Where Crescent Beach is
Crescent Beach sits at sea level below the bluffs of Ocean Park, beside Boundary Bay to the west and Mud Bay to the north, across the water from Delta. It’s part of the City of Surrey. Only two roads lead in, Crescent Road and McBride Avenue, and both cross the BNSF railway line.
On the MLS®, Crescent Beach shares a sub-area with Ocean Park, called Crescent Bch Ocean Pk. The numbers and listings on this page cover the north end of that sub-area, Crescent Beach and the hillside above it, and fill in from the rest of the sub-area when few homes are for sale. For the wider area, see my Ocean Park page.
What it’s like to live here
Crescent Beach has been a summer retreat since the railway arrived in the early 1900s, and it still has that beach-town feel. The village runs along Beecher Street, with cafes, restaurants and Wickson Pier at the water. Blackie Spit Park, created in 1996, is one of the region’s best birdwatching spots, with around 300 species recorded and thousands of ducks and geese stopping during migration. Crescent Park, up the hill, has forest trails and ponds. There’s a marina, a sailing and kayaking culture, and summer Shakespeare from the Beach House Theatre.
Homes and prices
Most homes in Crescent Beach are detached: original beach cottages, rebuilt beach houses on narrow lots, and waterfront homes along the bay. Up the hill toward Crescent Heights you’ll find larger lots and more family homes. Waterfront and view homes command a large premium, and small cottages on smaller lots often sell for close to lot value. The live numbers at the top of this page show today’s market.
Buying in Crescent Beach: what to check
- Flooding and elevation. Crescent Beach is low-lying and has been protected by dikes since 1913. Ask about the home’s elevation, any flood history, the City of Surrey’s coastal flood plans for the area, and what home insurance will cost before you firm up an offer.
- Building rules. Floodplain rules affect how high and where a new home can be built, which matters if you plan to renovate or rebuild.
- The railway. Freight traffic on the BNSF line has grown a lot, from about five trains a day in 2002 to about 20 by 2014. Expect train horns, and remember that a stopped train can briefly block the two roads in and out.
- Lot size and access. Many lots are narrow, and parking can be tight in summer when visitors arrive for the beach.
Selling in Crescent Beach
Crescent Beach buyers are buying a lifestyle as much as a house, and they pay for it. Photography that shows the light, the beach and the village, good answers ready for flood and insurance questions, and pricing from the right waterfront or village comparables all protect your price. Get a free valuation of your Crescent Beach home.
Homes I’ve sold here
A few of the Crescent Beach and Ocean Park homes I’ve listed and sold. See all of my recent sales.
12978 15A Avenue
4 bd · 4 ba · 3,495 sqft
Listed at $2,199,000 · Sold
1845 Laronde Drive
3 bd · 3 ba · 2,803 sqft
Listed at $2,149,800 · Sold
12970 14A Avenue
4 bd · 4 ba · 3,010 sqft
Listed at $2,249,000 · Sold
13156 14A Avenue
5 + den bd · 5 ba · 4,466 sqft
Listed at $2,860,000 · Sold
