Why no one wants this free Kelowna house

You’d think that in this expensive housing market a free house in Kelowna would be gone like spit on a hot skillet, but this one is up for grabs and someone will actually pay you to take it.

The Art Deco style home on Clement Avenue was built in the 1950s, but the founder of Vantage West Realty Adrian Hazzi hasn’t been able to pay anyone to take it off his hands since the house has to be picked up and relocated.

“We are removing the home because we like the house and want to respect that it has history,” he said.

“It’s a cool architectural home, Art Deco style, and a lot of people like it. It’s one of those things where I would rather preserve it than see it demolished.

The problem is that Vantage West bought the property with the intent to develop it into a commercial building for its headquarters several years ago. So, the land was rezoned and the home can’t stay where it is.

“I have been advertising for the better part of two years that I will pay someone up to $40,000 to relocate this home onto their property. I’ve had hundreds of calls. Nobody has gotten past the due diligence stage yet,” he said.

Hazzi said the building isn’t in great shape since people have vandalized it over the years.

“Aspects of the home, electrical, have been stolen. We’ve had copper wiring and plumbing all stolen. So it’s not at the point where it’s habitable. So someone either needs to take it and make it habitable on their property, or we just continue with the plan to demolish it, which is a shame,” he said.

The property tax assessment shows that the building is worth just $85,100, down from $105,000 in 2025, while the land is worth $2.6 million.

It can cost around $30,000 to $68,000 to demolish a single-family home in B.C.

A free house seems like a win-win, Vantage West doesn’t have to demolish it and someone gets a historic home, but it’s the very definition of a fixer-upper.

“Lots of people who called with an intent to save it, no one’s been able to reconcile the cost of transport, despite me offering to pay the $40,000. There’s still them having to build a foundation and do the repairs, and kind of that’s where it seems to peter out,” Hazzi said.

Hazzi said this is the last chance to save the house.

“This article could be the Hail Mary last play, because within months, that home is going to have to be demolished if no one takes it,” he said. “The next step is we’ve got to move on.”