Kamloops and Shuswap Area Waterfront and Luxury Real Estate

When it comes to recreational hot spots in British Columbia, you can’t get more literal than the country surrounding the Thompson River and Shuswap Lake. With both cold, snowy winters and hot dry summers the communities in these areas boast some of the finest recreational opportunities around, and that means the residences that go with it.

In this article we are going to take a look at two distinct areas of the British Columbian interior. The Kamloops region and the region around the Shuswap Lake both offer their own unique amenities as well as the luxury real estate opportunities that go with the location.

Kamloops

After Kelowna, Kamloops is the second most populous city in the BC Interior. Located in what is called semi-desert country, the climate of the region is perfect for anyone looking for great summer recreation.

Recreation is part of what the city has been built on, and you will find an abundance of high end golf courses and country clubs all around the outskirts of the city. Of particular note as far as recreational and luxury residential opportunity is the Links Golf Course and country club, in the part of the city known as Aberdeen. The golf course itself is surrounded by the most upscale neighbourhoods in the community, with huge houses and scenic vistas abounding.

Kamloops has also been historically defined by the presence of the Thompson River. In fact, two rivers of the same name join to form the Thompson at the heart of Kamloops. As far as luxury real estate, the South Thompson River in the east of the city offers the choicest waterfront properties. These large houses are concentrated along a two kilometre stretch in the subdivision of the city known as Dallas. Their size is quite deceptive when viewed from along the nearby Trans Canada Highway; when one sees the houses from the river itself, their true size becomes apparent.

A second luxury neighbourhood combines both the waterfront access along the South Thompson and access to a premiere golf course in the region. The Rivershore community is one of the newest neighbourhoods in the city and combines waterfront and fairway views with some of the most beautiful luxury real estate to be found in the area. As a planned community, the Rivershore subdivision is fully integrated and includes everything a family of means could desire both in housing choices and amenities.

Kamloops also unofficially includes the nearby ski resort, Sun Peaks. Internationally renowned for its location and the quality of skiing, the snow which covers the mountains here belies the desert lying just to the south. Each year, thousands of visitors flock to the slopes for the recreation they provide. Luxury real estate opportunities also abound on the mountain; property development has been on the increase for the past decade. Today, the resort includes five star dining, a small nine hole golf course, of course the skiing, and a variety of hotels and luxury pieces of real estate that will appeal both to the full time resident and the vacation home buyer.

As is common throughout the less populated areas of British Columbia, luxury real estate in the interior is often defined by preferences rather than proximity. For example, there are several beautiful areas to the north of Kamloops where one can find sprawling acreages and huge homes which can be termed as luxury Interior real estate, but which are not really located close to amenities which the urban luxury real estate shopper would find appealing.

Last but not least, it is worth noting that to the east of Kamloops, there are plenty of opportunities for those looking for prime waterfront real estate. The region is known as the land of 1,000 lakes, and these lakes are both large and small. The largest is Kamloops Lake itself, which currently is the location of several waterfront communities.

Shuswap

To the east of Kamloops, the region is best defined by the presence of the sprawling Shuswap Lake. This lake is among the largest in the Interior and year after year attracts thousands of visitors from around the country. The name also refers to the communities and areas that spread out around the lake.

As you might guess, waterfront property is the main luxury real estate attraction in the Shuswap region. Communities within the Shuswap region with neighbourhoods bordering the Shuswap include Sunnybrae, Canoe, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Eagle Bay, Chase, Scotch Creek, and Sorrento.

All of these communities include at least one neighbourhood of mostly large, upscale residences, which command a waterfront view. In some communities such as Salmon Arm and Sunnybrae, the view is tempered somewhat by the fact that lake access is minimized; the topography of the region often sees the most commanding views situated high above the lake so that in order to participate in the recreational opportunities the lake affords one has to drive or walk for a little ways.

However, Scotch Creek in particular offers luxury waterfront living with immediate, back door access to the world of recreation that defines Shuswap Lake living. Luxury cabins and bungalows are located all around this area.

Shuswap is not the only lake located in the region, of course. Many luxury vacation waterfront homes can also be found on the shores of Adams Lake, just a few minutes from Scotch Creek. Because it is less well known than Shuswap, Adams Lake is perfect for the luxury home buyer looking for a more secluded piece of water front property.

There are dozens of golf courses dotting the Shuswap region. Of most important note to those looking for recreational real estate are Hyde Mountain, in Sicamous, and Shuswap Lake Estates near to Salmon Arm. Both areas include some of the finest golfing in the Interior as well as a variety of luxury homes with both fairway and lake views.

When it comes to luxury real estate in Kamloops and the Shuswap region, buyers have a variety of choices. Recreational opportunities and real estate options abound and continue to be developed each year. The region is well known for its beautiful weather and water front living opportunities and there are many lakefront and lake view properties for sale in the Kamloops and Shuswap regions.