Welcome to the Victoria BC Neighbourhoods Guide Episode 7 of The Capital Map. A series that highlights Victoria BC living in all the different neighbourhoods that make up this beautiful city on Vancouver Island.
Today we’re talking about moving to Oak Bay in Victoria BC. Oak Bay Victoria BC is arguably our most desirable neighbourhood. It offers some of the best natural beauty along the coastline that features notable landmarks like Cattle Point, Willows Beach, Oak Bay Marina, Victoria Golf Club, McNeill Bay, Harling Point, and more.
Oak Bay BC is also one of Victoria BC’s safest neighbourhoods and has great public and private schools: Willows Elementary, Monterey Middle School, Oak Bay High School, Glenlyon-Norfolk Primary and Secondary School, St Michaels University School. For those reasons it’s an attractive community to call home for your family.
Because of the desirability of living in Oak Bay, it’s also expensive, and of all the homes in Victoria BC, Oak Bay has the most expensive neighbourhoods. Homes in Oak Bay sold for more than $2.3 million dollars on average in 2022. Of all the homes for sale in Oak Bay, the Uplands is the most exclusive and expensive.
Here’s a breakdown of this video:
00:00 Intro
00:15 1) Where in Victoria is it?
Oak Bay runs along the eastern coastline of Southern Vancouver Island. The name comes from the Bay along this section of Greater Victoria and the neighbourhoods run from the southern end of Cadboro Bay all the way South toward Harling Point. Drive time to downtown Victoria from most of Oak Bay is 15 minutes or less.
00:30 2) What are these neighbourhoods like?
A) Uplands - National historic site designation. 465 acre neighbourhood designed by John Olmstead with estate sized lots, serpentine streets to accentuate the rolling hillside, and ornate lamp posts and gates.
B) Henderson - running along and atop the Lansdowne slope, these properties sit in-between Uplands Golf Club and Camosun College. Because of the proximity to UVIC and Camosun there are a few homes occupied by students but on the whole private, family oriented neighbourhoods with larger lots.
C) Estevan - Primarily smaller older homes mixed with modern homes in a quaint seaside package with a central village. To me the Estevan neighbourhood is the most walkable of all the neighbourhoods that make up Oak Bay.
D) North Oak Bay - Many of Oak Bay’s heritage homes line the streets just north and south of Oak Bay Avenue. The Avenue is also the division between North and South Oak Bay. That’s not saying much compared to other parts of Greater Victoria. The median sale price of a detached home in North Oak Bay in 2022 was $1,625,000.
E) South Oak Bay - Some of Oak Bay’s most beautiful tree-lined streets exist in South Oak Bay. Between that, the access to the ocean, and the quiet family friendly atmosphere, south oak bay is likely the second most desirable neighbourhood in Oak Bay (behind Uplands). There are plenty of brand new homes finding their way into South Oak Bay.
F) Gonzales - One drive along King George Terrace and you will immediately sense the appeal of the Gonzales neighbourhood. Gonzales Hill is the best probably Victoria’s best example of . Soaring seaside views
02:50 3) Home/lot characteristics
Oak Bay is primarily single family homes with a focus on density along arterial roads and in unique seaside pockets. There are groupings of condominium and townhouse development along Cadboro Bay Road, Oak Bay Avenue, and near Oak Bay Marina.
Avg Sale Price 2022 SFD - $2,318,587 Avg Sale Price 2022 Townhouse - $1,310,111 Avg Sale Price 2022 Condo - $769,200
03:32 4) Who lives here?
03:52 5) Pros
A) Natural Beauty is unmatched (Harling Point, Gonzales Hill, Uplands)
B) Consistent neighbourhood aesthetics
C) The safest neighbourhood in Victoria BC
D) Bring your golf game (Uplands Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club). If you’re looking for the best Victoria Golf Course, you’ve found them.
E) Sailors Delight (Oak Bay Marina and Royal Victoria Yacht Club)
F) Great Schools (highest ranked public/private schools are in Oak Bay)
05:35 6) Cons
A) The most expensive municipality in Greater Victoria
B) Lack of housing options
C) Sleepy
06:07 7) Hidden Gems
A) Estevan Village: The Galley, Ruth & Dean, the Village
B) Anderson Hill Park
C) The oldest home in Victoria BC is in Oak Bay (Tod House)
D) Gonzales Hill Lookout
07:28 Outro
Let me know in the comments below if you have ay questions about Oak Bay, homes in Victoria BC, moving to Victoria BC, moving to Oak Bay BC, Victoria BC Neighbourhoods, Victoria BC Housing, or Victoria BC Real Estate. Feel free to reach out to me directly as well, I would be happy to answer your questions about Vancouver Island and the Victoria Housing Market.
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Alex Carroll PREC*
Engel & Völkers Vancouver Island
alex.carroll@evrealestate.com
alexcarroll.ca
#MovingtoVictoriaBC #OakBay