Bowen Island

Bowen Island represents everything that makes mortgage lending tricky in British Columbia’s most desirable communities. This 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay delivers you to what locals call “the happy isle” — a place where $111,000 median household incomes meet million-dollar waterfront dreams and 89% single-family homes create a housing market that’s both coveted and complex.

The island’s 4,256 residents aren’t your typical BC small-town demographic. With 51% holding bachelor’s degrees or higher and professional services dominating the employment landscape, Bowen Island attracts the kind of educated, affluent buyers who can afford the ferry commute to Vancouver jobs. The median age of 50 tells the real story: this is where successful professionals land when they’re ready to trade city convenience for hiking trails that end at secluded beaches.

Our maximum loan-to-value ratio for Bowen Island is 0% — we don’t lend here, and the numbers explain why. When your nearest courthouse is a ferry ride away and your property recovery timeline includes BC Ferries schedules, even the most equity-rich deals become logistical puzzles that don’t align with our investment safety requirements.

The island’s appeal is undeniable. Killarney Lake offers swimming and fishing minutes from your door, while the ferry terminal connects you to Vancouver’s job market. Local businesses like the Bowen Island Brewing Company and Doc Morgan’s Restaurant create the kind of community gathering spots that maintain property values through economic ups and downs. The 15.7% population growth since 2016 proves people want to live here — they’re just paying cash or working with Vancouver-based lenders who specialize in island properties.

For brokers with Bowen Island clients, we’re happy to discuss mainland alternatives that offer similar lifestyle benefits with more straightforward lending logistics.