My husband and I often travel to Victoria to visit friends on the weekend. For over a year now, on our various trips, we have been watching the evolution of the Qualicum Landing site. From the initial sculpting of the land to the framing and exterior finishing, we have been impressed by the thought put into this community and the classic style of the homes.

Needless to say, we were waiting with anticipation to see inside the gates and we (or at least I-my husband was watching our little one) finally got to see the show homes last Saturday and meet the team responsible for creating such a fine place. Being in the real estate business, I have had the chance to see many developments and this one stands out for its quality, attention to detail and design.

The fantastic Cape Cod inspired show homes featured 14 ft ceilings, deluxe stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, pre-wired sound systems, heated tile floors and walk-in showers. The gated community will also includes a community garden, a clubhouse with heated outdoor pool, two spas and a games room. Keep in mind the fact that it is located directly on a fabulous piece of Vancouver Island oceanfront property and it's hard to believe you can get into this development for $369, 000!! 

On another note, some of you in Vancouver may have seen our prominent  advertisement downtown last week. This unique form of advertising, pioneered by Vision Media, put us right in the centre of things for the pre-Olympic hype and tourist traffic. 

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As promised, we will be featuring our "Property Pick of the Month" in this blog.  Previously, this information was only available to registered users of our site; however, we have decided to make it public as it is such a popular feature.

This month's property is a custom-built lakefront home on Cowichan Lake. According to our member agent and area specialist Norm DeWit, the home, listed at $654, 000, represents the best waterfront value currently available in the Cowichan Lake market.

Located on Cowichan Lake, about 1 hour north of  Victoria and 1 hour south of Nanaimo, this 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom open-plan home boasts a southern exposure, a large 11, 200 sq ft lot, vaulted ceilings, high-end finishing (including hardwood floors and stainless appliances) and the privacy of your very own dock. 

The seller has already built another home and has moved on so the home is being sold for below replacement cost. This is a great opportunity to live the dream with a first-rate home on your own piece of Vancouver Island lakefront.  For more information on the home and to contact Norm, please click here.

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The developer of exotic property known as ‘Canada’s South Pacific’ is marketing 30 waterfront, mountaintop and park-side estate lots with a creative ‘anti-recession guarantee’.
 
Purchasers will be protected by a retroactive price adjustment if the real estate market continues to soften: The developer will carry up to 20% of the price as a first or second mortgage, part or all of which will be forgiven if government property assessments over a three-year term show a drop in land value.  On a $500,000 lot, the price protection could be as much as $100,000.
 
“There can be good news in a recession.” says Michael Thornton, Silver Spray developer.  “We would have priced these lots 30% higher in a normal market, and no one would have thought about protecting buyers with a price guarantee. Obviously we’re convinced such unique properties will only increase in value, and we’re demonstrating confidence by putting our money where our mouth is.”
 
The Silver Spray Lands are on a peninsula at the extreme southwestern tip of Vancouver Island.  They are nestled between scenic surf and sunset coastline and the largest waterfront wilderness park in the Capital Regional District, featuring six miles of virgin oceanfront, pristine beaches, and 30 miles of west coast hiking trails.  With such a rare diversity of ecosystems, it took over 60 public meetings to obtain low-density residential zoning and approval for a small golf course, marina and an exclusive destination resort.
 
Reservations will be held in priority with a 10% deposit in a lawyer’s trust account until the lots are serviced and subdivided, which is expected to occur in late 2009 or early 2010, so early purchasers can secure almost four years of price protection.  Sales will be made only by Disclosure Statement.

For more information, and to view photos online, go to: www.silverspray.com or contact Jason@silverspray.com (778.896.3370)
 

Silver Spray is the southwestern tip of Canada, just 26 miles southwest of Victoria on Vancouver Island.  Bordering a huge 3500-acre oceanfront Wilderness Park, this idyllic seaside community setting offers mild weather, spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, end-of-road seclusion, and convenient access to shopping and amenities.

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