"New markets are emerging for us as awareness and desire to live the West Coast lifestyle is growing in cities like Saskatoon, and Toronto. Because so many potential buyers in those cities want to know more about what the resort has to offer, Bear Mountain is coming to them. In those cities, our recent tracking shows an increase in interest and we will be presenting in those cities for the first time," says Dale Sproule, Bear Mountain's director of real estate. "We are also going to traditional markets, like Edmonton and Calgary, where interest remains high."
International investors, once they understand that Canada's West Coast is scenic, serene and safe, are quick to buy at Bear Mountain Resort, but Canadians already know that and are looking for information on amenities, property specifications, and prices.
"The response to Bear Mountain's real estate offering from Canadians has been overwhelming, and we know why: we offer real estate options that fit every lifestyle whether the goal is to raise children, visit twice a year to play golf or eventually retire here," says Sproule. "BC's economy is strong and the future outlook in terms of employment and economic growth is exceptionally bright."
The expanding Village at Bear Mountain is reshaping the atmosphere of the resort and giving it the community feeling that planners first envisioned. It offers coffee houses, specialty shops, art galleries, boutiques, bistros, natural open space, landscaped parks and an outdoor plaza with year-round activities, music, art and exhibits.
"The Village is taking shape as a vibrant core that ties all of Bear Mountain Resort together," says Sproule. "Our Mountain Market grocery store is opening this fall, which is an essential amenity to our growing Village and one that our current residents are looking forward to. A health clinic, dentist, financial services, insurance company, and other services are opening or planning to open soon."
The project's first 10 phases of lot sales completely sold out as well as a significant number of condos, townhomes and quarter share offerings, resulting in pre-sales of more than $400 million. As the community continues to take shape over the next 10 to 12 years, Bear Mountain Resort will have roughly 1,112 single family lots, 1,997 condominiums and 220 townhomes, totaling over 3,500 residences, and is projected to have a total build out value of $2.5 billion.
Bear Mountain Resort offers a wide variety of real estate options for both residential and vacation ownership, including exclusive gated estates, spacious fairway properties, townhomes and luxury condominiums, and executive fractional ownership properties. Residents enjoy access to all of the Resort's amenities including VIP Services, which offers concierge services including transportation, entertainment arrangements, child care, cleaning and catering.
Bear Mountain Resort, now the largest resort development in western Canada, is the brainchild of former NHL player Len Barrie, who notes that golf was and is the centerpiece of the vision for the project. The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa offers the only 36-hole Nicklaus-Design golf offering in Canada. "While Bear Mountain Resort offers the best in resort accommodations and residential living, our goal was always to create the West’s most renowned golf destination," says Barrie.
Even with golf as the central activity, as many as 70 per cent of residents and visitors are not there to swing a club. They are attracted by the other amenities, such as; hiking, biking, the Mountainside Athletic Club, Santé Spa, a variety of world-class restaurants and other resort activities that will soon open like tennis and squash. And Bear Mountain Resort is located in one of the most stunning parts of the Greater Victoria area. Referred to as the Western Communities, it includes Colwood, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin and View Royal and is surrounded by history, and walking trails, beaches, parks and recreational facilities. Royal Roads University is also nearby, in Colwood. Then there’s Victoria itself, just 20 minutes away, one of the most striking seaside cities in the world. Condé Nast Traveler ranked Victoria "Best City in the Americas" in 2007, 2006 and 2003.