Should I Buy a Retirement Property in the Interlakes Before I Retire?
If you’re living in the Lower Mainland and thinking about retiring somewhere quieter, there’s a good chance the Interlakes area has crossed your mind.
And the question I hear all the time is:
“Should we buy now… or wait until we’re ready to move full-time?”
Short answer?
For a lot of people, buying before you retire actually makes more sense.
But it depends on how you approach it.
Why So Many Buyers Are Thinking About This Right Now
Most of the couples I work with are 2–10 years away from retirement.
They’re:
Tired of traffic and noise
Wanting more space and privacy
Starting to picture what their next chapter looks like
But they’re also cautious.
Because buying rural property isn’t the same as buying in the city.
There are more unknowns:
Will it work year-round?
Is the road access good enough?
What’s the area actually like outside of summer?
That’s where people get stuck.
The Big Advantage of Buying Before You Retire
When you buy early, you’re not rushing a major life decision.
You have time to:
1. Learn the area properly
The Interlakes isn’t one uniform place.
Different lakes and areas feel completely different.
Some are better for:
Quiet retirement living
Year-round access
Community feel
Others are more seasonal or remote.
When you buy early, you can figure out what actually fits you — not just what looks good online.
2. Use the property before you move full-time
A lot of my clients don’t just buy and wait.
They:
Spend weekends there
Take extended stays in the summer
Start building routines in the area
It becomes part of their life before retirement.
Not just a future plan.
3. Avoid rushed or emotional decisions later
I’ve seen this go both ways.
Some buyers wait until they’re fully ready to move…
Then feel pressure to:
Find something quickly
Compromise on location
Settle just to “get it done”
Buying earlier gives you space to make a better decision.
When It Might Make Sense to Wait
Buying early isn’t always the right move.
You might want to wait if:
You haven’t thought through what you actually want yet
Your timeline is very uncertain
You’re not comfortable carrying a second property
The key is not rushing either way.
It’s about having a plan.
What Most Buyers Get Wrong
This is the part that trips people up.
A lot of buyers start like this:
→ Scroll listings
→ See something nice
→ Drive up for a weekend
→ Try to figure it out on the fly
And it feels confusing fast.
Because listings don’t tell you things like:
What the road is like in spring
How usable the land really is
Whether the area fits your lifestyle long-term
That’s where mistakes happen.
A Quick Real Example
I worked with a couple from the Fraser Valley who were about 5 years out from retirement.
They originally thought they wanted one specific lake because it looked great online.
After spending some time looking at the area properly, we realized:
The access didn’t fit how often they wanted to come up
The layout of the property didn’t work for future plans
Another nearby area actually suited them much better
They ended up buying something completely different than what they first had in mind.
And now they’re using it regularly and feel confident about their long-term plan.
That’s the difference between guessing and understanding.
How I Help Buyers Make This Decision
I’m Amanda Oldfield, a real estate agent in the Interlakes and Bridge Lake area, and I work mostly with Lower Mainland buyers who are planning their move into this lifestyle.
The biggest thing I focus on is removing the guesswork.
Instead of just sending listings, I help you:
Narrow down the right lakes and areas
Understand road access and year-round use
Look at properties based on how you’ll actually use them
Think through both your “now” plan and your retirement plan
So you’re not just buying something that looks good…
You’re buying something that actually works.
So… Should You Buy Before You Retire?
For a lot of people, yes.
But not blindly.
The right approach is:
Get clear on how you want to use the property
Understand the area before you commit
Take your time choosing the right fit
When you do that, buying early can make the whole transition into retirement a lot smoother.
Next Step
If you’re starting to think about buying in the Interlakes — even if you’re a few years out — that’s actually the best time to have the conversation.
No pressure.
Just clarity.
You can:
Reach out with questions
Send me a listing you’re considering
Or ask about different lakes and areas
I’m happy to help you sort through it so you can make a smart move when the time’s right.
Amanda Oldfield
Real Estate Agent – Interlakes & Bridge Lake, BC
Helping Lower Mainland buyers find the right property for now and retirement later
Amanda Oldfield Realtor - Exp Realty96 Hwy 97, 100 Mile House, BC250-318-5202
