Vancouver Luxury and Waterfront Homes
West Vancouver Area Information
When it comes to the search for luxury homes, few can compare the grandeur and the significance of those found in West Vancouver with that of any other region of Canada. West Vancouver real estate is at the highest end both in pricing and in quality to be found anywhere in the country, according to several measures of the claim.
There are a few criteria that have drawn the wealthiest parts of the Canadian population to make their homes in the neighbourhood of West Vancouver. Without a doubt, the first of the feature that points to this area as the perfect place to live is the access to the ocean. Most of the homes located in the West Vancouver area include sweeping oceanfront views; many of them also allow owners to take in Stanley Park, which is directly across the bay.
The panorama of nature that oceanfront property allows from the comfort of one’s own luxury home in Vancouver is the foundation upon which this prestigious neighbourhood has been built, and today the area boasts many luxuries and amenities which are designed to appeal specifically to the affluent demographic which calls the area home. One of the most celebrated of these amenities is the Park Royal Centre, the first covered mall in Canada and by all accounts a five star shopping experience.
In fact, Park Royal Centre has recently undergone renovations in order to keep up its reputation as one of the premier sites to shop in Western North America. The 990,000 square foot facility houses The Village, a lifestyle centre specifically designed to cater to the affluent residents of the neighbourhood. The food court is designed along the lines of a four star restaurant, and includes bussers as well as a fireplace and high definition plasma televisions. Other shopping areas include Ambleside Village, Dundarave Village and Horseshoe Bay .
On the recreational front, West Vancouver residents can literally pick from their favourite activities all year long. The community includes Cypress Provincial Park (which incorporates ski area Cyprus Mountain ) as well as a public, par 3 18 hole golf course and several other public recreational facilities. Private golf courses (including the prestigious Capilano Golf & Country Club ), tennis courts, marinas and other recreational areas also abound. For boating enthusiats, West Vancouver makes a perfect starting point to visit the islands in Howe Sound such as Keats and Gambier or tour up the Sunshine Coast to Desolation Sound.
Many Indoor recreation, aside from shopping, includes the huge West Vancouver Memorial Library, a fitting tribute to the classic and modern mansions which make up such a large part of the West Vancouver real estate landscape. This library boasts the highest circulation rate of any other similar centre in the country.
Finally, when it comes to luxury real estate, there is something in West Vancouver for all upscale lifestyles. The area was home to the first high rise apartment buildings in Western Canada, and the skyline continues to demonstrate this tradition today. Building of 30 storeys and more tower over the streets below, offering residents magnificent ocean views on all sides from some of the most impressive luxury condo suites to be found in the city. Single stand alone homes continue to dominate the neighbourhood, with mansions ranging from $4 million Canadian and up a common sight (the average home in West Vancouver sells for just over one and a quarter million dollars).
Perhaps the most noted luxury real estate locations in West Vancouver are the neighbourhoods of the British Properties and the houses located along Radcliffe Avenue. The British Properties has played a part in the development of West Vancouver since 1931, when the master planned community was built to offer some of the finest living choices in the area. The land, originally purchased by A.R. Guiness (of Guiness Beer Fame) was to be an exclusive community slightly removed from the city for those with the financial wherewithal to afford such a luxury. The problem, however, was that the land proved to be too far from the city and lack of adequate transport caused problems. To solve the dilemma, the company that founded the development, British Pacific Properties, helped to finance the famous Lion's Gate Bridge, linking North and West Vancouver to the downtown centre from scenic Stanley Park.
Anyone looking for cutting edge luxury homes in Canada will be well pleased with the offerings in West Vancouver. From oceanfront mansions to soaring condominiums, there is something here for the lifestyle of anyone used to the lxury lifestyle.
