Everyone has fond memories of their childhood summer vacations, spending time with family and friends and playing outside for hours. Now you can make more memories with Shorewood Cottages, just minutes from the Canada-U.S. border in Birch Bay.
"You get the best of both worlds," says Chris Hughes, a local RE/MAX broker who grew up in West Vancouver, and a partner in Compass Point Project Marketing. "It's relaxed and quiet when you get here, but you can be at the beach in two minutes."
Shorewood is located on a sunny plateau with over eleven acres total and seven acres of private parkland and trails, so outdoor activity will be a large part of your life. There will also be picnic areas, a bocce ball court, a community herb garden, an ocean lookout with a fire pit (called Sunset Point) and a clubhouse with an outdoor pool and hot tub. The picturesque setting includes a stream behind many of the cottages and ocean views from the front of the property. Hughes notes that the property is very dog-friendly, for those who could never leave man's (or woman's) best friend behind.
The cottages themselves are homes away from home, with stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, a cozy fireplace and hardwood flooring. Outside, you'll find West Coast Craftsmen architecture and a private patio. There are a variety of two- and three-bedroom floorplans available, ranging from 1,082 to over 1,500 square feet.
The cottages "are high-end from a finishing perspective, but exceptional value," Hughes says. "These are real residences you can stay in all year round."
The location is the biggest draw for buyers. The famous C Shop, which sells candy, pizza, baked goods and other treats, is a minute away, along with miles of Birch Bay beachfront, restaurants and cafes, and plenty of outdoor activities. You'll also find Birch Bay State Park and boat launch, water slides, go-carts, mini-golf and several golf courses nearby.
"There are a ton of things to do," Hughes says. "Most weekends you'll find something going on."
Among those things are arts and music festivals, fireworks, the Birch Bay Marathon, parades, sandcastle contests, car shows and many other events. Plus crabbing, clamming and fishing are lots of fun for the family and great for dinner!
"We're just 12 minutes from the border," says Hughes. "You can come down with the family for the entire summer or just for the day."
He also notes that if you're not able to come down to the cottage yourself, you can rent it out to other families looking for a beach getaway.
The developers of the property include two Canadian families, and most of the buyers so far are from the Lower Mainland.
"You can't touch this price anywhere in the Lower Mainland," Hughes says. "It's much more affordable to buy in the U.S. Plus, there's a minimal amount of legal fees (and) no property purchase tax."
Cottages at Shorewood start in the low $200,000s. For more information, visit www.shorewoodcottages.com, email info@shorewoodcottages.com or call 1-888-255-8121. The show cottages are open Wednesday through Sunday between noon and 4 p.m. or anytime by appointment.