One of the interesting questions somebody asked me recently was whether it's better to buy a home in Squamish with a beautiful view or one that gets more sunlight.

And it's actually a more complicated question than you might think.

The first thing that comes to mind is that, somewhat ironically, a lot of the properties in Squamish with the best views also tend to have pretty good sunlight. That's partly because of our geography. If you're high enough and looking south, there's a reasonable chance you're going to have both an excellent view and good sun exposure.

But that's certainly not true of every property, and there are parts of Squamish where sunlight can be a significant consideration, particularly during the winter months.

So if you're choosing between a property with a nice view and one that gets considerably more sunlight, which should you buy?

For a typical buyer, I'd probably lean toward the property with better sunlight, unless the other property has a genuinely spectacular view.

But there are some important qualifications to that, because in Squamish, the type of view you're getting and the location of the property make a tremendous difference.

In Squamish, Great Views and Good Sunlight Often Go Together

One of the things that makes Squamish such an interesting place to buy real estate is our geography.

We're surrounded by mountains, and those mountains have a significant effect on how much direct sunlight different properties receive throughout the year.

The Stawamus Chief is a particularly important factor in certain parts of town. During the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, the Chief can block direct sunlight from properties that might otherwise have very good exposure.

Of course, the Chief isn't the only thing that affects sunlight. Other surrounding mountains, trees, neighbouring buildings and the orientation of the property all play a role.

But one of the interesting things about Squamish is that properties with elevated, open, south-facing outlooks can sometimes enjoy the best of both worlds.

If you're high enough to see over some of the surrounding terrain, you may have spectacular views and considerably better sunlight than properties lower down.

So in many cases, we're not actually choosing between a view and sunshine. The properties with the most impressive outlooks can also be among those with the better sun exposure.

And naturally, those are desirable properties.

Some Parts of Squamish Receive Very Little Winter Sun

Where this question becomes particularly important is in the areas of Squamish that experience significant seasonal shading.

There are parts of town where properties receive very little direct sunlight during the winter. In some of the more heavily shaded pockets, that lack of sunlight can extend into portions of the spring and fall as well.

That's something buyers really need to understand before purchasing.

You can walk through a property on a beautiful summer afternoon, see sunlight coming through the windows and assume that it's going to be like that throughout the year.

But the experience of living in that property in December could be completely different.

As the sun gets lower in the sky, surrounding mountains can block it for substantial portions of the day. Depending on the exact location, some properties may receive little or no direct sunlight during certain periods of winter.

And that can have a real effect on how the property feels to live in.

In my experience, homes with particularly limited sunlight often sell for less than comparable properties that enjoy better exposure.

That doesn't mean they're necessarily bad properties. They may have other advantages, and for some buyers the lack of direct sunlight isn't a major concern.

But it's certainly something I would want a buyer to understand before making a decision.

Not All Views in Squamish Are Equal

Now, there's another part of this conversation that I think is particularly relevant to Squamish.

We have an extraordinary number of beautiful views.

In fact, it's almost difficult to find a property in Squamish that doesn't have some kind of attractive outlook.

You might be looking at forested hills, surrounding mountains, a distant ridgeline or some other natural feature that would be considered a pretty impressive view in many other communities.

But in Squamish, those views are relatively common.

That's not to say they aren't beautiful. They absolutely are. It's just that when you're surrounded by mountains, a nice mountain view isn't necessarily as rare as it would be somewhere else.

And rarity matters when we're talking about real estate value.

There are certain views in Squamish that I would put into a different category.

A spectacular outlook over Howe Sound, an exceptional view of the Stawamus Chief, or an unobstructed view toward Mount Garibaldi can be something quite special.

Those are the views that can really distinguish one property from another.

And if you're comparing a property with one of those exceptional views against another property that simply has better sunlight, the decision becomes considerably more interesting.

How Much Is a Spectacular View Worth?

This is where we need to distinguish between a pleasant view and something truly exceptional.

If you're looking at two otherwise comparable properties and one has a particularly spectacular view of Howe Sound, the Chief or Garibaldi, I would generally expect that property to command a premium.

As a rough professional estimate, I might initially consider something in the range of a 5% difference in property value for a particularly desirable view, depending on the property and the comparable sales.

But that's not a fixed number, and it certainly isn't something you can apply to every house in Squamish.

The actual premium depends on the quality of the view, how much of it you can enjoy from the main living areas, whether it's protected from future obstruction and how it compares with other properties available in that part of town.

A spectacular view from your living room is different from a partial view that you can only see by standing in one corner of an upstairs bedroom.

And a view that's likely to remain unobstructed is different from one that could disappear if something is built on the neighbouring property.

Those differences all matter.

But the broader point is that truly exceptional views are relatively scarce, and scarcity can create value.

If I were comparing one of those properties with another home that had slightly better sunlight but no particularly special outlook, I might well recommend the property with the view.

When I'd Choose Sunshine Over a View

Now let's look at a more typical situation.

Suppose you're comparing two houses in Squamish.

One has a very nice view of the surrounding mountains, but it receives considerably less direct sunlight.

The other doesn't have quite as impressive an outlook, but it gets excellent sunlight throughout much of the year.

If the view from the first property isn't something truly exceptional, I would probably lean toward the second property.

And the reason is fairly simple.

In Squamish, you don't have to go very far to see beautiful mountains.

You can walk out your front door, go down the street or head out for a walk and be surrounded by spectacular scenery.

But you can't necessarily do the same thing with sunlight in your own home.

If your house is in a location that receives very little winter sun, that's something you're going to experience every day during that part of the year.

You can't change the position of the mountains, and you can't move your house into the sun.

So if the trade-off is between a fairly typical Squamish mountain view and substantially better sunlight, I think the sunlight may offer more value in terms of everyday living.

That's not necessarily what every buyer would choose, but it's generally where I would lean.

What About Homes Surrounded by Forest?

There's another situation that makes this conversation more interesting, particularly in parts of Brackendale and the Garibaldi Highlands.

Some properties receive less sunlight because they're surrounded by mature trees.

And in those situations, the lack of sunlight can come with a significant benefit.

Privacy.

There are buyers who absolutely love living in a forested setting. They like looking out at trees rather than neighbouring houses. They enjoy the feeling of being tucked away, and they don't particularly care whether they get direct sunlight throughout the day.

For those buyers, a property surrounded by forest might be considerably more appealing than one with an open outlook and lots of sun.

And I understand that.

There's something very attractive about having a private, secluded property, particularly in a place like Squamish.

But there are degrees to this.

A property with mature trees and a lovely forested outlook is one thing. A house that's so heavily surrounded by trees that the interior is dark for much of the day is something else.

Those extremely dark properties can appeal to a more limited group of buyers.

Some people will absolutely love them. Others will walk in and immediately feel that there isn't enough natural light.

So again, the question isn't simply whether sunshine is better than trees or views.

It's about the particular property and what the buyer values.

Sunlight Can Vary Considerably Within the Same Neighbourhood

One of the mistakes I think buyers can make is assuming that because they know a particular Squamish neighbourhood, they know what the sunlight will be like.

But sun exposure can vary quite dramatically within relatively short distances.

In the Garibaldi Highlands, for example, one property might have an open outlook and very good exposure, while another nearby property is surrounded by trees and receives substantially less direct sunlight.

The same thing can happen in Brackendale, where mature trees, lot orientation and the position of the house can create very different living environments.

And in areas affected by mountain shadows, a relatively small difference in location or elevation can change how much direct sunlight a property receives at certain times of year.

That's why I think it's important to evaluate the individual property rather than making assumptions based on the neighbourhood.

If sunlight is particularly important to you, we should look at the property's orientation, the surrounding terrain, the trees and how the sun moves across that particular location throughout the year.

A summer showing alone may not tell you enough.

Think About Where You Actually Spend Your Time

Another consideration is how the view and sunlight relate to the way you're going to use the property.

Let's say you have a beautiful mountain view from an upstairs bedroom, but your main living areas are on the ground floor and don't really take advantage of it.

How much value does that view add to your everyday life?

Now compare that with a property where the kitchen, living room and backyard receive excellent afternoon sunlight.

If you spend most of your time in those spaces, the sunlight might have a much greater impact on your enjoyment of the home.

On the other hand, if the spectacular view is directly in front of you every time you sit in the living room or have dinner, that could be an entirely different experience.

The same applies to outdoor space.

A sunny backyard might be extremely important to somebody who enjoys gardening, entertaining or spending time outside.

Another buyer might prefer a shaded, private yard surrounded by trees.

Neither buyer is necessarily making a better decision.

They're simply prioritizing different things.

And I think that's the key to evaluating these properties properly.

Which One Will Be Easier to Sell?

From a resale perspective, I think both sunlight and exceptional views can contribute to a property's desirability.

A genuinely spectacular view can make a property stand out from the competition, particularly when it's something that would be difficult to find elsewhere.

Good sunlight also has broad appeal, especially in a community where some properties experience substantial seasonal shading.

What I would be more cautious about is a property that has neither particularly good sunlight nor an exceptional outlook, especially if the interior feels dark.

That doesn't mean it won't sell. Every property has a market at the right price.

But I would want to understand how those characteristics affect its value compared with other homes in the same area.

The important thing is not to pay a premium for a feature that isn't genuinely special.

A pleasant view of the surrounding mountains is nice, but in Squamish it may not justify sacrificing a substantial amount of sunlight or paying considerably more than comparable properties.

A spectacular, difficult-to-replace view is another matter.

So, Is a View or Sunshine More Important in Squamish?

I don't think there's a universal answer, and the more I consider the question, the more I think it depends on the individual property.

In many cases, the homes with the best views also have good sunlight, so you may not have to make the choice at all.

But if you're comparing two properties where there is a genuine trade-off, I would generally lean toward better sunlight over an ordinary mountain view.

The reason is that beautiful mountain scenery is abundant in Squamish, while good sunlight in your actual living spaces can make a substantial difference to how you experience your home throughout the year.

However, if we're talking about a truly exceptional view of Howe Sound, the Stawamus Chief or Mount Garibaldi, I might make a different recommendation. Those views can be rare enough to justify a premium.

And if you're somebody who loves privacy and being surrounded by forest, you might reasonably choose a more shaded property over either of those options.

Ultimately, the best property isn't necessarily the one with the most sunlight or the most spectacular view. It's the one that offers the combination of features that matters most to you, at a price that reflects their actual market value.

That's why, when I'm helping somebody compare properties in Squamish, I want to look beyond the photographs and understand what it will really feel like to live in each home throughout the year.