SLE: Real Estate

Shuswap Lake Estates at Blind Bay has long been touted as one of Canada’s premier retirement communities. Now, as this 1,200 acre lakeside resort matures with endless recreational options, its popularity continues to grow with increasingly younger people. “We have a good mixture of families and young retired people,” said Lois Barker, sales manager at the resort at Blind Bay, noting buyers who are retiring as young as 45. “Wow, people sure are retiring early now.”

Some of these youngsters are hanging up their neck tie early to secure their spot for the good life on the lake where their dream home can be set amongst panoramic views of Shuswap Lake, Copper Island, and the Monashee mountain range. Much more than a place to admire the vistas, Shuswap Lake Estates is filled with 2,500 year-round residents who enjoy the local hiking, cross-country skiing, tennis, a convenient 600-metre airplane landing strip, a community center for numerous events, sandy beaches nearby precious marina moorage, and the 18 holes of links and greens.

 “Most people are coming here for the golf course,” Lois said of the par 71, 6,467 yard manicured golf course, complemented with a driving range. “And the lake — of course.”

Many visitors quickly become residents when they learn that the $20,000 golf initiation fee is waived at the time of purchase of a building lot. Property buyers can start golfing even before construction begins. All of the sites are freehold interest — which means no strata fees. Rare for the Shuswap region is that the new lots have sewer as part of the full service hookups.

The newest release, Highlands Phase 2, known here as the “British Properties of the Shuswap” includes 74 panoramic lake view properties, priced from $144,000.