LIFE ON A FLOAT HOME
Living in style on the water has never been more affordable. Minutes away from the city amenities. Float homes have become highly sought after since the tiny home movement picked up speed.
Float homes offer a unique living option as a full time resident or a vacation home. They are modest scaled down efficient homes that just make sense for individuals with a desire to live their lives in harmony with nature.
People have been living from floating structures other than just boats, throughout British Columbia for over 150 years. Floating fish and logging camps have been a way of life for many years.
Float homes in BC are strictly regulated by government authorities regarding discharge of sewage, fire control, potable water, parking, aesthetics and taxation. The BC government provides a list of standard requirements for float home design and construction.
The foundations of floating homes are concrete hulls, or polyethylene covered Styrofoam billets. Float homes are generally very low maintenance. Open minded and diverse people live here. Float homes move with the wind and tides in our protected harbour. They are flat bottomed and wide unlike keeled boats, so they do not pitch and roll.
The Floating Home Association of BC represents the float home sector and residents. Its a nonprofit organization that supports the lifestyle of living on the water. For a map of all the float homes marinas located in British Columbia as well as a great resource for float home information.
Click on their logo below to view
British Columbia Float Home Standard:
Below is a link to the float home standard that covers the design and constructions required in BC.
Click the image below:
Fisherman's Wharf
A family friendly community rated sixth top tourist attraction in Greater Victoria. The homes here are owned but the water lots are leased.
There is a constantly changing parade of boats, floatplanes, ferries and wildlife including otters, sea mink, seals, many types of birds, herons, and racoons. Living here provides you with ringside seats for harbour events, i.e. fireworks displays, sailboat races and the antique boat show. Simply paddle over to see Symphony Splash in the inner harbour or tie-up a small boat or kayak next to your home, and kayak from your front door up the Gorge, or to shops, restaurants, entertainment.
I have dedicated a page on my website that offers a little history and further details about the Wharf. It also showcases the many float homes I have previously sold. You can find a link to the page if you click on the image below.
Fisherman’s Wharf Community Association (FWCA) a non-profit society Float home Owners are automatically voting members of the FWCA. Wharf meetings – socials (monthly potluck dinners); fund-raising ventures and environmental dock events are enjoyed in our village of about 60 wharfies. Our association has been recognized by Tourism Victoria as an Environmental Award winner for our efforts in protecting the environment. It offers plenty of sites, restaurants, recreation opportunities and cultural experiences.
Click on the logo for more info about the GVHA
Salish Seaside RV Resort & Marina
The Salish Seaside RV Resort and Marina is located in the Westbay neighbourhood by the Westbay Marine Village which is right on the water at Victoria's inner harbour. It is a unique entity and one of a handful of urban harbour communities within Canada.
The foreshore where the float homes are located belongs to the crown under the jurisdiction of the Federal Department of Transport Canada. The head lease belongs to the Songhees & Esquimalt First Nations, which also own and operate the Salish Seaside RV Resort and Marina.
The marina is specifically engineered to meet all of the requirements for proper full service float home living. The docks are designed to provide spatial separation for fire safety considerations, noise attenuation and to maximize view opportunities.
An incredible showcase park is in the backyard just above the parking lot. Friendly visitors, tourists, and guests stroll around and are inquisitive about the lifestyle and homes. It is a busy vibrant dock life by day and a peaceful, quiet private place at night. The market for float homes is more seasonal than typical residential markets. At certain times of the year there are more of our homes for sale than at other times.
The Salish Seaside RV Resort and Marina has a website that offers detailed information about the marina rates and their float home community.
Click on their logo for a direct link to their site.
West Bay Neighbourhood:
West Bay is a community nestled within a bay nearby Esquimalt and James Bay.
It is a vibrant and charming waterfront neighbourhood , distinguished by its distinct character and rich historical heritage and offers plenty of amenities and sites to visit.
West Bay has numerous recreational opportunities including kayaking, paddle boarding and boating with several rental companies available. The West Bay Walkway provides an excellent space for running, walking, cycling or simply taking in the stunning views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. There are several parks nearby including Saxe Point Park and Macaulay Point Park which offer hiking trails, picnic areas and scenic viewpoints.
Several restaurants adorn this area including the The Fish Store & More which is a local favourite seafood spot offering a wide variety of fresh seafood dishes. The Dockside Grill is a waterfront restaurant that specializes in locally sourced seafood and seasonal cuisine. Spinnakers Brewpub is popular for craft beer enthusiasts and foodies alike, featuring a diverse menu of local and seasonal ingredients paired with their signature brews.
There are plenty of sites to visit here in this location such as the West Bay Marine Village which features the marina as well as boutique shops and eateries. The Songhee's Wellness Centre is a community facility with a focus on promoting wellness and providing space for cultural activities and events. West Bay is also a great spot for whale watching with many tours available to watch whales, seals and other marine life. West Bay is a tight knit community that values local businesses and is supportive of the arts with numerous art galleries and studios showcasing local artists.
The area's natural and human history has significantly influenced its unique identity. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the West Bay neighbourhood was situated between the Songhees Nation in Victoria Harbour and the Esquimalt Nations in Esquimalt Harbour. The region served as a vital location for shell harvesting and fishing camps for over 4,000 years, located in West Bay and Rose Bay. The Songhee's Nation has a cultural centre open to visitors that provides educational experiences and showcases Indigenous art and history. The Maritime Museum of British Columbia offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the seafaring and the role of British Columbia's coastline.
The 'West Bay Residents Association' is an active group that works to promote community events and projects and also provides a voice for the local residents in the community.
Click on their logo to view their website.
West Bay Real Estate:
West Bay's real estate market has a mix of residential housing including single family homes, townhomes and condominiums. The average home price varies depending on the typical factors of location, size etc. The average home price is around 1.2 million with an entry level condo starting at $500,000 to a luxury waterfront property priced at 3 million.
The market has been steadily growing with new development in the area. There are a variety of opportunities for buyers and investors.
Many properties offer stunning ocean views, waterfront access and proximity to local amenities like shops, restaurants and parks. Some properties feature private docks and moorage allowing homeowners to easily access the water for boating, kayaking and other water activities. One of the more affordable options to have water access is to live in a float home.
For further info on Float Homes, please visit my website at the link below.
Click the image below to view
Posted by Stephen Foster on
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