Daily Informative Updates on
New Residential Real Estate & Construction News
for Vancouver Island Communities

During the last five months, Campbell River residents have lowered their monthly energy bills thanks to free home energy evaluations. Starting this month, low-income residents of Campbell River will find it easier to participate in the program.

Applicants to the city’s Leisure Involvement for Everyone (LIFE) program will also have an opportunity to apply for the Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP), which provides qualified lower-income BC Hydro residential account holders with free home energy evaluations and energy-saving products. A Certified Energy Advisor from Elemental Energy Advisors on Vancouver Island can help you with these energy evaluations and recommend energy-saving products for your home.

One of the mandates of a Certified Energy Advisor is to identify problem environmental conditions that could be potential health risks. These include combustion-spillage susceptibility, inadequate ventilation, mold on interior surfaces, or the presence of pollutant sources. Certified Energy Advisors from Elemental Energy Advisors on Vancouver Island can give you the information and help needed to prevent or mediate these health risks. By evaluating your home as a system, Elemental Energy Advisors takes into account how changing one component can improve conditions throughout the house. These comprehensive evaluations ensure that the recommendations made by Elemental Energy Advisors are based on what’s best for your home; they can also save you money!

Contact Elemental Energy Advisors at 250.830.8000 to book a free energy evaluation for your home. They’re saving money, energy, and the environment one home at a time!

Can you imagine living in a beautiful home that is also quiet and virtually free of all dust and pollen? That’s exactly what you’ll get when Nutmeg Homes builds your new custom home on Vancouver Island. An award-winning custom-home builder in the Comox Valley, Nutmeg Homes specializes in creating custom homes with insulated concrete form (ICF) construction methods.

From their Comox location, Nutmeg Homes deploys innovative concrete construction techniques to build energy-efficient green homes that will flourish for generations. Several of the new custom homes they’ve built in and around the Comox Valley since 2000 are highlighted on their website. You can also follow along as owners Paul and Shareen Witt blog about building their own ICF home in the Comox Valley!

Nutmeg Homes is currently exploring options for building LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified homes. They’ve also begun developing living roofs, also known as green roofs. Living roofs are covered in vegetation, which lowers cooling costs and reduces storm water run-off. The Vancouver Island Visitor Centre in Cumberland is a fabulous example of a Nutmeg Homes living roof.

To find out more about Nutmeg Homes and their innovative ICF construction methods, please visit their website.

Fairwinds Resort & Community in Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island is quickly becoming the destination of choice for discerning homebuyers seeking a luxurious West Coast lifestyle when choosing a location for their new custom home.

The Fairwinds community of Bonnington Ridge currently has three stunning residential view lots for sale, starting at $229,000. Dream home, vacation home, retirement haven — no matter what you’re seeking, these Vancouver Island golf-course lots are picture perfect for a new custom home. All three residential building lots are on a quiet cul-de-sac, some with ocean views, and are located a short walk from the amenities at Fairwinds Centre.

A fourth lot for sale at Fairwinds is located nearby at Bonnington Heights and listed at $159,000.

The Fairwinds community in Nanoose Bay also offers patio homes for sale in Rockcliffe Park. This distinctive collection of luxury detached Vancouver Island residences features fine-quality craftsmanship and award-winning interior designs that combine timeless elegance with the best in modern finishes. Homes at Rockcliffe Park range from $595,000 to $659,000. Rockcliffe Park has an open house every day from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The golf resort community of Fairwinds covers about 1,350 acres of lush countryside, with an abundance of wildlife surrounding its natural landscapes. Just 15 minutes away from Nanaimo and Parksville on the east side of Vancouver Island, Fairwinds offers one of the best climates in Canada. The homes in this master-planned West Coast community integrate fine living with the natural beauty and tranquility of the area.

For more information:

• call 250.468.7061​ (local) or& 1.866.468.5957 (toll-free);
• stop by their sales centre at 3455 Fairwinds Drive in Nanoose Bay;
• email livehere@fairwinds.ca; or
• send a message using the "Send Message" button below.

Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program is a federal tax incentive program designed to encourage technological development by offering a substantial rebate on every research dollar spent. If you’re a Vancouver Island company pursuing business innovations, technical modernization, or other improvements, Island SRED in Qualicum Beach can help cut through the clutter to ensure you get the most for every research dollar you spend.

How does the process work? Island SRED provides a free consultation to determine whether your company qualifies for SR&ED program benefits. If you do, they then work with you to complete the paperwork and submit it to the government on your behalf. There is no charge for their services until the claim is approved and you receive your government rebate.

Vancouver Island companies can apply for SR&ED investment tax credits for expenditures such as wages, materials, machinery, equipment, some overhead, and SR&ED contracts. Island SRED works with all sorts of clients in many different industries, including:

• heavy industrial equipment manufacturing;
• medical – practitioners conducting research on new equipment and pharmaceutical treatments;
• software, website development, and database construction;
• shellfish and finfish rearing, as well as related equipment development;
• conventional and alternative energy sources;
• ROV developments;
• agriculture - greenhouse and field crops, vineyards, and wineries; and
• boat building.

​Island SRED is highly thought of in the SR&ED community. Their well-rounded team of full-time professionals in taxation, accounting, science, and engineering offers personalized service tailored to your company’s needs and goals.

Their sister company, Incentive Access Group, supplies SR&ED services to clients in British Columbia and Alberta. Together, Island SRED and Incentive Access Group have helped 270 satisfied clients file more than 600 SR&ED claims for projects during the last year. Why not join them? Contact Island SRED today to find out how to earn tax rebates on your research dollars!

TESTIMONIAL

1stView has used Island SRED's services for the past three years, and we've been extremely happy with the results! We've received rebates from the federal government based on our proprietary research and database development. We highly recommend Island SRED to anyone who thinks they might qualify for a Scientific Research and Experimental Development claim. ~ Clarice Coty

When decorating a home, window coverings provide privacy and enhance the decor of any room. The right window shades, shutters, blinds and draperies can be decorative and practical. Whether you’re moving into a new home, renovating your current one, or merely updating the window coverings in one or two rooms, be sure to visit the experts at Blinds Bubbles Boutique in the Comox Valley.

Formerly known as Blinds Billiards and Baubles, Blinds Bubbles Boutique is still the exclusive Hunter Douglas dealer in the Comox Valley. In addition to their wide selection of window coverings, Blinds Bubbles Boutique offers ultrasonic blind cleaning and repair services. From their Comox showroom, Blinds Bubbles Boutique features the complete Hunter Douglas product line, including Silhouette, Pirouette, Vignette, and the full Alustra collection.

Hunter Douglas's 20/20 Gold Guarantee ensures that clients are completely satisfied with their product choices. Owners Tracey and John McGinnis chose to sell Hunter Douglas because of the company's unmatched quality, competitive prices, and innovative products. The majority of the window shades, shutters, blinds and draperies offered at Blinds Bubbles Boutique are made in Canada.

Clients are invited to stop by their Comox Gallery showroom to see the vast selection of window coverings carried by Blinds Bubbles Boutique. They offer free in-house consultations to help you choose the perfect window coverings for your home or office. Blinds Bubbles Boutique services the areas of Comox, Courtenay, and Cumberland in the Comox Valley, as well as the Campbell River region. Visit Blinds Bubbles Boutique at 221C Church Street in Comox or call 250.941.7824.

Woodcote Mews townhomes offer the opportunity to own a new three-bedroom, two-bathroom Comox Valley home for well under $200,000. Prices on the final three remaining new townhouses at Woodcote Mews have been lowered to only $189,900. 

Seventeen of the 1,320 square foot duplex homes, centrally located on Cumberland Road, have already been sold. The remaining three units are complete to lock-up, and will be finished to the owners' specifications and be ready for for move-in within a month. The interiors of the remaining units will be completed once the new owners have selected their paint colours and finishings. 

This new real estate development in the Comox Valley has been popular with young families, empty nesters, and those looking for a Vancouver Island vacation home. These new Vancouver Island duplex homes feature a spacious layout, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each unit includes a quality appliance package with refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer.

A small yard is at the back of every unit, and there is a common outside area for all residents to enjoy.

For more information, contact Realtor Scott Fraser at Royal LePage in the Comox Valley.

Make your workers and job sites safer with the help of Double A Safety Services!

Based in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Double A Safety Services helps companies of all sizes improve and maintain the integrity of their workplace safety programs. Their extensive experience in implementing workplace safety for small, medium, and large construction projects throughout Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan will ensure a top-notch safety program for your company.

Double A Safety Services can help you with safety training, evaluating current safety procedures, program development, safety documentation, and due diligence procedures. They’ll also work with you to ensure that your company’s safety documentation meets BC Construction Safety Alliance (COR) and Occupational Health & Safety (OH & S) compliance requirements. Double A Safety Services can also assist companies with work practice development to industry best practices, incident investigation, workplace safety inspection services, HSE safety manual development, and claims management.

Providing a safe workplace saves time, money, and, most importantly, workers’ lives. Double A Safety Services will work with your business to develop a health and safety program that meets best industry standards. Call them today for a free consultation at 250.914.4699.

Call the experts at Tilley Electrical Contracting Inc. for any of your residential, commercial, or light-industrial electrical contracting jobs.

Serving the Comox Valley and surrounding areas on Vancouver Island for more than 10 years, these electricians specialize in controls, communications, and residential and commercial wiring. They also offer 24-hour emergency electrician services in the Comox Valley.

Choosing Tilley Electrical Contracting for your electrical needs means punctual, quality service; knowledgeable electrical technicians; and reasonable rates. Tilley Electrical Contracting offers renovation services, and services new construction work for residential, commercial, and light-industrial customers.

If you need quality electrical contracting, you need to call the experts at Tilley Electrical Contracting Inc. Call them at 250.331.1844 for 24-hour emergency service or to schedule an appointment.

The Gales ocean view bungalows and condos in Ladysmith are new homes offering an amazing location, surrounded by nature and featuring ocean views of Ladysmith Harbour and the nearby islands. 

Ownership at The Gales offers residents the opportunity to enjoy an idyllic Island lifestyle. Living at The Gales means enjoying year-round walks on the many local beaches and leisurely strolls through the pristine forest right at your back door. And owners at The Gales can relax, knowing the that their landscaping and yard maintenance are taken care of.

Residents told 1stView that how much they are enjoying their stunning, panoramic ocean views.

"We found ‘The Gales’ after years of looking," they tell 1stView. "Our visitors tell us we have a “Million Dollar View” and we agree. The hilltop terrace design gives us a beautiful panoramic view overlooking Ladysmith Harbour and the nearby islands, with the scenic Coastal Mountains in the background. This is special to us because the Northward orientation allows us to see ever-changing scenes painted in morning sunrise colors, which transition to evening sunset glows. We are even treated to beautiful night time views, which are enhanced by the path of the moon as it arcs across the ocean. The distant glow of clouds over Vancouver, combine with the twinkle of lights from houses across the harbour and from vessels underway, to create interesting evening settings.

Homes at The Gales are designed and built in West Coast contemporary architectural style and floor plans are open, ideal for entertaining. Warm earth tones through out the homes complement the coastal landscape. Wide sunny decks give you plenty of room to take in the views outdoors. Inside, these new patio homes and condos offers top quality finishing, with remarkable attention to detail.

This Vancouver Island real estate development is located in the town of Ladysmith, a community with year-round outdoor activities and adventures, along with one of Canada's most temperate climates.

New homes at The Gales are priced from $499,000-$599,000.

Show-stopping panoramic ocean and mountain views await your arrival at The Ridge in Courtenay, a new residential community on picturesque Vancouver Island. Several phases are planned for The Ridge, commencing with 69 lots in Phase 1. The first new home in Phase 1 of this master-planned community is now under construction.

The Ridge is a modern, sustainable real estate development comprising 230 single-family residential building lots (some with lane access), zoned for carriage homes, workshops, and secondary suites. Lots for duplexes and patio homes are also available. Embracing the principles of sustainability, The Ridge’s developer has created strong architectural guidelines and building schemes to protect property values.

Many of the lots in this 77-acre community in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island feature panoramic ocean and mountain views. Community highlights will include an extensive network of walking trails, parkland, and open spaces featuring open waterways. The Ridge is also directly connected to Millard Creek Nature Park.

As the urban, business, and cultural hub of the Comox Valley, Courtenay offers city amenities in a village atmosphere. Shopping, restaurants, galleries, and other entertainment abound, as do recreational activities such as hiking, kayaking, championship golf, boating, and unparalleled West Coast fishing. Pristine snow and world-class conditions at Mount Washington Alpine Resort will delight Nordic and Alpine skiers. The nearby Comox Airport offers direct daily flights to Vancouver and other major Western Canadian cities.

Lots at The Ridge in Courtenay range in size from 7,000 to 12,000 square feet, with prices starting at $169,900. For more information, call 250.650.8588, visit their website, or click on the “send message” button below.

Outlook Land Design Inc., a civil engineering and landscape architecture consulting firm in the Comox Valley, has been serving Vancouver Island since 1999. Firm principal Tim O’Brien, P.Eng., MCBSLA, is a professional civil engineer and registered landscape architect with over 25 years of design and construction experience.

Civil engineers have traditionally shaped cities and regions, largely content to leave art, architecture, and ecology to landscape architects. Outlook Land Design specializes in integrating these disciplines for a harmonious environment that blends the best of both worlds.

Civil, or municipal, engineering services provided by Outlook Land Design include specifying, designing, and constructing civic infrastructure such as parking lots, sidewalks, water supply networks, sewers, street lighting, public parks, and bicycle paths.

Outlook Land Design’s landscape architecture solutions embody designing outdoor and public spaces to integrate environmental, socio-behavioural, and aesthetic components. The scope of their work encompasses urban design, site planning, town or urban planning, environmental restoration, parks and recreation planning, visual resource management, and green infrastructure planning. Previous clients include provincial and municipal parks, schools, college campuses, resorts, multi-family housing projects, and public institutions.

Not only does Outlook Land Design Inc. provide civil engineering services, but the company also works for private-sector developers, LEED projects, and local government services. For a comprehensive description of what they have to offer, visit their website or call Tim O’Brien at 250.339.5222.

Jackson & Associates is Vancouver Island’s most trusted source of real estate appraisal services. In their 33+ years of operation, Jackson & Associates' AIC-certified appraisers have completed more than 30,000 residential appraisals and more than 5,000 commercial appraisals out of their Courtenay offices. 

Serving Vancouver Island from Duncan to Port Hardy, the Sunshine Coast and all points in between, Jackson & Associates provides more than just numbers, they provide value. Jackson & Associates can also help with real estate business planning processes through site selection, acquisition due diligence, and development project.

They provide reliable advice to businesses and individuals on a wide range of issues involving real estate holdings. Whether appraising a single-family home, an apartment tower or a multi-unit development project, the expert real estate team at Jackson & Associates provides accurate and dependable valuations tailored to individual needs. Jackson & Associates recognizes that clients put trust in them and their service. 

In return, they deliver more than just numbers – they deliver real value to help clients solve real problems. Contact Jackson & Associates at 250.338.7323.

Come home to Stone Manor Estates in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Residential lots and new custom homes are now selling in Phase 2 of Stone Manor Estates, a new Vancouver Island real estate development minutes from the centre of Duncan.

With Phase 1 nearly sold out, selling in Phase 2 has commenced. New homes in Phase 2 will sport the distinctive Craftsman and Heritage styles that proved so popular in Phase 1, but Phase 2 upgrades include several building lots backing onto green spaces, a no-through road, and a cul-de-sac. Prices for single-family lots range from $137,900 to $169,900, while two duplex lots are priced at $184,900 and $189,900.

As Canada’s only Maritime Mediterranean climatic zone, the Cowichan Valley offers a unique, mild microclimate and the warmest mean year-round temperature anywhere in Canada. More than 20 wineries have planted roots here, along with an abundance of artisanal producers, organic produce suppliers, and slow-food chefs. The residents of Stone Manor Estates relish the Cowichan Valley’s natural beauty and easy access to lakes, marinas, and recreational activities, without sacrificing the convenience of city living and close proximity to shopping, restaurants, schools, and community services in Duncan.

The developer of Stone Manor Estates, Lamont Land Inc., spent more than three years bringing it to market. It has been a true labour of love. Lamont Land Inc.’s philosophy is simple: respect land and people. At Stone Manor Estates, that philosophy is reflected in exquisitely constructed homes and architecturally coordinated streetscapes built under the mantel of environmental stewardship.

To view the remaining Phase 1 properties and for information on Phase 2 of Stone Manor Estates, call 250.597.1952, or visit the Sales Presentation Centre, now open Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

WesternOne is your one-stop shop for tool and equipment rentals in the Comox Valley, as well as North Vancouver Island’s only authorized dealer of Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles. Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island, and the Sunshine Coast, WesternOne is the only Vancouver Island venue that sells and rents Polaris ATVs, Canada’s best-selling all-terrain vehicles.

WesternOne’s Comox location has Polaris factory-trained and certified technicians on hand for any ATV parts and servicing needs. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals.

WesternOne also rents, sells, and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island, from both their Comox location and their new Courtenay location on Moray Avenue. To request a quote, call 250.339.4518 or 1.877.339.4518. And, if you’re in the market for a new ATV, drop by for a test drive!

Have you always dreamed of owning a Vancouver Island waterfront vacation home? You can realize that dream this summer at Reef Point Cottages situated in beautiful Ucluelet on Vancouver Island. This waterfront cottage for sale offers an exceptional Ucluelet real estate investment opportunity.

With its private waterfront view, this low-maintenance 956 square foot cottage for sale is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home offering excellent rental revenue opportunities within the Reef Point Cottages resort area. Luxury touches include teak, marble, and slate flooring; granite countertops; and pine wainscotting and ceilings. Curl up by the fireplace on stormy nights or bask in your private hot tub on the oversized covered deck overlooking Spring Cove. Unit 273 is competitively priced at $279,000. 

This Ucluelet vacation cottage for sale is part of the Reef Point Cottages rental program, entitling the owner to six months personal use per year. Cottage owners may also leave their vacation home in the rental program full-time and earn revenue with this hassle-free investment.

Reef Point Cottages are located on the breathtaking West Coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino, only minutes from Ucluelet’s isolated pocket beaches and famous Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park. Stunning vistas of the Wild Pacific Trail are virtually steps away from Reef Point Cottages. Isn’t it time you had your own slice of paradise? Visit Reef Point Cottages today, and see how easy and affordable it is to own a Vancouver Island waterfront vacation home.

Are you looking for an affordable, spacious, and well-built new home in Courtenay? No need to look further than Railside Lane, Comox Valley’s newest patio home development. Built by local builder McQueen Construction, the 10 new Vancouver Island patio homes at Railside Lane are centrally located at 1620 Piercy Avenue and are affordably priced from $249,900 to $269,900.

With three floor plans to choose from, these lovely townhomes and duplexes in Courtenay are available with two or three bedrooms and range in size from 1,300 to 1,700 square feet. The bright, open-plan main floor living area and spacious kitchen are beautifully finished with hardwood floors and tile.

Master bedrooms feature his-and-her closets with custom wooden organizers, while ensuites boast heated tile floors, stylish sinks, and dual showerheads, one of which is a rain head. These affordably priced townhomes and duplexes feature custom lighting throughout, complete appliance packages, and now include window blinds.

Say “yes” to Railside Lane, and you’ll welcome the convenience of strata living with the space of a single-family home. These Courtenay patio homes include attached garages, additional driveway parking, and guest parking spots. For more information, drop by an open house held Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., or contact Comox Valley Realtor Scott Fraser, PREC, of Royal Lepage in the Comox Valley.

Storage for Boats

AA Mini Storage can store boats, and depending on the size of the boat, they can store it inside or outside.  With large garage doors opening to your storage space, you can  choose a mini storage space perfect your boat.

Whether It's moving, relocating or storing your vehicles or office equipment, AA Mini Storage in Nanaimo has the solution for your self storage needs. Nanaimo's AA Mini Storage features a variety of self storage options for businesses and homes including vehicle and RV storage, heated units and drive-up storage units. These Nanaimo self storage rental units range from 5x5x5 to 20x30.

AA Mini Storage offers multiple levels of security, with video surveillance, gated access, and helpful, friendly resident managers on site. AA Mini Storage offers convenience as well. The units are available 7 days a week and with drive-up doors available on 10x10x10 units and larger, your storage locker is always easily accessible. 

AA Mini Storage has a variety of self storage units, suitable for storing anything from business equipment and the contents of a house, to boat storage and RV storage. Call today for a free quote!

Contact AA Mini Storage in Nanaimo at 250.758.7442. 

Campbell River Realtor Jenna Nichol of Coast Realty Group is a proud supporter of Campbell River, and is actively involved in her community. Jenna works with Habitat for Humanity, The Young Professionals of Campbell River and The Campbell River Men's Club. An advocate for the city, she is excited to help people find their Campbell River home.

Jenna Nichol's primary focus is on residential properties but she also works with clients who are interested in commercial properties. She has a personal interest in investment and income properties, and enjoys working with buyers who are in the market for real estate investments in Campbell River.  

Jenna work with real estate buyers and sellers in all age groups, although she says she particularly loves to work with seniors. 

"We seem to really click and we always have something to talk about," Jenna says. "It may be because they’ve always got a good story to tell, or it could just be that I'm a little old fashioned."

A great way to start your search for a Campbell River home is to sign up for Jenna's Private Client Services™. With this complimentary service you will receive automatic email updates about listings that meet your search criteria.  You can sign up online or give Jenna a call and she will be happy to set it up for you.

Finding your new Campbell River home will be easy with Realtor Jenna Nichol.