Point Roberts – The Hidden Gem of Cottage Real Estate for Vancouverites
Vancouver, BC: July 18, 2009, Leslie Carpenter

Have you heard of the Point Roberts Cottage market? Like many Vancouverites who have come to the City from Eastern parts of Canada over the last few years, I had never heard of Point Roberts. Little did I know, only a 35 minute drive from my condo in False Creek was this peaceful, oceanfront community with beautiful beaches – and cottages and homes in the price range as little as – gasp – US $90,000 to US $250,000.


How could real estate so close to a beach be so cheap? Well here’s another secret I wasn’t aware of: Point Roberts is an isolated part of the United States, only accessible via land through Tsawwassen, BC – close to the BC Ferries – or via boat to the quaint marina in the town.

Many locals who grew up in BC will remember Point Roberts for the Breakers bar, which hosted great live entertainment and was very popular until the early 90s, when the liquor laws changed in BC, allowing alcohol to be sold on Sundays.  Breakers or the Reef pub were where many Vancouverites use to go to hear great bands and have a beer on a Sunday, especially during a long weekend.

Today, Point Roberts is the cottage country I have been missing—at a price I can afford! The city offers one large supermarket with everything you need to stock up your cottage or for a nice picnic; including many deli-salads as well as the best deli barbecued chicken I have ever tasted. There is also a liquor store and a few small restaurants (two we have tried with superior chefs),  a world class golf course (who knew?), a marina and several beaches.

As a Canadian Citizen, you can visit your vacation home (and stay overnight) for 6 months, less one day, per year. This works fine for my husband and I, as we will be using our Point Roberts cottage as a weekend retreat and for longer stays in the summer. We bought a small home in walking distance to Maple Beach—a long sandy beach that stretches around the point for some beautiful walks. What I am most surprised about is how quiet it is. All we hear in the morning are birds chirping in our yard. There is absolutely no traffic noise, which is a welcome break from the hectic lives we lead downtown.

A large part of Point Roberts is actually owned by Canadians, many who would prefer to keep the location a secret, to maintain the peaceful atmosphere. We spend our evenings here either going out for dinner, or visiting with friends and neighbours chatting until the late hours near the campfire in one of our yards. Life really doesn’t get any better than this, and I feel a certain obligation to let my friends in the city know about this amazing little real estate gem, now that I’ve secured a piece of it for myself!