A budget of $200,000 won’t get you much in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, but those looking to relocate to a smaller B.C. community will find that real-estate value prices still exist. Here are 10 places where two hundred grand buys you more.
The presence of an airport and a railway station mean that, among small B.C. communities, Terrace is especially well connected to the rest of the province. For a manufactured home or a townhome, value abounds at $180,000 or less.
Cited by HelloBC.com as best locale “for an island getaway,” this coastal village of fewer than 1,000 is home to artisans of all stripes, those who highly prize the outdoors and solitude, plus employees of a local pulp mill.
This surfing, fishing and whale-watching mec- ca, on the southwest edge of Vancouver Island (just south of pricey Tofino), is increasingly desirable for its awe-inspiring coastal views and bohemians-at-play lifestyle. Single-family homes under $200,000 are rare, but newer-build condos hit the sweet spot.
Recent listings: Big-city-style studio and one-bedroom condos for as little as $178,000.
Located a two-to-four-hour drive from Vancouver, Whistler, Kelowna and the heart of wine country, Canada’s Tournament Capital (so named for hosting many sporting and cultural events) is a choice base for those who want to be central to many of the province’s key destinations.
Recent listing: A two-bedroom, three-level town- house with private deck for $195,000.
Detached homes in the self-proclaimed Country Music Capital of Canada tend to be very affordable but of the fixer-upper variety, and less than 1,000 square feet (albeit, on large lots). The town’s compact geography (26 square kilometres) means all shopping and recreational conveniences are close by.
Properties in the Okanagan Valley’s largest municipality are priced accordingly: not bargains, relatively speaking, but substantially less than their Lower Mainland counterparts. Older one- and two-bedroom condos can be found in this target price range, but will need some love.
Sitting in the shadow of the Rockies, this is a town in transition, its former economic driver (coal mining) largely replaced by recreational and ecotourism following the early 2000s discovery of dinosaur prints and fossils. Well-maintained 1980s-vintage two- and three-bedroom detached houses seem like stone-age deals.
Some of the most reasonably priced real estate in Okanagan wine country is in this picturesque southern town of around 4,500, home to some of the mildest winters in Canada. Condo opportunities can be found at less than $175,000, although they tend to be older builds (1980s and 1990s), requiring decor updates.
One of the larger communities in the Shuswap Lakes region, Salmon Arm’s status as a year-round tourist destination means it’s a thriving commercial centre and cultural hub. Large (1,000-plus square feet) manufactured homes and condos in like-new condition list for as little as $150,000.
Close to the Alberta border, vacationers flock to the Invermere region in all seasons for hot springs, skiing, golfing and lake beaches. Resort-style living is popular, reflected in condo communities with amenities like fitness centres, pools and more.
By Michael White