There are a handful of different reasons why people decide that small-town living is right for them. Small towns and cities from across the country are seeing more and more residents make the transition from a big city to a small town. This begs the question - what are the benefits of living in a small town? Below we touch on 5 of the perks of small-town living.  >>" href="https://tnrdhomes.ca/ashcroft-south-west-bc-real-estate-for-sale/">View All Homes For Sale in Ashcroft, BC >>> 1. Lower Cost of Living One of the top benefits cited by residents moving to small towns is the overall cost of living. Not only is the rapidly increasing cost of real estate driving people from the large metropolis’, but other costs such as insurance, food and entertainment are also lower in small towns.  Home and rental insurance can be a fraction of the cost in a small town due to the lower number of violent crimes that occur in a less dense population.   According to zolo.ca, the average cost of real estate in Vancouver is just shy of $1.5 million, whereas a small town like Ashcroft, BC has a median value of around $230,000. Vancouver and Ashcroft are roughly 4 hours apart, but the difference is found in smaller, closer cities such as Kelowna, BC which is only 2.5 hours away and has an average real estate cost of over $800,000.  2. Tight-Knit Atmosphere Living in a small town like Ashcroft, BC, can be a big transition, especially for someone coming from a large city but there are a plethora of reasons the residents have chosen to stay here which include the tight-knit atmosphere that comes along with it. You can go to the downtown tea shop with a girlfriend and see a good chunk of neighbourhood friends there; your two-person table has just become five.  The popular bakery in Ashcroft for example, everyone in town knows that this is the place to get all your baked goods, whether it be for your morning breakfast or a child's birthday party. One thing these small towns will have in common is that everyone is close and you can always count on your friendly neighbour. This can have a positive impact on many people in the community. If someone falls ill, everyone will know about it and they will want to come together and do everything they can to help their fellow neighbour. A first-time mother will more than likely receive enough food to last a lifetime when she comes from the hospital. If you paint your garage, everyone will take notice, and be sure to give you all the compliments you deserve.  Going into your favourite restaurant and having the staff know you so well, they probably wouldn’t need to give you a menu, they know exactly what you are about to order.     3. Calming  Waking up to the sound of birds instead of heavy traffic and sirens is much more calming and has a tranquil vibe to it. This is probably why you will often see residents sitting outside enjoying their fresh cups of coffee and enjoying the morning sun. The same can be seen during the evening hours. Individuals sit under the stars which is because of the decreased light pollution unlike its metro city neighbours as well as the lack of skyscrapers and tall buildings.   The same goes to say for peaceful activities such as yoga, or meditation. You can easily go to a park and do these good soul exercises and activities, but it is more peaceful when you don’t have a plethora of people around, with excess noise; a true serenity moment. More benefits of a calming environment include extra time for your family and friends and more importantly yourself. Not everyone is in a hurry and can really enjoy and live in the moment.    Related Post: The 10 Best Small Towns To Live In BC 4. Tradition focused  If you have lived in a Metropolitan area, you have probably travelled for big traditional celebrations such as the Canada Day Parade that runs down the main street in the closest small town to you. Maybe your favourite little beach town hosts its annual ice cream festival, or arts and crafts show. Another thing small towns are great for is annual fairs! The members of the community live for their annual traditions that catch the attention of many city-goers, the only difference is that they don’t have to travel to join in on the fun. All these celebrations are also a great way for the town to make money, and for the community to come together and enjoy each other's company while making friends with the visitors.  5. Nature Big cities become their large size due to the forestry being torn down at some point in history to make more homes. While driving through a small town, you will notice the gorgeous open fields along the highway. If you are visiting or moving in, and check out your new town’s website, you will find a plethora of walking trails and parks. Enjoy the views of the mountains, lakes, ocean, and the perks that come with being surrounded by some of nature's finest offerings.  Living in the breathtaking surroundings of mountains, oceans and more allows more time for fishing, hiking, water activities, snowboarding and more! Nature, being close friends with your neighbours, and knowing the hottest spots for your favourite cup of tea served by your favourite barista are just some of the reasons you will love living in a small town. If you decide to make a home in a favourite small town, we hope you enjoy it and the many perks that come with it!   

  Ashcroft is a charming village near Kamloops, BC. It’s a relaxed and affordable village with a rural atmosphere, but it is close to large urban centers. If you’re looking to hire the best realtor in Ashcroft, you want to ensure they tick off the boxes on the following list.  How well do they know Ashcroft? Are they tech-savvy? How much experience do they have? What are their reviews like? Set up a meeting What are their current listings like? How well do they know Ashcroft? Ashcroft is well-known by people who reside there, but many realtors from surrounding areas likely consider Ashcroft part of their service area. You may find plenty of Kamloops realtors who say they specialize in Ashcroft when they may not know a lot about the community. Whenever you’re searching for a realtor, it’s essential for them to know what the community is like to provide you with information about amenities, events, schools, nearby businesses, and what it’s like to live in the area.  If you have questions about life in Ashcroft, they should be able to confidently answer your every concern or have a way to find out for you. Suppose you’re a young professional, or you’re raising a young family, or you’re looking to retire. In that case, your Ashcroft realtor should know exactly which areas of the village are best suited to your lifestyle and what you’re looking for. Likewise, if you’re selling your Ashcroft home, you want a realtor who knows the best price you can get for the area you live in and the condition of your home.  Are they tech-savvy? While Ashcroft is a slower-paced village, your realtor should be able to utilize digital marketing techniques and traditional marketing techniques. In fact, they likely know what works best for the area if they’re experienced and familiar with Ashcroft.  Do they have a presence on social media? When selling, you want your property to be listed online and marketed on social media, and they should know how to target your ideal buyer through online ads. Do they know how to utilize online document signing? Are they utilizing a professional photographer for photos? How quickly can you reach them during office hours?  These are all questions that you should decide whether or not they are dealbreakers for you. You want someone who is easy to communicate with, who has some urgency in responding to you and who can utilize all the free tools at their disposal. When it comes to buying a home, you want to have a realtor who is connected. Any new or available property that meets your needs should come your way quickly, so you have a chance to view it and potentially put in an offer if you love it.  Related Post: Moving To and Living in Ashcroft, BC How much experience do they have? When you’re hiring someone to help you make the biggest purchase of your life or sell a home that you deeply care about, you want someone who knows what they’re doing. A professional who has been in the business for a while will make the process of buying or selling your home seamless and without any added stress.  The real estate market in Ashcroft can be competitive due to the small population and small inventory of homes, so you want to be able to ensure you’re going to find a property you like. If they work and live in Ashcroft and have been doing business for a long time, you’re in good hands. Having a long-standing business also means that they have plenty of connections to companies that will handle your mortgage, home inspection, insurance, and more.  What are their reviews like? Since Ashcroft is a small and close-knit community, you may be able to find a realtor through word-of-mouth rather than scouring through online reviews. However, checking out online reviews on Google, Facebook, or Yelp can help you determine whether or not you’d like to work with someone. You likely won’t find a realtor with perfect scores across the board, as it’s challenging to have a perfect track record, but you’ll be able to determine from the reviews if you’d like to set up a meeting with them.  Set up a meeting Suppose you find a couple of realtors you think you may like to work with. In that case, it’s definitely worth your time to set up an in-person meeting to determine if what you see online or have been told about by friends is who you’d like to work with. Picking a realtor you really like, who communicates well, and who you get along with can help make the process a lot less stressful.  Selling your home and finding a new home can be overwhelming, especially if the timelines don’t match. You’ll want to have someone on your team that can help ease some of that stress. When purchasing your Ashcroft home, you want someone who really hears what you want in a property and doesn’t continue to send you properties that don’t meet any of your needs or wants. Once you meet a few realtors in person, you can trust your gut and go with the one you jive with the best.  What are their current listings like? By looking at their current listings, you can see what they specialize in and what they’re comfortable selling. You can check their recently sold listings to see how long homes were on the market before selling. If they use social media, you can see how they advertise other listings, what kind of response the posts are getting, and how they interact with users that engage with their content. If they have open houses scheduled, you could always stop in, say hello, and see how they are on the job.  When it comes to choosing your Ashcroft realtor, you can use these techniques to find someone experienced, who you’re comfortable working with, who will help you buy or sell your Ashcroft home with ease.