18 Sep Kelowna Mortgage Broker Tips: Top Kelowna Neighbourhoods
Kelowna is quietly becoming one of the most sought after places to live in Canada. With vacancy rates lower than Vancouver, the sparkling freshwater lakes, clean mountain air and endless seas of grapevines are grabbing everyones attention. Our Kelowna mortgage brokers know a lot about this community because it’s the place we call home, so let’s talk about the top neighbourhoods in Kelowna.
Kelowna Innovation
In the past, Kelowna may have been thought of as a “retirement town”, which is a image that has drastically changed over the past few years. There is an explosive start up scene within the city, with three of the top 50 start ups in Canada calling Kelowna home. The Okanagan Valley is the hub for many innovative young companies, but you may be surprised to discover that the fastest growing start up in all of Canada is right in the middle of Kelowna. Strawhouse has grown over 3000% in the last two years and are showing no signs of slowing down. This is the new pace of Kelowna, which will soon push the metropolitan area population over 200,000.
Tourism and Health Care
Start up companies are not the only exciting thing happening in Kelowna. With such a diverse selection of activities to choose from, Kelowna is drawing in massive quantities tourists- 1.9 million annually to be exact. World class wineries, ski-resorts perched in the Rockies, and copious amounts of sun-filled summer days are all contributing to a tourism industry that now brings in more than $1.25 billion dollars every year. This is the fuel that is really putting Kelowna on the map.
Colliers International, a global real estate giant, is calling Kelowna the next great development hub. Analysts confirm this statement, indicating that now is the best time to invest in the real estate market of Kelowna, with higher ROI’s than Vancouver and a plentiful amounts of new developments to choose from. There are countless reasons why Kelowna is an attractive area to invest in, the real question is, what area of Kelowna best fits your needs?
Downtown Kelowna
The downtown section of Kelowna is the true heart of the entire city. Some of the core streets have recently gone through an revitalization process, transforming this neighbourhood into the urban village of the Okanagan. Filled with modern designs and newly constructed commercial spaces, the downtown space of Kelowna is drawing in a lot of attention. Whether you are looking for a chic condominium, a convenient townhouse or an architectural masterpiece on the waterfront, downtown Kelowna has it all.
Many of the residents that select this area really enjoy having the ability to walk to countless restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques. The core of Kelowna is accented by beautifully clean parks and great access to the waterfront and beaches of Okanagan Lake. All the other amazing amenities of the region, such as the wineries, hiking trails and golf courses are just a short drive away. Think of the downtown neighbourhood as the focal point of Kelowna, giving quick access to all surrounding areas.
Dilworth and Glenmore
These two neighbourhoods are located in the North Eastern portion of Kelowna and are favourites among young families, professional couples and retirees. The natural hillside formations that Dilworth and Glenmore are built on offer incredible views of the lake and valley and are full of beautiful single family homes, townhouse and condos. Here you will find a real sense of community, and a love for the nature that surrounds the neighbourhood. A close proximity of schools, malls and golf courses could make Dilworth or Glenmore the perfect location for your family to call home.
Lake Country
If you travel a little farther north up Highway 97, you will find yourself in Lake Country. The focus of this neighbourhood area is definitely the natural surroundings, with pristine lakes and mountains everywhere you look. Lake Country places itself between the cores of Kelowna and Vernon, with great access to the nearby airport. This area has a diverse mix of properties, with many single family homes, townhouses and also rural properties that put your family in close proximity to schools, wineries and wildlife. As far as investment opportunities are concerned, Lake Country was named the fastest growing community within the entire Okanagan Valley in 2017.
South East Kelowna and Mission
If you are looking for the convince of downtown Kelowna, but love to live in a rural setting, the South East section of Kelowna might be just what you are looking for. There are many family homes and neighbourhoods surrounded by wineries and orchards, yet you are only about ten minutes away from the benefits of the core of Kelowna. Do you have a golfer in the family? Two of the top golf courses in Kelowna are in this neighbourhood with both, The Harvest and Gallagher’s Canyon right around the corner. If you are hoping to find an older style home or something with a “heritage feel”, you might locate a gem hidden here between all of the beautiful new developments. A potential deal sealer could be this neighbourhoods close proximity to the Kelowna General Hospital or Okanagan University College.
Although South East Kelowna is amazing, Upper and Lower Mission are typically considered the pinnacle of Okanagan living. Here you will find incredible valley views all year round, with access to Kelowna’s best beaches and boat ramps. Mission is full of luxurious homes with larger yards than most, which are perfect if you are looking to invest in a family pool in the future. If you have an active lifestyle, you will appreciate the plethora of hiking and biking trails, plus the nearby H20 Aquatic Centre and Capital News Sports Centre.
Another highlight of this area is the Pandosy District, which is caulk full of great restaurants, unique shops and organic grocery options. With one of the widest selections of property options in Kelowna, excellent schools and access to all the top Kelowna amenities, Upper or Lower mission is a fantastic location to consider for your next home.
Westbank and West Kelowna
Are you looking for a little more relaxation and quiet time? The West side of Kelowna offers a multitude of quiet beaches on Okanagan Lake, plus two of the top winery restaurants in Canada at Mission Hill Winery and Quail’s Gate Winery. West Kelowna is an older community that has recently been enhanced with many grocery stores, big box stores and golf courses. The West offers a wide range of housing options, similar to Mission, with everything from small single homes to impressive mansions that are dotted in between orchards and small mountains. A quick 10-15 minute drive across the bridge will have you on the East side, or “main” side of Kelowna, although you will need to give yourself a couple extra minutes in the warmer months as traffic can build going across the water.
These are some of our favourite neighbourhoods in Kelowna where many of our clients have found beautiful properties to call their own. When deciding what area to live in, you need to consider your current and future needs and match those with the amenities and highlights of the surrounding area. Need a mortgage for that dream home? Kelowna mortgage broker John Antle can help!
Not sure how much you are able to spend on the future home of your dreams? Reach out to Kelowna Mortgage Broker, John Antle and we will quickly get you all the mortgage information that you require, providing any insight we can on the various neighbourhoods of Kelowna!
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