Highland / Highland Drive, Burke Mountain: The Upper-Ridge Resale Read

An area, not a development — why that changes everything

The most important thing to understand about Highland is that it’s a street/area grouping, not a branded community with one builder. There’s no sales centre and no single standard — homes were built by various builders across different years, so quality, envelope condition, and finish vary house to house. That makes the specific home far more important than the area label. Two homes a block apart on the ridge can be genuinely different assets. This is exactly the kind of area where a home-by-home read earns its keep.

What you’re buying it for

The draw is real: upper-ridge view-lot character and direct access to the Pinecone-Burke trails, which is about as close to the wild as the mountain gets. Some of Highland is older detached inventory — twenty-plus years now — which on the right lot is a redemption story (mature setting, established street, view) and on the wrong one is a renovation project (original windows, aging envelope, kitchens and baths that need work). Knowing which is which is the whole job.

The diligence this area demands

Because it’s mixed-builder and often older, Highland rewards careful diligence: a proper look at the envelope and roof, the windows, the mechanicals, and any past water history — plus a clear-eyed renovation budget where one’s needed. Priced right for its condition, a Highland home can be a genuinely good buy; priced as if it were new construction, it isn’t. Getting that read right, home by home, is where I can help most here.

Who it fits

Highland suits buyers who specifically want a view lot and trail access on the upper ridge, who are comfortable with resale and mixed vintages, and who’ll do — or let me do — the diligence a mixed-builder area requires. It’s a weaker fit if you want the certainty and warranty of a single-builder new-construction community; several of the branded communities elsewhere on the mountain will serve that better.

Frequently asked questions

Is Highland a single development? No — it’s an upper-ridge area / street grouping of mixed-builder homes, not a branded community with one developer.

Who built the homes in Highland? Various builders across different years — there’s no single developer, which is why the specific home matters more than the area name.

What kinds of homes are here? Single-family and duplex homes, largely from the early 2000s onward, many on view lots with Pinecone-Burke trail access.

What should I watch for? Because it’s mixed-builder and often older, do careful diligence on the envelope, roof, windows, mechanicals, and any water history — and budget realistically for updates where needed.

Who does Highland suit? Buyers who want a view lot and trail access on the upper ridge and are comfortable buying resale across mixed vintages.

Can you help me evaluate a specific Highland home? Yes — this is exactly the kind of area where a home-by-home read matters. Ask Craig; details genuinely vary from house to house.

Sources & methodology

Highland is described here as an area / street grouping rather than a single branded development, consistent with how it’s presented on my Burke Mountain developments guide. Because it spans mixed builders and vintages, specifics vary home to home — this guide gives the area read, not a single-community spec sheet. It reflects my professional opinion and experience as a Burke Mountain resident and REALTOR® and is not financial, legal, or tax advice.

Craig Johnston is a REALTOR® with The MACNABS Team at Royal LePage Elite West — a Top 1% Team (Greater Vancouver REALTORS®) and Top 2% Team nationwide (Royal LePage). He has lived on Burke Mountain for 9+ years and in the Tri-Cities for 47+ years.

Looking at a specific Highland Drive home? That’s exactly where a home-by-home read matters. Book a strategy call for the resident’s read, or get your free home evaluation if you need your equity number first. Compare every community in the Burke Mountain developments guide.