Qualicum Beach

The retirees figured it out first. With a median age of 67.5 years and over half the population enjoying their golden years, Qualicum Beach has become Vancouver Island’s answer to the question: “Where would you go if you could live anywhere?”

The answer makes perfect sense once you see the numbers. Single-detached homes dominate at 79.3% of the housing stock, creating neighborhoods where privacy meets community. The oceanfront location delivers that rare combination of stunning beaches and the kind of mild climate that lets you golf year-round while your former neighbors back east are scraping ice off their windshields.

What’s particularly clever about Qualicum Beach’s evolution is how it’s avoided the retirement community trap of becoming economically one-dimensional. Healthcare leads employment at 14.8%, but retail, professional services, and construction each claim over 11% of the workforce. This diversity creates stability that goes beyond seasonal tourism or single-industry dependence.

The proximity to Nanaimo — just 30 minutes away — means residents get small-town charm with big-city access when needed. Yet Qualicum Beach maintains its own economic identity, anchored by attractions like the world-renowned Milner Gardens & Woodland, which draws visitors year-round to its 70-acre botanical paradise.

Property values here reflect what happens when limited oceanfront real estate meets consistent demand from buyers who’ve done their homework on Island living. The combination of natural beauty, cultural amenities, and that enviable Island lifestyle creates the kind of market stability that makes lending decisions straightforward.

Tekamar offers mortgage products in Qualicum Beach with a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 60%, recognizing both the community’s exceptional appeal and the reliable market demand that comes with being a destination people actively choose rather than simply end up in.