subject: Victoria Bc Real Estate Bonus Areas-- Other Community Real Estate [print this page] The city of Victoria began its humble origins in 1840 as Fort Victoria, the western outpost for the Hudson Bay's fur trading operations. The fort was later incorporated into as a city in 1862. Today Victoria is a booming metropolis with an estimated population over 80 thousand residents living in 13 distinct municipalities that are incorporated into the greater Victoria area.
In a previous three part article series on the three main communities to buy real estate in Victoria, British Columbia, were discussed. These communities, Victoria proper, Westshore and the Peninsula area contain the majority of the residential prosperities available in Victoria, but they are not the only available communities to settle down in. This bonus article will examine the three other outlying communities of the Gulf Islands region, the Highlands and the Malahat area.
1) Gulf Islands
Located in the Strait of Georgia there are over 200 islands as part of the British Columbia Gulf Island district. This group of Islands are divided into two groups, the Southern and Northern Gulf Islands. Those Islands in the Southern section, which are Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Kuper Island, Mayne Island, North and South Pender Islands, Saltspring Island, Saturna Island, Thetis Island and Valdes Island, are the ones considered as part of the unincorporated communities of the Greater Victoria area when it comes to real estate. The larger, more populated islands, such as the Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano and Saturna islands, have daily ferry service from Victoria and Vancouver. Real estate options include many types of residences including single and multi-family dwellings, as well as many waterfront properties.
2) Highlands
The Highlands is a rural residential area just northwest of Victoria, located on the Saanich Peninsula. With more than one-third of the Highlands being protected as municipal, regional, and provincial parklands, it is home to a large potion of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, Mount Work Regional Park and Lone Tree Regional Park. When it comes to real estate options, there are single family and multi-family dwellings available, but most residents are encouraged to build their own homes with the least amount of environmental impact.
3) Malahat & Area
Malahat consists of the area surrounding the 25 kilometre portion of Highway 1, known as Malahat Drive, that runs along the west side of the Saanich Inlet from Victoria. Malahat Proper is considered a rugged area containing mature forests and steep cliffs. Just to the north is the community of Shawnigan Lake, an area noted for its pristine lakes, followed by the community of Mill Bay, known for its waterfront properties, and beyond that is the farming village of Cobble Hill. Most Malahat residents live in isolated areas located off the highway. Real estate options include single and multi-family homes, as well as farmland and some waterfront properties.
This bonus section of the Victoria, BC, real estate areas is the fourth and final installment of this series. If you are looking for more information on Victoria real estate, please look for the first three articles. Part one discussed the Victoria community, and included Victoria proper, Victoria West, Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Saanich East, Saanich West, and View Royal. Part two examined the Westshore communities, which included Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and Sooke. And finally, part three was all about the Peninsula, and included such communities as Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney.
