Luxury Real Estate: When it comes to finding luxury homes and real estate in Western Canada, there aren't too many neighborhoods that attract wealthy owners with the same regularity as Oak Bay. Located in Victoria, Oak Bay consists of some of the most affluent neighborhoods to be found on the Pacific Coast, including the exclusive and touted homes of the Uplands.

Oak Bay is comprised of several neighborhoods. The aforementioned Uplands is one, and Willows Beach, North Oak Bay, South Oak Bay and Windsor Park round out the area.

The big draw for beautiful homes in Oak Bay is, of course, the oceanfront property winding along scenic Beach Drive. The Drive features many stately heritage mansions and estates and well as some newer luxury homes, built to take advantage of this fabulous and upscale location. Oak Bay is filled with houses with appraised values in the multiple millions, many of which have sweeping views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait, and the Olympic Mountain Range.

All of that ocean means that residents of this affluent community have easy access to several beaches, including Willows Beach and Gonzales Beach. As you might have guessed, recreational opportunities abound in the Oak Bay area; there are several golf courses including the modest nine hole par 3 Henderson Golf Course and the much more impressive Victoria Golf Club . Founded in 1893, the Victoria Golf Club of Oak Bay is the second oldest golf course in western North America. It consists of 6000 yard links, and runs along the beautiful Pacific coastline. The Royal Victoria Yacht Club and the Oak Bay Marina are located in the neighborhood as well.

Aside from the proximity of the Pacific Ocean, Oak Bay's main appeal is in its commitment to a British influenced lifestyle. Many of the homes in the neighborhood are built along the architectural lines of the Tudor and Arts and Crafts traditions. The centre of the community is Oak Bay Village, the most urban style part of the neighborhood. Here, residents will find exclusively Oak Bay opportunities such as English modelled tea rooms, pubs, and antique shops. The centre is also the location of the Oak Bay police department, one of the only neighborhood police outfits in Canada. To round-out its excellent amenities, Oak Bay also houses some of Victoria's most prestigious private schools including Glenlyn-Norfolk School and the Junior School of Saint Michael's University School.

There are several luxury real estate opportunities for those wishing to make their homes in Oak Bay. The main style of the neighborhood is the single stand alone family dwelling, which invariably includes expansive and well maintained yards and gardens. There are also a number of upscale retirement condominiums, apartment and town homes close to "The Village."

Multiple options for luxury living, a uniquely English flavour, and of course an abundance of luxury oceanfront property make Oak Bay an ideal choice for many buyers in the British Columbia luxury home market

Article by Waterfront West
Sharleen Kneeland Founder
JustLuxe Contributor

For more information, visit www.Waterfrontwest.com.