Karen Singbeil

Snowmobiling in BC is fun for all ages!

Sicamous, BC is the big boys playground for this sport and we have a lot to offer!

Sicamous Snowmobiling is so popular sledders all over Alberta will drive to get here just to enjoy a Shuswap weekend getaway in the glorious snow filled mountains of the interior of British Columbia.

So come try and enjoy the Monashee Mountains from Sicamous to Revelstoke, where snowmobiling is #1 fun in the Sicamous area! Some of the popular spots for snowmobiling: Owlhead, Queest, Blue Lake and Eagle's Pass, are all assessible by forest service roads that are carefully groomed by The Eagle Valley Snowmobile Grooming Society, their website is www.sledsicamous.com a non-profit organization that exists to make your sledding experience a "smooth" one, and to promote the incredible sledding opportunities in our region. Three of the riding areas now feature cozy log chalets. In Mara, BC just past the End of Mara Lake is Hunter's Range another popular spot and located near Backus Racing on Hwy 97A.

If you forget your gloves or need some new gear don't sweat it, AJ's and the Worx shop owner Michelle Wolff has a multi tude of gear to keep you warm!

They carry the ever popular KLIM Snowmobile gear so shopping is made easy in Sicamous! She has just celebrated her 1 year anniversary! They have sales on now until the end of November conveniently located by our RE/MAX at Mara Lake office in the Parkland Mall off Highway 1 and 97A in Sicamous.

If you need a safe place to stay and park your sleds while you are out in the Sicamous area The Overlook at Mara Lake is a popluar spot kid and family friendly. With only a 3 day minimum rental period so perfect for the BC weekend getaways! This popular cottage rental is located on a private acreage in Mara, BC where you can start em up or get a test run. Not many places stay open year round in the Shuswap! http://www.theoverlook.ca

If you are looking to buy in the Sicamous area and need more info on the Sicamous Real Estate or the Sicamous area just call me I would love to help you!

Happy Sledding !! Let it snow , let it snow , let it snow!

Interested in buying recreational property in Sicamous?

Days on Market 248?

Days on Market seem high Karen why is that? This is a great question! One I asked myself when I first came to buy in Sicamous in 2002. Then I was living in Calgary and selling primary residential homes, days on market typically 45-60 days or the house was stale so I knew this was crucial to selling!

Was it nobody liked the house in Swansea Point that I liked? It was so close to Mara Lake which leads to Shuswap Lake, within 2 minutes of the white sandy beaches and vacation rentals that all Albertans have come to love in the Shuswap. What was wrong??

I was confused and yet no explanation was given. So I set out to figure it out since I felt the same way about Sicamous homes and needed an answer.

NOTHING! You are buying recreational property key word "recreational property" so there is timing factor with and when the properties in the Shuswap will be MOST desired and LEAST desired.

Most buyers looking to buy with 60 day possessions = Early Spring (Feb, March, April) = for sure! The Albertans are still under snow we have crocus & tulips blooming and they want to get the FULL benefit the Shuswap has to offer for the whole year!

Typically quick possessions (15-30 days) = May, June, July, mid August = quick as they want to get in and have already lost several months of our " Shuswap boating season".

Late August, September, October = varied possession = I always consider these buyers "really" serious, some will take longer possession (next spring if vendors agree) The season for boating, skiing, sun loving is nearing the end OR they are the Snow lovers i.e. Alberta Sledders which is right around the corner.

Sales in November, December and January are few. However I believe this is the time that you can get the "best" deal if you find that one motivated person. Key word "motivated" most of these homes and/or properties are owned by people that DON'T need to sell! So when you see it on for 6 months already they may have had previous offers that they turned down. I know that sounds silly but that is life in the Shuswap!

This quote is how I feel about this time of year some wise words from a very rich man: A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. Warren Buffett

The time to buy is now! So if you are thinking of buying in the Sicamous area call me I would love to help you! More info on Sicamous Real Estate please visit my website http://www.sicamous4sale.com

Media Release - Shuswap Fall Housing Market Follows 2002 Trend November 5, 2009

Sorrento, BC -The Shuswap Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) reported October 2009 sales activity of all MLS® property types has slowed since summer but has continued to improve over last year and the early part of 2009. While overall sales were down by 23% from 95 in September to 73 sales in October, sales were up 21% from the 60units sold in October 2008. Single family residential units sold decreased by 17% from 47 unitsin September to 39 in October - up 34% from the 29 units sold at this time last year.

"While overall activity in the Shuswap has been affected by the lack of Alberta buyers, sales are currently trending at levels similar to those seen in 2002. The sale of recreation properties has picked up year-to-date compared to last year with a 22% increase (11 units sold compared to 9 in 2008)," notes Bob Cliffe, OMREB President and REALTOR® in the Shuswap Zone. "There has also been more interest in the condo market with a 26% improvement in year-to-date condo sales from last year at this time (24 apartment units compared to 19 in 2008). The numbers are small but the trend continues upward so that is very encouraging."

He adds, "Despite lagging buyer interest and challenging economic conditions, sales activitycontinues to improve steadily compared to last year. While recovery in BC is slower than hoped as the resource sectors continue to struggle, the Alberta economy is showing improvement -particularly in Calgary where home prices have climbed steadily over the past few months."

"As the market strengthens and confidence grows in home equity, potential Alberta buyers able to leverage their principal residence could start looking at investment property again in the Spring," Cliffe notes. "The outlook for the Shuswap is looking more positive for 2010."

"The guidance of a REALTOR® to help determine market value in this competitive marketplace is important for both Buyers and Sellers."

The Shuswap Zone of OMREB includes the areas of Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Sorrento, North Shuswap and east along Highway 1 to Revelstoke.

The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) is comprised of 1,146 member REALTORS® and 87 real estate offices in the Southern Interior of BC. For the most comprehensive source of all real estate listings, home buying and selling information, visit our national websites at www.realtor.ca and www.icx.ca. Our local public website is available at

www.omreb.com. All OMREB listings are published in the MLS® Real Estate Review magazine available at all real estate offices and various locations in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, the Shuswap and Revelstoke areas.

For comprehensive Board wide statistical information, please visit www.omreb.com Source: Bob Cliffe RE/MAX Shuswap Sorrento

If you are interested in more information on Sicamous real estate, thinking of selling a Sicamous property or wanting more info on the Sicamous area. I have all types of properties for sale in the Shuswap. My website http://www.sicamous4sale.com I specialize in Sicamous waterfront condos, Sicamous homes for sale, Sicamous condos for sale all located in the interior of British Columbia in the Shuswap. You may reach me Toll free 1.800.582.8639 Karen Singbeil located at the RE/MAX office in Sicamous.

Sicamous Real Estate - Karen Singbeil

Facts about Sicamous:

Sicamous, British Columbia is a town in British Columbia located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 97A junction of Mara Lake and the Shuswap Lake system. It is known as a popular all season tourist destination attracting visitors from throughout Canada and the United States as well as worldwide. It has a population of 3,192 which nearly doubles during the summer months.

Name origin:

Sicamous is an adaptation of a Shuswap language word meaning "River circling mountains".

History:

In the 1800s Sicamous and area was inhabited by a semi-nomadic Indigenous nation called the Secwepemc or Shuswaps. They crossed the Rocky Mountains to hunt buffalo on the plains. In this area they were called the "Schickamoos". In 1871, a Provincial Map shows Schickamoos Narrows which in early history was known as a "meeting place of Indians".

In 1864 gold was discovered on the Columbia. Seymour Arm became a supply centre in the Big Bend Gold Rush.

In 1885 permanent settlers arrived after the driving of the Last Spike at Craigellachie which linked Canada sea to sea. Among the first settlers in Sicamous were the families from Finland. Old Town, or Eagle Pass Landing as it now known, became an almost instant town in 1871. It was the central supply centre for railway construction. Today it is used primarily for recreational purposes such as sledding, houseboating, hiking, swimming, and biking.

Later in the early 1900s CPR hill became a residential development. Finlayson's store and a jail was built in 1892 adding a post office in 1904. The first school opened around 1908. In 1949 the bridge was built across the channel, having previously been just a ferry crossing. Several hotels opened. In the early 1900s the Sicamous Hotel was built. The hotel was Tudor style with 75 rooms and a large elegant dining room. The dances were locally popular and well attended . The hotel was demolished in 1964.

Eagle Valley, in Sicamous, became the home of many settlers. They came and farmed the land putting up with forests, deep snow and hordes of mosquitoes. Then the D Dutchmen Dairy was built. The first newspaper in Sicamous was the Eagle Valley News; printed for the first time on 22 October 1958, it continues today.

Sicamous was incorporated in 1989.

Location of Sicamous in British Columbia

Coordinates: 50°50′0″N 118°58′52″W / 50.833333°N 118.98111°W / 50.833333; -118.98111

If you are interested in knowing more about the Sicamous real estate market please give me a call at the RE/MAX office in Sicamous. Toll Free: 1.800.582.8639.

For more info on homes for sale in Sicamous or condos for sale in Sicamous or any of our RE/MAX listings call or e-mail me: karen@shuswap4sale.com

To see more info and details of my listings for sale in Sicamous and all info on Sicamous Real Estate visit http://www.shuswap4sale.com or http://www.sicamous4sale.com

For more pictures of all my Sicamous properties listings visit : http://www.picasaweb.google.com/ksingbeil1

Sicamous Condos for sale: Sicamous, BC : Legacy on Mara Lake is at it again!

In my opinion I find this quite unbelievable to me as a Realtor who works and specializes in the Sicamous area that an upscale condo project such as Legacy who has the bragging rights of being the first steel construction tower, amazing location, first class beaches and the Newest built "resort style condos" located on the white sandy beaches of Mara Lake has been offering there condos for sale on EBAY of all places!

Again MY opinion : but that seems down right desperate measure to me! I wonder which marketing guru or "genius" should I say came up with this great idea & who approved it at the top????? I saw last week was the first kick at the can with this "new marketing idea" and if they are doing it again maybe it wasn't successful?

What is the definition of Insanity (if you read old post of mine)? I'll tell ya it is : Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!

Sicamous: SableResorts: The new #ebay #auction has begun. Bidding starts at just 1cent! Three suites available. http://ow.ly/yZRX eBay Canada Seller: sableresorts: Real Estate on eBay.ca at low prices Source: ow.ly sableresorts is an eBay Canada seller listing in Real Estate categories on eBay.ca at low, discount prices.

Hmmm..shaking my head and willing to offer my magic wand up for what's next?