Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert sits where the Skeena River meets the Pacific, and that geography tells you everything about why this port city matters. Canada’s closest port to Asia by 2.5 days sailing time means cargo flows through here like nowhere else on the north coast. The numbers back it up — nearly 23% of the workforce handles transportation and warehousing, making this one of BC’s most specialized economies.

The housing market reflects a community that’s found its groove. Single-detached homes make up 57% of the stock, while duplexes claim another 12.5%. That’s practical housing for a working port town where the median household income hits $95,000 — well above provincial averages for communities this size. The 0.7% population growth since 2016 suggests stability without the boom-bust cycles that plague resource towns.

What sets Prince Rupert apart isn’t just the port activity. This city gets 240 centimeters of rain annually, earning it the title of Canada’s wettest city. Yet that same maritime climate creates something remarkable — a Zone 8a growing environment where palm trees actually survive outdoors. The warming trend over recent decades has pushed the hardiness zone up by half a level, making gardens here more diverse than you’d expect at 54 degrees north latitude.

The cultural landscape runs deeper than most coastal towns. The Museum of Northern BC houses one of Canada’s finest collections of First Nations artifacts, while the Cow Bay district’s colorful buildings and seafood restaurants draw visitors year-round. Whale watching, sport fishing, and access to the Inside Passage keep tourism steady.

For mortgage brokers, Prince Rupert represents opportunity in a market others overlook. Our 60% maximum LTV reflects the community’s solid fundamentals — steady employment, reasonable property values, and geographic advantages that won’t disappear. The port’s expansion plans and container traffic growth suggest this northern gateway isn’t slowing down anytime soon.