Every walk of life can be found here, from starving artists to blue collar mill workers to professors and doctors. Overall the vibe is very relaxed and unpretentious, with a roll-up-your-sleeves community spirit that goes back generations in Nanaimo.
Condos & Townhomes in South Nanaimo
I've compiled all of the building stratas in this neighbourhood and placed them onto the interactive map below. (The map is easier to use on screens larger than a phone.) You can click the pins to see a photo and a link to a page about each strata. The same list of stratas appears below the map, too.
Below, I've broken down some of the distinctions between each part of South Nanaimo. Or, check out these properties for sale in South Nanaimo:
Homes for Sale in South Nanaimo
New
$665,800
612 Fourth St, Nanaimo
5
Beds
2
Baths
2,076 SqFt
8,712 SqFt Lot
Single Family Detached
MLS® # 1006497
Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)
New
$549,900
423 Murray St, Nanaimo
2
Beds
1
Bath
728 SqFt
6,534 SqFt Lot
Single Family Detached
MLS® # 1006663
460 Realty Inc. (NA)
New
$589,000
604 Nova St, Nanaimo
3
Beds
2
Baths
1,294 SqFt
4,792 SqFt Lot
Half Duplex
MLS® # 1006462
Sutton Group-West Coast Realty (Nan)
New
$459,000
221 Princess St, Nanaimo
3
Beds
1
Bath
803 SqFt
3,921 SqFt Lot
Single Family Detached
MLS® # 1006531
One Percent Realty Ltd.
New
$499,000
507 Ninth St 24, Nanaimo
4
Beds
2
Baths
1,332 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Row/Townhouse
MLS® # 1006379
REMAX Professionals
New
$719,900
888 Brookfield Dr, Nanaimo
3
Beds
2
Baths
1,240 SqFt
6,534 SqFt Lot
Single Family Detached
MLS® # 1006327
One Percent Realty Ltd.
New
$519,900
↓ $70,000
45 Haliburton St 304, Nanaimo
2
Beds
1
Bath
760 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 1004346
eXp Realty (NA)
New
$429,900
45 Haliburton St 301, Nanaimo
1
Bed
1
Bath
723 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 1004342
eXp Realty (NA)
New
$649,900
45 Haliburton St 507, Nanaimo
2
Beds
2
Baths
1,025 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 1004351
eXp Realty (NA)
New
$599,900
45 Haliburton St 502, Nanaimo
2
Beds
2
Baths
872 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 1004348
eXp Realty (NA)
New
$599,000
401 Hamilton Ave, Nanaimo
4
Beds
1
Bath
1,628 SqFt
6,099 SqFt Lot
Single Family Detached
MLS® # 1006334
REMAX Professionals
New
$499,000
674 Farquhar St, Nanaimo
2
Beds
1
Bath
906 SqFt
4,792 SqFt Lot
Single Family Detached
MLS® # 1005002
REMAX Professionals
South Nanaimo Neighbourhoods
This is a very large and diverse area, but it's all designated as "South Nanaimo" by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board for the purposes of our MLS. I'll describe the different areas below.
There are a couple specific neighbourhood borders that I should explain for locals: First, everything north of Harewood Rd gets called "University District" by the board (so for example, the area around Howard and Fourth isn't included in their South Nanaimo region even though it's part of Harewood). Second, although the first couple blocks of Haliburton (Crace St to Deverill Square Park) are considered by locals to be part of the "South End", those blocks are included in the board's "Old City" region, which is fair enough. The result is that homes around Finlayson St for example won't be found in the MLS listings on this page; they'll appear on the Old City page.
Remember, if you want to get notifications when new listings hit the market in any area, just contact me and tell me what the search filters should be (price, size, geographical range).
Harewood
This is the largest homogeneous part of South Nanaimo - it's a wide plain of about 3.25 km² between the railway and VIU, between 4th St and 10th St.
Harewood is very convenient to downtown and both highways, as well as being snug against the wilderness behind town.
This is a charming and relaxed neighbourhood - and it's old - it was a rural district with its own municipality prior to its annexation by Nanaimo in 1976. When this area was first settled as land for the coal miners and their families in the late Victorian/Edwardian eras, it was subdivided as five-acre plots (it's also called "Five Acres"). Over time, these plots were subdivided and newer homes (1900's craftsman bungalows to post-war ranchers and split-levels), were added beside them.
This is a great place to find a well-made home of solid wooden construction. There used to be a lot of old-growth fir available in these parts, and it shows.
Old Victoria Road, Bayview area
This is a quiet area with some nice homes, set apart somewhat from the bustle and hustlers of the South End (see below) yet not quite falling into Harewood. There are old character homes, as well as mid-late 20th century boxes and everything in between.
South End
In old Nanaimo, this was part of the "South Ward" - a distinct community with its own teams - holding rivalries with other downtown neighbourhoods. A lot of renovated miners' cabins and sumptuous Victorian homes still remain, overlooking the harbour and the estuary. A great many of the properties in the South End are lovingly cared for and are very desirable for their period architecture and/or mature yard spaces.
This is finally emerging as a great real estate investment area in Nanaimo. It was the roughest part of town for decades, but is now being gentrified by investment-minded buyers who see the immense potential of this oceanside location so close to downtown Nanaimo, or lower-budget buyers who like getting a solid craftsman home at a discount.
Moreover, while this used to be the part of town where you would see the greatest concentration of people suffering with addictions or homelessness, that population has become less concentrated here, having moved closer to other parts of downtown, and also having spread more throughout the city as a whole.
A company named Parkshore Developments out of North Vancouver had a vision for this area that they call "Harbourview". It involves densifying these neighbourhoods with low-rise condo buildings that take advantage of the ocean views and proximity to downtown. As of November 2024 the company is called Principle Property Group and they have completed two buildings, half finished a third, and are clearing ground for a couple more.
South Haliburton
The south end of Haliburton St (past the mill) has some very desirable real estate. This is the area near Petroglyph Park and the Calico Cat teahouse, with beautiful homes on large lots overlooking the expansive Nanaimo River Estuary.
South Harewood
There's been an explosion of development in this area since around 2009, and it's not slowing down. The homes are on "modern sized" lots (i.e., smaller than traditional single-family plots) which helps them to be affordable despite many of these homes having high square footage and some nice finishes, and many have legal basement suites, easily rented to students attending nearby VIU. These neighbourhoods are family oriented, and so far at least, the yards are very well kept.
These neighbourhoods are generally situated between Ninth and Tenth Streets. There is a newer Quality Foods supermarket in the area, as well as a gas station and beer store - and if you head down Tenth St you're in Chase River (with Southgate Mall and South Parkway Plaza).
Harewood Heights
I don't know if there's a more official name for this area up on the hill, near the Colliery Dams! In addition to a well-kept 1990s subdivision around Brookfield Dr and Glengarry Cr, there's also a lot of new construction especially around Southwind Dr and (most recently) up Harewood Mines Rd.
Nearby Schools
- Fairview Elementary ; 205 Howard Ave.
- Georgia Avenue Elementary ; 625 Georgia Ave.
- Park Avenue Elementary ; 395 Eighth St.
- Bayview Elementary ; 140 View St.
- Nanaimo District Secondary School (NDSS) ; 355 Wakesiah Ave.
- John Barsby Secondary ; 550 7th St.
New Developments in South Nanaimo
821 Haliburton St apartments
This will be a 5-storey building with 104 apartments! The development application was issued in September 2024 (DP001315).
The building will have elevators, underground parking, storage lockers, and a rooftop amenity deck to enjoy a phenomenal ocean view.
Irwin Multiplex
This will be two small buildings, each with 4 residential units and a commercial space, plus open parking.
The location is behind where the Patricia Hotel used to be. The development permit (DP001296) was issued in March 2024 and expires in 2026.
Hogler Cres townhomes
Hogler Crescent is a new street built as part of the subdivision often referred to by its larger street, "Harbour View St". This is the new development just south of Alice's Restaurant, perched above that part of Nicol St where someone painted a huge rock concretion to look like an orca coming out of the cliffside.
This will be two small blocks of rowhomes and the addresses will be 991, 993, 995, 997 Hogler Crescent in one building and 1001, 1003, 1005, and 1007 at the other.
At this point there is no permit; I am just reporting the development permit applications (DP001352, DP001353) because I suspect it will all go through.
101 South St - Strata MULTIplex
This is only a rezoning application at this point (submitted Sep2023). A development permit has not been submitted. But it's a big enough deal that I wanted to include it here.
The development would include several 4-storey apartment buildings, including one (facing Old Victoria Rd) with a commercial plaza on the ground floor. There would also be several blocks of townhomes.
Nicol St Mixed Use
This proposal involves ground level live/work spaces atop an underground parkade, with condo units above.
It would be built on a lot fronting Nicol St, a block south of the McDonald's and two properties over from the seasonal fruit market on the corner - across the highway from MGM Restaurant.
The development permit was approved and expires in May 2025 if construction hasn't started.
220 Haliburton St - Detached townhomes
Four detached townhomes are planned for this location on Haliburton St across the street from Deverill Square Park. The two homes on the street/ocean side will be longer and narrower, and the two on the upper part backing onto the alley will be taller and wider. The 6 parking spaces (with EV charging) will be at the back of the property entering to the lane.
This development application (DP001265) was approved in 2023 and is set to expire in Jan2025. I have seen signs of the property being prepared for development in recent months.
Trailside Way homes - Harewood Mines Rd
Current/Ongoing
This 10-acre property at 1045 Harewood Mines Rd has been under development for a few years; Tycott Contracting is building 23 single-family homes and 7 full duplexes; as of February 2024 there are several stately homes built/sold and construction is ongoing, with two of the homes listed for sale.
The plan includes dedicated park space beginning at the lower end of the property where there is a wetland, and extending up the ravine beyond the marsh to a flat forested area overlooking it all. The location is on the way to "The Abyss", less than 1km south of Colliery Dams Park — accessible from the top of 7th St above John Barsby School.
Addresses are on "Trailside Rd" and "Fern Ridge Pl".
Harbour View St and Hogler Cres
Current/Ongoing
This small subdivision overlooks the harbour from a prominence at Nanaimo's South End, between the highway and Old Victoria Rd - near Alice's Restaurant. (This was the site of the historic Hunt Estate that burned down in the 2000s, and there was also a convent on the property, its foundations still visible before this subdivision was cleared).
I haven't seen a name for this development, but the lots are on two streets: Harbour View Street and Hogler Crescent. Many/all of the lots were listed as vacant land in mid-2021, and the first homes started to be listed in May 2022. Some homes are completed while other lots are still available to purchase. Prices reflect the ocean views but are also kept lower by the neighbourhood's proximity to less-prestigious areas of town.
The Island Highway (Nicol St) is visible at the lower-right in this photo.
8th St extension (upper Harewood)
Until the early 2020s, 8th St ended at Howard Ave. But now, the forest is cleared and there is a new subdivision. It's a high point overlooking Harewood as you can see below; many of these homes have great views!
The location is very close to John Barsby Secondary School as well as to the new Quality Foods at Bruce Ave (both are visible below).
Addresses are on 8th St, and also Monga, Rotayo, and Shante Roads.
As of November 2024, at least 30 homes have been built and sold, and there are two listed for sale.
Victoria Estates on Old Victoria Rd
Lots all sold, homes may be offered
This is a bare land strata subdivision with no building scheme (no specific rules about consistency in the houses' designs, etc.). All of the 20 lots were listed and sold out in late 2020. As I write in November 2024, just one house has been started, and appears to be nearly completed.
The location is along Old Victoria Rd in the South End, just past 7th St and the recycling centre. There are 20 lots averaging about 5550 sqft each, lined up with their backs to the E&N Railway. (The railway is barely used for rail anymore, and is expected to be repurposed as a recreational trailway at some point - but this is not guaranteed.)
As you can see in the satellite image below, in which I have exaggerated the topography, these lots are near to the cliffs that run along the side of the road. The wetland below those cliffs will be reserved as dedicated parkland, which makes me wonder: Will a trail be built along the base of those cliffs? I sure hope so!
Let me know if you'd like to be notified when the finished houses are listed for sale!
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