Recreation is booming

B.C.'s recreation market is as searing as the urban residential sector.

While much of it is being propelled by "aging baby boomers," there's plenty of action coming from younger buyers and so-called "lifestyle" buyers intent on grabbing their piece of paradise... "never before have those aged 50-plus been such a strong segment of the recreational property market."

Some [baby boomers are] selling housing in major centres and making their way north, south, east and west for their retirement years, but others are keeping their homes and buying vacation properties for themselves, their children and future generations.

Rudy Nielsen of Landcor Data Corp. of New Westminster has specialized in the recreational sector for four decades and is the acknowledged expert in the field.

He says he has never seen the sector as active as it is now. "In particular I have never seen so much demand for recreational land."

The rule of thumb on prices is the closer to a major urban centre, the higher the cost. The majority of buyers seek a four-hour driving distance from a bigger town. Nielsen calls it the "golden circle."

The Province,  Sunday, August 20, 2006

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