Downtown Kelowna is a vibrant and exciting place to live. Included in North Downton Kelowna is an area known as the Cultural District. It’s here where you’ll find an interesting mix of housing options, shopping, live theatre and music. A short walk is all it takes to get you to urban wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. And yes, they are usually open for tastings! Housing consists of small to large sized condos and single family homes.
For those who want a lifestyle that doesn’t involve driving everywhere, Kelowna North is the place to be.
Location
Kelowna North is located just north of HWY 97 and encompasses the area along the waterfront and back towards Ellis and Richter Streets. Getting to downtown, public parks, museums and the beach, is rarely more than a 10 minute walk.
History
The area that is now Kelowna North and the Cultural District was once the center of the Okanagan’s historical Fruit Packing Industry. Today, the packing houses are gone; however, the pioneering spirit still lives on.
Back in 1905, Kelowna was a bustling town of 600 people. Today you can imagine what it was like in the early days by visiting the Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum at the Laurel Packing House on Ellis. The packing house is now one of the hubs of activity in this area and is used for conferences, fundraisers, art shows and other social events. Another historical building is the Old Cannery Building, now home to BNA Brewing and Eatery.
North Downtown Amenities
The list of amenities in North Downtown Kelowna is huge. Amazing restaurants, upscale boutiques, mom and pop stores, coffee shops, cafés, museums, two live theatres, opera and the symphony, as well as the marina are all right here.
Want to go bowling? No problem, BNA Brewing has a 6-lane alley on site. Prefer bird watching? Take a stroll down the boardwalk that connects Rotary Marsh Bird Sanctuary to City Park. Those who want to play a game of beach volleyball are minutes away from Hot Sands Beach in City park where you’ll find multiple courts. If you get too hot, simply jump into the lake for a swim.
When you’re looking for entertainment, this area is where you want to be. From the Kelowna Farmers’ Market satellite location to block parties, to live music in the park to outdoor and indoor big name concerts, it all happens here. For more information on happenings in this area visit Tourism Kelowna’s website. This truly is the best place to be a tourist in your home town.
Schools
Schools in this area consists mainly of colleges and trade schools. A short drive to the south side of HWY 97 is where you’ll find elementary, middle and secondary schools, including French Immersion and private schools. There’s also an elementary school a little further north. Camosun College is a 15-minute drive away, with the University of British Columbia Okanagan about a 30 minute drive. There are also several art and technical schools a short drive, bike or bus ride away.
Demographics
This area is a true melting pot of people and personalities.
Kelowna North Kelowna average age: 55
Kelowna North average Income: $67,000
Kelowna North households with children: 20%
Home Values
Downtown Kelowna has some of the best options to choose from when you want to live the Okanagan lifestyle. Partial ownership can range from 1/12 to 1/4 of the property and ranges from $45,000 for 1/12 ownership to $200,000 for 1/4 ownership. Strata and Owner Association Fees are extra. Full ownership condos in this area start at around $260,000 and go up to $950,000 depending on size and view. Townhomes will run you anywhere from $525,000 to $1,100,000. There are some single family homes in the area, with an average price of $750,000.
Walkability
The Walkability score for Kelowna North is 76, meaning you can do most of your day to day errands on foot. It’s also rated 99/100 for a bikers paradise, with quick access to all amenities and several trails in the area. Transit in this area is highly accessible as well.
An area’s walkability score is based on the following:
90–100: Walker’s Paradise – Daily errands can be done on foot
70–89: Very Walkable – Most errands can be done on foot
50–69: Somewhat Walkable – Some errands can be done on foot
0–49: Car-Dependent – Most to all errands require a vehicle
Whether you are curious as to your home's current value, or you wish to discuss what improvements and staging you can do to your home that will translate into increased value when selling, let our Sothebys team guide you. Complete this form and we will contact you to discuss how we can be of value.
Client Feedback
Excellent service. Justin is a great communicator who listens to his clients. He was very personable and we were fortunate to share our experience with his considerable knowledge and expertise.
NJ C
Justin was hands down the best realtor we’ve ever used … and we’ve sold a lot of houses. He was professional and kind and went above and beyond for us. He helped relieve the stress of selling a home while living in a different province. I can’t recommend him enough if you are looking for a realtor who will get the job done. Hire him now!
Tammie Onslow
The Justin O’Connor Group with Sotheby’s Realty has looked after our home listings for many years now. I appreciate their positive fresh approach to handling our listings. Very professional and honest service. Justin has also looked after many of our clients, who have also been extremely satisfied with his results. I would never hesitate to use, or recommend, Justin and his group to anybody.
From President - Scott Tyerman and the AuthenTech Homes Team
AuthenTech Homes
Justin and his team were amazing. The team was professional, responsive, and made the experience of selling our home a positive one. I would not hesitate to recommend Justin and his team in both selling and purchasing a home. You will not regret it!!
Jason Halliday
I recently had the pleasure of working with Justin O’Connor from Sotheby’s International Kelowna on the purchase of our new home, and I cannot say enough positive things about our experience. From start to finish, Justin provided exceptional service and expertise that far exceeded our expectations. From the moment I reached out, it was clear that Justin and his team were dedicated to helping us find the perfect home. Throughout the entire process, Justin was attentive, responsive, and always available to answer any questions I had. I cannot recommend Justin highly enough to anyone in search of a top-notch real estate professional. If you are looking for a realtor who will go above and beyond to help you find your dream home, look no further than Justin O’Connor and the team at Sotheby’s International Kelowna. Thank you, Justin, for your exceptional service for making the home-buying process a smooth and enjoyable experience. We are forever grateful for all that you have done.
Jennifer Blais
I have known Justin and his family for many years. Recently I had the pleasure of working with Justin, Miranda and the wonderful team at Sotheby's. They assisted me in a quick sale of my longtime home by consulting on a agreed price, tastefully and professionally staging my home and even helped me finish mowing the lawn to get the place ready for photos. I am very happy with the whole team at Justin O'Connor Group and would highly recommend them for all your real estate needs. Thanks so much Justin O'Connor Group!!
Penny Bugera
Working with Justin and his team was an absolute pleasure. I sold my house in a very tough market and Justin and Lynnea were with me every step of the way, making opportunities happen. I do not hesitate for a moment to recommend them highly… they are honest, hard-working, and true professionals.
Nadine Guy
Throughout our whole purchasing process and later follow-ups Justin has excelled in all ways , very professional and personable. I would definitely refer anyone looking to purchase a home to Justin.
Even after our purchase Justin has been extremely helpful in resourcing trades and other needs.
Should get more than a 5 Star!!
Bill Clarke
Working with Justin to purchase my home was an absolute pleasure. He made the whole buying process so easy. Any questions I would have had were answered before I could ask lol. Highly recommend.
Gary Forbes
I had an absolutely fantastic experience working with Justin O'Connor and his team! From the very beginning, Justin was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive. He took the time to really understand our needs and made the entire process of buying/selling (choose one or both) smooth and stress-free.
Justin’s expertise in the market and attention to detail gave us full confidence at every step. He and his team were always available to answer questions, provide updates, and offer thoughtful guidance. Their dedication and hard work truly made a difference, and we couldn't be happier with the outcome.
If you're looking for a realtor who genuinely cares and goes the extra mile, I highly recommend Justin O'Connor and his team. They made what can often be a stressful experience into something enjoyable and exciting!
Craig Barton
Thank you for everything. I am so happy we chose your team as you were all so fantastic. You made the process very seamless. I will totally recommend you to others.
Ryan and Natasha H.
If you are looking for one of the best to sell your home, look no further!
We recently hired Justin O’Connor from the Justin O’Connor Group - Sotheby’s International Realty Canada to sell our condo on Sunset Drive in Kelowna. We were introduced to Justin through our then tenant who was moving. Justin not only lives in the immediate area, but is extremely knowledgeable about the current real estate market in Kelowna.
Justin did a thorough job assessing what needed to be done to make our unit shine above others on the market. He took an active role in helping to get our unit ready for sale, going so far as to organize and supervise repairs himself. He touched base with us regularly throughout the entire process and kept us updated on our open houses and private showings, offers received and what was happening in the market while we were selling.
If you are looking for a realtor who is knowledgeable, dedicated, professional and caring from beginning to end, Justin is an excellent choice and we highly recommend him.
Lorraine Emery
We’ve been working with Justin for two years with much success. Justin and his group are organized, professional, efficient, available, and get the job done without chaos and confusion! Justin handles the clients calmly and professionally and keeps things running smoothly. We highly recommend him!"
Scott & Gina Tyerman
We recently purchased a home through Justin and Lynnea O’Connor of Sotheby’s|Canada
Justin O’Connor Group. We found their service to be second to none. Their professionalism and communication was top drawer while finding the property that best suited our needs. A very happy experience in dealing with both Lynnea and Justin O’Connor!
Melody Geddes
Moving from another city, it was easy to see Kelowna offers many choices when it comes to choosing a Realtor®. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, well-connected professional, look no further than Justin O’Connor. He is thorough in his appraisal work and negotiates with a quiet confidence. Justin takes the time to get to know his clients, listens to their plans and stay focussed on their goals. It was a pleasure to work with Justin and his Sotheby’s team. They always kept the process enjoyable and stayed in touch. Justin and his team know how to ease the stresses that come with making big decisions and… he has a great sense of humor!
Anne Johnston
I think I was still in shock last night when we went through this process. Grant and I have loved our home over the years and have always taken pride in updating it for our own enjoyment. When we decided to move to a view lot and build our dream home, we knew our home would be attractive given the location and lot size. Your advice regarding further updates and staging was obviously very advantageous. Thank you!! I would also like to let you and Justin know (as I said, I think I was in a state of shock last night) since I didn’t say so last night, we are so appreciative of everything you have done for us to make this sale happen. I totally understand all of the behind the scenes work you both did with gathering information and providing immediate response to any agent query. You both represented Grant and I very, very well! I know we can’t totally celebrate until March 23 however, the heavy lifting is done. I would not hesitate to recommend the Justin O’Connor Group to anyone buying or selling!
Grant and Joyce
Working with Sotheby's was nothing less than professional. From start to finish everything went smoothly. It's good to choose a realtor that puts the client's interest first. I would recommend anyone selling their property to not hesitate going with Justin and the team!!
Ernie and Sue
We worked with Lynnea & Justin for 2 of our properties now and I have to say that they make the process seamless and stress free. They also answered our thousands of questions and took the time to explain everything in detail. Will 100% keep using their services. Thank you so much
Alexandra Jacques-Simard
When selling your home, it is essential that you are using the most professional and experienced people to guide you through this often complex process. The Sotheby’s group met all of our criteria and requirements to ensure we valued our house at the right price and made sure the entire experience was handled properly from day one all the way through to the final closing. We would highly recommend their friendly expert services.
Guy and Sonja
We have worked with the Justin O Connor team for both the sale of our show homes over the past 5 years as well as for our own personal home sales. The professionalism and knowledge ensured the process proceeded smoothly.
They do their research and deliver first class service throughout the sale process which carries through to the after-sale support as well. As a custom homebuilder it is important that we have a smooth transition to our clients as we turn over our homes.
I recommend the team for your real estate needs. You need a great team in the ever-evolving market here in the Okanagan.
