Congratulations to my seller client! and also congratulations to the buyer of this incredible property! Sophie Gardner Team did a great job at representing the buyer. 

1416 Manzanita Rd, Cortes Island is now under contract! 

The Wolf Bluff Castle on Cortes Island is selling for $440,000 and comes with a house and workshop

A five-storey castle on Cortes Island, complete with a dungeon, medieval-style dining hall and three turrets, is on the market and priced lower than a two-storey house in Campbell River.

Cortes Island resident Karl Triller began building the Wolf Bluff Castle on Cortes Bay in 1990. He wanted to create a place that evoked memories of his childhood, said realtor Roman Krzaczek, who is running the sale. Today, it still stands but needs a buyer who is looking for a fixer-upper.  

After Triller's recent passing, his son put the unfinished castle up for sale last year. Krzaczek said he was drawn to the listing because of the story and person behind it. 

"Karl grew up in Hungary in a poor family with seven siblings," said Krzaczek. He noted that Triller must have been an interesting person, as locals have told stories about him wearing a crown and calling himself king of the castle. He also welcomed the community over for celebrations over the decades. 

The castle needs work, which Krzaczek said is likely why it's not selling as quickly as one might expect. Despite this, the exterior walls and concrete are intact, revealing that it was solidly built. 

"It needs a builder to go in there and assess whether the interior can be salvaged or all the wood needs to be gutted," he said.  

The castle at 1416 Manzanita Rd. is priced at $440,000, but a B.C. assessment says the property is worth $758,000. Aside from the castle, the property comes with a one-storey house with an unfinished basement and workshop.

Krzaczek said he's hoping whoever buys the property will see it as a fixer-upper and keep it as part of the community. 

"It's beautiful," he said. "It's got character. I've met many people who live on Cortes and Quadra who, as teenagers, used to go there for birthday parties and stuff. It's part of the community."

https://www.campbellrivermirror.com/local-news/photos-castle-on-cortes-island-selling-for-less-than-a-campbell-river-house-8166017

August 11, 2025

A steal of a castle has gone up for sale on Cortes Island, British Columbia, but the owners will need to be more suited to wearing a hard hat than a crown. At just $440,000, Wolf Bluff Castle has five storeys with eight bedrooms, a dining hall and even a dungeon, but it's only half finished.

https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2025/08/10/castle-on-bc-island-listed-for-sale-dungeon-included/

Sitting on two acres on a B.C. island, a five-storey castle with a dining hall, eight bedrooms, three turrets and a dungeon is on the market for $440,000.

But there’s a catch: it’s only half-finished.

Instead of a turnkey palace, the person who buys the Cortes Island property will be purchasing a project.

Realtor Roman Krzaczek says one of the reasons he got the listing is because he sees the property’s potential and he hopes would-be buyers will feel the same.

“I personally, I get excited about stuff like this. It’s so unique, it’s so different and quirky and it’s beautiful,” he told CTV News.

The architect of Wolf Bluff Castle was the late Karl Triller, who lived in a relatively modest home on the property while endeavouring to bring his vision to life.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t finish but hopefully somebody will appreciate it enough to finish it,” Krzaczek said, adding that Triller’s family is unable to complete the project, but hopes to find buyers who won’t tear the partially crumbling castle down.

Krzaczek never met Triller, but says he’s heard stories from locals about how the self-described “King of Cortes” would put on a crown and welcome people to the property for food and celebrations in the 1990s and 2000s.

“He was a big character with a big heart,” Krzaczek said.

The list price includes the castle, what was once Karl’s home, the land, and a workshop. It has water and power, but no septic system. The property is located about a 15-minute walk form the boat launch at Cortes Bay.

This is the second time Krzaczek has listed the property, and while it’s attracted more interest this time around, that interest hasn’t yet translated into a firm offer.

Cortes Island has a year-round population of roughly 1,000 people and is a popular destination for summer vacationers.

https://cheknews.ca/unfinished-castle-on-cortes-island-b-c-selling-for-100k-less-than-average-victoria-condo-1269494/

May has seen some market division across the whole country. It’s very visible, and it was showing in April already that big markets like Vancouver and Toronto were showing lots of inventory increases but slower sales. This trend has continued into May. Please see the facts below, numbers that were shared with each real estate board across the major markets. 

VANCOUVER, BC- June 03, 2025
Buyers remain hesitant as inventory builds

May saw inventory levels across Metro Vancouver* reach another ten-year high, while home sales registered on the MLS® remained muted. The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,228 in May 2025, an 18.5 per cent decrease from the 2,733 sales recorded in May 2024. This was 30.5 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (3,206).

“While there are emerging signs that sales activity might be turning a corner, sales in May were below the ten-year seasonal average, which suggests that some buyers are still sitting on the sidelines or are being especially selective,” said Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics. “On a year-to-date basis, sales in 2025 rank among the slowest to start the year in the past decade, closely mirroring the trends seen in 2019 and 2020. It’s worth noting that sales rebounded significantly in the latter half of 2020, but whether sales in 2025 might follow a similar pattern remains the million-dollar question.”

Sales of detached homes in May 2025 reached 654, a 22.7 per cent decrease from May 2024. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,997,400. This represents a 3.2 per cent decrease from May 2024.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,087 in May 2025, an 18.8 per cent decrease in May 2024. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $757,300. This represents a 2.4 per cent decrease from May 2024.

Attached home sales in May 2025 totalled 469, a 10.3 per cent decrease in May 2024. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,106,800. This represents a 3.4 per cent decrease from May 2024.

FULL REPORT HERE

NANAIMO, BC
BUYER OPTIMISM AND A BALANCED MARKET TREND IN MAY

The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) recorded 781 unit sales (all property types) in May 2025, down three per cent from one year ago.

“In spite of the cloud of economic uncertainty, optimism among buyers is positive. The Island continues to buck the trend of declining home sales currently experienced on the mainland,” says Yochim. “Most of our markets remain in balanced territory, with year-to-date sales on par with 2024. Available inventory of homes is above the ten-year average, providing reasonable choice for buyers.”- Jason Yochim, VIREB CEO.

FULL REPORT HEre

INTERIOR (OKANAGAN)

FULL REPORT HERE

CALGARY, AB
Thanks to steep pullbacks in the apartment condominium sector, total residential sales in Calgary eased by 17 per cent compared to May of last year. While the drop does seem significant, the 2,568 sales this month remain 11 per cent higher than long-term trends for May and improved over last month. New listings continued to rise this month compared to sales, resulting in further gains in inventory levels. However, the monthly gain in both inventory and sales prevented any significant change in the months of supply compared to April. With 2.6 months of supply, conditions are still relatively balanced.

FULL REPORT HERE

TORONTO, ON
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market experienced an improvement in affordability in May 2025 relative to the same period a year earlier. With sales down and listings up, homebuyers took advantage of increased inventory and negotiating power. “Looking at the GTA as a whole, homebuyers have certainly benefited from greater choice and improved affordability this year. However, each neighbourhood and market segment have their own nuances. Buyers considering a home purchase should connect with a REALTOR® who is knowledgeable about their preferred area and property type. In today’s market, working with a REALTOR® who brings expertise, the right tools, and a strong network is essential,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Elechia Barry-Sproule. GTA REALTORS® reported 6,244 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in May 2025 – down by 13.3 per cent compare

FULL REPORT HERE