Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever
Prescription
“Powell River is one of the last frontiers on the coast and is
attracting Lower Mainland residents and Albertans.”
Don McLeod
by
by Kelly
Kelly Wharton
Wharton
Powell Lake, Tracey Rayson
nything worth having takes some extra effort
and that rings true for recreational properties.
But greater transportation options mean getting to
the beach, the lake or the mountains is easier, opening up more affordable possibilities. Buyers are putting the emphasis on access to nature and thinking
outside the cabin.
A
The forty minute ferry ride from Horseshoe
Bay on Vancouver’s north shore to Langdale on
the Sunshine Coast is convenient enough for
daily commuters who work in the city, yet a
world away from the urban pace. On the south
coast, the town of Gibsons is close enough to
the ferry that it offers a fast getaway for the
weekend. Further north are rural communities
like Roberts Creek and the glorious waterfront
retreats of Pender Harbour.
“People want proximity to nature and urban
centres,” says Gord Clayton, a sales agent with
Remax Oceanview in Sechelt on the Sunshine
Coast. “Most of our buyers are looking for a
second recreational home with the long term
plan to settle in the area once they retire,”
observes Gord. The quality of life is paramount
for property seekers and whether the property
has a rustic cabin or new cottage on the land is
a secondary consideration. Gord has a backlog
Cabin on Powell Lake, Tracey Rayson
of clients waiting for that perfect place to come
on the market with ocean access for boating
and other water sports and nearby forests for
hiking and mountain biking.
If you don’t mind travelling up the coast a lit- the Comox Valley with forty parks in the surtle further to Earl’s Cove, another ferry ride rounding area, including Strathcona provincial
takes you to Saltery Bay. The coastal town of park, Mount Washington for skiing and the
Powell River is a 27-kilometre drive from the ocean at your doorstep.
Further down the Island, Lisa Moulatsiotis,
terminal and is at the entrance to Desolation
Sound, a breathtaking marine area of moun- based at Coldwell Banker Vancouver Island
tains and inlets. There are also five scheduled Realty’s Parksville office, says requests from her
flights to Powell River each day making the mostly baby boomer clients are for recreation
homes to be used now or rented until retirerecreational commute convenient.
“Powell River is one of the last frontiers on ment. “Lakefront property is less expensive
the coast and is attracting Lower Mainland then oceanfront and this area has plenty of
residents and Albertans,” says Don McLeod, lakes. Being away is the priority for most buyan agent with Remax Powell River. “We have ers,” notes Lisa.
Recreational buyers more focused on mounincredible fishing, crabbing, hiking and lakes
including Powell Lake which is 51 kilometres tain vistas than ocean ones are making interior
long. This is a place where you can still pick ski resorts like Sun Peaks, near Kamoops, into
oysters off the beach and eat them.” The focus international, year-round destinations. “We see
for Don’s clients, who range in age between many families buying a second property but we
45 and 55 years, is oceanfront property. For also see singles and retired clients coming here
the extra effort of a short boat ride, water too,” says Lark Frolec-Dale of Remax Alpine
access only properties are still a bargain. Don Resort Realty. “Sun Peaks is now a twelve
believes most buyers are not looking for big month destination with the ski season being
cottages and sees the cute and
cozy cabins sell fast. He is about
to bring an old resort onto the
market in a unique way by offering the 10 existing cabins for sale
separately along with dock space.
Across the Strait of Georgia, in
the middle of Vancouver Island,
are communities like Courtenay
and Comox, so popular with
Albertans that there are now direct
flights from that province. These
centres are a one hour drive from
the Departure Bay ferry and flights
into Nanaimo or Victoria increase
the accessibility options.
“This is the ultimate vacation
area with mountains, lakes, the
ocean, golf and culture and it is
still affordable relative to other
recreational areas,” says Karin
Usipuik, a realtor with Coldwell
Banker, Comox Valley. “Most buyers want a single family residence
with a view or waterfront so location is the priority.” Leisure is a full
time occupation for residents of Parksville Bay. Photo courtesy of Oceanside Tourism Association.
followed by golf, hiking and biking.” The
choice of housing is as diverse as the population with condominiums, hotel rooms and single family homes available.
The only danger with buying recreational
property in British Columbia is that you may
be tempted to extend your vacation permanently.
For more information on the Sunshine Coast,
visit the Chamber of Commerce web site at
www.thesunshinecoast.com or contact Gord
Layton at 604-740-6302 or see his website at
www.sunshinecoastrealty.ca. Powell River and
area details can be found at Don McLeod’s website www.mycoast.ca. or contact him at 1-866483-4753. More information on central
Vancouver Island is available at www.vancouverisland.com. You can also contact Karin
Usipuik at 250-898-8790 or Lisa Moulatsiotis
at 1-866-386-2735. Sun Peaks property information and links are found at www.sunpeaksrealty.com.
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