The average price of a Vancouver condominium apartment is now around $740,000 and a bungalow is about $1 million, but for much less than that a buyer can acquire a waterfront property on the B.C. coast or inland lakes and rivers.
Western Investor’s annual look at waterfront bargains has found what we believe could be the best beachfront buys in the province.
Our first example is rather remote but it is certainly affordable. Located on Willow River, in B.C.’s Cariboo, about a half-hour drive from Prince George, the parcel covers 10.4 acres of riverfront and includes a small, rustic cabin with a dock and 500 feet of river frontage.
It is offered at $47,700 by listing agent John Armstrong of Landquest Realty Corp.
Near the town of Horsefly in the Cariboo, Freddy Marks of 3A Group Sutton Realty has 10 acres of high-bank waterfront on the Horsefly River. It comes with a two-bedroom modular home with plenty of space to build a second home, or even develop a hobby farm. The asking price is $179,000.
On Day Lake, about a 20-minute drive from the town of Burns Lake, a 465-acre lakefront parcel is available. It is one of only two privately owned parcels on the lake and features about 7,200 feet of water frontage with two sheltered bays. Listed by Landquest, it is priced at $599,000.
A more spectacular oceanfront lot on Sidney Island (see main image), just south of Vancouver Island near Victoria, boasts 1.7 acres of waterfront facing southwest. This is a strata development and the lot is priced at $199,900.
“At night you can enjoy the southwest view of the twinkling lights of Victoria,” added listing agent Dave Cochlan of Landquest. Sidney Island has a full-time on-site caretaker, airstrip and community breakwater and dock, which provides secure year-round moorage, and miles of sandy beach. There is no time requirement for building, which provides an opportunity for a buy-and-hold investment.
For the more adventurous, there are oceanfront parcels available on the northwest tip of Vancouver Island. A 148.4-acre parcel of oceanfront is offered within Cape Scott Provincial Park. Privately deeded, it covers about half a mile of spectacular sandy ocean frontage. Landquest has it listed at $850,000.
In Saskatchewan, a private owner has put the Delaronde Lake Resort up for sale. The listing is for a five-acre lakefront parcel that includes four newer cabins and three older cabins.Asking price is $259,900 and vendor financing is available. The owner can be reached toll free at 1-866-405-1228. Other lots are available on the site from $10,000.
Delaronde Lake is approximately 240 kilometres north of Saskatoon or 122 kilometres west of Prince Albert, near the town of Big River.
On Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlottes) off the northwest coast of B.C., only two private waterfront lots remain in Naikoon Provincial Park. Each acreage spans 355 feet of river frontage. Serviced with power, the lots measure 14.3 acres and 17.7 acres and are less than a 15-minute drive from the town of Masset and very close to sandy oceanfront. The lots are priced from $147,800 through Landquest.
