As a soon-to-be certified Canadian citizen...

[grasswire]

...under the law effective April 2009, I'm dreaming of the possibility of buying a piece of land Up There. Now, my grandparents homesteaded in south central Saskatchewan but I think I'd like to be to the west of the Rockies. Does anyone here have any suggestions for places to look for a modestly priced small-town property? I assume that parts of British Columbia are simply high priced.

[daleo]

1. Okanagan's pretty expensive

So's a lot of the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. I think the Kooteneys aren't so bad, but it depends on how isolated you want to be. I have found Trail to be an interesting place, though the smelter there would put a lot of people off. Maybe I have just been lucky on my visits there.

The area around Princeton is also quite interesting. Prices may have gone up there over the past few years though.

[tuvor]

2. Not sure what modestly-priced is to you, but...

...in my area, the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, the average house is just a bit over $300K, while in Victoria, it's over $500K.

Maybe this link will help.

http://homes.point2.com/CA/British-Columbia-Real-Estate.aspx

Oh, and congratulations!