Ask Larry Kelly to describe the best parts of his company’s new condominium complex in Kelowna on Els Lake and he hardly knows where to begin.

Well, actually, he is particularly proud of the golf course adjacent to The Pointe at Quail Ridge, as the condo development is known.

“It’s not very often that a Canadian company has an opportunity to build a resort development on a Jack Nicklaus golf course,” says Kelly, chief operating officer of Calgary-based developer Pointe of View.

“We feel very privileged to have been able to negotiate the acquisition of the land and to build this beautiful resort area.”

The Pointe at Quail Ridge is certainly in a stunning location, less than an hour’s drive to two of B.C.’s greatest ski hills – Silver Star and Big White.



“Lake Okanagan is there for people to enjoy sailing and fishing, and there’s the nearby wine country that’s become internationally known, the great vineyards along the lake, and just the spectacular views and the climate.”

Yes, but some might wonder who can afford to get in on this hot Kelowna real estate market.

That raises another of Kelly’s favourite things about The Pointe – the condos’ prices.

“They start in the $150s and go to the low $300s,” he explains. “Size and view dictate prices, but if you look at other developments in the area, they start in the $400,000 range and up.

“These are very, very competitive and affordable for people who are looking for either a recreational retreat or, in the long term, a permanent residence.”

Among the amenities of the 118 suites at The Pointe at Quail Ridge are air conditioning, golf privileges to the Quail and Bear courses and large spacious kitchens for easy communication with guests during food preparation. Also, there are maple Shaker cabinets, ceramic tile in the foyer and kitchen, a designer breakfast bar, five appliances (dishwasher, refrigerator, range, washer and dryer) and secured underground parking. Fourth-floor suites have vaulted ceilings.

Another popular feature of the residences is the fact somebody else gets to do all the outdoor work.

“When you’re living in a community like that,” Kelly says, “you have the benefit of all the lawns, gardens and flower beds, and all the shrubs and trees, but you don’t have the chore of doing the maintenance.”

Condo fees are only $200 a month.

“That provides you with 12 months of peace of mind. The people who live there for the summer and then go south in the winter simply lock it up and away they go.

“They know the building is going to be secure and well taken care of.”

The two buildings will feature an exterior architectural design inspired by European styles. Inside, a selection of upgrades is available to condo buyers.

This is Phase 1 of the development. Two more are planned, taking the total number of suites to about 350.

Such numbers are not surprising considering the reputation Pointe of View has achieved locally under the stewardship of company president Randy Klapstein and COO Kelly. It previously completed two other major condo developments on Lake Okanagan – Discovery Bay and Discovery Pointe – where a total of 365 units were sold in less than a year.

They became so well known for quality and value, when The Pointe at Quail Ridge was mentioned in the company’s newsletter to past clients, many readers immediately made inquiries about this newest development.

On July 19, Klapstein and Kelly ran a preferred client draw on the Quail Golf Course to manage the rush of bids. And the result spoke volumes about demand for the project. “Instantly, 74 of the 118 units are now sold,” says Pointe of View marketing director Clark Hogan.

“But there is still a full range of units available, so you can still get that ideal condo if you act quickly.”

Now, retiring to British Columbia’s renowned Okanagan Valley is not a new concept, but the famed baby-boom generation is adding a fresh twist. Typical buyers in their 40s and 50s, a great many from Alberta, are buying into the Okanagan real estate market while they’ve got plenty of active years still ahead.

“They are looking at acquiring recreational property with the view in mind that this is going to become their permanent retirement residence,” Kelly says. The region is roughly a six-hour drive from Calgary, and highly accessible by air. Several competing airlines have frequent scheduled flights in and out of Kelowna.

“The air fares have been very competitive,” he says. “And with the improvement of the Trans-Canada Highway in the next five years, and the Rogers Pass becoming a twinned highway, that’s going to make it even faster for Albertans.”

For further information, call Sharon Greystone, Susan Winter or Gord Klimchuk toll-free at 1-866-861-5225.