November 28, 2024 • 10 mins
Discover the real Fernie lifestyle in Episode #44 of The Property Mindset Podcast. Join host Phil Gadd as he explores the pros and cons of living in this picturesque mountain town. From the unparalleled outdoor lifestyle and vibrant community events to the challenges of remote living, Phil shares valuable insights for those considering a move to Fernie, BC.
In This Episode:
- Living in Fernie: Pros and Cons – Understand what makes this mountain town unique, from world-class skiing to strong community ties.
- Outdoor Lifestyle – Learn why Fernie is a haven for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and mountain bikers.
- Community & Events – Explore the vibrant local culture, including Griz Days, summer concert series, and more.
- Challenges of Remote Living – Consider the realities of long winters, high costs, and adjusting to small-town life.
- Real Estate and Cost of Living – Get the latest on Fernie’s real estate market and what it takes to call this town home.
- Phil’s Personal Journey – Hear Phil’s story of moving to Fernie from the UK and starting a family and business here.
If you’re curious about life in Fernie or considering making the move, this episode is packed with the information you need to decide if Fernie is right for you.
🔗 For personalized real estate advice or to start your Fernie property journey, book a call today
👉 Schedule a consultation with Phil today
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more real estate insights and Fernie lifestyle tips!
Show Sponsor: First Tracks Real Estate Group - eXp Luxury
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Did you know, That Ferniereceives an average of 30 feet
(00:04):
of snowfall every year.
For me as an avid snowboarder.
I'm in paradise.
But it's not all about the snow.
Fernie is an outdoor playgroundwith a lifestyle, all of its
own.
So is Fernie worth all the hype.
And is it the right place foryou?
Welcome to the property mindsetpodcast, where we explore
(00:24):
everything real estate frommarket trends to practical
strategies for success.
Whether you're a buyer or selleror an inspiring investor, a
seasoned professional, or simplysomeone who loves real estate.
This podcast is for you.
Welcome back to the propertymindset podcast, where we
explore real estate, lifestyleand community, mostly here in
(00:46):
Fernie, BC.
I'm your host, Phil GAD.
today we're taking a deep diveinto the pros and cons of living
in Fernie, BC.
Fernie is a small mountain townnestled here in the Rockies, and
it's gained a reputation as aparadise for mountain.
And outdoor lovers from allcascade.
Skiing.
to, amazing mountain biketrails, beautiful hiking trails.
(01:08):
Fernie has become a populardestination for those seeking
adventure and a slower pace oflife, but like any place living
here has its realities.
that go beyond the picture.
Perfect views.
So let's get into what makesphony, such a unique place to
call home and what you shouldknow before making the move
(01:29):
here.
(02:14):
let's start with what draws somany people to Fernie outdoor
lifestyle.
If you're into skiing orsnowboarding, Fernie, Alpine
resort has some of the bestpowder skiing in north America.
The slopes are right at yourfingertips.
And the ski culture here isreal.
come spring and summer.
Those same mountains, transforminto some amazing biking and
(02:38):
hiking trails, giving youendless ways to explore.
Fernie.
beyond the natural attractions,we have amazing local events and
festivals.
Throughout the year.
Making the community feelvibrant all year round from the
Wednesday social.
summer concert series rightdowntown, which is amazing.
(02:59):
I remember about seven or eightyears ago.
Cause I live right on downtown.
They started doing these eventsand that'd be like myself and a
couple of other people there.
and now hundreds of people comedown on a Wednesday to listen to
some amazing music.
the long standing Walker T musicfestival.
every August here in Fernie andthe annual Gris days, a winter.
(03:21):
The celebration of winter.
Named after Fern is mythical.
Snow.
God.
You'll find a strong sense ofcommunity here in Fernie.
But there's also a few myths andmisconceptions about Fernie.
people think it's all serenemountain living, but in truth,
Fernie can be quite a busycheers town at peak seasons.
(03:42):
you find it difficult to getinto some of the restaurants
and, you know, locals.
Typically don't go out to eat atcertain times a year because
they know it's just going to becrazy mayhem.
while the outdoor lifestyle isappealing, it's not for
everyone.
We have some super heavy wintershere can get, can get cold.
(04:03):
And the remote living meanyou're really want to love.
The mountain lifestyle.
If you're thinking of stayinghere.
year round.
So my story, what, why did I endup here?
So you probably can tell from myaccent that, I'm, not a, a true
Canadian, well, say a trueCanadian.
I'm a Canadian citizen.
but we are immigrants.
(04:24):
We immigrated from the UK in2009 with two small kids.
my oldest was two and a half andmy middle daughter Millie was
one.
we added an additional daughter.
She Asia, I am Gus was born herein 2010.
the kids have grown up here.
and that was honestly one of thebiggest reasons why we made the
move.
(04:45):
for the kids to have an amazing.
upbringing in an amazing settingand community.
the selfish reasons of, youknow, I love snowboarding and
mountain biking.
we came in 2009.
We started a business.
we started the loaf bakery.
we opened that in December,2009.
that business evolved from beinga bakery and art sound bakery to
(05:08):
a restaurant.
we sold it last year, as a barrestaurant.
we went there the other day, thelady that bought it Sonya.
very graciously and kindlyinvited us back down for dinner
a couple of weeks ago.
And we went for my birthday.
And it was amazing.
So if you are looking for anamazing place to eat, this
(05:29):
winter, go check out the loaf onsecond avenue.
but you know, living in Fernie,wasn't always, plain sailing
there was a very bleak point inthe business around 2014, 15
that, we almost shut the doors.
I'll be honest with you.
It took me a long time to adjustbecause we, my.
Myself and my wife, we lived inLondon for a long time.
(05:51):
we did move out, to a very ruralplace in the UK before we moved
here.
But coming to Fernie, theremoteness took me a while to
get used to it.
So.
You know, when, when you areconsidering moving here,
something to really bear in mindbecause, it is something that
takes a while.
to adjust to.
Like I mentioned, there arehighs and lows, for every moment
(06:11):
spent, on the mountain.
there are the realities of thelong cold winters and snow isn't
measured in inches here.
It's measured in feet.
So I think on average, we getaround 30 feet of snow every
year.
if you're not prepared forshoveling, icy roads and all the
other winter maintenance, Theseason can feel pretty long and
(06:32):
cold and gray.
The cost of living is anotherchallenge here.
To be honest, a house priceshave risen significantly, in the
last few years.
And if, uh, this is a good pointhere, if you want to get updated
every month with my monthlyreport, I highly recommend you
subscribe to this channel.
we'll put a link above my headwhere you can check some of the
(06:54):
previous ones out.
But the average.
Average cost of home in Fernieat the moment is around.
it was over 750,000.
A decent four bed.
single family home will easilyset you back.
Well, over a million dollars.
And there's not a ton of jobshere, to be honest.
Covert definitely helped.
(07:15):
not more people are working fromhome, but one of the reasons I
decided to get into real estate.
we were running the restaurantat the time, but we needed.
more income.
So I looked around and I'mprobably a little bit old to
train for dentist, a doctor.
so I I'm good at selling.
I'm good at.
helping people, that's a bigthing of what I do.
I looked at real estate and,this year we're going to
(07:36):
probably help around 40 peoplebuy and sell, properties in
Fernie.
that's one of the reasons why Iended up in real estate because
there isn't a lot of jobs.
if you don't want to work in themines or tourism, You know,
you're going to have to becommuting maybe to Calgary.
every, every week for work.
groceries and essentials can bepricier here.
(07:56):
which comes with living in amore, remote mountain location.
And all those Fernie has a superstrong sense of community
adjusting to a small town.
Pace can take time.
Like I mentioned, especially ifyou're coming from a larger
city.
we don't have the big box storeshere.
And the choices for dining andshopping are limited.
(08:17):
Although we do have some amazingshops and restaurants here.
if you're used to all the,options in a big city, then, you
know, that could take some,getting easy.
for many.
these trade-offs are what.
makes Fernie so appealing theallure of Fernie.
You know, it's a small townliving.
So is Fernie worth all the hype.
(08:40):
well, in my opinion, if you'redrawn to the mountains, love the
active lifestyle.
And enjoy super close knitcommunity.
Then living in Fernie can feellike a dream come true.
It's a place where you can enjoynature's beauty.
every day, I pinch myself.
I honestly pinch myself everymorning.
I take the dog for a walk.
And I'm walking in amazingtrails.
(09:01):
Amazing forests.
Fernie is an amazing place tolive, but it is a place that
requires some adaptation and anappreciation for the unique
rhythm of mountain living.
At the end of the day, I'd sayFernie offers a lifestyle that's
genuinely rewarding for thosewho want it.
just make sure you're preparedand understand what living in a
(09:24):
remote mountain town entails.
It's not for everyone.
But for the right person.
Fernie can be truly amazing.
Thanks for tuning in food, theproperty mindset, podcast.
Hope you liked this insight intoFernie.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
have you experienced Ferny life?
Do you love living here?
(09:46):
are you thinking about movinghere?
Please share your thoughts andexperiences in the comments
below.
And don't forget to subscribe.
if you want more insights intoFernie.
And like I said, every month atthe beginning, the first week of
every month, It is my Ferniemarket report, where we do a
deep dive into all the stats.
surrounding real estate righthere in Fernie.
(10:07):
So until next time I am feelGAD, stay focused, stay
informed.
And keep building the propertymindset.
Did you know, That Ferniereceives an average of 30 feet
(00:04):
of snowfall every year.
For me as an avid snowboarder.
I'm in paradise.
But it's not all about the snow.
Fernie is an outdoor playgroundwith a lifestyle, all of its
own.
So is Fernie worth all the hype.
And is it the right place foryou?
Welcome to the property mindsetpodcast, where we explore
(00:24):
everything real estate frommarket trends to practical
strategies for success.
Whether you're a buyer or selleror an inspiring investor, a
seasoned professional, or simplysomeone who loves real estate.
This podcast is for you.
Welcome back to the propertymindset podcast, where we
explore real estate, lifestyleand community, mostly here in
(00:46):
Fernie, BC.
I'm your host, Phil GAD.
today we're taking a deep diveinto the pros and cons of living
in Fernie, BC.
Fernie is a small mountain townnestled here in the Rockies, and
it's gained a reputation as aparadise for mountain.
And outdoor lovers from allcascade.
Skiing.
to, amazing mountain biketrails, beautiful hiking trails.
(01:08):
Fernie has become a populardestination for those seeking
adventure and a slower pace oflife, but like any place living
here has its realities.
that go beyond the picture.
Perfect views.
So let's get into what makesphony, such a unique place to
call home and what you shouldknow before making the move
(01:29):
here.
(02:14):
let's start with what draws somany people to Fernie outdoor
lifestyle.
If you're into skiing orsnowboarding, Fernie, Alpine
resort has some of the bestpowder skiing in north America.
The slopes are right at yourfingertips.
And the ski culture here isreal.
come spring and summer.
Those same mountains, transforminto some amazing biking and
(02:38):
hiking trails, giving youendless ways to explore.
Fernie.
beyond the natural attractions,we have amazing local events and
festivals.
Throughout the year.
Making the community feelvibrant all year round from the
Wednesday social.
summer concert series rightdowntown, which is amazing.
(02:59):
I remember about seven or eightyears ago.
Cause I live right on downtown.
They started doing these eventsand that'd be like myself and a
couple of other people there.
and now hundreds of people comedown on a Wednesday to listen to
some amazing music.
the long standing Walker T musicfestival.
every August here in Fernie andthe annual Gris days, a winter.
(03:21):
The celebration of winter.
Named after Fern is mythical.
Snow.
God.
You'll find a strong sense ofcommunity here in Fernie.
But there's also a few myths andmisconceptions about Fernie.
people think it's all serenemountain living, but in truth,
Fernie can be quite a busycheers town at peak seasons.
(03:42):
you find it difficult to getinto some of the restaurants
and, you know, locals.
Typically don't go out to eat atcertain times a year because
they know it's just going to becrazy mayhem.
while the outdoor lifestyle isappealing, it's not for
everyone.
We have some super heavy wintershere can get, can get cold.
(04:03):
And the remote living meanyou're really want to love.
The mountain lifestyle.
If you're thinking of stayinghere.
year round.
So my story, what, why did I endup here?
So you probably can tell from myaccent that, I'm, not a, a true
Canadian, well, say a trueCanadian.
I'm a Canadian citizen.
but we are immigrants.
(04:24):
We immigrated from the UK in2009 with two small kids.
my oldest was two and a half andmy middle daughter Millie was
one.
we added an additional daughter.
She Asia, I am Gus was born herein 2010.
the kids have grown up here.
and that was honestly one of thebiggest reasons why we made the
move.
(04:45):
for the kids to have an amazing.
upbringing in an amazing settingand community.
the selfish reasons of, youknow, I love snowboarding and
mountain biking.
we came in 2009.
We started a business.
we started the loaf bakery.
we opened that in December,2009.
that business evolved from beinga bakery and art sound bakery to
(05:08):
a restaurant.
we sold it last year, as a barrestaurant.
we went there the other day, thelady that bought it Sonya.
very graciously and kindlyinvited us back down for dinner
a couple of weeks ago.
And we went for my birthday.
And it was amazing.
So if you are looking for anamazing place to eat, this
(05:29):
winter, go check out the loaf onsecond avenue.
but you know, living in Fernie,wasn't always, plain sailing
there was a very bleak point inthe business around 2014, 15
that, we almost shut the doors.
I'll be honest with you.
It took me a long time to adjustbecause we, my.
Myself and my wife, we lived inLondon for a long time.
(05:51):
we did move out, to a very ruralplace in the UK before we moved
here.
But coming to Fernie, theremoteness took me a while to
get used to it.
So.
You know, when, when you areconsidering moving here,
something to really bear in mindbecause, it is something that
takes a while.
to adjust to.
Like I mentioned, there arehighs and lows, for every moment
(06:11):
spent, on the mountain.
there are the realities of thelong cold winters and snow isn't
measured in inches here.
It's measured in feet.
So I think on average, we getaround 30 feet of snow every
year.
if you're not prepared forshoveling, icy roads and all the
other winter maintenance, Theseason can feel pretty long and
(06:32):
cold and gray.
The cost of living is anotherchallenge here.
To be honest, a house priceshave risen significantly, in the
last few years.
And if, uh, this is a good pointhere, if you want to get updated
every month with my monthlyreport, I highly recommend you
subscribe to this channel.
we'll put a link above my headwhere you can check some of the
(06:54):
previous ones out.
But the average.
Average cost of home in Fernieat the moment is around.
it was over 750,000.
A decent four bed.
single family home will easilyset you back.
Well, over a million dollars.
And there's not a ton of jobshere, to be honest.
Covert definitely helped.
(07:15):
not more people are working fromhome, but one of the reasons I
decided to get into real estate.
we were running the restaurantat the time, but we needed.
more income.
So I looked around and I'mprobably a little bit old to
train for dentist, a doctor.
so I I'm good at selling.
I'm good at.
helping people, that's a bigthing of what I do.
I looked at real estate and,this year we're going to
(07:36):
probably help around 40 peoplebuy and sell, properties in
Fernie.
that's one of the reasons why Iended up in real estate because
there isn't a lot of jobs.
if you don't want to work in themines or tourism, You know,
you're going to have to becommuting maybe to Calgary.
every, every week for work.
groceries and essentials can bepricier here.
(07:56):
which comes with living in amore, remote mountain location.
And all those Fernie has a superstrong sense of community
adjusting to a small town.
Pace can take time.
Like I mentioned, especially ifyou're coming from a larger
city.
we don't have the big box storeshere.
And the choices for dining andshopping are limited.
(08:17):
Although we do have some amazingshops and restaurants here.
if you're used to all the,options in a big city, then, you
know, that could take some,getting easy.
for many.
these trade-offs are what.
makes Fernie so appealing theallure of Fernie.
You know, it's a small townliving.
So is Fernie worth all the hype.
(08:40):
well, in my opinion, if you'redrawn to the mountains, love the
active lifestyle.
And enjoy super close knitcommunity.
Then living in Fernie can feellike a dream come true.
It's a place where you can enjoynature's beauty.
every day, I pinch myself.
I honestly pinch myself everymorning.
I take the dog for a walk.
And I'm walking in amazingtrails.
(09:01):
Amazing forests.
Fernie is an amazing place tolive, but it is a place that
requires some adaptation and anappreciation for the unique
rhythm of mountain living.
At the end of the day, I'd sayFernie offers a lifestyle that's
genuinely rewarding for thosewho want it.
just make sure you're preparedand understand what living in a
(09:24):
remote mountain town entails.
It's not for everyone.
But for the right person.
Fernie can be truly amazing.
Thanks for tuning in food, theproperty mindset, podcast.
Hope you liked this insight intoFernie.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
have you experienced Ferny life?
Do you love living here?
(09:46):
are you thinking about movinghere?
Please share your thoughts andexperiences in the comments
below.
And don't forget to subscribe.
if you want more insights intoFernie.
And like I said, every month atthe beginning, the first week of
every month, It is my Ferniemarket report, where we do a
deep dive into all the stats.
surrounding real estate righthere in Fernie.
(10:07):
So until next time I am feelGAD, stay focused, stay
informed.
And keep building the propertymindset.
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