Victoria is Ranked #1 in North America

Victoria is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and sparkles in one of Canada’s mildest climates. This area is the sunniest spot in the province and the gentlest in the country in terms of climate, environment, and lifestyle. Victoria’s unique character is deeply rooted in its 150 year history, full of colourful people and fascinating tales.

The city’s British colonial heritage is still very much in evidence, but contemporary Victoria has a distinctly Pacific northwest flavour. Today, Victoria is best known as the capital city of British Columbia, and as a world-renowned tourism destination. Greater Victoria and its outlying areas have a population of approximately 300,000, and the one-time colonial outpost is alive with cosmopolitan dining, superb shopping, a colourful nightlife and a full complement of cultural offerings.

When it comes to determining the top places for living out your golden years, 10 Canadian communities rank with the cream of the crop in the United States, even if you take our colder climate into consideration. That’s the somewhat surprising conclusion of Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the U.S.A. and Canada, by Warren Bland, professor emeritus of geography at the Northridge campus of California State University.

Victoria tops Bland’s list of best retirement spots. London, Ont., scored the second highest, tied with Boulder, Colo., and Portland, Ore. Halifax and the Ontario cities of Stratford and Kingston are among the Top 20 retirement places, while Owen Sound, Ont., Vernon, B.C., Kelowna, B.C., Fredericton and Charlottetown also made the Top 60 list. Says Bland: “Canadian cities are a superior place to live, climate aside, compared to American cities.”

He used a set of 12 criteria retirees should consider, including landscape, climate, cost of living, transportation, crime and health care. For each category, he awarded a score (out of five). Still, Bland acknowledges retirees might want to emphasize certain criteria, since “everyone has his own combination of needs and wants.”

There are compelling reasons for retirees to stay put, but Bland says there is much to recommend about relocating. Retirement represents “a new phase in your life,” so moving offers a chance for different experiences and friends. There’s also the opportunity for retirees to sell their home and move to where housing is cheaper. And it’s possible to find pleasant, affordable places to live if you think beyond the typical places people retire. Pittsburgh, for example, scores high on Bland’s list, but is off the radar as a retirement location. The Georgian Bay town of Owen Sound isn’t on the beaten retirement track — with a snowy climate and less-than-ideal transportation links — but it offers a great, affordable quality of life.

Before relocating, Bland says retirees should “visit for a week or two during different times of the year.” He recently retired himself, settling in Portland, Ore. “We looked for a house in Ithaca, N.Y., but it’s a small town. It was harder than I thought it would be to find a home we liked.” So Bland and his wife, Sarah, moved on to Plan B, charmed by the quality of life in his new community, “the best Canadian city in the United States.”

City (points in brackets)

1. Victoria (52)
2. Boulder, Col. (51)
3. London, Ont. (51)
4. Portland, Ore. (51)
5. San Antonio, Texas (50)
6. Asheville, N.C. (49)
7. Austin, Texas (49)
8. Boca Raton, Fla. (49)
9. Chapel Hill, N.C. (48)
10. Colorado Springs, Col. (48)
11. Fort Collins, Col. (48)
12. Halifax (48)
13. Madison, Wis. (48)
14. Pittsburgh (48)
15. Stratford, Ont. (48)
16. Gainesville, Fla. (47)
17. Hendersonville, N.C. (47)
18. Kingston, Ont. (47)
19. Medford-Ashland, Ore. (47)
20. Oxford, Miss. (47)
21. Sarasota, Fla. (47)

Victoria, British Columbia
Population:335 000
Climate:

6.5°C (winter) / 21.8°C (summer)

Retire in Style rank: 1

Rank among cities: 1

Points: 52

Victoria Real Estate April 2010

The average price for single-family homes sold in Greater Victoria in April was $624,149 down from $633,938 in March. The median price, however, rose to $572,500. The six-month average was $630,491. There were 21 sales of over $1 million including one on the Gulf Islands. The overall average price for condominiums was $340,105 last month, up from $336,779 in March. The average for the last six months was $326,131. The median price for condominiums in April remained unchanged at $305,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $449,556 down from $456,446 in March. The median price declined to $430,000. The six month average was $458,297.

PacWest Victoria B.C. Real Estate Representative
Ms. Brenda Russell, Royal Le Page

brenda@brendarussell.ca
Cell: 250.744.4556
www.brendarussell.ca