Clarice Coty's Blog » Vancouver Island Homes

New Single Family Homes at Kettle Creek Station Offer Affordable Luxury

Clarice — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:16:58 +0000

Own a new home near Victoria, B.C. for as little at $289,000. With 10 different floor plans to choose from all priced under $420,000, owning a home – and one with luxury touches – is easy at Kettle Creek Station. Nestled between Langford Lake and Goldstream Provincial Park, near Victoria, new custom homes are available at Kettle Creek Station start at $289,000, including net HST, appliance packages and no strata fees. Your new home at Kettle Creek Station, just 20 minutes north of Victoria, is ready for you to move into.
Kettle Creek Station has been designed to create a vibrant community that welcomes families, first time home buyers, couples looking to downsize or individuals who want to own their home and land but want a smaller footprint. Designed with efficiency and open concept living in mind, these Kettle Creek new homes are very affordable and provide bright spacious living areas, designer décor options and your own backyard. One, two and three-bedroom new homes range from $289,000 to $419,000. Live with more for less at Kettle Creek Station.

Maintenance Free Living at Courtenay’s RidgeView Townhomes

Clarice — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:10:46 +0000

The 3 bedroom and 3 bathroom townhouses at RidgeView in Courtenay feature more than 2,100 sq ft. floor area, including the basement. Whether you’re just starting out on your own or with a family these spacious Courtenay townhouses are offer an easy, maintenance free lifestyle. With someone else taking care of the yard, RidgeView homeowners are free to enjoy all that the Comox Valley has to offer. Functional floor plans are spacious and individual garages and yards are included with each home.
Located only a hop, skip and Sesame Street jump to children’s park, walking trails, rec centres, schools, North Island College and Costco, these new town homes at 4699 Muir Rd, Courtenay, are tucked into quiet, residential area.
These homes are constructed under New Home Warranty by Comox Valley builder Avril Homes Ltd.

Qualicum Landing Beachfront Homes Now 80% Sold

Clarice — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:39:53 +0000

The beachfront Vancouver Island real estate development Qualicum Landing has only 16 homes still available. With the community’s amenities now complete and more than 40 owners enjoying their new Vancouver Island beachfront homes, the developers are building the community out.
There is still time to select floor plans for some lots, but only two ocean view lots remain, and only two of the popular Hollyburn View floor plans are available.
The Qualicum Landing development features an array of amenities for homeowners to enjoy, including 500 feet of walk on waterfront, a sea wall, fire pit on the beach, a multi-use sport court, a community garden and a clubhouse with fitness centre, two heated outdoor pools, two spas, a games room and owner’s lounge.
Qualicum Landing is located just north of the Vancouver Island community of Qualicum Beach, renowned for its warm, sunny beaches and surrounded by stunning nature.

Steam Engine Estates in Cumberland Now 50% Sold

Clarice — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:21:19 +0000

Steam Engine Estates in Cumberland, B.C., is a residential real estate project featuring 50 new patio homes and town homes; each with a view of the spectacular Comox Valley mountains. This Vancouver Island development is set in a tranquil area backing onto a dedicated green space.
Each patio and town house unit is beautifully finished with plenty of natural lighting, designer colour schemes and landscaped yards. There are three floor plans to choose from: The “Wellington” — 1254 sq ft; The “McGinty” — 1410 sq ft; and the The “Queen Anne” — 1453 sq ft.
These Vancouver Island homes are priced from $219,900 to $239,900. 24 units in Phases I – IV have been sold. Stop by an open house at 3400 Coniston Crescent, Cumberland, Wednesday-Sunday from 1-3 p.m. to view these new homes.

Ocean View Lots For Sale at Bonnington Ridge in Nanoose Bay

Clarice — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:31:26 +0000

The lots at Bonnington Ridge in Fairwinds offer the opportunity to build your own custom ocean view home in the heart of the Fairwinds golf community.
A limited number of residential view lots are still available, situated on a quiet cul-de-sac with prices starting at $209,000. Both ocean and golf course views can be had at Bonnington Ridge in Nanoose Bay. These lots combine first-class luxury living with the natural beauty and tranquility of the area.
Fairwinds is the destination of choice for those seeking a luxurious West Coast lifestyle with a champiosnhi golf course, Schooner Cove Marina and a recreational fitness facility within the community.
Located only fifteen minutes north of Nanaimo, in Nanoose Bay, Bonnington Ridge lots are within walking distance of the Fairwinds Centre.
Available lots range from .33-.54 acre, and are priced from $209,000-$318,000.

Escape to Your Lakefront Vacation Home at The Maples on Sproat Lake

Clarice — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:53:44 +0000

Only 15 minutes fromthe city of Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island, The Maples on Sproat Lake is easily accessible, yet provides a beautiful, private and scenic lakefront property for your new vacation home.
Set on the warm waters on Sproat Lake, The Maples vacation homes offer 2 bedroom or one bedroom and den configurations.
All buildings are designed in a West Coast Contemporary style. Cement fibre siding in earth tone colours, cedar shingles on the gables, cedar wrapped posts and beams and ledge stone accents blend beautifully into the natural environment.
Ready and waiting for your family are two lakefront 1,226 sq ft, two-story Vancouver Island vacation homes with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. As well there are two one-bedroom-plus-den units now ready.
Interiors are designed for a summer cottage feel, but contain all the amenities you are accustomed to.
Every unit includes a full kitchen including stained Maple cabinets and come complete with all appliances. Spacious, open concept main living areas feature tile and engineered hardwood floors with carpet on stairs and bedroom areas. Two full bathrooms and laundry rooms with stackable washer and dryer complete the package.
Both types of units offer a front deck off the main floor of 248 sq ft, as well as a deck off the master bedroom on the second floor.
For more information visit The Maples website.

Nutmeg Homes Building New Eco-Friendly Homes on Vancouver Island

Clarice — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:31:16 +0000

Nutmeg Homes is a Comox Valley based builder of Insulated Concrete Forms homes. The company has been building new homes on Vancouver Island since 1999. Nutmeg Homes custom home builders strive to continually improve their product, with energy efficient and eco-friendly products. An ICF home by Nutmeg Homes uses up to 40% less energy than the average new home in B.C.
Insulated Concrete Forms or ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels, which are stacked to form the walls of the home. The forms are filled with steel-reinforced concrete to create a solid structure. The resulting walls offer solid construction that provides a draft-free, quiet, healthy and comfortable living environment. Nutmeg Homes is also exploring the options for building Living Roofs for residential homes in B.C., after the successful completion of a green roof on a Comox Valley commercial building.
For more information on Nutmeg Homes and their ICF construction process, visit their website

Views Abound From Crown Isle Lots for Sale in Courtenay

Clarice — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:23:24 +0000

The Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community real estate office in Courtenay on Vancouver Island currently has a selection of 18 lots for sale. Prices for these new residential lots range from $161,900 to $349,900. Choose from fairway lots or non-golf course lots, most with views of the surrounding mountains or green space.
A selection of these Vancouver Island residential lots are now available in Cambridge Park Estates, on and around the 15th fairway of the award-winning Crown Isle championship golf course.
Many new high-end custom homes have already been built within this newest section of Crown Isle’s master planned community in the heart of the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island.
Crown Isle also features new homes for sale, condominiums and patio homes, as well as vacation suites at one of the top golf courses on Vancouver Island. Real estate at Crown Isle offers something for everyone.

New Real Estate Developments Mean Construction Increases on North Vancouver Island

Clarice — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:01:56 +0000

Editor’s note: The following story ran in the Jan. 13 edition of the Comox Valley Echo.
New figures show there was a big fall in the number of new houses being built locally last year – but there are signs the situation is starting to turn around.
The details have been compiled by Building Links – the digital newsletter monitoring North Vancouver Island construction activity – which notes a significant drop in construction in the Comox Valley and Campbell River areas last year.
In 2010, building permits for 468 single-family homes were issued compared to 363 last year, said Building Links editor Clarice Coty. That represented a fall of 22 per cent.
In percentage terms, the biggest reduction was in the Town of Comox, down from 105 to 44, or 58 per cent.
Year-on-year single-family home building also declined in Cumberland (down from 27 to 16) and in the City if Campbell River (a fall from 167 to 114)
But more homes were built in the City of Courtenay last year than in 2010, with the numbers rising slightly from 61 to 69. And in the rural areas surrounding the municipalities, there was also growth – from 108 homes in 2010 to 120 last year.
The overall value of local construction activity of all types in 2011 amounted to $175 million, said Coty, but that was down by almost $35 million on the previous year’s $209.5 million total – a 16 per cent fall.
“We expect that new housing starts will increase by about 10 per cent in 2012 due to the new inventory of new lots in the Comox Valley,” she suggested. In addition to single-family homes, Coty noted there had also been permits issued last year for 62 multi-family units in Comox worth a total of $11.6 million in construction costs, and another 66 in Courtenay – including three duplexes with a building permit value of $10.2 million.
She added: “There are at least four condominium and mixed use developments that are slated to start construction in the region during 2012: two in Comox, one in Courtenay and one in Campbell River.
“These projects have received most of their approvals and are waiting for building permits before proceeding. In total they will bring approximately 120 new multi-residential units on to the market.”
She considered the past year had been “challenging” for the construction and real estate industries on the North Island, but added: “This year shows signs of promise.”
Go to the Building Links website to subscribe to your 4 free copies of the newsletter

Real Estate Construction Expected to Rise in Nanaimo

Clarice — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:44:27 +0000

There’s reason for quiet optimism in the central Vancouver Island area construction industry, despite lingering effects of an economic downturn.
That’s the message close to 200 audience members heard at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Vancouver Island’s construction industry forum in early January. From interest rates and investment opportunities in Nanaimo, speakers talked of a stable B.C. economy with slow growth in a number of sectors expected in 2012.
Toby Seward, Nanaimo’s director of development, said there are people who want to invest in Nanaimo.
“2011 was a bit of a tough year, but it looks like 2012 is going to be a steady year,” he said. “We review the stats, review what’s going forward and the signs are looking good in our one- to five-year forecast.”
There are numerous real estate developments now happening in Nanaimo, including the Sandstone project in Cedar, the Green Thumb Nursery property on Hammond Bay and the Madill property on Bowen Road, he said. “Oceanview is still talking about moving ahead as well,” he added.
Bill Corsan, Nanaimo’s manager of real estate, said investment opportunities are being driven by low interest rates, flattened land values, low vacancy rates and lack of rental products.
Travis Archibald, Vancouver Island market analyst with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, said housing starts in Nanaimo fell in 2011, but remain relatively stable and a slight increase is forecast for this year.
“We also saw roughly 1,500 MLS transactions in 2011 and expect a slight increase to that in 2012, but nowhere near past levels,” he said. “Supply is relatively stable and there should be a bit of an increase in demand this year, but it is still a buyer’s market.”
Doug Wittal, CHBA provincial president, detects a sense of optimism among homebuilders in the central Island and likes what he sees in terms of people stepping outside the box.
“We drive the market, we drive the economy and if you’re not willing to change your product and get into the new world, you’re not going to have a market and you’re not going to be working,” he said.
Wittal pointed to the Greenrock industrial park between Bowen and Boxwood roads and the Village at Summerhill townhouse project on Dufferin Crescent as two examples. The Boardwalk is another new real estate development in Nanaimo, featuring ocean view condos and townhomes
“You have to be innovative in today’s world,” he said. “Green and affordability are key words. That’s where we have to go.”

Excerpted from the Nanaimo News Bulletin