Real Estate in Victoria - Oak Bay Area
By Sharleen Kneeland, Waterfront West
06 April 2009 @ 09:12 pm EDT
When it comes to finding luxury homes and real estate in Western
Canada, there aren't too many neighborhoods that attract wealthy owners
with the same regularity as Oak Bay. Located in Victoria, Oak Bay
consists of some of the most affluent neighborhoods to be found on the
Pacific Coast, including the exclusive and touted homes of the Uplands.
Oak Bay is comprised of several neighborhoods. The
aforementioned Uplands is one, and Willows Beach, North Oak Bay, South
Oak Bay and Windsor Park round out the area.
The big draw for beautiful homes in Oak Bay is, of course, the
oceanfront property winding along scenic Beach Drive. The Drive
features many stately heritage mansions and estates and well as some
newer luxury homes, built to take advantage of this fabulous and
upscale location. Oak Bay is filled with houses with appraised values
in the multiple millions, many of which have sweeping views of the
Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait, and the Olympic Mountain Range.
All of that ocean means that residents of this affluent
community have easy access to several beaches, including Willows Beach
and Gonzales Beach. As you might have guessed, recreational
opportunities abound in the Oak Bay area; there are several golf
courses including the modest nine hole par 3 Henderson Golf Course and
the much more impressive Victoria Golf Club . Founded in 1893, the
Victoria Golf Club of Oak Bay is the second oldest golf course in
western North America. It consists of 6000 yard links, and runs along
the beautiful Pacific coastline. The Royal Victoria Yacht Club and the
Oak Bay Marina are located in the neighborhood as well.
Aside from the proximity of the Pacific Ocean, Oak Bay's main
appeal is in its commitment to a British influenced lifestyle. Many of
the homes in the neighborhood are built along the architectural lines
of the Tudor and Arts and Crafts traditions. The centre of the
community is Oak Bay Village, the most urban style part of the
neighborhood. Here, residents will find exclusively Oak Bay
opportunities such as English modelled tea rooms, pubs, and antique
shops. The centre is also the location of the Oak Bay police
department, one of the only neighborhood police outfits in Canada. To
round-out its excellent amenities, Oak Bay also houses some of
Victoria's most prestigious private schools including Glenlyn-Norfolk
School and the Junior School of Saint Michael's University School.
There are several luxury real estate opportunities for those
wishing to make their homes in Oak Bay. The main style of the
neighborhood is the single stand alone family dwelling, which
invariably includes expansive and well maintained yards and gardens.
There are also a number of upscale retirement condominiums, apartment
and town homes close to "The Village."
Multiple options for luxury living, a uniquely English
flavour, and of course an abundance of luxury oceanfront property make
Oak Bay an ideal choice for many buyers in the British Columbia luxury
home market.
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