| Boomtown Nanaimo, British Columbia, is currently | | | | you could ask for, from the big box stores of |
| one of the hottest housing markets in Canada. | | | | North Nanaimo to intimate boutiques and cafes |
| Baby boomers all across the country are casting | | | | downtown. |
| their aging eyes west in their quest for a | | | | Nanaimo is well connected. BC Ferries runs large |
| retirement haven, and the many advantages of | | | | car ferries from Nanaimo to Vancouver every |
| Nanaimo, BC, are becoming known. | | | | couple of hours, and seaplanes are constantly |
| First off, there's the mild climate moderated by | | | | coming and going on their way to/from |
| warm Pacific currents arriving from Japan. | | | | downtown Vancouver or Vancouver International |
| Nanaimo only gets a couple of weeks of snow a | | | | Airport. Nanaimo also has a regular airport south |
| year, quite a contrast to central and eastern | | | | of town and you can get a free extension to |
| Canada which can be snowed in from December | | | | Nanaimo on many Air Canada tickets to |
| to April. There's enough rain to keep the city's | | | | Vancouver. |
| gardens and parks lush and green, but plenty of | | | | Another great attraction for snowbird retirees is |
| clear, dry days for outdoor enthusiasts | | | | the fact that Nanaimo real estate is still affordable. |
| throughout the year. | | | | Housing prices have increased 50 percent in |
| Nanaimo isn't a big city - under 100,000 - so | | | | recent years, but you can still purchase real |
| traffic jams are the exception, and there's still | | | | estate here for about half which comparable |
| free parking downtown. As the main service | | | | properties would cost in Vancouver. Nanaimo |
| center for the upper two-thirds of Vancouver | | | | Realty, Remax Nanaimo, and Coast Realty |
| Island, the City of Nanaimo has all the services | | | | Nanaimo can tell you more. |