Stewart

Stewart sits at the end of Highway 37A, where the road literally runs out of British Columbia and bumps into Alaska. This remote town of 517 people has carved out an existence in one of the province’s most dramatic locations — surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and the kind of wilderness that makes city folks nervous.

The numbers tell an interesting story. Stewart’s population jumped 28.9% since 2016, which is remarkable for a place where the nearest Tim Hortons is a four-hour drive away. That growth isn’t accidental. The town’s $84,000 median household income outpaces many larger communities, driven by mining, transportation, and construction work that pays well for those willing to embrace the isolation.

Here’s what makes Stewart different: it shares a border with Hyder, Alaska, creating the only place where you can walk from Canada to the United States without crossing a formal border checkpoint. The two towns function as one community split by an invisible line, with residents freely moving between countries for groceries, gas, or just because they can.

The housing market reflects Stewart’s unique position. Over 92% of homes are single-detached houses spread across 551 square kilometers, giving everyone plenty of space to store their snowmobiles, ATVs, and whatever else you need to survive in bear country. The Salmon Glacier, accessible by road and considered one of the most spectacular drives in North America, sits practically in residents’ backyard.

Stewart’s economy runs on boom-and-bust cycles tied to natural resources, but the 14% unemployment rate doesn’t tell the whole story. Many residents work seasonal contracts or fly out for work, returning to a place where the northern lights dance overhead and grizzly bears fish for salmon in town.

For mortgage financing in Stewart, Tekamar offers equity-based lending with a maximum 55% loan-to-value ratio. The conservative approach reflects the realities of selling property in a place where your nearest neighbor might be a glacier, but for those who understand Stewart’s appeal, it’s exactly that remoteness that makes it special.