EXPLORE THE LUND | POWELL RIVER

Powell River is a stunning coastal city with much to offer prospective home buyers. In addition to its breathtaking scenery, Powell River also contains some of the best local businesses in the area. One such area is Lund, which is located roughly 26 kilometers north of downtown Powell River. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Lund so special.

What to See! 

Manties Bakery – Mantine’s Bakery has been a staple of the Lund community since 1991 and offers delicious treats for all occasions. From custom cakes to fresh-baked pastries and desserts, Manties Bakery has something for everyone! If you’re looking for an unforgettable treat, be sure to try their world-famous BlackBerry cinnamon bun!

Nancy's Water Taxi – Nancy's Water Taxi offers daily service from Lund to Savary Island and other areas nearby. Whether you’re looking for a scenic trip or just want to explore the region, you can count on Nancy's Water Taxi for reliable transportation services.

Lund Hotel – The Lund Hotel has been around since 1905 and was started by two Swedish-born Lin brothers. Today, it remains one of the most popular hotels in town and is currently undergoing renovations that promise even more great amenities!

Sunland Resort – Sunland is the only resort in Lund with cabins and RV sites available for rent. With its gorgeous views of Desolation Sound, Sunland promises an unforgettable stay that you won’t soon forget!

The Stockpile – The Stockpile (formerly known as the Lund General Store) is owned by the Okanagan Nation and provides groceries, liquor, convenience store items and much more! Whether you need essentials or just want to browse around town, The Stockpile has what you need!

Want to Check Out the Lund!

Lund is a vibrant community full of amazing local businesses that make it truly unique. From Manties Bakery to Nancy's Water Taxi and everything else in between, there’s something here for everyone! If you're looking for a great place to call home in Powell River, consider checking out both downtown and Lund—you won't regret it!

All About Powell River’s Cranberry Neighborhood

Have you been thinking of moving to Powell River but aren't quite sure exactly where you want to live? In this video, I’m going to break down another iconic Powell River neighborhood: Cranberry. We’ll learn about this community’s location, amenities, and housing options so you can see if Cranberry is right for you.

Plentiful Amenities

Cranberry is located northeast of the downtown area and borders both Westview and Townsite. This neighborhood has a little bit of everything, from Mowat Bay—a local swimming hole and boat launch—and roads connecting to the Duck Lake trail systems to baseball diamonds and breakfast diners.

The neighborhood is full of amenities for all to enjoy. Check out Magpie’s Diner, a Powell River classic. Whether you're going for breakfast or lunch, you can always count on a good meal at Magpie’s. Cranberry is also home to the Powell River Curling Club, which has been around since the 50s. It has a little something for everyone, no matter your age or skill level.

Just across the street from the Curling Club is DA Evans Baseball Park, a beautiful minor baseball diamond best suited for younger players due to its size. If you’re an adult that’s more into playing slow pitch, just a few blocks down from DA Evans is the old Cranberry School field. Here you’ll find a couple of bigger baseball diamonds along with an old soccer field.

Outdoor Activities

As I mentioned, Cranberry has roads that connect to the Duck Lake trail system. These roads also lead to popular swimming spots like Inland Lake and Haywire Bay. All summer, these spots will be full of families enjoying the local scenery and camping at Inland Lake.

There's also a trail that circumnavigates the lake, stretching 13 kilometers long. I personally love the trail because it's dead flat. These same roads also connect to Haslam Lake which is the lake the Powell River draws its water from. In the Wildwood video, I mentioned that the Shinglemill has a boat launch into Powell Lake. Mowat Bay is the other option if you're looking to get your boat into the lake.

If you're looking for a shorter, fairly beginner-level hike, Cranberry is also home to Valentine Mountain. This peak features an awesome view over the Malaspina Straight once you get to the top.

Benefits For Older Adults

For older residents past their hiking days, there's also the Cranberry Senior Center which is made up of over 300 members and counting. The Senior Center hosts weekly activities from coffee to dinners. Their mandate is to promote physical, mental, and social well-being in all seniors throughout Powell River and the qathet Regional District. They also promote volunteerism within the senior community.

Cranberry also has a locally owned grocery store called Mitchell Brothers. This store has been serving Powell River for over 70 years. Every Wednesday, Mitchell Brothers has a Seniors Day where anyone 55+ can enjoy 10% off of their groceries.

Make Cranberry Your Home

Cranberry itself is quite a large area and features homes in all shapes and sizes. You’ll find everything from million-dollar-plus lakefront homes and estates to much denser streets with smaller, more affordable homes in the $350,000 to $400,000 range. If you're wondering if Cranberry has something to offer you, come take a look for yourself. I'm always happy to be your tour guide.

I hope this video gave you some insight into the neighborhood of Cranberry. If you have any questions about this community, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more information on all things Powell River.

And as a small disclaimer, all that snow you see on the ground in this video only makes up about one to three weeks a year here in Powell River—and that's about as much as you're ever going to see. Stay tuned for more insights into the area on future episodes!

Powell River’s Wildwood Neighborhood

Have you been thinking of moving to Powell River but aren't quite sure exactly where you want to live? In this video, we’re going to explore a beautiful neighborhood in Powell River: Wildwood. We’ll look at this area’s housing options, amenities, and location so you can see if Wildwood is the right community for you.

Welcome To Wildwood

Powell River has a variety of great neighborhoods, including the one we talked about in my last video, Townsite. Today, we're exploring the beautiful neighborhood of Wildwood. This community is on the northern end of city limits and offers a quieter pace of living.

People enjoy living in Wildwood because the properties are larger on average versus those in Townsite and Westview. With that comes a sense of privacy that you don't always get elsewhere. A lot of people use the bigger properties to take advantage of being able to grow their own food.

If that's not your thing, you can head on over to Ancestral Roots Farm and buy locally-grown produce and farm-fresh eggs.

Outdoor Adventures

Wildwood is also home to Sunset Park, which is made up of a playground, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and disc golf. It’s also the base of the trail that heads up to Scout Mountain, a local viewpoint with a beautiful view of Powell Lake and Malaspina Straight. The hike up Scout Mountain also ties into the Sunshine Coast Trail, which I've mentioned in my previous videos.

After a long hike, why not grab a beer and some pizza at the Wildwood Public House? In 2018, a group of owners bought the old Red Lion Pub and spent 18 months renovating it, turning it into the Wildwood Public House. Since then, they've been offering stone-fired pizza and a variety of craft beers.

If you're into boating, at the north end of Wildwood is Gibson's Beach, which has a boat launch into the Salish Sea. If you're more of a lake person, the south end of Wildwood starts the Shinglemill, which has a boat launch and marina into Powell Lake. It's also home to the Shinglemill Pub. Recently, the Shinglemill has also added a harbor air service that flies directly to Coal Harbour, Vancouver.

Education And Rural Living

If you have children, Wildwood has an elementary school called James Thompson. James Thompson is a dual-track elementary that has both an English-speaking side and a French immersion side. However, both sides are also able to learn the local indigenous language, Klahahmen.

What I personally like most about Wildwood is that even though you can find these bigger properties that can give you a sense of rural living, you're still hooked up to city water and city sewer. If you're wondering if Wildwood has something to offer you, come take a look for yourself. I'd be happy to be your tour guide.

Make Wildwood Your Home

I hope this video gave you some insight into the neighborhood of Wildwood. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help.

Don't forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of my show, all about living in the Powell River area. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

A Tour Of Powell River’s Townsite

Have you been thinking of moving to Powell River but you're not sure where exactly you want to settle? In this video, we’re going to take a deeper dive into a specific area of Powell River called Townsite. We’ll explore the history and notable features of this community to see if it’s the right one for you.

Welcome To Townsite

Townsite is one of the oldest areas in Powell River and was the first area developed after the opening of the mill. People love Townsite because of its charming character homes. However, what they don't realize is that it's got a lot more to offer than just beautiful old homes.

Townsite is home to the famous Townsite Brewing, which has been pumping out world-class beer since 2010. The friendly staff along with the fun atmosphere make Townsite Brewing a must-stop for anyone coming through the Powell River area. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better place to cool down on a hot summer day than on the back patio of Townsite Brewing.

Shopping And Dining

Townsite has recently had the old mall redone, which is now home to some amazing new local shops. Whether you're looking for ingredients to cook for dinner or a gift for a friend, Townsite market has a little something for everyone.

There are also some lovely restaurants in Townsite. If you're feeling like Greek, head to the Granada Restaurant. If you're feeling like Indian food, the Royal Zayka never disappoints.

The Lifestyle

Of course, not everything in Townsite requires you to spend money. There's a lovely dog park and a trail system that leads towards Westview to Willingdon Beach. On the north side of Townsite, the trail leads you towards the bottom end of Powell Lake.

Townsite also has outdoor tennis courts, a lawn bowling club, and is home to our local high school. One of the best things about Townsite is whether you go into the mall to grab a couple of things or want to watch a show at the old Patricia Theater, almost everything is within walking distance.

This community attracts a lot of different people, and those with a variety of lifestyles can enjoy the local amenities. If you're thinking Townsite might have something to offer you, come take a look for yourself. I'd be happy to be your tour guide.

Make Townsite Your Home

I hope this gave you some insight into the neighborhood of Townsite here in Powell River. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of my show. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

3 Home Styles In Powell River, BC

Are you thinking about moving or selling your existing home and you’re looking for something a little different? In this video, I'm going to walk you through a few different areas in Powell River along with the various property types you may find there. We’ll look at each home style’s pros and cons so you can choose the house of your dreams.

Powell River has all different kinds of homes. However, depending on where exactly you buy, the property types can vary drastically. I'm going to show you the main differences based on what areas you're looking at, starting with the heritage home.

The Heritage Home

This is the first one I always hear people asking about. A lot of people that are buying in Powell River are after that old character feel. Although you can find them sprinkled everywhere throughout the community, Townsite is made up of strictly heritage homes. Most of these homes are around or even over 100 years old.

People love these homes because of their charm and their character, from the old original flooring to the crown moldings and covered entranceways. However, owning a heritage home isn't for everyone. With all these beautiful features comes the responsibility of owning a home that's over 100 years old—which means more maintenance.

Heritage homes in Townsite have a huge range in size, some small at just 1,000 square feet and some upwards of 4,500 square feet plus.

Ocean View Homes

Now that you know a little bit about heritage-style homes, let's move on to the next type of property I'm always asked about: homes with a view, specifically an ocean view. The nice thing about Powell River is we're built on a hill, so a lot of homes have an ocean view. Although ocean views aren't strictly limited to one neighborhood, your best odds of finding one are in Westview.

This neighborhood has been a growing area for a very long time, with homes that were built every decade from the 30s on to new construction continuing today. People like Westview for its proximity to amenities. It surrounds the downtown area of Powell River, so if you live in West view, you're no more than a five-minute drive from shopping, the Rec Center, the Marina, and walking and biking trails.

The one complaint people have about Westview is that lots are smaller. If you're after a larger property or you're looking for acreage, it can be pretty tough to find in Westview. Similar to Townsite and all other areas of Powell River, the size of homes varies dramatically from small one to two bedrooms all the way up to six to seven-bedroom homes.

Acreage Homes

The last type of home we’ll look at is acreage properties. If you're looking for acreage, you're typically going to have to go outside of the city limits and into the Regional District. This includes areas north or south of town and even into Paradise Valley.

People love the privacy and freedom that comes with acreage. Whether you want a large garden to grow your own food, enjoy having plenty of animals, or just want space away from your neighbors, the possibilities with acreage are up to you. Of course, with all that property does come work.

Owning a large piece of land comes with some upkeep. You need to consider whether you have the ability to keep up the land or the means to pay someone to do so. These are factors you need to think about when considering buying a bigger property or some acreage.

Find Your Dream Property In Powell River

 I hope this gave you some insight into some different areas in Powell River and the types of properties you can find there. If you have any specific questions on these communities or home options, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help.

If you liked what you saw here or are interested in anything Powell River, be sure to subscribe to my channel for upcoming videos. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

Good, bad & Ugly of Powell River

Are you thinking of living in Powell River, BC, and you're wondering what it's really like? In this video, I’m going to give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of life right here in Powell River. We’ll look at everything from the great outdoors to nightlife so you know exactly what to expect.

The Good

The first good thing about Powell River is the accessibility to the outdoors. From quite literally anywhere, you can get to the bush, the ocean, or a lake in just 5 to 10 minutes. While Powell River stretches along the coast, it's also home to 32 freshwater lakes.  These lakes range in accessibility from a five-minute drive to a three-hour hike. 

The second thing we love here is the weather. Although we do get our fair share of rain, it's an extremely mild climate. We're lucky if we get snow to stick on the ground for more than a couple of nights in a row. In the summers, it gets beautiful but not too hot. It usually floats around 25 degrees Celsius. 

The third thing we love here in town is the housing prices. With what's happened in real estate over the last couple of years, this might be hard to hear for some locals. However, the fact is that compared to any of our surrounding cities, Powell River still has a great bang for your buck. Single-family home prices start at $550,000; it's hard to find prices like this anywhere else. 

The Bad

Now that we know what makes Powell River so great, let's talk about the not-so-good—AKA, the bad. The first thing that's a little annoying is the accessibility. Although we are part of the mainland, we require two ferries or a flight to get here. Growing up here, I've become quite accustomed to the ferries. In fact, I commuted for work for years to Vancouver. However, for those who aren't used to them, it tends to be the first thing they complain about. 

The next thing you may or may not like is the lack of employment options. This may or may not be an issue, depending on how you look at it. We were formerly a mill town, but with the mill recently shutting down, it limits employment options to mostly smaller operations. However, there are still lots of opportunities depending on what line of work you're in. If you're an entrepreneur, there are plenty of opportunities for new ventures in our town. 

The third thing you may or may not like is our limitations on post-secondary education. Our university has taken major strides over the last 10 years, offering an array of different first-year trades, programs, and entry-level university courses. Beyond that, we are quite limited. Anyone looking to get a university degree will more than likely have to move out of town to do so. If you already have your degree and you're already out in the working world, we've got plenty of room for you here in Powell River. 

The Ugly

Unfortunately, no place is perfect, so let's get into the ugly. This is what people dislike most about living in Powell River. The first thing would be the small town feel. Personally, I enjoy this, but I was born into it. 

If you're a city person and enjoy the hustle and bustle of downtown Vancouver or Toronto, this might not be the place for you. Things tend to slow down a little once you get on that ferry at Horseshoe Bay. So if you're looking for a sense of anonymity, this might not be the place for you. 

The second ugly that people might not like is the lack of nightlife. If you're someone who likes to go out and party in Victoria or Vancouver well into the wee hours, our town tends to go to bed around midnight or shortly thereafter on the weekends. So if you're used to going out late and partying, you might want to think twice about moving to Powell River. 

In all honesty, that's all I can think of for the ugly here in Powell River. I've spent the majority of my life here and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. 

Make Powell River Your Home

I hope this video gave you some insight into the good, the bad, and the ugly of living in Powell River. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help.

Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more information on Powell River. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

powell River cost of living

Are you thinking about living in Powell River, British Columbia, and are curious about what it costs? In this video, I'm going to break down the cost of living right here in Powell River. I’ll share everything from the cost of housing to the cost of gas so you know exactly what to expect. 

I work with many people who move to Powell River. One of the first questions they ask is how much it costs to live here. So if you’re wondering the same, I'll give you some bottom line numbers on what to expect. If you're not familiar with the area, you'll probably appreciate this information.

The Cost Of Housing

First, let's talk about the obvious: the cost of housing. One of the first things you're going to need to decide is whether you’re better off buying or renting. Next, you’ll need to figure out what kind of housing you need. Are you single, or do you have a family? 

The price of housing varies depending on your answers to these questions, and I'm happy to send you more specific information. For now, here are some general, baseline pointers. The average three-bedroom single-family home in Powell River is roughly $700,000 to $750,000. A two-bedroom in the same area would run you roughly $450,000 to $500,000. 

If you were looking to rent in the same area, you can count on spending $1,200 on the low end up to around $3,500 on the high end. Renting the average three-bedroom single-family home costs roughly $2,500. Renting a two bedroom in the same area would be roughly $1,600. A good rule of thumb in pricing is that it tends to get more expensive with a view or some acreage versus living in a subdivision. 

Taxes And Transportation

Next up for expenses are your property taxes. Depending on where you live in Powell River, you can expect a $4,000 and up pre-homeowner grant within city limits. However, if you manage to keep out of city limits, taxes become much more affordable and range between $700 to $2,000. These figures are all paid annually. 

Other costs of living here in Powell River include the annual income tax. This is the same as anywhere else in Canada, and it's a graduated scale. Additionally, gas here is currently $2.19 to $2.29 a litre. And yes, you will need a car. Gas isn't cheap anywhere these days, but sometimes we do end up paying a little bit more in Powell River due to our isolation. 

Transferring Properties

Another thing I wanted to mention is that there are some additional costs that people don't always expect when buying a home in British Columbia. All sales require that the buyers pay property transfer tax, or PTT. PTT is a graduated tax that charges 1% on the first $200,000, 2% on the amount between $200,000 and $2 million, 3% on the amount between $2 million and $3 million, and 5% on the balance after $3 million.

For new homes under $750,000, you don't pay PTT. However, you do pay a 5% Goods and Services Tax, or GST, on new homes over $750,000. Unfortunately, you do pay both 5% GST and the PTT when buying or selling a home. There are also lawyer fees involved in the transfers of title, depending on the specific purchase or sale. I tell my clients to typically budget around $1,500 for this.

Make Powell River Your Home

I hope this gave you some insight into the cost of living here in Powell River. There are many options when looking for a place to live, and we have homes and building lots in all shapes and sizes. Whether you want to live out in the sticks or right smack in the middle of town, there's a place for you here in Powell River. 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to connect. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more information on Powell River, and stay tuned to see what I feature next!