Holistic beauty lounge
For the first time in the city’s history, the average selling price of a single-family home in Kelowna has broken $700,000.
Just-released May statistics from the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board show the average selling price of the 327 single-family homes that changed hands during the month was $703,809.
“It seems unreal, doesn’t it?” asks Bert Chapman of Premier Canadian Properties. “This market is so strong that every sale seems to be higher than the last one. But I guess we’ll need to see three months of statistics with the average price over $700,000 to declare it a trend.”
It was only last year when a big deal was made of the average selling price of a single-family home in the city breaking $600,000. The price of waterfront homes aren’t included in the average calculation because they are so expensive and would skew the numbers.
But notably, the average selling price of a lakefront home in Kelowna is $2.3 million, up 23 per cent from the average of $1.9 million a year ago.
Prices have been on a steady escalation in all home categories.
As the adjective indicates, an average price snags a buyer an average house. Generally it will be a new, three-or-four-bedroom home with two or three bathrooms and an open-plan concept in a nice neighbourhood.
While the average selling price of single-family homes is the benchmark that attracts attention when records are broken, condominium and townhouse prices are also on the rise. The average condo is changing hands right now for $348,300, up nine per cent over the year. And the average townhouse is selling for $488,800, a jump of 18 per cent from the average a year ago of $412,800.
Green Vanity
All these beauty products are vegan, toxin-free, cruelty-free, fair trade, eco-friendly, fragrance-free, paraben-free, GMO-free and gluten-free.
“The Green Vanity Boutique is a holistic beauty lounge so all of the makeup, cleansers and conditioners we sell are completely clean and pure,” said owner and clean beauty expert Nikki Hunter.
“But we also realize beauty comes from the inside out, so we talk about nutrition, digestion and exercise, too. The answer isn’t always a cream.”
That’s why the store, at 1492 St. Paul St. in downtown Kelowna, also sells kombucha (fermented tea), which promotes a healthy gut and healthy skin.
Such a unique approach to beauty deserves a party, which Hunter will throw Friday to mark the store’s first anniversary.
“One year in business is a big deal for a small independent with a different concept,” said Hunter. “It’s a reason to celebrate.”
Friday’s open house will feature makeup sales and demonstrations, a specially brewed kombucha and eats from caterer Scott Nystrom of The Nourished Chef.
Green Vanity currently stocks 18 brands in its elegantly minimalist space.
They cover Tabitha James Kraan haircare from the U.K.; Crystal Hills Organics crystal-infused bath salts, scrubs and body serums from Kelowna; Pure Anada Cosmetics from Manitoba; Elate Clean Cosmetics from Victoria; Sweet Leilani Vegan Cosmetics from Langley; and Shoosha Baby, an Ohio maker of shampoos and lotions that are not only good for infants, but adults suffering with psoriasis, eczema or sensitivities.
Indicators
The population is ballooning, more people are working, business licences and household income are up, as are house prices and construction, rents and airport traffic. It’s a scene of growth and prosperity all round in Kelowna.
This week, the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission started the quarterly release of nine economic indicators using data compiled from a variety of third-party agencies and governments.
The data doesn’t just paint a rosy picture of the community, but it helps entrepreneurs and companies already here, or thinking of relocating here, to make business decisions.
With a 2016 population of 194,882, up 8.4 per cent from 2011, the Central Okanagan is the fastest-growing region in B.C.
The average household annual income in Kelowna was $80,000 in 2014, up 2.1 per cent from 2013, and higher than the $75,000 in Toronto and $76,000 in Vancouver.
In the first three months of this year, 95,400 were employed in the city, up from 89,300 at the same time last year.
All the other stats also indicate growth with home construction starts 27 per cent higher, 15 per cent more business licences, 8.7 per cent more airport passengers, rents up six per cent, median home prices 15 per cent more and the value of building permits up six per cent.
The full report is available online on the Resources page at InvestKelowna.com.
New ’do
After nearly 40 years, Penticton School of Hairdressing has changed direction.
The school at 379 Martin St. downtown has closed and reopened as Martin Street Hair Co., Penticton’s first and only chair and booth rental salon.
Hair stylists and estheticians offering manicures and pedicures can rent space either full-time or part-time to offer services for their clients.
In a nod to its school roots, the salon will continue to support apprentices and offer affordable rents for new stylists to launch their own business.
The phone number is the same at 250-493-2747 and regular hours are daytime Monday to Saturday and evenings by appointment.
Book signing
Authors Tim Young and Hugh Philip will be signing copies of their new book, Moving to Kelowna: A NoNonsense Guide, today from 1 to 3 p.m. at Chapters in Orchard Park mall. Two dollars from the sale of each $15 book goes to support the Central Okanagan Food Bank. Steve MacNaull is the business reporter and columnist with The Okanagan Weekend. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.