No Person is an Island/RightSizing Spring issue, 2019

“We have a picture of my father back in 1928, sitting in a dugout canoe and looking at Goat Island from Salt Spring,” recalls Captain Stephen Best, a B.C. Coastal Pilot with a long family history on the West Coast. “Whenever he told his brothers that he’d buy that island someday, they’d always said, ‘Why would you want to buy that piece of string?” Indeed, 12-acre Goat Island is a narrow slip of land so close to Salt Spring’s Ganges Harbour that Best says they skated between the two islands during one particularly frigid winter.

Two decades later, Best’s father purchased the property for $2,800 and the family has made few changes in the 70 years since. “We haven’t bothered to bring electricity to the island,” says Best, describing two rustic wooden cabins built in the 1950s. “I’ve taught entire generations of friends and family how to light a wood cook stove.”

Living on a secluded, forested private enclave just a short paddle from the charming small-town hub of a Gulf Island is sort of dream most of us pin on a lottery jackpot. But in B.C., buying your own island is an attainable possibility, especially if you’re patient.

Like spatters of green paint on a deep blue backdrop, more than 40,000 islands dot the B.C. coastline from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Alaska Panhandle. They range in size from rocky bumps barely visible at high tide to, of course, Vancouver Island—one of the largest inhabited islands in the world. Some, like Haida Gwaii archipelago, are exposed to the fury of the open Pacific Ocean, while others lie nestled and protected by the towering Coast Range mountains on the B.C. mainland.

   Based up in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, realtor Ed Handja specializes in oceanfront property, including private island sales. “Unique and rare individuals seem drawn to these unique and rare island properties,” he says. “There was a Norwegian couple who re-located to Stewart Island for 18 years and built a beautiful custom home and guest quarters. Only three of the island’s 89 acres were developed,” he says. Given the challenges of both transportation and self-sufficency—which some homeowners embrace—it’s a very niche market. There might be some years where you don’t sell a single property and there might not be many available at any given time.” He also mentions that owner’s motivations differ greatly as well, such as one gentlemen from Victoria who owns three islands. “He’s a bit of a collector, you might say,” remarks Handja.

 “Each island has its own attributes and their utility, or usefulness, can vary widely due to the rugged nature of the topography.” says Mark Lester, founder and group leader of the Unique Properties Group at Colliers International. “What kind of building sites are there, are the beaches rocky or sandy, is there a calm, safe place for dock moorage? These characteristics can vary greatly from one island to the next.”

Most island properties come up for sale after long and sometimes difficult family discussions. Achieving an accurate valuation can be challenging, because comparative resales might not have taken place in decades. Lester, who has sold more than 20 islands during his career, says “It’s not something that there’s a manual for.” As an agent, he identifies the investment qualities and other assets of the property and how those will appeal to a buyer. Island buyers are looking for a lifestyle with some emotional connection to land and sea. Lester, who has waterfront property on DeCourcy Island, calls it thoughtful living. “You need to be prepared to roll up your sleeves,” he says.

Most of the larger Gulf Islands have a general store or a marina, but private islands require more resourcefulness. “Of course, the more luxurious properties will have live-in caretakers to do maintenance and upkeep, but if you’re doing your own work you’ll definitely fall into mindful rhythm of anticipating what chores you need to complete and how you’re going to do it,” says Lester. Even hopping in the boat to land supplies requires planning around tidal water levels, for instance.

Ironically, it’s also never been easier to live off the grid than it is right now. The southern Gulf Islands have enough sunshine to generate solar power for at least part of the year. Water can be captured and conserved by using a rainwater cistern. Many Gulf Islanders grow their own produce in summer months, and there are plenty of fish in the Salish Sea.

As for Goat Island, the investment by Best’s father’s (who passed away several years ago) has turned out pretty well. It’s currently listed on private islands.com for a cool $3.5 million–a relatively small price to pay for the ultimate dream home of a private island.

LISTINGS:

WALKEM ISLAND is located in Johnstone Strait, just two nautical miles from Vancouver Island. This 107 acre island has three drilled wells with proven water reserves. Price: $1.69 million; through B.C. Oceanfront Properties.

GOAT ISLAND promises “privacy without isolation,” due to its proximity to Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island. Features two rustic cabins, pristine, unlogged forest, eight crescent shaped bays and clamshell beaches. Can be subdivided, so it’s ideal location for multi-generational ownership. Price: $3.495 million; through www.privateislandsonline.com                

LILY ISLAND: is tucked into Silva Bay, a mere five-minute boat ride from Gabriola Island. This undeveloped eight-acre property is mostly level and offers a wide range of possible building sites. Waterfront consists of spectacular white shell and sandstone beaches. Price: $1.595 million, through Colliers Unique Properties