Kelowna Real Estate Podcast

WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION Episode 133: Matt and Taylor are joined by Amanda Price.   Amanda is a Senior Commercial Account Manager & CPA at BDC, the Business Development Bank of Canada, from Kelowna, BC, who joined the BDC in July of 2021 as a Commercial Account Manager before taking on her current position in April of 2024.   Overall, Amanda has accumulated almost 15 years of total experience in the finance industry to date, including working with such companies as BDO Canada, Argus Properties, West Point Projects, Grant Thornton LLP, and CPA Canada. In her current role at the BDC, Amanda enjoys contributing to the growth and success of small businesses in the rapidly expanding Central Okanagan, as well as engaging positively with under-served community groups.   The BDC has worked with small and medium-sized businesses for over 80 years, with their mission being to help create and develop strong Canadian businesses through financing, consulting services and securitization. The BDC is also Canada’s first B Corp bank, meaning they are a certified Beneficial company. Their purpose is to create value for society as well as money, meeting high standards of transparency and accountability, while creating positive social and environmental benefit.   Amanda is here to discuss:   → Her journey that led her to the BDC, getting to see behind the curtain of different businesses, and how the BDC are a complimentary lender to other financial institutions.   → Who the BDC's niche clients are including entrepreneurs and small-medium sized businesses, when the right time is to reach out to the BDC, and how the BDC looks at underwriting files.   → The types of financing the BDC offers in term loans ranging from $500,000 to $15M and up to 100% LTV, including their $500M LIFT program for AI and tech, working capital loans, their equipment "line" product, and how tenant and shell commercial Strata unit improvements are structured.   → BDC's consulting and advising side, which any business can use, that provides education in working "on" as opposed to "in" the business, including prepping for potential sale or acquisition, which 70% of Canadian businesses wish to do in the next decade.   → If more business are using BDC in the region, the growth of the Okanagan's manufacturing sector, and how the BDC supports businesses as global uncertainty increases and the hard times of fires, floods, and tariffs. ***   Matt & Taylor discuss:   → The aftermath of the recent municipal & BC provincial elections and the Bank of Canada's first rate increase since 2023. ***   CONNECT WITH THE GUEST 🌎 BDC Website: www.bdc.ca 📸 BDC Instagram: @bdc_ca 🔗 BDC LinkedIn: @BDC 👥 BDC Facebook: @BDC.ca 📺 BDC YouTube: @BDC   🔗 Amanda Price's LinkedIn: @AmandaPrice 📧 Amanda Price's Email: [email protected] ***   OUR SPONSORS ⭐️ The Kelowna Real Estate Podcast is brought to you by Venture Commercial, a division of Venture Realty Corp. Looking to buy, sell or lease commercial real estate? Let’s chat!: www.venturecommercial.ca   ⭐️ The Kelowna Real Estate Podcast is brought to you by ARG Contracting. Honest words, honest work: www.arghomes.ca ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Kelowna Real Estate Podcast: www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com 📺 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast YouTube: @KelownaRealEstatePodcast 📸 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast Instagram: @kelownarealestatepodcast ***   CONNECT WITH MATT 🌎 Matt Glen's Website: www.venturecommercial.ca/our-team/matt-glen 📬 Matt Glen's Email: [email protected] 📸 Matt Glen's Instagram: @realmattglen ***   CONNECT WITH TAYLOR 🌎 Taylor Atkinson's Website: www.venturemortgages.com 📬 Taylor Atkinson's Email: [email protected] 📸 Taylor Atkinson's Instagram: @VentureMortgages ***

WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION Episode 132: Matt and Taylor are re-joined by Adam Galbraith of ARG, one of the newest sponsors of the Kelowna Real Estate Podcast.   Adam is the Founder and President of ARG Contracting from Kelowna, BC, a full-service, locally owned and operated construction company providing General Contracting and Construction Management services, specializing in residential and commercial renovations.   Adam has over 20 years of experience in the field of construction and construction safety management, and prides himself on providing exceptional customer service to ARG clients built on trust and transparency.   Adam is here to discuss:   → ARG's new sponsorship of the Kelowna Real Estate Podcast, how the 2 brands align, and the partnership moving forward.   → Learning multiple $100k+ lessons the hard way including losing $140k+ on a spec house and walking away from a 60 unit apartment rental project after already investing over $100k.   → Why spec houses are harder to build today than 15 years ago and why the market should look to build $700k houses as opposed to $1.5M+.   → ARG cutting their teeth on commercial building with Kelowna's new Obsidian Athletic Club and using it as a stepping stone to bigger commercial projects and $3M+ custom residential houses.   → The biggest differences between commercial & residential building when it comes to client mindsets and relationships.   → Why ARG only operates in cost-plus pricing instead of fixed contracts, no matter the client, and how it builds trust by eliminating hidden markups, matching their company values of honesty and transparency.   → Rebuilding homes after multiple Okanagan fires, how they help clients deal with insurance claims and practical documentation strategies, and why the Canadian insurance industry needs an overhaul.   → What drives Adam to keep growing ARG and where he and his team intend to take it in the future. ***   LISTEN TO PAST APPEARANCES Adam's 1st Appearance in Episode 81: https://www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com/81-adam-galbraith/ ***   CONNECT WITH THE GUEST 🌎 ARG Contracting Website: www.arghomes.ca 📸 ARG Contracting Instagram: @arg_contracting 🔗 ARG Contracting LinkedIn: @ARGContracting 📺 ARG Contracting YouTube: @ARGContractingKelowna   🔗 Adam Galbraith's LinkedIn: @AdamGaibraith ***   OUR SPONSORS ⭐️ The Kelowna Real Estate Podcast is brought to you by ARG Contracting. Honest words, honest work: www.arghomes.ca   ⭐️ The Kelowna Real Estate Podcast is brought to you by Venture Commercial, a division of Venture Realty Corp. Looking to buy, sell or lease commercial real estate? Let’s chat!: www.venturecommercial.ca ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Kelowna Real Estate Podcast: www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com 📺 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast YouTube: @KelownaRealEstatePodcast 📸 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast Instagram: @kelownarealestatepodcast ***   CONNECT WITH MATT 🌎 Matt Glen's Website: www.venturecommercial.ca/our-team/matt-glen 📬 Matt Glen's Email: [email protected] 📸 Matt Glen's Instagram: @realmattglen ***   CONNECT WITH TAYLOR 🌎 Taylor Atkinson's Website: www.venturemortgages.com 📬 Taylor Atkinson's Email: [email protected] 📸 Taylor Atkinson's Instagram: @VentureMortgages ***

WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION Episode 131: Matt and Taylor are re-joined by the incoming Mayor of West Kelowna Stephen Johnston.   Stephen is from West Kelowna, BC, and will be sworn in as it's Mayor this fall after running unopposed in the upcoming municipal election. Over the past 8 years, Stephen has served as both a two-term West Kelowna City Councillor and a Director with the RDCO, where he topped the polls in the last two elections while working full-time in construction.   Stephen's political history includes providing governance leadership and strategic oversight across key areas including infrastructure, housing, emergency services, and regional planning. He's helped guide multi-jurisdictional policies and budgets exceeding $150 million, while advancing community-driven decisions that support sustainable growth and long-term livability in the Central Okanagan.   In the private sector, Stephen serves as Director of Sales & Business Development at Kelowna Ready Mix, where he leads strategic growth initiatives, manages key partnerships, and drives operational excellence across sales, pricing, and customer service. Combining practical construction experience with a strong record of building trusted relationships — from corporate clients to constituents — to deliver results that matter.   Stephen is here to discuss:   → His journey to becoming the Mayor of West Kelowna and his plans for the city in his first 4-year term.   → What he's looking to accomplish in his first term including increasing efficiency at the government level for builders and partnering with the Westbank First Nation on a rec centre.   → The provincial overreach of BC's bill 44 on municipal housing, the changes he would like to see to the bill, and his plan to bring back town halls.   → The opportunities in West Kelowna with continued infrastructure and community projects including the electricity and the power substation, bridges, and a medical centre.   → The specific areas he is looking to advocate for including the transportation corridor and dangerous intersections, water usage, and fire prevention.   → HIs insights on the upcoming BC provincial election. ***   LISTEN TO PAST APPEARANCES Stephen's 1st Appearance in Episode 32: https://www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com/32-stephen-johnston/ Stephen's 2nd Appearance in Episode 78: https://www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com/78-stephen-johnston/ ***   CONNECT WITH THE GUEST 📸 City of West Kelowna Instagram: @westkelownacity 🔗 City of West Kelowna LinkedIn: @cityofwestkelowna 🌲 City of West Kelowna LinkTree: @westkelownacity   📸 Stephen Johnston's Instagram: @sjwestk 🔗 Stephen Johnston's LinkedIn: @StephenJohnston 👥 Stephen Johnston's Facebook: @CouncillorStephenJohnston ***   OUR SPONSORS ⭐️ The Kelowna Real Estate Podcast is brought to you by Venture Commercial, a division of Venture Realty Corp. Looking to buy, sell or lease commercial real estate? Let’s chat!: www.venturecommercial.ca   ⭐️ The Kelowna Real Estate Podcast is brought to you by ARG Contracting. Honest words, honest work: www.arghomes.ca ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Kelowna Real Estate Podcast: www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com 📺 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast YouTube: @KelownaRealEstatePodcast 📸 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast Instagram: @kelownarealestatepodcast ***   CONNECT WITH MATT 🌎 Matt Glen's Website: www.venturecommercial.ca/our-team/matt-glen 📬 Matt Glen's Email: [email protected] 📸 Matt Glen's Instagram: @realmattglen ***   CONNECT WITH TAYLOR 🌎 Taylor Atkinson's Website: www.venturemortgages.com 📬 Taylor Atkinson's Email: [email protected] 📸 Taylor Atkinson's Instagram: @VentureMortgages ***

WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION Episode 130: Matt and Taylor are joined by Deven Pakish.   Deven is the Founder and Owner of multiple local companies, including Everclear Pools & Spas, Old Fashioned Excavating, and Castle Retaining Walls, becoming a pillar of the Kelowna construction community over the past 20 years.   Having a larger group of specialized companies working together under one roof creates a unique integrated approach, allowing Deven and his team to control quality, timelines, and outcomes in a way other companies can't. At the end of day, the focus of all of Deven's companies is people: their clients, their crews, and the community they build in.   Deven is here to discuss:   → The background in founding his companies and how they work both together and as separate entities, how he is integrating AI, and his where he sees them going in the future.   → How hiring a business coach has changed his approach and why he wishes he would've done it sooner, his top 10 business books, and his 25-year goal.   → The business fundamentals that have driven his success: customer service and client education, transparency, and integrity to always make things right.   → The current cost to build a pool and the overall Okanagan pool market. ***   Matt & Taylor discuss:   → Moderating the upcoming UDI event on October 8th, the upcoming elections, and the addition of 2 sponsors to the show: ARG Contracting & Venture Realty Corp. ***   CONNECT WITH THE GUEST 🌎 Everclear Pools Website: www.everclearpools.ca 📸 Everclear Pools Instagram: @everclearpoolsandspas   🌎 Old Fashioned Excavating Website: www.oldfashionedexcavating.ca 📸 Old Fashioned Excavating Instagram: @oldfashionedexcavating   🌎 Castle Retaining Walls Website: www.castleretainingwalls.ca 📸 Castle Retaining Walls Instagram: @castle.retainingwalls   📸 Deven Pakish's Instagram: @devenpakish 🔗 Deven Pakish's LinkedIn: @DevenPakish ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Kelowna Real Estate Podcast: www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com 📺 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast YouTube: @KelownaRealEstatePodcast 📸 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast Instagram: @kelownarealestatepodcast ***   CONNECT WITH MATT 🌎 Matt Glen's Website: www.venturecommercial.ca/our-team/matt-glen 📬 Matt Glen's Email: [email protected] 📸 Matt Glen's Instagram: @realmattglen ***   CONNECT WITH TAYLOR 🌎 Taylor Atkinson's Website: www.venturemortgages.com 📬 Taylor Atkinson's Email: [email protected] 📸 Taylor Atkinson's Instagram: @VentureMortgages ***

WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION Episode 129: Matt and Taylor are joined by Bruno Valko.   Bruno is a Vice-President of National Sales at RMG Mortgages from Kitchener, ON, who has been in the mortgage industry since 1990, and held this position for the last 16 years.   RMG Mortgages is a Canadian mortgage lender who specializes in the residential mortgage space. An expert in providing smart mortgage solutions to homebuyers, they offer a wide range of products and programs delivered through independent mortgage brokers who work closely with prospective homebuyers and homeowners, negotiating on their behalf to get the best rates, terms, and solutions best suited to their unique needs.   Bruno is here to discuss:   → The Bank of Canada's September 3rd rate hold and what it means for inflation and the bond markets moving forward.   → The 3 measures of inflation, how they are calculated, and what they mean, with Canada's current headline at ~3% and core at ~2%.   → The Canadian government's debt, which is currently at $1.3T+ (the U.S. is at $40T+), if we could ever lower our debt, and how the debt is driving inflation.   → The Canadian economy - The attempt to diversify our trade partners, the importance of manufacturing, and the impact of immigrants by doing the jobs that no one else wants to.   → How the US tariffs and trade deal (or lack thereof) are effecting Canada's real estate market and if Trump has any method to his madness.   → If he would take a fixed or variable mortgage right now. ***   CONNECT WITH THE GUEST 🌎 RMG Mortgages' Website: www.rmgmortgages.ca 🔗 RGMG Mortgages' LinkedIn: @RMGMortgages   🔗 Bruno Valko's LinkedIn: @BrunoValko ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Kelowna Real Estate Podcast: www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com 📺 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast YouTube: @KelownaRealEstatePodcast 📸 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast Instagram: @kelownarealestatepodcast ***   CONNECT WITH MATT 🌎 Matt Glen's Website: www.venturecommercial.ca/our-team/matt-glen 📬 Matt Glen's Email: [email protected] 📸 Matt Glen's Instagram: @realmattglen ***   CONNECT WITH TAYLOR 🌎 Taylor Atkinson's Website: www.venturemortgages.com 📬 Taylor Atkinson's Email: [email protected] 📸 Taylor Atkinson's Instagram: @VentureMortgages ***