Island life...it's a little different, and hugely rewarding! Beautiful, of course, which is what all the Pacific Northwest Coast enclaves offer.
A Gulf Island opportunity encompasses the Southern, the Mid, and the Northern islands, all of them nestled into the lee side of the huge bulk of Vancouver Island, and all of them enjoying the "rain shadow" effect of this proximity.
The Southern Gulf Islands also enjoy a microclimate known as "cool Mediterranean", and vineyards, olive groves, apple, pear, cherry, and plum orchards abound. Nut trees, artisan cheese makers, organic veggies and livestock, free range chickens...the 5K diet is alive and well on the Southern Gulf Islands....
All of the southern grouping (Galiano, Mayne, Penders, Saturna, Thetis, Gabriola) offer something splendid, and Salt Spring Island is the largest and best serviced of the Southern Gulf Islands opportunities...it has a stand alone/year-round lifestyle, with hospital, all services/amenities offered on Island, with 3 different ferries to service the Island, with year round schedules, and same for floatplane options. Easy to get to, then, but no need to leave unless just for the fun of it...self-sufficient lifestyle, thus!
3 elementary schools, middle school, senior school, evening adult classes, theatre, concerts, live music venues, choral choices, painters, potters, fabric artists, glass artists...writers...zen sitting classes...film fests...a rich cultural life surrounds Salt Spring's residents! Hiking/walking groups, at all levels, kayaking, riding, sailing, rowing...so many physical activities to take part in....
Sounds perfect? Pretty much!
The Islands Trust, a provincial government body created in 1974, is the form of "government" on all the Gulf Islands. Two trustees per island (not based on population), elected at the time of the B.C. civic elections (every 3 years), interpret the strict zoning/density bylaws, that were initially created in 1974.
The Trust's mandate is to "preserve and protect" the environmental beauties of the Gulf Islands, for the benefit of all B.C. residents.
This means a cap on developable land. That is a form of protected investment. A by-product of a non-growth policy is an escalation in price point. Yes, there are cycles in real estate, ups and downs, but over time, in the long haul assessment, a no growth policy in a scenically beautiful area, with proximity to major centres and a "local" apartness, will mean a consistent long-term appreciation in values.
Right now, then, with historically low interest rates, motivated sellers, price reductions in the wake of the post-economic meltdowns of late 2008, it's still an optimum time to buy. This window of opportunity may be passing....
It may be that we will look back and say that the "bottom-bottom" in the market occurred in Sept/Oct, 2010. Savvy investors, looking to exchange cash for good hard asset investments, are already snapping up the good real estate choices in protected investment venues...this would include the Gulf Islands.
Timing is all....
More info? Call me!
Successfully connecting buyers and sellers on the Gulf Islands, since 1989, I look forward to helping you to discover your special Island property.
How may I help you to buy your Island property gem?
liread33@gmail.com
How may I help you to discover special Salt Spring Island & the Southern Gulf Islands? Call me!
