SNOWBIRDS FLOCKING BACK
Pineridge Mountain offers affordable alternative to pricier destinations
The Columbia Valley has long appealed to Albertans as a playground destination, a place to enjoy their favourite pastimes — and to escape those wintry blasts.
Pick any season and there will be an abundance of Alberta licence plates at golf courses, beaches, wineries, ski lodges or just hanging out at the many resorts and residential developments.
Among the newest developments turning eyes is Pineridge Mountain Resort, a recreation community in Invermere, overlooking Lake Windermere, being created by Calgary-based Statesman Group of Companies.
Three hours west of Calgary, Invermere is a popular go-to destination for Alberta day trippers, weekenders — and now part-time and full-time residents. Statesman has used that popularity to create its resort at the west end of the town overlooking Lake Windermere and bookended by the Rocky Mountains and Purcell Mountains.
What Statesman owner Garth Mann is seeing as construction moves forward is a renewed influx of Albertans entering the home-buying market, including a growing number who have brought equity from the sale of their American Sunbelt homes back to Canada and are reinvesting property in the B.C. valley.
“There are a growing number of snowbirds who have repatriated their U.S. real estate dollars and relocating to Canada for the value of real estate and their buying power with a strong, bullish U.S. dollar,” Mann says.
He says he’s also seeing more housing interest from semi-retired people whose jobs allow them to work remotely, as well as others who are moving to the valley from the West Coast to be nearer families in Alberta.
And, he adds, the 62-hectare Pineridge Mountain Resort has much in the way of residences and amenities for those families looking at the valley lifestyle.
Lifestyle aside, there is also a financial element for them to consider.
“They can take advantage of not only the proximity to family but also the value in purchasing real estate here compared to the West Coast, Vancouver Island, Kelowna and other regions of the province where prices are higher and the speculation tax is applicable,” Mann says.
For those shopping the residential market, the varied selection of homes at Pineridge includes Vista Chalets that overlook the Columbia Valley, priced from $399,900;
single-family homes from 1,400 to 2,200 square feet, starting at $450,000; the Villas, which are one-level-living homes with walkouts and two-car parking, priced from $439,000; and Terrace Condominiums, which are rental suites overlooking Lake Windermere and priced from the $290,000s.
At build-out, Pineridge Mountain Resort will have 700 homes, as well as outdoor recreation amenities such as a three-hole practice golf course and putting green, pickleball courts, beach volleyball areas, a sports field, and outdoor fitness centre — with more to come.
Statesman also says it is willing to dedicate about nine hectares of rehabilitated land for the Columbia Valley Recreation Park with various sports venues, viewing stands, a full-service health and fitness facility with indoor running track, and food court.
To show interested visitors what the residential element of Pineridge Mountain Resort will look like, a show home has been opened at 1879 Pine Ridge Mountain Link.
The open-concept Olive model is shown with two bedrooms, two full baths, 10-foot ceilings, window coverings, a large kitchen with walkin pantry, an office or guest suite, a front-drive double-attached garage, landscaping, and geothermal heating and air conditioning.