Port McNeill

Port McNeill sits at the northern tip of Vancouver Island where the forest meets the sea, and that geography tells you everything about why people choose to call this place home. The town serves as the unofficial gateway to the Broughton Archipelago, which means residents wake up to some of the best whale watching on the planet right from their doorstep.

What makes Port McNeill particularly interesting from a lending perspective is its economic foundation. Nearly one in five residents works in forestry, fishing, or hunting — industries that create steady, asset-rich borrowers who understand the value of equity but don’t always fit traditional lending boxes. These are folks who own property, equipment, and boats but whose income flows don’t match what big banks want to see on paper.

The housing market here reflects the community’s practical nature: 72% single-detached homes dominate the landscape, with a median household income of $87,000 that’s surprisingly robust for a town of 2,356. That income stability, combined with the area’s natural barriers to overdevelopment, creates a lending environment where property values remain grounded in reality rather than speculation.

Telegraph Cove sits just minutes away, drawing tourists year-round to see orcas and grizzly bears in their natural habitat. This proximity means Port McNeill properties benefit from tourism spillover without the volatility that comes with being a tourist town itself. Residents get the best of both worlds: a genuine working community with access to world-class natural attractions.

Tekamar lends in Port McNeill with a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 55%, reflecting both the community’s stability and the practical realities of the northern Vancouver Island market. For brokers working with clients who have equity but need flexible qualification criteria, Port McNeill represents exactly the kind of opportunity where our lending approach makes sense.