Victoria Homes & Real Estate

Victoria Real Estate Market

Those wanting to move to Victoria will fall in love with the atmosphere, variety of homes available, including some of the best condos available in the area, and fantastic waterfront community living. The area offers residents a beautiful community with plentiful options for those seeking waterfront homes. Set on the Salish Sea and Upper Harbor, Victoria has some of the best neighbourhoods with homes overlooking these waterways, offering residents amazing views and direct access to boating, swimming, fishing, paddle boarding, and a good deal of other water sports activities. Plus, living this close to the water provides some unique opportunities to see local wildlife from the comfort of the back patio or balcony.

Some of the best neighbourhoods in Victoria include Rockland, Fairfield, James Bay, Oaklands, North Park, and Victoria West. The Victoria real estate market offers many options, including single-family and luxury homes. Townhomes and affordable condos are also available in the area as well as some nearby suburbs of Victoria. Within the city, there's a good selection of luxurious, expensive condos to choose from.

Most of the homes in Victoria have three bedrooms and three bathrooms and an average of 1,200 to 3,000 square feet of living space. Some luxury homes are also available with additional bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage—average home prices in Victoria range from the lower $600s to $2.8 million. However, there are plenty of affordable neighbourhoods for homebuyers with a smaller budget.

Victoria Community Amenities

Residents can enjoy shopping at the three major shopping malls, including Hillside Shopping Centre, Bay Centre, and Mayfair Shopping Centre. These shopping centers provide retail locations, various businesses and services, and dining establishments for residents to enjoy without leaving their community. The local malls house a mix of locally-owned regional chains and larger national/international shops, giving more options as compared to Nanaimo and other smaller communities.

Living in Victoria picks up at night as many local businesses remain open late to accommodate the many residents who work throughout the area and the tourists who come to enjoy the many amenities in the community. Near the city's Inner Harbour, residents can watch cruise ships dock at nearby Ogden Point and enjoy heading out on the water for whale watching or deep sea fishing.

Plus, Downtown Victoria is a hub for all the dining and entertainment venues in the community, featuring nightclubs, restaurants, pubs, and theatres. This community area also hosts several events, including the Canada Day fireworks display, music festivals, cultural events, and Symphony Splash. Other popular attractions and places to visit in Victoria include Spiral Beach, the Royal British Columbia Museum, the Gothic Christ Church Cathedral, the Empress Hotel, and the Emily Carr House.

The downtown area is very walkable, with a pedestrian street, crosswalks, and plenty of spaces for pedestrians. In addition to being a walkable community, Victoria is very bike-friendly, with many paths, walking trails, and street lanes for cyclists to get around town. For residents wanting to avoid driving in Victoria, the community is also serviced by public transportation, such as the Victoria Regional Transit System and BC Transit.

The Victoria International Airport is the nearest airport, with non-stop flights to and from the cities of Toronto, Seattle, and Montreal. Victoria is also home to the world's largest all-seaplane airline, Harbor Air, with daytime flights departing every 30 minutes. In addition, BC Ferries provides service from Victoria to various areas between the Lower Mainland, the United States, and the other regions along the Saanich Peninsula.

The economy in Victoria includes chief industries, such as tourism, education, technology, and federal and provincial government services. Other industries within the 30-minute to one-hour commute to Victoria include accounting, advertising, engineering, and healthcare. Some of Victoria's most prominent and top employers include Marriott Hotels, Home Instead Senior Care, Canada Post, Canada Border Services Agency, City of Victoria, Brentwood College School, and Viking Air. The community is also home to the Pacific headquarters for the Royal Canadian Navy.

Victoria Local Highlights

• Coal baron Robert Dunsmuir built Craigdarroch Castle, which is now a historic site open for self-guided tours and events.
• Beacon Hill Park, one of the best parks in the city, is a beautiful park in a walkable neighbourhood close to many local hotels, restaurants, and the inner harbour. It's also one of the many reasons why Victoria is dog-friendly.
• Victoria's Chinatown is the second-oldest in North America, offering residents unique shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities.
• Boom + Batten Restaurant and Cafe has a unique menu with elevated casual dining options and fantastic harbour views.

Victoria School Information

Public schools in Victoria are managed and operated by the Greater Victoria School District, including Victoria High School and several elementary schools. Private schools, such as the St. Michaels University School - Junior High and the Christ Church Cathedral School, also provide access to education for residents in the community.

Greater Victoria is home to three universities, Royal Roads University, University of Victoria, and Camosun College, where residents can register for continuing education courses or various degree programs.