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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We are pleased to present to you three open houses this long weekend, providing a range of space options within or very close to Victoria city.

First, we have a luxury townhome on Dallas Road featuring fine finishes including marble countertops and hardwood floors, plus an abundance of terraces and balconies . View more information about this listing here.

Open house at 18-50 Dallas Road on Saturday,September 4th,  from 2pm to 4pm.

On Sunday, take in a family friendly 4 bedroom bungalow with a magical garden in upscale Oak Bay.   More information about this listing can be found here.

Open house at 2927 Henderson Road on Sunday, September 5th, from 2pm to 4pm.

Also on Sunday, we have an 18.75 acre subdividable property with a 3600sqft home.  Ideal for horses and close to Victoria and Saanich shopping and amenities.  Click here for more information about this property.

Open house at 5062 West Saanich Road on Sunday, September 5th, from 2pm to 4pm.

We hope to see you at one of our open houses this weekend.  Please call if you have any questions about these or our other listings at 250-655-7653 or e-mail contact@ianheath.net.

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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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We received the following letter from a client this week.  We always love to hear from happy clients.

Dear Marilyn and Ian,

We would like to express our gratitude for guiding us through the various phases of purchasing our home. We could not have done it without your professional expertise. The process was stressful for both of us but we always felt the relaxing calm after talking and meeting you. Your advice greatly helped us make a very good decision.

We will always be proud to say that we were very fortunate to work with the Marilyn & Ian team.

Marilyn and Ian, we appreciate your hard work. Thank you very much again.

Sincerely,

M & S

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