Joel Tansey/Black Press
Even if you’re not in the real estate market, it’s worth your while to stop in at Dockside Realty’s recently opened Sidney location.
And if you are looking for a new house, you might just find some art work that’ll turn it into a home.
The realty group’s small but welcoming space features a variety of art from local artists and the gallery has already been featured in the ArtSea Festival. This weekend, the office will be a stop on the Saanich Peninsula Studio Tour, featuring work from Sandy Shreve and Andrea Spalding.
While the Sidney location opened on Sept. 1, Dockside Realty has been an independently owned, family-run operation since 2006 with branches on Pender Island and Saturna Island.
“What we feel is kind of our niche market is the fact that we’re from the Gulf Islands and we offer a link between our Gulf Island clients and our Victoria and Saanich Peninsula clients,” said realtor Suzy Jack.
Being a family-run operation is part of what she hopes prospective clients will find attractive.
“We’re very community-oriented…we care about what’s going on and we’re very locally focused,” said Jack, whose cousins own the company, adding that Dockside is a member of the Chamber, the BIA and the local arts council.
“We want to be involved.”
It was co-owner Sherrie Boyte’s idea to include a small gallery within their Sidney office.
“It was an amazing vision, because they go together really well,” Jack said.
The art featured in their Second Street office will change on a rotating basis, featuring mostly Peninsula and Gulf Island artists.
Jack says her office has a relaxed mentality towards the gallery, and that its simply a space that artists can use to display their work.
While the office may be new, Jack knows the Greater Victoria market well, having lived on both the West Shore and the Peninsula at various stages of her life.
Clearly, there are many reasons buyers are attracted to the Sidney market.
Its beautiful seaside location is an obvious selling point, but the market has more than just that to offer.
“It’s got a real village feel and you’re really close to Victoria without being in Victoria,” Jack said. “It is very much a family-oriented (place).”
Jack is already noticing that Sidney is an especially diverse market, with a range of options depending on buyer needs.
“You’ve got family areas, you’ve got the downtown core where you’re walking distance to everything, so a lot of condos, and you’ve got older areas and a lot of waterfront,” she said.
The market remains in high demand.
“There (aren’t) enough listings for the demand,” she said.
For more information on Dockside Realty, visit docksiderealty.ca.