As choice properties featuring breathtaking views, seclusion, generous space, fresh air, and unspoiled nature have been dwindling at an alarming rate, the purchaser who values these special qualities often feels compelled to venture forth to more distant rural areas.

However, a little more research will reveal an amazing location with all of these desirable characteristics, less than 30 minutes from the city of Victoria, and just 15 minutes to upscale Broadmead Village. Willis Point is easily accessed up a picturesque, winding road wending its way through the centre of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, an area of natural old growth which encompasses this location, acting as a permanent buffer and protection against encroaching urban development.

Willis Point offers waterfront homes with stunning sunsets and calm inlet waters, as well as residences featuring ultimate privacy, and often beautiful ocean views. This is an area of multi-million dollar homes, original log cabins, and modest dwellings – an eclectic neighborhood with a mosaic of residents from computer specialists with their own home businesses to creative artists who thrive in a tranquil setting.

Willis Point is bounded by the Highlands to the south, Saanich to the southeast, Central Saanich to the east, and Saanich Inlet to the north and west. 46 percent of Willis Point is devoted to parks, including parts of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park and Mount Work Regional Park, with the remaining land comprising a well-established residential community and large, undeveloped forested parcels. Economic development is limited to small, home based businesses, providing an escape from the busyness of city life for its small community of residents.

A map showing nearby school, restaurants, attractions, and other amenities can be found here.

We currently have two listings in Willis Point: a secluded oceanfront sanctuary and a open concept home with ocean views.

Oceanfront Retreat (View Listing) – Oceanfront natural, secluded paradise. Stunning ocean views & sunsets throughout this 2744sqft, 3 bed, 3 bath sanctuary. Rare foreshore 20 year lease with 32ft deep water wharf, sauna. Amazing home with granite counters, wood- framed windows, hardwood, tile & radiant heat. Master bath jetted tub soaks up the views!

Kingdom Come (View Listing) – Spectacular open concept residence, secluded on a bluff with panoramic breathtaking ocean views from all principal rooms. Sleeping loft, spacious solarium, multiple decks, hot tub, authentic yurt, two cottages, additional accommodation potential. Private retreat.

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Set amidst the natural beauty and unspoiled charm of the Saanich Peninsula, the vibrant community of Sidney-by-the-Sea  is blessed with majestic views of the ocean and the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges.  This bustling commercial hub of the Saanich Peninsula is also the gateway to the BC Gulf Islands and the US San Juan Islands.  Sidney offers a grand selection of friendly restaurants, outdoor cafes, and pubs where you can enjoy the sunshine and fresh seafood or discover the shopping destination of the Peninsula. The town of Sidney has over 100 shops, boutiques, and art galleries.

Sidney is ideally situated close to all major amenities and major arrival points to South Vancouver Island.  By air, visitors arrive at Victoria International  Airport, which is only 5 minutes away.  BC Ferries provides year-round service to and from Swartz Bay, immediately north of town.  Sidney is also the departure point and home port for pleasure craft sailings, offering four marinas with superb services, a commercial harbour, and several yacht clubs. There are many inlets and nearby islands, 3 km of publicly accessible ocean front – including many beaches and great beachcombing – and several interesting attractions in and around this pretty little town.  Sidney enjoys a moderate Mediterranean type climate with year-round mild temperatures, low rainfall, and very little snow.

The Sidney oceanfront offers kayaking, canoeing, bird watching, crab fishing – this is a paradise for children and for adults with childlike wonder. Take your rowboat out a short distance, lay your crab traps, and savour a mouth-watering gourmet lunch consisting of the freshest crab imaginable. Then, wander along the beach for miles and miles, enjoying the eagles alighting on the spindly crests of conifers towering above Roberts Point, or watch the sea lions and seals playing in the shallow waters.

This truly is a paradise, with breathtaking, sweeping skies and panoramic views across the water. Kayak around Coal Island among the many islets and depend on last the ebb to bring you home. For the adventurer, visit a little islet called “Rose Rock” a craggy bit of island filled with trees and unusual geology. The islets are full of dilapidated buildings and boats – a painters dream, where intertidal zones create amazing palettes of colour and movement.

But this wonderful location is not just about being on vacation year round, it is also about convenience and practicality, with all the necessary amenities of the quaint town of Sidney by the Sea, as well as the superb library, community centre, and academically renowned, internationally-oriented Parkland Secondary School nearby. Sidney offers a complete integrated community with excellent medical services,  museums, a marine centre, film and stage theatres, art galleries, whale watching adventures, country markets, community summer concerts, retirement homes, and much more.  It also offers a very vibrant art community and a terrific community service organization with many volunteers. Downtown Sidney contains a multitude of coffee shops and many restaurants ranging from Greek to Thai and Chinese to European food.

Sidney is a gathering point for residents from all over the world, with amazing experiences and life stories to share.  Most residents have come from cities throughout Canada, the US, and many other countries. Many are professional families, health care workers, engineers, lawyers and judges, intellectuals, company executives, authors, or artists.  One of our clients living in Sidney, and staying in Sidney, says, “when we came here from Ontario we were “at home ” right away. Made new friends right away and still socialize with the same people we met 23 years ago.”  Sidney offers plenty of opportunities to make friends and get involved in a vibrant community.

For more information on Sidney, visit the Town of Sidney’s website.

We currently have two listings in Sidney: a spectacular oceanfront residence and a versatile downtown commercial space.

Spellbinding Oceanfront (View Listing) – Architecturally designed, masterfully built home featuring a private floating dock, superior location, far reaching Gulf Island panoramic views, crowned by majestic Mount Baker -  a truly unique spectacle.

Downtown Sidney Commercial Space (View Listing) – Prime 1073sqft freehold ground floor unit in the coveted 2004 built “Beaufort” building in downtown Sidney. Zoned for commercial, retail, and office (residential above). High traffic area – 1/2 block to Beacon Avenue.

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Quite simply, spectacular! East Sooke is becoming the chosen destination for those who are environmentally aware and wish to reconnect with nature and themselves. It is a place where you can experience first-hand the breathtaking beauty of 300-year-old trees and wildlife in its natural habitat. The rugged beauty is breathtaking, and the absence of structures, industry noise, traffic, and pollution is amazing.

Situated on the southwestern most tip of Vancouver Island, on the south side of the Sooke Basin, East Sooke has as its backdrop East Sooke Regional Park, a wonderful 1400 hectares of unspoiled West Coast wilderness. Here, you can explore 50 kilometres of trails through forests, trees, and wetlands, with tidal pools and scuba diving, pocket beaches, and a very challenging 10-kilometre Coast Trail. And for the amateur historical archeologist, the petroglyphs, shell middens, and burial cairns which attest to the presence of the Salish centuries ago.

East Sooke also features Roche Cove Park, a lovely section of the Galloping Goose Trail, and Aylard Farm, arguably the best beach in the Greater Victoria Region, where you can explore intertidal life and enjoy otters playing on the sand dunes, while bald eagles, turkey vultures, and red-tailed hawks circle overhead. This is truly a bird watcher’s paradise.

But more than that, East Sooke is sparsely populated, with wide-open spaces where you can feel free. At the same time, there is a real sense of community here and also a pioneering spirit, where neighbors actually do care. The properties are spacious, but the people living here do not feel separated from each other: in a spiritual sense, they are even closer to each other than people living side by side in an urban setting.

In the midst of this natural paradise is a touch of culture: the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, providing a diverse season of the highest caliber of music. Sooke also features wonderful schools including a French immersion program. You’ll also find fine chicken, turkey, venison, hormone-free beef and pork at the Meating Place and fresh crab from The Crab Shack. The Sooke Country Market features tables of organic, home-grown produce, fresh fruit, locally produced jambs, and mouth-watering fresh breads, still warm from the oven.

Without question, this area is a rich treasure trove for naturalists, fishermen, birdwatchers, hikers, boaters, divers, photographers, recreational enthusiasts, and sea kayaking adventurers. And the deep, all-enfolding forests enclose you in a protective, spiritual experience. Here, you can raise your children in a safe, fascinating, natural setting. And where is this paradise? Only a 35-minute drive from downtown Victoria and 10 minutes from Langford.

Find more information about East Sooke at eastsooke.com and eastsooke.ca.

We currently have two listings in East Sooke, both featuring spectacular ocean fronts/views, beautiful homes, and plenty of space.

Beach and Meadow (View Listing) – Equestrian meadow, rippling stream, and shining pond greet you and bring you past a historic 10ft stone wall, built by artisans from the old country. The home features a circular paved drive and has been referred to as “The Cedars” since 1875. This perfect marriage of old European lifestyle and modern convenience is echoed throughout.

3.5 Acre Waterview Style & Serenity (View Listing) Eagle-eyed luxury home hunters of ultimate privacy and stunning ocean and mountain views focus on this totally renovated West Coast home on a park-like 3.5 acres in an exclusive neighborhood. Dramatic windows perfectly frame panoramic views from every room.

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The Saanich Peninsula is a mosaic of pocket communities, each with its own character. Among these communities, Brentwood Bay, one of the last “true” villages on the Peninsula, has maintained its gentle atmosphere of country lanes, delightful cottages, and waterfront homes. There are no factories or strip malls here, just the most tranquil and delightful scenery on the West Coast of British Columbia, and the cleanest air imaginable. One of the safest places in the world, where children can grow up naturally.

Most noted for being the home of the world-famous Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Village also offers excellent waterfront restaurants, amenities, spas, pubs, and is a jumping-off point for kayakers, canoeists, mountain bikers, and explorers of all sorts.  There are several recreation parks and numerous tourist attractions within just a few minutes, including 25-acre Oak Haven Park with one of the finest stands of Garry Oaks on Vancouver Island.

Located centrally on the Saanich Peninsula, Brentwood Bay enjoys easy access to highways, Victoria, the airport, and ferries.

More information on the Brentwood community and events can be found from The Brentwood Bay Revitalization Committee.

We currently have two listings in Brentwood Bay: a fine house in an upscale neighbourhood and a lovely oceanview townhouse. See below for more information on these residences and click on the photos to find out how you can make Brentwood Bay your new home.

Pillar of the Neighbourhood (view listing) – Regal home in a premier area on 1.35 acres. A cathedral entry carries through to a huge family room.  Spacious open kitchen, dining room, living room, office or 4th bedroom. Master suite with unique “bridge” to children’s area. Two-car attached & detached garages.

Sensational Ocean View Townhome (view listing) – Remarkable, updated 2200sqft three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome in prestigious oceanfront Port Royale Estates. Mesmerizing westerly ocean views. Level entry main floor living including a sumptuous master bedroom suite. Priced to sell!

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View from a Deep Cove property recently sold by Ian and Marilyn for $3.37 million - Photo by C. Crofton

Imagine yourself in a peaceful area, where there are wineries, productive fields, and hidden woods, where westerly breezes gently waft in from the nearby beach, where there is virtually no traffic, no noise, and no crime. And where is this modern day Shangri-La, this harmonious enclave where children can play in safety, and where a few chic residences are judiciously placed, conscious of the unspoiled natural surroundings?  Deep Cove, an area in the northwestern end of the Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria, BC.

The northwest section of Saanich is becoming one of the most desirable places to call “home” due to its excellent westerly location, spectacular sunsets and gentle breezes wafting over this tranquil, secluded setting. Above all, it is noted for its natural, permanently protected environment – in particular its spectacular old growth cedars, firs, pines, and Garry oaks, interspersed with silver birches and arbutus trees.

Deep Cove features world-famous R. O. Bull Park, which lies within a stand of ancient Douglas fir trees, some of them hundreds of years old, and is crisscrossed with beautifully maintained walking trails. For the active sports enthusiast, there’s Wain Park, with outdoor tennis courts, two baseball diamonds, a soccer field, and play areas for children. But more often than not, you will be called down to the seashore and warm sandy beaches for warm swimming.

The amenities in this area are truly amazing. The Deep Cove Elementary School features French immersion classes. The nearby Deep Cove Market is famous for its free-range chicken, fresh eggs, produce, and honey from local farmers, and shelves of exotic foods from bottled stem ginger and Scottish jams to artisan breads and unbelievably tasty fruit cakes from the nearby Gulf Islands.  For those who enjoy dining out, forget about driving to Victoria, because just ten minutes away is the finest restaurant on Vancouver Island: the Deep Cove Chalet restaurant, famous for waterfront dining en plein air, and its gold medal winning wine list. The next day you may need to fly to Vancouver on business, or to attend the Opera in Seattle – regular floatplane service is at your doorstep.

Deep Cove is an area bursting with wild flowers, wild blueberries, and birdsong, while deer shyly emerge from behind stands of bushy Douglas-fir trees. This area is truly a paradise, with its clean air, tranquil surroundings, and proximity to the sea.

Currently, we have three listings in the Deep Cove area, each boasting their own unique features from a high-style, contemporary renovated house to a beautiful historic farm to a brand new house with space for extra accommodation. The following is a little more information on each property.

Historic Bramley Farm (view listing) -  One of the most beautiful acreages in Deep Cove.  1.75 acres of peaceful country charm.  The main house is 2380sqft with three bedrooms,  office,  den,  and a spacious vaulted ceiling living room.  The property also includes a separate guest cottage, fruit trees, veggie gardens, two storage sheds, two paddocks, and much more.  This is a heavenly,  private oasis.

Sophistication (view listing) – A West Coast sophisticate stylishly remodeled less than two years ago.  The bathrooms were completely redone,  the kitchen extensively renovated,  custom hardwood floors to match existing wood were installed in all previously carpeted rooms, wood windows were added,  a gas fireplace was installed, extensive custom built-ins were added. This wonderful house sits on a landscaped 0.5ac property.

Designer Home (view listing) – 4500sqft designer home on 1.43 acres. 0.5 acre zoning in a parkland setting & likely subdividable.  Featuring 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, soaring ceilings, enormous windows, a dream gourmet kitchen, hardwood floors, and a self-contained 2-bedroom nanny suite.  No HST is payable on this gorgeous newer home.

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