Summerland Real Estate
Where orchards climb the hillsides and the pace of life is intentionally slow. 2,000+ hours of sunshine, roadside fruit stands, and a community that actually knows each other.
$700K
Avg. Home Price
12,000+
Population
2,000+
Hours of Sunshine
45 min
To Kelowna
Giuseppe Gaspari
REALTOR® | Okanagan Real Estate Specialist
Helping families find their perfect Okanagan home since 2018
Last updated: January 2026
Why Summerland?
The name isn't marketing. Summerland actually gets over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year, which explains why orchards have been climbing these hillsides since the 1890s. When you drive into town on Highway 97, you'll pass fruit stands selling peaches, cherries, and apricots. In wine season, the vineyards practically glow.
About 12,000 people live here. That's small enough that you'll recognize faces at the grocery store within a few months. The downtown stretches maybe four blocks, but it has everything you need—a good bakery, a couple of pubs, shops that aren't chains. The Summerland Ornamental Gardens are worth visiting even if you live here; somehow they never get old.
Here's the honest pitch: Summerland is for people who are done with the hustle. The 45-minute drive to Kelowna filters out anyone who needs to be in the city daily. What's left is a community of remote workers, retirees, artists, and families who decided that acreage and quiet matter more than convenience. If you're reading this and feeling relief instead of concern about that commute, Summerland might be your place.
Summerland is great for:
- ✓Remote workers who don't need a commute
- ✓Retirees wanting sun, space, and community
- ✓Families who want their kids to grow up with orchards, not malls
- ✓Hobby farmers dreaming of a few acres
What you won't find:
- ×Big box stores (you'll drive to Penticton or Kelowna)
- ×Nightlife beyond a couple of pubs
- ×Public transit that gets you anywhere useful
- ×Cheap waterfront (that ship sailed years ago)
Areas & Property Types
Summerland sprawls more than you'd expect for a town of 12,000. Lower town and upper benches feel like different worlds—different prices, different lifestyles, different views.
Downtown / Lower Town
$600K - $900KWalkable village life
Walking distance to shops, restaurants, and the beach. Mix of character homes from the 1940s-70s and newer infill. Smaller lots but you can leave your car at home most days.
Best for: Retirees, downsizers, anyone who values walkability over space
Trout Creek
$700K - $1MFamily-friendly suburban
South end of town, closer to Penticton. Newer developments, bigger lots than downtown. Trout Creek Elementary draws families. Quick access to Highway 97 for commuters.
Best for: Families with kids, people who work in Penticton
Prairie Valley
$800K - $1.5M+Hillside acreage & views
Climb the benches above town and you'll find larger lots, hobby farms, and panoramic views of the lake. Some properties have small orchards or vineyards. Winding roads, genuine privacy.
Best for: Anyone wanting land, hobby farmers, privacy seekers
Upper Summerland
$750K - $1.2MEstablished residential
Quieter than downtown, more accessible than the hillsides. Established neighbourhoods with mature trees and larger lots. Mix of ranchers, split-levels, and some newer builds.
Best for: Families, professionals wanting space without extreme elevation
Garnet Valley
$900K - $2M+Rural acreage
West of town, heading toward the mountains. Larger acreages, some working orchards, real privacy. You'll need a vehicle for everything, but you'll have breathing room most people only dream about.
Best for: Hobby farmers, equestrian buyers, those escaping density
Property Types You'll Find
Single Family Homes
The bread and butter of Summerland. Ranchers from the 60s-70s, split-levels from the 80s, newer builds on the benches. Most have actual yards—not the postage stamps you'd get in Kelowna for the same price.
Orchard & Acreage
From hobby orchards (1-5 acres) to working farms (10+ acres). Some produce income, most are lifestyle properties. Expect to start around $900K for a small acreage, $1.2M+ for anything with real productive capacity.
Vineyard Properties
Rare and priced accordingly. Small vineyard homes occasionally come up in the $1.5-3M range. Most serious vineyard operations don't list publicly. If this is your goal, I can keep an eye out for off-market opportunities.
What Makes Summerland Different
The Sunshine Capital
2,000+ hours of annual sunshine isn't just nice weather—it's why the orchards and vineyards exist. The south-facing slopes catch every ray. In summer, you'll get 15 hours of daylight and evening temperatures perfect for sitting on the porch. Winter brings some snow, but nothing like the Prairies, and it rarely lingers.
Agricultural Roots Run Deep
This isn't a resort town with some orchards on the edges. Summerland was founded as an agricultural community in the 1890s, and the industry still shapes daily life. The fruit stands along Highway 97 are run by families who've been here for generations. The research station at the edge of town has been developing new fruit varieties since 1914. When peach season hits in August, you'll smell it in the air.
The Commute is a Filter
45 minutes to Kelowna, 20 minutes to Penticton. Most people hear that and cross Summerland off the list. Good. That commute filters out everyone who doesn't really want to be here. What remains is a community of people who chose this place intentionally—remote workers, retirees, entrepreneurs who can work from anywhere, and families who decided their kids don't need another strip mall. The result is a town where people actually show up to community events because they want to be there.
Wine Without the Crowds
The Summerland wineries don't get the tour bus traffic of Kelowna or Naramata. That's a feature. Places like Sumac Ridge and Dirty Laundry have locals dropping by on a Tuesday afternoon, not fighting for a seat on a Saturday. The wines are serious—this isn't hobby winemaking—but the atmosphere stays relaxed.
Lifestyle & Recreation
Life in Summerland moves at a different speed. Most people who buy here are looking to slow down, not speed up.
Giant's Head Mountain
30-minute hike to the top, 360-degree views of the valley. Locals do sunrise hikes here year-round. The trail is steep but manageable. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Big White.
Kettle Valley Railway
The historic railway is now a trail running through town and beyond. Walk it, bike it, or take it all the way to Penticton. Trestles, tunnels, and views the whole way. One of BC's best rail trails.
Wine Touring
A dozen wineries within 15 minutes—Sumac Ridge, Dirty Laundry, Summerland Heritage Cider. Plus you're close to Naramata Bench (20 min) and the Kelowna wineries (45 min). Weekend wine touring becomes routine.
Beach Access
Summerland Beach on Okanagan Lake is the main draw—sandy, swimmable, with a waterfront walkway. Less crowded than Kelowna beaches. The Rotary Beach Park has facilities and is popular with families.
A Typical Summerland Day
Morning coffee at Bliss Bakery. A hike up Giant's Head before it gets too hot. Swing by the fruit stand on the way home for whatever's in season. Work from the home office with the windows open. Afternoon dip at the beach. Dinner on the deck as the sun sets over the lake. This is the lifestyle people move here for.
The Summerland Ornamental Gardens are worth visiting even if you live here. Sixteen acres of themed gardens, free admission. The Sunday farmers market runs May through October. The Action Festival of the Arts brings live music and theatre every August. It's not Kelowna's event calendar, but what's here has character.
What Your Money Gets You
~$600K
Entry level. Older ranchers or bungalows in lower town, 2-3 bedrooms, maybe 1,200 sq ft. Needs updating but liveable. Smaller lots but walkable to amenities.
~$800K
The sweet spot. Updated 3-4 bed homes, 1,800-2,200 sq ft, decent sized lots. In Trout Creek or Upper Summerland, maybe with a view. This is where most families land.
$1M+
Acreage territory. At $1M you're looking at 1-5 acres, possibly with a hobby orchard or outbuildings. $1.5M+ opens up larger parcels, better views, and vineyard-potential properties.
About Orchard Properties
Orchard properties come with questions most real estate doesn't. Is it a producing orchard or ornamental? Who manages it? What are the water rights? Can you convert to grapes? Is the packing house included?
A small hobby orchard (1-3 acres of trees) adds maybe $100-200K to property value. A working orchard with established production, water licenses, and equipment? That's a different conversation entirely—$1.5M minimum, often much more.
Market Conditions (Late 2025)
Inventory: Higher than Kelowna—more selection for buyers
Days on market: 60-90 days typical (slower pace here)
Competition: Less bidding wars than 2021-22, room to negotiate
Acreage: Limited supply, tends to sell faster than residential
Why Work With Giuseppe?
Summerland buyers usually aren't in a rush. You're making a lifestyle decision, not just a housing decision. I get that.
My approach: figure out what kind of life you're trying to build, then find the property that supports it. Want acreage but don't actually want to farm? I'll steer you away from producing orchards. Thinking about a vineyard? Let's talk water rights and south-facing slopes before you fall in love with the wrong property.
I know which roads become impassable in winter. I know which developments have water pressure issues. I know which fruit stands have been here for decades and which views will change when the neighboring lot gets developed. If you want someone to be straight with you about the tradeoffs, that's what I do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the commute from Summerland to Kelowna?
About 45 minutes to downtown Kelowna via Highway 97. Most Summerland residents work remotely, are retired, or work locally. The commute filters out people who need to be in Kelowna daily, which is part of why the community feels so intentional.
Is Summerland a good place to buy real estate?
For the right buyer, absolutely. You get better value than Kelowna—average home price around $700K vs $1.09M. More land, quieter streets, genuine agricultural character. But it's not for everyone. If you need urban amenities or hate driving, keep looking.
Can I buy an orchard property in Summerland?
Yes, though they don't come up often. Producing orchards start around $1.2M for smaller lots. Hobby orchards on residential acreages run $900K-$1.5M. Be aware: orchard ownership involves real work or the cost of hiring help. It's not just a pretty backdrop.
What's the weather like in Summerland?
Lives up to the name. Over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Summers are hot and dry, often 30-35°C. Winters are mild by Canadian standards—some snow, but it rarely lingers. The south-facing slopes and lake proximity create a microclimate that's noticeably warmer than Kelowna.
What are the best areas to buy in Summerland?
Depends on your priorities. Downtown/Lower Town for walkability and beach access ($600K+). Trout Creek for newer homes and families ($700K-$1M). Prairie Valley for hillside acreage and views ($800K-$1.5M+). Upper Summerland for space without extreme elevation ($750K-$1.2M).
How does Summerland compare to Penticton?
Summerland is smaller (12,000 vs 35,000), quieter, and more agricultural. Penticton has more restaurants, nightlife, two lakes, and feels like a small city. Summerland feels like a small town. Prices are similar, though Summerland acreages often cost more due to the agricultural premium.
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Ready to Find Your Summerland Home?
Whether you're looking for a quiet retirement, acreage with room to breathe, or a lifestyle change you've been putting off—let's talk about what Summerland can offer.
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