Many different real estate blogs extol the benefits of living in one place or another but few places can actually deliver what is being marketed. The Comox Valley is one part of the world that can deliver. Our valley has a diverse real estate market, and a broad spectrum of things to enjoy within and in close proximity to the valley. As someone who came here to visit for more than 30 years, I elected to move here and enjoy what our valley has to offer - scenic beauty, a temperate climate, a controlled pace of life and lots to enjoy, including its people. I elected to do so against a backdrop of my extensive travel to Europe, Scandinavia, and throughout North America. Arguably, the Comox Valley is the greatest place to live in the greatest place on Earth. Here is why I feel this way.
The Comox Valley, for real estate purposes, falls under the authority of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB). The Comox Valley Real Estate market is divided into the areas shown on the map at the right. The Merville/Black Creek area includes the Saratoga Beach area up to the Oyster River. The City of Courtenay is divided into Courtenay East, Crown Isle, Courtenay North, Courtenay West, Courtenay South and Courtenay City. The Town of Comox is situated on the Comox Peninsula but is differentiated from the rest of the peninsula for real estate purposes. Courtenay South includes Royston (located to the south of the City of Courtenay). Further south is the area that includes the Union Bay and Fanny Bay area down to Deep Bay.
In addition to being statstically divided into these geographic area, this market is statistically divided into single family homes, single family homes on acreages, single family homes on waterfront, single family strata, single family modular/prefab homes, condos (apartments, patio homes and town homes), half-duplexes, full duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, manufactured and mobile homes on a pad, farms and ranches, lots, strata and waterfront lots, acreages, and waterfront acreages.
The Comox Valley is a region of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada that is located about half-way up the island on its Eastern side. The first inhabitants of this region referred to it as the "Land of Plenty", a phrase that continues to be applicable to the region today. This region comprises an area not much greater than 660 square miles and it is bordered by Mud Bay in the south, Saratoga Beach in the north, the Beaufort Mountains in the west and the Strait of Georgia in the east. Courtenay is its largest city, and Comox is its largest town.
Vancouver Island has been recognized by Conde Nast as a top North American island for many years and one of the top islands in the world. Nearby Vancouver was voted best city in the Americas by Conde Nast readers in 2010. Resorts in the area have been placed on Conde Nast travellers Gold List. After having lived here it is easy to see why.
Vancouver Island is well-known for its saltwater and freshwater fishing. From the Comox Valley you can launch your boat and go fishing for salmon, cod, snapper, halibut and other species of fish and shellfish in the Strait of Georgia. If you prefer you can fish for steelhead in a local river, fly fish for pinks from a local beach, or fish for trout in a local lake.
If you prefer to hike and explore, Vancouver Island is home to ancient coastal temperate rainforests with trees well over 1,000 years old. They are located in areas such as Cathedral Grove Provincial Park, Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park and in Clayquot Sound. Speaking of provincial parks, Strathcona Provincial park is the oldest one in British Columbia and it offers a variety of destinations, both developed and not, for the adventure seeker. Clayquot Sound is a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve.
Do you prefer to do something outdoors that is more laid back? Then try golfing at some of our championship and/or local golf courses. Or if you are more adventurous, head up to the Mount Washington Ski Resort for some alpine or nordic skiing in the winter, or mountain biking in the summer.
On many days, you can fish, ski (or mountain bike) and golf in the same day. The Comox Valley is known for its warm dry summers, mild wet winters, and year-round temperate climate. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 30 C (86 F) and winter temperatures rarely fall below freezing. Most of the winter precipitation falls in the form of rain. When we do get snow in the winter it rarely stays for more than a few days. The ocean is readily accessible from anywhere in the Comox Valley, golf courses are spread out throughout the Valley. Mount Washington is a short drive away.
If you don't like to golf, fish or ski, no problem! Our valley offers many places to eat and stay, hike, bike, swim, and camp. You can also visit a museum (and paleontology centre), a theatre (performing arts or movie), or enjoy various types of music in local clubs. You can also enjoy any number of diverse events throughout the year. These include events such as Nautical Days, the Comox Valley Exhibition, the Comox Valley Music Festival, and the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival. Enjoy a glass of wine at one of our six local wineries (some are award-emnning), or spirits at a local distillery. For fresh food, head out to our local orchards, berry and vegetable farms or farmers markets. For fresh seafood, head down to the Comox dock and buy it from one of our commercial fishers, or stay there and merely enjoy the view of the Comox Glacier from the end of the pier. You can also head down to the Comox spit and enjoy the spectacular panoramic ocean view from the beach.
These are but a few of the many things to enjoy in our Comox Valley. Come to play and you will want to stay. If you do decide to stay, the Comox Valley real estate market has just about every type of home from mobile to million dollar. There are lakefront, beachfront, oceanfront, wooded, urban and rural choices. Home type choices include single family, condos, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, modular, farms, and ranches. The Comox Valley offers as much choice in home type and location as it does in the activities that are available for you to enjoy.
If you are looking for a scenic destination with ocean, mountains, forests and farmland a short drive away with lots to do but without the traffic and congestion of a larger city, come out to the Comox Valley for a visit and see what it has to offer. If it compels you to stay for longer as it did for me, contact me and ask about your real estate options, and relocation information.
0 comments:
Post a Comment