Vancouver's Real Estate Market

[PeanutButter]

https://www.redfin.ca/bc/chilliwack/...home/155904350

I think I would take Chilliwack over Calgary. If I lived in Chilliwack I could drive out to a friends BBQ in Vancouver if I had to. Sure it would take me over an hour, but to still be able to make it into Vancouver definitely trumps being in Calgary I think.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by J____

My main concern would be safety, schools, and drug problems for the kid. Are people pretty friendly and any racism towards asians? Seemed pretty good when I was visiting, but that was a decade ago. In terms of housing, heard lower mission or Glenmore is good? Thanks！

So for background I grew up the lower Mission, moved to Glenmore in college and currently live in the lower Mission.

Safety is quite good I think, the rough parts of downtown have gotten larger the last few years but I think that's the same everywhere. The rest of town aside from maybe a couple rough parts of Rutland is quite safe.

The schools are good, but I graduated 15+ years ago and my oldest isn't in school yet so I'm a little out of touch there. Drugs-wise again I think we've got the same spike in fentanyl issues as everywhere else but nothing special in terms of youth problems that I'm aware of.

Most people are pretty friendly, but we've probably got more Karens and stereotypical Albertans than average. Taking my kids to parks and events I've never had a problem with anyone and lots of people are open to striking up conversations. I'm about as white as it's possible to be so I can't speak to how life is here for Asians but I can't say I've heard of any of my Asian friends having problems. I do know everyone would've had their backs if they saw anything.

Finding a family doctor is apparently quite difficult. I'm not sure if it's like that everywhere or just here. Politically we've had a Conservative MP most of the time though not by too large a margin iirc.

As far as neighbourhoods go imo the lower Mission and Glenmore are the best.

Lower Mission: completely flat and very walkable/bikeable. In some areas your kids can literally walk to school from K to college, you can walk to the grocery stores, restaurants, beaches, etc. The newest pool, ice rinks and indoor fields are here too and there's the "Greenway" which is a really nice trail system that goes all the way from the lake to Gallaghers Canyon. Through the summer Autocross happens at the college. The city has also been adding lots of bike lanes all over the place. Negatives are that ideally you want to live north of at least DeHart Road because the two elementary schools on Lakeshore and Gordon completely fuck up the traffic coming from south of there in the morning. There's a very nice neighbourhood just East of OKM Secondary though. Lakeshore Road in general is very slow all the time and the city is allowing 600 new condo units to be built on Lakeshore within a block of each other near Boyce-Gyro Park which is going to make it even worse. On that note there's a very nice neighbourhood around Windermere Park, however the 55+ trailer park next to Casorso Elementary was recently purchased by a developer so those quiet streets that dead end at the side of the park might not stay very quiet depending on what they do.

Glenmore: Places like Magic Estates feel quiet and out of town but you're really quite close to everything. On the flip side parts of Wilden look close but take ages because you have to putter through tons of residential streets before you can get out. Not as much for shops and restaurants but because of how the city is laid out you can get to anywhere in no time at all and traffic flows well because there's reasons to be going in every direction vs the mission where everyone is going north because there's nothing to the south. Dilworth also has some stunning views and pretty quiet neighbourhoods. It's less walkable because it's all on a slope but that should also mean less potential for sketchy people to wander through because who wants to bike up a hill?

Other notable neighbourhoods for the price range you mentioned:

The upper Mission/Kettle Valley, my inlaws live up there and I personally don't like it. There's nothing up there except other houses, you have to drive down the hill and well into the lower Mission to really get to anything, traffic is bad because there's only 2 dinky roads out, and they keep building up the hills like crazy. I've also found the people up there more rude and it seems like that's where a lot of the stereotypical Albertans ended up (along with Wilden). It also doesn't feel that much higher but they seem to deal with a lot more snow than the lower Mission if you don't like shoveling.

Crawford and Gallaghers are a bit isolated as well but they're a little easier to get out of and they're more established neighbourhoods that haven't really expanded.

East Kelowna/South Kelowna/Southeast Kelowna are where you'd be looking if you want a really big property.

Black Mountain and Kirschner Mountain have some gorgeous views and are convenient if you want to ski but not for much else, slogging up and down the hill on highway 33 is a bit annoying.

West Kelowna has some nice areas but the city itself is kinda meh. You have to use the highway to get pretty much anywhere which is terrible, and you'll still have to come into Kelowna for a lot of things. The highschool over there was supposedly rougher than any of the ones in Kelowna when I was growing up. But if you'll be heading back to the lower mainland lots it'll save you some time.

That's all I can think of atm. Overall I like living here but I know it's not for everyone. It can get smokey in the summer and it's not going to have that much variety for people who want to go out all the time. Really specialty things that are in bigger cities are probably lacking. I'm sure the other guys here can list off some other cons I've forgotten lol. But you get pretty easy access to quite a lot of outdoors hobbies which is pretty nice. Even our worst traffic is nothing like the lower mainland. And overall the weather is quite nice.

[JDMDreams]

I think Mission, maple ridge, and Abbotsford is as east as I'm willing to go. Anything else is like an hour+ drive without traffic which is impossible unless you come back out at the 3 am.

Abby seems up and coming the new mall seems pretty cool. But the floods kinda scared me. Not sure what there is to do though cuz all of those places seems to be pretty small town feel with just a small town center. I guess if you need Asian stuff you will at least have to drive back out to Coquitlam for TNT or h Mart.

Even Abby seems kinda far cuz it's another 30 min from Langley. Not sure why there's nothing, no development between Langley and Abby. I just see farms and cow fields.

[GS8]

I think at the end of the day, whether you choose BC, AB or (God forbid) MB, it's really up to personal choice. What you value out of life, what your priorities are, where the opportunities are etc. I've read plenty of reddit threads from people asking about relocating to completely different terrain. I learned that Vancouver is nice but not the centre of Canada. The 'Vancouver tax' is not for me but I'm just old.

Since I was born a base model, I still live like a base model. The shoebox dwelling, tesla flinging, septum piercing, resort town lifestyle is not for me but I'll stick around here for a while while I still have connections here. I do like being able to drive my 30 year old van all year round and go for late walks without a balaclava and being mistaken for an ISIS sympathizer, but I see pros and cons all across this power bottom country.

On the subject of personal priorities, home ownership dominates my thought process, the idea of buying in a smaller yet growing town between two major cities is a happy medium for me.

Then again, boredom is easier than ever if we lose purpose in life but that's for the philosophy forum.



EDIT: My brother lives in Chilliwack and works in Port Kells. Back in 2009 when he moved out there, his commute averaged 35-40. Now it takes him 90min EACH WAY. That commute alone affected his lifestyle choices he and was diagnosed with Type II in Feb. He's never been the same since.

[J____]

Originally Posted by underscore

So for background I grew up the lower Mission, moved to Glenmore in college and currently live in the lower Mission.

Safety is quite good I think, the rough parts of downtown have gotten larger the last few years but I think that's the same everywhere. The rest of town aside from maybe a couple rough parts of Rutland is quite safe.

The schools are good, but I graduated 15+ years ago and my oldest isn't in school yet so I'm a little out of touch there. Drugs-wise again I think we've got the same spike in fentanyl issues as everywhere else but nothing special in terms of youth problems that I'm aware of.

Most people are pretty friendly, but we've probably got more Karens and stereotypical Albertans than average. Taking my kids to parks and events I've never had a problem with anyone and lots of people are open to striking up conversations. I'm about as white as it's possible to be so I can't speak to how life is here for Asians but I can't say I've heard of any of my Asian friends having problems. I do know everyone would've had their backs if they saw anything.

Finding a family doctor is apparently quite difficult. I'm not sure if it's like that everywhere or just here. Politically we've had a Conservative MP most of the time though not by too large a margin iirc.

As far as neighbourhoods go imo the lower Mission and Glenmore are the best.

Lower Mission: completely flat and very walkable/bikeable. In some areas your kids can literally walk to school from K to college, you can walk to the grocery stores, restaurants, beaches, etc. The newest pool, ice rinks and indoor fields are here too and there's the "Greenway" which is a really nice trail system that goes all the way from the lake to Gallaghers Canyon. Through the summer Autocross happens at the college. The city has also been adding lots of bike lanes all over the place. Negatives are that ideally you want to live north of at least DeHart Road because the two elementary schools on Lakeshore and Gordon completely fuck up the traffic coming from south of there in the morning. There's a very nice neighbourhood just East of OKM Secondary though. Lakeshore Road in general is very slow all the time and the city is allowing 600 new condo units to be built on Lakeshore within a block of each other near Boyce-Gyro Park which is going to make it even worse. On that note there's a very nice neighbourhood around Windermere Park, however the 55+ trailer park next to Casorso Elementary was recently purchased by a developer so those quiet streets that dead end at the side of the park might not stay very quiet depending on what they do.

Glenmore: Places like Magic Estates feel quiet and out of town but you're really quite close to everything. On the flip side parts of Wilden look close but take ages because you have to putter through tons of residential streets before you can get out. Not as much for shops and restaurants but because of how the city is laid out you can get to anywhere in no time at all and traffic flows well because there's reasons to be going in every direction vs the mission where everyone is going north because there's nothing to the south. Dilworth also has some stunning views and pretty quiet neighbourhoods. It's less walkable because it's all on a slope but that should also mean less potential for sketchy people to wander through because who wants to bike up a hill?

Other notable neighbourhoods for the price range you mentioned:

The upper Mission/Kettle Valley, my inlaws live up there and I personally don't like it. There's nothing up there except other houses, you have to drive down the hill and well into the lower Mission to really get to anything, traffic is bad because there's only 2 dinky roads out, and they keep building up the hills like crazy. I've also found the people up there more rude and it seems like that's where a lot of the stereotypical Albertans ended up (along with Wilden). It also doesn't feel that much higher but they seem to deal with a lot more snow than the lower Mission if you don't like shoveling.

Crawford and Gallaghers are a bit isolated as well but they're a little easier to get out of and they're more established neighbourhoods that haven't really expanded.

East Kelowna/South Kelowna/Southeast Kelowna are where you'd be looking if you want a really big property.

Black Mountain and Kirschner Mountain have some gorgeous views and are convenient if you want to ski but not for much else, slogging up and down the hill on highway 33 is a bit annoying.

West Kelowna has some nice areas but the city itself is kinda meh. You have to use the highway to get pretty much anywhere which is terrible, and you'll still have to come into Kelowna for a lot of things. The highschool over there was supposedly rougher than any of the ones in Kelowna when I was growing up. But if you'll be heading back to the lower mainland lots it'll save you some time.

That's all I can think of atm. Overall I like living here but I know it's not for everyone. It can get smokey in the summer and it's not going to have that much variety for people who want to go out all the time. Really specialty things that are in bigger cities are probably lacking. I'm sure the other guys here can list off some other cons I've forgotten lol. But you get pretty easy access to quite a lot of outdoors hobbies which is pretty nice. Even our worst traffic is nothing like the lower mainland. And overall the weather is quite nice.

thanks so much for the detailed run down! Will definitely head out there and stay for a week or so to get a better idea of what the city's like. Been in Shanghai too long and so sick of the big city hustle and bustle. Love the outdoors and Kelowna seems like a great place to call home.

[68style]

^ Some of my friends who went back to HK after university to work/make more money than was possible in Vancouver... they're coming back now because of China problems and wanted to get away from city life for awhile to raise their kids, a couple of them bought houses in Salmon Arm and are super pleased with their choice. Seems really nice from some of the photos they post.

[Badhobz]

FISH ARM!? nice!?

that weed they smoking up there must be hella strong.

Thats not even a one horse town, more like half a horse.... quadriplegic horse.

[donk.]

Originally Posted by 68style

^ Some of my friends who went back to HK after university to work/make more money than was possible in Vancouver... they're coming back now because of China problems

Isn't HK a part of china?...

Spoiler!

Spoiler!

[Badhobz]

how dare you! HOW DARE YOU!!!

Originally Posted by donk.

Isn't HK a part of china?...

It is now hahahah

How dem protest work out for ya? good? where's your gewilo intervention now!?!?!?

[68style]

Question for peeps with families, what's the deal nowadays like every single house floorplan I look at for newer builds, the bedroom are all clustered together on 1 floor??

Don't any of these architects or builders fuck? Like... seriously do I want my bedroom to be sharing walls with my kids bedrooms so they can hear the wumpa wumpa?

I feel like in the past the master was always separated from other bedrooms or not even on the same floor as them and I figured that was a good reason why lol

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

In 2014 at Richmond High Secondary, at lunch you could spot 2 white people in the entire school in the sea of asians.

South Van had 8-12 white kids, majority were part of the autism program. Needless to say they also got bullied by the asians and the brown kids lol

[Badhobz]

This is why also Asian dudes can’t get white chicks. Theres no white chicks left in stupid Richmond or Vancouver.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by 68style

Question for peeps with families, what's the deal nowadays like every single house floorplan I look at for newer builds, the bedroom are all clustered together on 1 floor??

Don't any of these architects or builders fuck? Like... seriously do I want my bedroom to be sharing walls with my kids bedrooms so they can hear the wumpa wumpa?

I feel like in the past the master was always separated from other bedrooms or not even on the same floor as them and I figured that was a good reason why lol

I've noticed that too. I've also seen things like a kids room sharing a wall with the garage which makes no sense. I could kinda understand it if it was an older place that had been renovated but I don't know what people are thinking with some of these new builds.

[JDMDreams]

What bed rooms, new builds are open concept, glass door sperating from kitchen, kids on top bunk, you below. 380 sqft yo

[Tapioca]

Originally Posted by 68style

Question for peeps with families, what's the deal nowadays like every single house floorplan I look at for newer builds, the bedroom are all clustered together on 1 floor??

Don't any of these architects or builders fuck? Like... seriously do I want my bedroom to be sharing walls with my kids bedrooms so they can hear the wumpa wumpa?

I feel like in the past the master was always separated from other bedrooms or not even on the same floor as them and I figured that was a good reason why lol

Parents these days are generally more protective of their kids and want to be in close proximity in case things happen, like if a kid stops breathing, so consumer preferences are part of it.

Also, there are efficiencies when it comes to plumbing and other systems by having bedrooms adjacent to one another.

[Hondaracer]

It’s because most builders are shit these days, same with architects. No imagination and hands tied by bylaws and “green” initiatives which force plumbing stacks and HVAC runs into spots like tapioca said

I was just out in Dunbar today looking at some old house being Reno’ed fuck some absolutely amazing homes there these really cool, unique homes -no one- would build these days. It’s sad really

[waddy41]

Originally Posted by Badhobz

This is why also Asian dudes can’t get white chicks. Theres no white chicks left in stupid Richmond or Vancouver.

Dude, I'm sick of you complaining all the time. And it's fucked to think that having a "white girlfriend" is something to boast about.

You had mentioned that you're an asian immigrant, but you're racist AF.

You're lucky enough to have found a partner in life, but you're constantly complaining about your wife. You say she's a golddigger, so have a mature chat with her about her spending habits. Or maybe you enjoy spoiling her. Either way, stop complaining.

Pls join the rest RS, grow up a little.

[yray]

Originally Posted by waddy41

Pls join the rest RS, grow up a little.

[68style]

Dude don't judge unless you met someone, hobz is just shooting the shit on here and being sarcastic / humourous playin a bit of a character, it's hilarious... in reality dude is the most down to earth nicest guy you could meet and he totally takes care of his wifey.

He's hilarious and doesn't take anything too seriously... which you are. Lighten up.

[Badhobz]

Originally Posted by waddy41

Dude, I'm sick of you complaining all the time. And it's fucked to think that having a "white girlfriend" is something to boast about.

You had mentioned that you're an asian immigrant, but you're racist AF.

You're lucky enough to have found a partner in life, but you're constantly complaining about your wife. You say she's a golddigger, so have a mature chat with her about her spending habits. Or maybe you enjoy spoiling her. Either way, stop complaining.

Pls join the rest RS, grow up a little.

but i come here to bitch
p.s. how can she gold dig me, when she has way more money than me? if anything im trying to whats the male version of that ? Blood Diamond farm her?

[BIC_BAWS]

Originally Posted by Badhobz

This is why also Asian dudes can’t get white chicks. Theres no white chicks left in stupid Richmond or Vancouver.

Yeah Skunkworkz had to shop in Halifax.

[Badhobz]

nice! and you get lobster to go

[whitev70r]

About Calgary adv/disadvantages ... in 5 yrs time, with global warming ... 8 months of snow will be 4 ... then that climate will be like YVR of 10 yrs ago. Hurry up and get in on it while their real estate is still good before everyone catches on.

In 5 yrs time, people will complain of YVR ... hot AF, feels like Toronto, ....

[unit]

we joke about where to move to retire sometimes and honestly we're pretty lucky that most of the time the forest fire smoke tends to blow east, and also there's nowhere really west of us for us to have to deal with smoke from that direction.
if i had to move somewhere i'd stay in BC but maybe go to the island. wouldn't go to the okanagan and have to breathe fire smoke every year.

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by 68style

Question for peeps with families, what's the deal nowadays like every single house floorplan I look at for newer builds, the bedroom are all clustered together on 1 floor??

Don't any of these architects or builders fuck? Like... seriously do I want my bedroom to be sharing walls with my kids bedrooms so they can hear the wumpa wumpa?

I feel like in the past the master was always separated from other bedrooms or not even on the same floor as them and I figured that was a good reason why lol

Lived in 6 houses in my life and only one of them had the master bedroom separated from the other bedrooms and that was only because it was a skinny 3 floor townhouse with the master on the main floor.

Every Vancouver Special has the master bedroom next to another bedroom that I've seen.