With its mild Mediterranean climate, thriving arts community and jaw-dropping coastal backdrop, Victoria is a magnet for worker bees, young families and empty-nesters alike. And with numerous new condominium projects in the works, there are plenty of ways to embrace condo living to its fullest.

Love your location

Victoria is supremely walkable, especially the downtown, where restaurants and theatres rub shoulders with the comings and goings of a busy working harbour. “The climate is better for us,” says Bob Kingsep, a semi-retired Calgary business owner who, with his wife Annette, is planning a permanent move to Victoria in the fall. “The older we get, the less we like the minus temperatures.” For the Kingseps, the lure of living just across the Blue Bridge, in close proximity to a wide range of services, is strong. “We have medical offices, shopping, recreation and entertainment all within a few blocks,” says Bob. Moving to a condominium offers a chance to leave the car-bound burbs behind. “We lived in Broadmead, and if you needed parsley, you had to get in the car,” says Wendy Pryde, who for the past seven years has worked as a sales associate with local condo developers. Part of her job is sharing with potential buyers the delights she and her husband have found after shutting up shop in their 3500-square-foot home and making the leap to a two-bedroom condo downtown. Victoria has a rich selection of new condominiums in the downtown area, making it easy for you to transition to a much less car-dependent existence. For the Prydes, who enjoy cultural events as well as dining out frequently, there’s no comparison. “Now we have only one car and if we can’t walk there,” says Wendy, “we don’t go. It’s a fabulous lifestyle. The other night we went out for dinner to Union club and on our way home, we ran into other people we know and went out for drinks. We walked home at one thirty in the morning!” Local upholsterer Jeff Rooke is excited about his move to a one-bedroom on Promontory’s seventeenth floor. He is also looking forward to the proximity to entertainment and lifestyle that a downtown location brings. “I’m single, for a start,” says Rooke. “I didn’t want to deal with being stuck out with all the families. Downtown is the place to be.”

The dish on downsizing

When you live in a condominium, you have half the space to do twice as much work. Figure out ways to double up on space usage. Use under-bed areas for storage. Layer your bookshelves; you can get cubby-style shelves that are deep enough even for three rows. And take a good, hard look at what your space needs are. When Pryde and her husband first downsized into a two-bedroom, they found that they only used the guest bedroom about fifteen times a year. “You’re paying for all this square footage,” says Pryde, who says they’ll use their second bedroom differently with their next move, to The Sovereign. “The second bedroom will have a murphy bed, and I paint, so we’ll keep art supplies and my easel in there.” Consider the type of furnishings you’ll need, too: condo furniture tends to be on a different scale than furniture made for larger homes. When the Prydes packed up their house, they took a bed and their clothes – and called Kilshaws Auctioneers to come and take care of the rest. Jeff Rooke will move in next spring with a mattress and a six-pack of beer; he needs to live in the space awhile to see what it needs. And the Kingseps are in the process of offloading 45 years’ worth of goods. “We’re taking very little with us,” says Bob. “Everything will be disposed of here.” Talk about a great cleanse.

Worried about strata woes?

If being part of a strata makes you shiver, ask questions. Remember, strata councils comprise numerous people, many of whom bring to the table years of experience dealing with committees. Getting involved is one way to have your views heard. “We’re on the council of everything we own,” says Pryde, who with her husband Howard owns several other condominium properties. “This is our money and we don’t take it lightly.” Although there might be different personalities, Pryde says, “a well-run strata that’s managed by a reputable company handles all complaints in a professional way.” And besides, rules are a part of life: Pryde points out that even Broadmead has residential restrictions that dictate roof styles, house colours and where you can park your RV. Concerned about sharing walls? Modern condo design is such that noise and space-sharing considerations are top of mind. For Rooke, he knew he wanted steel and concrete walls. Offset balconies, exterior doors and windows also do the trick to keep your space feeling private. Ask your developer how their construction will help keep your peace of mind.

Look honey, no lawnmower!

For the Kingseps, who take a few trips a year, the lure of the lock-it-and-go way of life is irresistible. “It’s time to get into something more maintenance-free,” says Bob. In a condo, there’s no yard to edge, no snow to shovel, no eaves to clean. Sure, you’re giving up your greenspace – but with it, you’re also saying sayonara to time-gobbling lawn and garden maintenance (or the big bill you pay to have someone else deal with the headache). “Neither of us are gardeners,” says Annette Kingsep. “We don’t want exterior maintenance. And I’m tired of cleaning a large house!” Ah, the cleaning. That, too. It’s one of the things Jeff Rooke is most pleased about with his new 520-square-foot space. “It’s an easier space to keep clean,” he says. And while Rooke says he’ll miss sitting in his back garden, he’ll soon be enjoying the view from his balcony that overlooks the city. “Besides, there’s loads of space outside,” says Rooke. “You have to give up something to get something.”