to make sure it's the right house for you before you make an offer and sign over hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your real estate agent can also be very valuable in helping you spot issues when you're out house hunting.

1. Check the size of the Bedrooms

Sure the house has the right number of bedrooms you're looking for, but are they big enough? Think about what's in your bedrooms and make sure your items and furniture will fit into the rooms of house you're…

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Stunning Salmon Arm Home has Everything

 There is only one word to describe this Salmon Arm home: Stunning.

This four bedroom, four bathroom, custom-built home was featured in Jenish Homes & Design Magazine  and everything in it is perfectly designed and thought out. It's situated on a cul de sac in a quiet southeast neighborhood with glorious mountain views.

When you step inside, you're greeted with gleaming maple hardwood floors leading into the open living room, dining and kitchen areas. The living room features a custom built stonework fireplace (two-sided) that will help keep you warm in the winter.  

The kitchen is a dream with high-end stainless steel appliances, including a natural gas range and plenty of cupboard space.

Upstairs you'll find three bedrooms, including the…

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Five Tips for Fall Lawn Care in Salmon Arm

While it may not feel like it right now, fall is just around the corner and that's a time when many people neglect their lawn in Salmon Arm and the Shuswap region.

However, these five steps can ensure your lawn not only stays green and lush, but is healthier throughout the colder winter months, then returns as a healthy, lush lawn in the spring. Keep in mind, Salmon Arm has watering restrictions (limited to two days a week) in place until Sept. 15, with no lawn watering on Mondays.

1. Keep Mowing & Watering Your Grass

Even though your grass won't grow as quickly now that the days get shorter, it's still important to keep the sprinkler on it and mow it when needed. The grass is still alive and needs those essential nutrients to stay healthy. Half…

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