Why Salt Spring & the Gulf Islands? Well...

Why would one visit...& possibly fall in love & buy a property so can call it "home"...either Salt Spring Island or another of these beautiful Canadian Gulf Islands?

Tourism is probably the initial impetus..."let's go to Salt Spring for the weekend" might be the beginning....or Galiano or Mayne or Saturna or Thetis or...you get the drift. Something calls one forward!

And then? There is a signature style for all of the Islands, & all of them are under the jurisdiction of the provincial government mandated body: the Islands Trust.

The Trust was created in 1974 with the mandate "to preserve & protect" the environmental beauties of these Gulf Islands, for the benefit of all B.C. residents. Growth on all the Islands is controlled by severe restrictive zoning/bylaws. It is very difficult to change anything from those original 1974 bylaws.

What does that mean for a buyer? The protection that what you buy remains in place...no unexpected change occurs.

Yet what makes someone choose one Island destination over another? As summer/weekender retreat choices they are all pretty equal.

For year round use, though, Salt Spring Island often jumps forward. A hospital, education facilities (elementary, middle, high school), all services/amenities available on a year round basis (January has a lifestyle as well as July!), cultural offerings, three ferries & three floatplane services, all with year round schedules...that's all pretty powerful!

Yet what about that tourist visit? The one that started it all? Well, some reasons to wander forward into discovery of Salt Spring or another Gulf Island:

- a strong arts based community (Salt Spring is renowned for its artists...painters, potters, fabric artists, musicians, writers, actors, etc). It's a thoughtful & creative population.

- a foodie/organic movement is strongly in place (vineyards, olive groves, orchards, veggies...farmers markets galore!).

- a spiritually aware populace (a Buddhist monastery, an Ayervedic based group, seekers of all kinds arrive on the Islands). A sanctuary moment is offered to the visitor...one can simply "be"...a gift in our time famine technological world.

Just some of the impressions that might call forth the initial visit. And, of course, the Islands are wonderfully positioned in the best protected boating waters in the world! That's a WOW...kayaking, sailing, power boat voyaging...it all works!

Would you like to explore some property opportunities on the Islands? Call me!

With access to all properties, I will make sure that you see it all, in your preferred categories, so that you can make that all important informed decision.

As a full time & full service realtor, successfully connecting buyers & sellers in the Islands, since 1989, I look forward to helping you.

Waterfronts, oceanviews, undeveloped land holdings, hobby farms, commercial/business options, recreational, investment...benefit from my knowledge (of both inventory & market trends) & expertise.

How may I help you to buy your special Salt Spring Island or Gulf Islands property? Call me!

liread33@gmail.com