A West Coast waterfront home is the often the long-held dream of those seeking recreational real estate.
But the cost of B.C. waterfront can be prohibitive. According to the Royal LePage Recreational Property Report for 2021, the average B.C. waterfront cottage sells for $800,000, and spikes to the $1.8 million range in the Okanagan, with prices up about 14 per cent this year as compared to 2020.
Yet, it is possible to purchase oceanfront or lakefront packages, with livable homes and even income potential for less than the $727,000 average price of a Lower Mainland condominium.
The following are some examples:
Cariboo lakefront with two cabins: $395,000: This 10-acre parcel on Fawn Lake, near 100 Mile House in B.C.’s Cariboo, includes two small cabins with large decks overlooking a lake. Accessible by a government-maintained road that is a 25-minute drive off Highway 97, the parcel provides an ultimate fishing destination, according to the listing agent. The cabins, both 70 years old, have been updated with new roofs and insulation, and boast wood-burning stoves. The property is listed by LandQuest Real Estate of New Westminster.
Private island with cottages: $499,000: Breathtaking 4.62-acre island with three-bedroom cabin, a four-person bunkhouse and large, private dock on B.C’s Central Coast can be yours for less than $500,000. The location is just 30 minutes from the Shearwater Marina in Lama Passage, a spectacular area with world-class fishing and outdoor recreation. The 760-square-foot main cabin is well appointed and offers unobstructed ocean views. It is accessible by a large, private dock for moorage. The bunkhouse is tucked away in the old-growth Great Bear Rainforest. The island is accessed by boat, float plane, or water taxi from Bella Bella or Shearwater, and listed by LandQuest Realty.
Waterfront home on Quesnel Lake: $700,000: This listing is for a custom-built 4,400-square-foot house on 2.79 waterfront acres on Quesnel Lake in the South Cariboo, 596 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. This property offers lakefront living, as well as rental revenue potential or a lakefront bed-and-breakfast. It offers direct lake access with more than 800 feet of wide beach frontage, according to listing agent Freddy Marks of 3A Group Re/Max Nyda Realty of Agassiz.
