Canada Luxury Resort Communities on the Rise

---

When you think of thriving destinations for golf resort and residential communities, the Sun Belt naturally comes to mind first - places like Florida, California and Arizona - not our international neighbors to the North. But the Okanagan Valley, a relatively unknown high-desert region of British Columbia, Canada, has made great strides in becoming one of the world's leading getaways for golf, wine and attractive real estate opportunities for both Canadians and non-Canadians.

Of course, Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Whistler have long been established as top luxury real estate and resort destinations in British Columbia, fueled by droves of wealthy Chinese seeking safe havens during the run up to Hong Kong's official transition to Mainland China in 1997, and most recently, the 2010 Winter Olympics that Vancouver hosted.

On the other side of Canada's coast, Muskoka is recognized as one of the most elite and affluent pockets of North America, attracting the likes of celebrities such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Goldie Hawn over the years and dozens of other Toronto tycoons and power brokers. Located about two hours north of Toronto, Muskoka and its limited and lovely lakefront enclaves is to Toronto what the Hamptons is to New York.

With the weakened Canadian Dollar, buying real estate in Canada has never been more attractive, at least in the eyes of U.S. citizens seeking a new home. Over the past 15 years, I've had the pleasure of visiting numerous properties in the Okanagan Valley, or "Palm Springs of Canada" as I like to put it, and got a taste of Vancouver and Muskoka's good life as well.

Following is a handful of compelling luxury Canadian resort communities worth visiting.  

Predator Ridge, Vernon, British Columbia

When it comes to world-class wine, warm weather and first-class golf, Canada doesn't necessarily jump out as the first destination of choice. I was more than pleasantly surprised, however, when I visited this fantastic four-season residential golf and resort community in Western Canada.

Located in the northernmost edge of the High Desert, the Okanagan Valley offers that precise package of golf, wine, sun and fun at its finest. After hosting a hugely successful nationally televised Skins Game in 2000, featuring PGA Tour golf stars Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Sergio Garcia, Predator Ridge perhaps single-handedly put this obscure pocket of Canada on the global golf and wine map.

How? Predator Ridge is part of a region that boasts more than 50 courses and a high-desert climate that gives Okanagan Valley the country's longest, driest and sunniest golf season. Secondly, the wine grows just fine in and around the massive Okanagan Lake, much to the delight of wine aficionados. In fact, named Napa North for its 50-plus wineries, the Okanagan region has quickly garnered worldwide viticulture acclaim. With places like Predator Ridge, whose luxurious accommodations and golf and spa amenities rival that of any in the United States, the Canadian destination is only growing in appeal.

Now, with the Swarovski crystal-infused Sparkling Hill, a remarkable hotel and wellness center with more than 3.5 million crystals infused throughout this modern oasis, the journey to Predator Ridge becomes more attractive as a second home or vacation home.

Case in point are the 600 housing units already in place, and an additional 56 newer homes under contract, 20 of which are in construction, according to Brad Pelletier, vice-president of the Predator Ridge Wesbuild development.

Driving the community's recent surge in interest is the new Whitetail subdivision of homes that offer some unique features: lower density clusters of homes situated around the golf course that blend into the natural landscape and a move to more contemporary-style homes versus traditional Craftsman homes in other Predator Ridge neighborhoods.


Another boost to Predator Ridge is the agreement with Hockey Canada to host its future conferences and more recently a deal that inked the NHL Players Association to move its annual meetings to Predator Ridge from Pebble Peach.

Predator Ridge real estate prices range from fractional ownership opportunities starting as low as $44,900 to $655,000 for a new Whitetail neighborhood home.

The Rise, Vernon, British Columbia

Seven years ago, I attended a grand opening for this proposed $1 billion low-density golf and wine community featuring a championship course designed by famed PGA Tour golfer Fred Couples. Couples was in attendance, as well as NHL stars Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins standout Chuck Kobasew and former NHL players Brent Gilchrist and Jeff Finley.

As part of the festivities attended by a crowd of some 150 people, Couples conducted a golf clinic and then hit the first ceremonial drive before playing an exhibition round with the four hockey celebrities.

"The lake views up here are so incredible," said Couples, who is originally from nearby Washington State. "I have such a passion for golf that we really wanted to take our time and build a course that is as stunning as its location.  ... I grew up in Seattle my whole life and I was flabbergasted when I came up to the Okanagan Valley for the first time. To do a golf course here is just a thrill."

The Golf Club at The Rise, which features striking scenery of the Okanagan Lake and rugged topography of the Vernon highlands, was co-designed by longtime golf course architect and partner Gene Bates and represents the centerpiece to one of the most ambitious Okanagan Valley projects ever.

"The course has turned out even better than we could have dreamed," Rise then-president/CEO Leona Snider said during the June 20 grand opening. "It's a beautiful addition to the community we are building here at The Rise and a wonderful expansion of the recreation opportunities in Vernon."

At the time, Snider's Okanagan Hills Development Corporation was planning a 735-acre golf and winery resort, located minutes from the heart of Vernon on a south-facing hillside that overlooks Okanagan Lake.  Besides the golf course, the Rise also had plans for a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, hotel and village center and several neighborhoods comprised of vacant lots, villas and single-family homes.

In the first year of sales in 2005, approximately 70 percent of the phase one offering, or 110 units, were sold. Initial price range for real estate in The Rise was $200,000 to $900,000 Canadian, depending on type of home and location, or $222,222 to $1 million. Then, the Great Recession set in, ultimately forcing the project into bankruptcy protection.

Now, the 662-acre Rise has risen under new ownership and the golf course is ready to open May 9. The course has been acquired by Lake Country's Renton family, and Ian Renton has worked with the golf course from initial design to development.

"We're returning to the course Fred Couples envisioned," Renton told a local Vernon newspaper, in reference to swapping the routing on the front and back nine holes. Renton also said a new clubhouse is in the planning stages.

Of the community's eco-conscious 662 acres, one-third is now home to the golf course, one-third is being set aside for housing, and the latter third remains a nature preserve.

According to the developer's website, more than 200 people now call the Rise home and over the next 20 years, the Rise expects to welcome several hundred more families ready to enjoy this revitalized development that sits high above the warm, pristine waters of Okanagan Lake.

Muskoka Bay Club, Gravenhurst, Ontario

One of the most elite addresses in the affluent Muskoka market is Muskoka Bay Club developed by Peter Freed's Freed Development, one of Toronto's top developers. With more than $1 billion in residential properties delivered or under development, Freed's imaginative style and commitment to quality is uncompromising whether he's doing this four-season retreat or a condo tower just 90 minutes away in downtown Toronto.

Featuring pristine lakes, towering forests, refreshing clean country air and a spectacular Doug Carrick-designed golf course perennially voted one of Canada's best golf, Muskoka Bay is the perfect balance between peaceful country living and vibrant city life thanks to the historic towns of Gravenhurst and nearby Muskoka Wharf.

Next to the natural setting and close proximity to Toronto, Muskoka Bay features a host of luxurious amenities, including an award-winning 17,000-square-foot Clifftop Clubhouse that offers exquisite dining, full-service fitness, a stylish spa retreat, infinity pool, kid's pool, tennis courts, pro shop and bistro. For the outdoor enthusiasts, there are numerous scenic trails to hike and bike, woodlands and waterways to explore and during the winter, of course, Muskoka is a marvelous place to ski, skate and pursue other wintry activities.

Muskoka Bay offers a variety of four-season homes, including lower-maintenance luxury villas ranging in size from 1,350-2,200 square feet, and larger Muskoka-style homes ranging in size from 1,350-4,000 square feet.

The villas, nestled amongst the stunning terrain of the club's golf course, are priced from $459,900 to more than $600,000. The 2- and 3-bedroom homes with optional second-level lofts, are being marketed for $464,900 to more than $1 million.

Cobble Beach, Kemble, Ontario, Canada

One of the newer master-planned golf and resort-style communities in Canada is this world-class development situated on gorgeous Georgian Bay, often referred to as the "sixth Great Lake." Flanking the eastern side of Lake Huron, Georgian Bay features more than 30,000 islands and 2,000 kilometers of shoreline.

Throw in windswept pines, majestic towering cliffs, endless beaches and clear blue water, and Cobble Beach is a distinctive destination just minutes from Owen Sound and two hours northwest of Greater Toronto.

The resort community's waterfront village integrates detached homes, villas, townhomes and luxury estates into pedestrian-friendly, environmentally-sensitive settlements. It's a vibrant, four-season community for active individuals and families seeking a vacation home or full-time residence.

The Residences at Cobble Beach combine master craftsmanship set amidst 600 acres of land overlooking Georgian Bay. Cobble Beach recently introduced the Blue Bay Villas and The Grove by Reid's Heritage Homes, true lock-and-leave, attached residences that maximize water and golf course views. Walk-out water views, full basements, and turnkey landscaping and maintenance are a few highlights of this stress-free lifestyle.

Anchoring the scenic waterfront property is the spectacular Doug Carrick-designed, links-style Cobble Beach golf course. Carrick and construction manager John Anderson created contoured fairways akin to the great seaside courses of Scotland and Ireland. All 18 holes offer dramatic views of Georgian Bay.

Starting at $354,900, Blue Bay Villas are located in the heart of Cobble Beach just a short walk from the clubhouse, Sweetwater Restaurant and Bar, waterfront and other amenities and activities. Units range from 1,183 to 1,720 square-feet and are available in loft or bungalow floorplans. Double car garages and full basements provide owners with ample room for storage and entertainment. Loft units include walkout balconies with stunning Bay views.

The Grove neighborhood is situated on one of the highest elevations of the community. Starting at $349,900, these townhomes offer upper and lower walkouts with decks and patios backing onto a tranquil wooded ravine. The Grove is offered by Reid's Heritage Homes, one of Ontario's most respected builders dating back to 1947. Golf memberships at the award-winning Cobble Beach Golf Club are included with both residential options.

"Blue Bay Villas and The Grove are ideal for active adults looking to downsize from high-maintenance, detached residences without sacrificing space and the comforts of luxury living," says Rob McLeese, President of Cobble Beach.

"With our proximity to the Greater Toronto Area, London and other Ontario population centers, both of these products are perfect second or vacation homes as well. Baby Boomers seek four season climates, outdoor experiences, culture and continuing education. Cobble Beach is the perfect year-round basecamp for these pursuits."

Forest Lakes Country Club, Nova Scotia

Forest Lakes Country Club is Atlantic Canada's most exciting new development. Situated in the Maritime province of Nova Scotia, the resort has been designed to capitalize on the region's stunning natural landscape of forests and lakes by offering four-season leisure opportunities.

Terra Firma Development Corporation is the developer behind this 1,700-acre project in the growing region of greater Halifax. The eco-conscious development features a range of private residences in idyllic woodland settings, from cottages to expansive timber-framed homes.

The project, developed according to the principles set out by the Canada Green Building Council, calls for a total 1,800 residential plots spread out around village hub with shops and restaurants, and a family entertainment center and farmers' market.

Among the many leisure amenities planned: Nova Scotia's only 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course, a driving range, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, gym, riding stables and watersports. The Country Club will also include a five-star boutique hotel and spa, as well as a conference center and commercial facilities.

The site adjoins 80,000 acres of protected crown land that offers a diverse range of outdoor pursuits from walking and hiking to sailing and canoeing.

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is a cosmopolitan city by the sea, with a proud Celtic heritage and rich and varied cultural scene. The surrounding areas offers some of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable, inhabited by wildlife including whales, seals, moose, deer and cranes.

Forest Lakes is situated just 30 minutes from central Halifax and 35 minutes from the city's international airport. Great connections (flying time from London is less than six hours) make Nova Scotia a popular tourist destination. Case in point is the number of international visitors jumped 29 percent from January to July 2014, compared with the same period in 2013, according to the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency.

In addition to plots, United Kingdom investors may purchase off-plan property at Forest Lakes via Savills, the exclusive U.K. marketing agent for Terra Firma. Properties range in price from $261,000 to $1.54 million.