Full-time or seasonal? How each works at Predator Ridge

Who lives here

When the resort presented its village-centre plans in 2022, it reported that 76% of residents named Predator Ridge as their primary residence (Castanet). That shapes the feel of the place: there are neighbours in February, the fitness centre and RANGE stay busy through winter, and there's a steady calendar of community events. It's a resort, but it isn't a ghost town in the off-season.

Living here full-time

What works

• Four-season amenities: indoor lap pool, bubble-covered tennis and pickleball, skating rink, snowshoe trails and golf simulators.
• Vernon is about 22 minutes away for groceries, appointments and Vernon Jubilee Hospital; Kelowna's airport is 32 to 36 minutes.
• First-time buyers and new-home buyers who move in may qualify for property transfer tax exemptions and, on new builds, the federal GST rebate (see the calculator).
• A primary residence may qualify for BC's Home Owner Grant on property tax; check eligibility on your tax notice.

What to plan for

• No schools on site; SD22 schools in Vernon mean a bus or a drive.
• Hillside roads and driveways in winter. Look at slope and orientation when you view.
• Everyday errands add up. Budget for more driving than you would in town.

Owning a seasonal or second home

The SVT advantage

The biggest financial difference between Predator Ridge and the rest of Vernon is the Speculation and Vacancy Tax. Vernon is a taxable area, but Predator Ridge resort is specifically excluded (BC Government). In January 2026 the province confirmed the exemption back to 2024, while raising SVT rates elsewhere to 1% for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and 3% for foreign owners and untaxed worldwide earners (Castanet). On a $1 million assessed home, 1% is $10,000 a year, so an Alberta owner leaving a Vernon house empty would face that bill; at Predator Ridge they don't. Exemptions can change, so check the current list before you buy.

Lock-and-leave options

For owners who'll be away for months, the most practical homes are those where someone else handles the exterior: Osprey Green Townhomes, Vista condos, Peregrine Cottages and strata homes with landscape maintenance included. For a detached house, line up snow clearing, a house-watch service and winterizing for irrigation before your first winter away.

Renting it out while you're gone

This is where people get caught. BC's principal residence requirement applies in Vernon. Predator Ridge's 2024 exemption covers resort-managed, hotel-style strata units, not every house. If short-term rental income is part of your plan, buy a unit that's already in a qualifying resort program and check its rental-management agreement, strata bylaws and City of Vernon licence. Long-term rentals of 30 days or more are a separate matter. The buying guide has the details, with sources.

Snowbird math

The monthly costs don't pause when you leave: the PRCLA fee, strata, landscape, insurance and utilities all continue. Run both scenarios in the cost-of-ownership calculator. And talk to your insurer about vacancy clauses; many policies require regular checks when a home is empty.

Rent first, then decide

Two ways to live here before you commit:

• The District at Predator Ridge: purpose-built long-term rental townhomes (1 to 3 bedrooms) from about $3,750 a month, with amenity access for tenants (The District).
• The resort's October to April winter rental program: advertised ranges were Lodge $1,750 to $2,800, Peregrine $2,800, Vista $2,700 to $4,500, Falcon Point $2,400 to $3,100, Affinity $4,400 to $5,400 and FieldGlass $4,700 to $5,600 a month (resort long-term rentals).

A winter rental is the best test there is. If you still love it in January, you'll love it in July.

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