Kalamalka Lake Waterfront Homes for Sale – Vernon & Coldstream

Homes for sale along the Vernon and Coldstream end of Kalamalka Lake are shown above, straight from the MLS and updated daily. Not every home in the search is right on the water, so check the listing details, or call or text Sarah, my assistant, at 604-227-4810 (free, 24/7) and we'll tell you which ones are true waterfront.

Why people love Kal Lake

Kalamalka Lake is the "lake of many colours." It's one of the few large marl lakes in the world: in the warm months, calcium carbonate crystals form in the water and scatter the light, turning the lake shades of turquoise, aquamarine and deep blue. It's about 16 km long and 3 km wide, and it sits right between Vernon and Coldstream.

It's also a very usable lake. You've got swimming beaches, boat launches, a provincial park with some of the prettiest bays in the Okanagan, and the Okanagan Rail Trail running along the west shore.

Parks, beaches and boat launches

• Kal Beach: the big family beach at the north end of the lake, on Kalamalka Road, with swimming, volleyball and washrooms.
• Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park: over 3,000 hectares of protected shoreline and grassland, with Jade, Juniper and Cosens bays. There's no boat launch in the park.
• Kekuli Bay Provincial Park: on the west shore off Highway 97, with a boat launch and a campground.
• Kalavista boat launch: on Kalavista Drive at the north end of the lake.
• Okanagan Rail Trail: opened in 2018, with more than 24 km along Kal Lake's west shore, great for walking, running and biking right by the water.

Where to find Kal Lake homes

• North end, Vernon and Coldstream: homes around Kal Beach, Kalamalka Road and Kalavista Drive, a few minutes from downtown Vernon.
• East shore, Coldstream: the Kidston Road and Kirkland Drive area, with lakefront homes and a couple of townhome communities.
• West shore: view homes and acreages above the lake along Westkal Road and near Kekuli Bay, many with the rail trail below.

Kal Lake complexes on my site

• Summertree on the Lake, 7880 Kidston Road, Coldstream: 50 townhomes built in 1982 on the lake, with a private beach, docks and a pool.
• The Monarch at Lake Kalamalka, Coldstream: newer walk-out duplex townhomes near the lake.

Buying waterfront: what to check

• Docks: the foreshore in BC is almost always provincial Crown land. Some docks qualify under the province's General Permission; others need a Specific Permission through FrontCounter BC. A Specific Permission gives you more certainty, so I'll find out which one a dock has before you buy.
• Coldstream dock rules: Coldstream's zoning bylaw allows one private dock per waterfront lot and limits how far out and how wide it can be. No roofs or hot tubs on docks.
• Building near the water: new construction near the lake has to meet Coldstream's flood construction level and a riparian assessment within 30 metres of the shore, so plan for that if you're thinking of rebuilding.
• Short-term rentals: Vernon and Coldstream are both on BC's principal residence list, so nightly rentals are generally limited to your own home or a suite on the property.

Schools

Most Kal Lake homes at the Vernon and Coldstream end are in School District 22's Kidston Elementary and Kalamalka Secondary catchments. Kidston has the strongest five-year record of any public elementary in the area. Confirm any address with the SD22 school locator.

Getting around from here

Drive times from the north end of the lake near Kalavista Drive, estimated without traffic.

Questions buyers ask me

Why is Kalamalka Lake so colourful?

It's a marl lake. In the warm months, calcium carbonate crystals form in the water and scatter sunlight, which gives it those turquoise and deep-blue colours.

How big is Kalamalka Lake?

About 16 km long and 3 km wide, between Vernon, Coldstream and Lake Country.

Where can I launch a boat on Kal Lake?

At the Kalavista boat launch at the north end and at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park on the west shore. Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park doesn't have a boat launch.

Can I build a dock on Kal Lake?

Usually, but the foreshore is provincial Crown land, so a dock needs either the province's General Permission or a Specific Permission, and in Coldstream it also has to meet the municipal dock rules. I'll check the status of any dock before you buy.

Which schools serve Kal Lake homes?

Most homes at the Vernon and Coldstream end are in the Kidston Elementary and Kalamalka Secondary catchments. Confirm any address with the SD22 school locator.

Selling on Kal Lake?

If you're thinking about selling, I can tell you what your home is worth in today's market and what buyers here are looking for. Here are the questions sellers ask me most.

What is my home on Kal Lake worth?

I'll prepare a comparative market analysis using recent sales of similar homes nearby, adjusted for size, condition, updates and views. It's free and there's no obligation. Request a free home valuation or call or text Sarah, my assistant, at 604-227-4810.

How long does it take to sell on Kal Lake?

That depends on price, condition and the season. When we meet, I'll show you how long similar homes have been taking to sell right now, and how pricing affects it.

Should I sell before I buy my next home?

It depends on the market and your finances. Selling first gives you certainty; buying first lets you take your time. I'll help you plan the timing, including subject-to-sale offers and bridge financing options.

What does it cost to sell a home in BC?

Commission in BC is always negotiable. My standard fee is 6% on the first $100,000 of the sale price and 3% on the balance, plus GST, shared equally with the brokerage that brings the buyer. On an $800,000 sale, for example, that's $6,000 + $21,000 = $27,000 plus GST. That covers a lot of work behind the scenes, from me and from the technology I put in place, all aimed at getting you the best price and the easiest possible sale. Your other costs are legal or notary fees and any mortgage discharge costs or penalties. In BC the buyer, not the seller, pays property transfer tax. I'll give you a net-proceeds estimate before you list.

Thinking of buying or selling on Kal Lake?

I'm Sean Phillips, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Executives Realty in Vernon. Call or text Sarah, my assistant, at 604-227-4810 any time to set up a tour, a same-day price check or a free home valuation. When you're ready to write an offer or list your home, call me directly at 778-363-0542.

More Vernon neighbourhoods

• Coldstream Guide
• Coldstream
• Middleton Mountain
• Okanagan Landing waterfront
• Kidston Elementary catchment

See every Vernon & Coldstream neighbourhood and complex in my Neighbourhood Guide