Kelowna Real Estate Agent: 10 Things the Best Ones Do Differently

There are over 1,500 licensed REALTORS in the Central Okanagan. Some of them are full-time professionals who close dozens of deals a year and know the market cold. Others got their license in 2021 when everything sold itself and haven't adapted to a market that actually requires skill.

I'm going to be direct: the Kelowna real estate market in 2026 is not the same market it was two years ago. Inventory is up, buyers have leverage, and the agents who coasted on a hot market are struggling. The good ones? They're thriving\u2014because this is the market where real expertise shows up.

I was born and raised in Kelowna. I went to school here, learned to drive on these roads, know which Tim Hortons has the fastest drive-through, and which streets turn into skating rinks every November. That kind of knowledge doesn't show up on a license.

Here are the 10 things that separate a great Kelowna real estate agent from the other 1,499.

Anyone can look up listings on the MLS. A great Kelowna real estate agent can tell you why that house on Gordon Drive is priced differently from the one two blocks over on Lakeshore. They know that the south side of Rutland near Hollywood Road has a completely different feel than the blocks closer to Highway 33. They know that some condos on Ellis Street have had water ingress problems and exactly which buildings to research more carefully.

I grew up in Kelowna. I know the shortcut through Dilworth to avoid the Harvey Avenue traffic. I know which Glenmore streets back onto the golf course and which ones back onto the driving range (big difference at 6 AM). I know that the "lake view" listed on that Upper Mission property disappears once the trees leaf out in May.

That kind of ground-level knowledge only comes from living here. Not visiting. Not "covering the area." Living here, driving these roads every day, and watching the city evolve over decades.

Let's talk about the thing most agent websites avoid: what does a Kelowna real estate agent actually cost?

A good agent will walk you through this on the first meeting without you having to ask. If an agent gets uncomfortable when you bring up commission, that's a red flag. Transparency about money is the baseline for trust.

Commission is always negotiable. Some agents offer reduced rates or flat-fee models. Just make sure you understand what you're getting\u2014and what you're giving up\u2014before signing a listing agreement.

Kelowna real estate isn't one market\u2014it's several. A $3M waterfront estate on Lakeshore Road has almost nothing in common with a $450K condo near UBCO. The negotiation is different. The buyer profile is different. The inspection issues are different.

The best Kelowna real estate agents either specialize in a niche or have enough depth across property types that they can adapt. Ask any prospective agent: what's the last property you sold that looks like what I'm buying (or selling)? If they have to think too hard about it, they might not be the right fit.

I work across the full spectrum\u2014first-time condos in Pandosy to family homes in Lake Country to investment properties in Vernon. But I'll tell you upfront if your needs fall outside my expertise. I'd rather refer you to someone who's a perfect fit than do a mediocre job.

In 2021, "marketing" was sticking a sign on the lawn and watching the offers roll in. That's not 2026. With 8 months of inventory on the market, sellers need agents who actually know how to market a property.

Ask any prospective listing agent: what's your marketing plan for my property? Not their generic pitch\u2014your specific home. A great Kelowna real estate agent should talk about professional photography, video walkthroughs, targeted social media campaigns, staging recommendations, and pricing strategy based on recent comparable sales in your neighbourhood.

If their plan starts and ends with "we'll put it on the MLS," keep looking. Every agent puts it on the MLS. That's the absolute minimum.

The BC Purchase Contract is not the same document used in Alberta or Ontario. Subject clauses, property disclosure statements, the Property Transfer Tax, the Foreign Buyers Ban (and its exemptions)\u2014BC has its own rules, and they change regularly.

A great Kelowna realtor knows these documents intimately. They know which subject clauses to include and which ones give you leverage. They know the PTT exemptions for first-time buyers on homes under $500K. They know how the Speculation and Vacancy Tax affects Kelowna property owners.

If you're moving to Kelowna from out of province, this matters even more. The buying process in BC has quirks that catch people off guard\u2014and a knowledgeable agent is your best protection against expensive mistakes.

This is one of the most common questions I get, and most agent websites dodge it entirely. Here's what you need to understand.

The bottom line: a good Kelowna real estate agent should walk you through their fee structure clearly on the first meeting, without you having to drag it out of them. If they can't explain how they get paid in plain language, that tells you something about how the rest of the relationship will go.