Michael's First Choice
Even though Michael sells a lot of real estate in Vancouver, he has chosen to live and raise his family in the seaside community of Belcarra since 1992.  The tranquil waterfront lifestyle that Belcarra offers is the perfect antidote for that 'hard day at the office' urban stress of the big city.  

Most of Belcarra's homes are oceanfront properties boasting large lots and private docks with deep water moorage.  The boating possibilities are endless on the sheltered waters of Indian Arm and the quiet rural lifestyle of Belcarra is unparalleled in the Vancouver region.  Limited to only 800 residents and totally surrounded by regional parks, Belcarra truly is the jewel of the Lower Mainland.

Prices for homes in Belcarra range from under $500,000 for a modest home overlooking the ocean to $3,000,000 plus for the ultimate waterfront estate.

"The Lower Mainland's Best Kept Secret"

The Village of Belcarra,incorporated on August 22, 1979, is a rural residential community situated on the east side of Indian Arm in the Northeast Sector of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). Belcarra is located 28 kilometers (18 miles) from downtown Vancouver, with a travel time by car of 45 minutes. Vancouver International Airport is within 35 kilometers (22 miles), with a travel time under 60 minutes.

Epitomizing the relaxed West Coast lifestyle, this well wooded residential community which overlooks the magnificent North Shore mountains and the picturesque waters of Indian Arm (which includes Bedwell Bay, Belcarra Bay, Cosy Cove, Whiskey Cove, Farrer Cove & Twin Islands). Belcarra enjoys a superb natural setting providing residents and visitors alike with ample opportunity to enjoy a wide range of land and water based recreational activities. The Village, in some respects, can be described an "island community" in that it is surrounded by either water or Belcarra Regional Park.

The current population is 700, and has been growing steadily at a rate of about 4.5 percent per year since 1976. The population is expected to peak at approximately 800. Belcarra's residential development pattern roughly parallels its two main arterial roads: Bedwell Bay Road and Belcarra Bay Road (see road map). Most of this development is oriented to the water and mountain views and natural setting characteristic of the area, and the majority of dwellings are single family units. The prices of these dwellings are at the higher end of the GVRD residential market and reflects the spectacular setting and rural nature of the community. Belcarra is a friendly and cooperative community whose household incomes are amongst the highest of any municipality in the Vancouver region. On the other hand, property taxes are low compared with those in neighbouring municipalities. The Village Council is strongly committed to keeping public costs to a minimum and maintaining the unique rural setting of the municipality.

Conceived in the 1966 plan for Regional Parks on the Lower Mainland, Belcarra Regional Park ranked among the top few sites when compared to all existing and proposed regional recreation areas. Much of the park lies within the boundaries of the Village of Belcarra. Today, it is a major attraction for residents and visitors alike, offering a rare combination of ocean shore, inland lake and forested hills. Complete with the accessible and attractive public beaches, picnic areas, camp grounds and waterfront parking. The shore, wharves and floats at the Belcarra picnic grounds provide a staging area for the increasing number of recreational boaters traveling up the fjord-like waters of Indian Arm. Administered by the GVRD Parks Department, Belcarra Regional Park is one of the largest (twice the size of Stanley Park) and most visited parks (900,000 visitors in 1996) in the GVRD park system.

Belcarra is part of School District 43, with the nearest schools being Anmore Elementary School (located in the Village of Anmore), Moody Middle School and Port Moody Senior Secondary School (located in the City of Port Moody), all being within fifteen minutes drive of the Village. A local shopping centre is situated at the intersection of Heritage Mountain Boulevard and Ioco Road in Port Moody, and the large regional shopping facility, Coquitlam Centre, is also within fifteen minutes drive. Hospital facilities are located at Eagle Ridge Hospital on Guildford Way in Port Moody and includes 24-hour emergency service.

The Village provides minimal services to its residents such as road maintenance and a garbage compactor and recycling depot. Water and sewer are the responsibility of individual property owners who are required to provide wells and septic tank disposal fields that meet the requirements of the local health authority (Simon Fraser Health Unit of the BC Ministry of Health). Electricity is supplied by BC Hydro, telephone is supplied by BC Tel, and the area is also serviced by cable vision (Rogers) and natural gas (BC Gas). Fire protection is provided by the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) which is a function shared jointly with neighbouring Village of Anmore. Policing is provided by the Coquitlam RCMP Detachment, and Belcarra enjoys 100% participation in neighbourhood Block Watch.

The goal of Belcarra Council is to maintain a high quality, rural residential environment with as little disturbance as possible to the rich, natural setting which makes this unique area one of the Lower Mainland's most desirable communities.