Vancouver's Real Estate Market

[Tapioca]

A neighbour for SeaBus? TransLink puts out call for private ferry and water taxi services - British Columbia - CBC News

Translink is positioning its Compass card as our version of the Octopus card. If a Nanaimo to downtown version of a passenger ferry can be realized, I can only imagine what the effect on housing will be in that market. If detached houses are now approaching 800-900K in Abbotsford, Nanaimo has a lot of room for appreciation. Gibsons and Sechelt are next after Nanaimo.

[yray]

cubic was an idiot to not sell it as a payment service for other shit.

[Tapioca]

East Vancouver becoming less diverse, census shows - British Columbia - CBC News

A few days late, but here's an article about recent demographic changes in various neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver based on the last census.

Census Mapper is a really interesting tool that allows you to see various census data depicted by neighbourhood. As new census data comes out from Stats Canada, the people behind this site take the data sets and plot them on maps for all parts of Canada. For example, here's an interesting map depicting which neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs:

https://censusmapper.ca/maps/909

This is a pretty good tool if you're looking for your next home and are doing research on neighbourhoods you would like to live in.

[B!tch]

I know full well that developers are never going to put temporary social housing on land waiting to be remediate or in for permits. My faceticiousness doesnt come though on the internet.

I am pissed that the chevron at Granville and 41st is already a "community garden"

I avoid commenting on this thread as I am very opinionated on the subject, worked for over 25 in real estate construction/development and have to be careful what I say plus I am the closest to being "a bleeding heart socialist" in my group of close friends. The number of hours we debate this subject is crazy and I am always on the losing end.

If I were to comment on the state of real estate I would sound like an old man shaking his fist yelling get off my lawn. However my concern over what the lower mainland is becoming has me....wondering about our society.

[stewie]

Originally Posted by B!tch

I am pissed that the chevron at Granville and 41st is already a "community garden"

I once heard that building over an old gas station is extremely costly because all the tanks need to be removed and all the soil contamination means that the property has to sit for yeeeeeeeeeeeears on end. Any truth to that or is it just a bunch of planter pots sitting on top of an empty lot?

[hud 91gt]

Originally Posted by stewie

I once heard that building over an old gas station is extremely costly because all the tanks need to be removed and all the soil contamination means that the property has to sit for yeeeeeeeeeeeears on end. Any truth to that or is it just a bunch of planter pots sitting on top of an empty lot?

That's what i've always known it to be as well. New gardens popping up all over Kits too where Chevrons just closed.

[Tapioca]

Originally Posted by stewie

I once heard that building over an old gas station is extremely costly because all the tanks need to be removed and all the soil contamination means that the property has to sit for yeeeeeeeeeeeears on end. Any truth to that or is it just a bunch of planter pots sitting on top of an empty lot?

Old gas stations become community gardens because the developers get a lower property tax bill for turning the property into an amenity. Makes sense to lower property taxes while remediation is done.

[CivicBlues]

Originally Posted by Tapioca

East Vancouver becoming less diverse, census shows - British Columbia - CBC News

A few days late, but here's an article about recent demographic changes in various neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver based on the last census.

Hipsters gonna hip

[originalhypa]

Originally Posted by B!tch

If I were to comment on the state of real estate I would sound like an old man shaking his fist yelling get off my lawn. However my concern over what the lower mainland is becoming has me....wondering about our society.

I think you and I share some of the same views on real estate, but the truth is that nothing you or I can do will change anything.

I look at the growth we're seeing in BC, and comparing it to California.

1930 5,677,251 65.7%
1940 6,907,387 21.7%
1950 10,586,223 53.3%
1960 15,717,204 48.5%
1970 19,953,134 27.0%
1980 23,667,902 18.6%
1990 29,760,021 25.7%
2000 33,871,648 13.8%
2010 37,253,956 10.0%

Major growth came at the end of WW2 in the form of immigration. The east coast was already pretty congested, and middle America sucks, so there was a massive migration west.

After the war, hundreds of land developers bought land cheap, subdivided it, built on it, and got rich. Real estate development replaced oil and agriculture as Southern California's principal industry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...900_to_present

The problem with BC is that land isn't cheap. So you're deviating from what made California so prosperous. This is where I am concerned about the direction that we're going as a society.

[hud 91gt]

Interview went well. I’d say 75% chance of moving now. Interesting to see what the recent sales were in the tri cities. The few detached houses in my price range that sold were significantly below asking (5-10%).

[fliptuner]

Asking price is kind of irrelevant - too many games. Recent comps, condition, location and what it's worth to you are better indicators of current value.

[EvoFire]

Has anyone had to get their fireplace looked at before? Any recommendations for a tech?

I have a gas fireplace at home and I'm occasionally showing some symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning when I have it on for long periods of time, so I want to get my fireplace checked to see if its venting properly. Other issue is sometimes it smells a very strong sour smell when I turn it on.

[westopher]

I’m not an expert but I’d say maybe stop “giving it a try” until you have someone check it out. Don’t you have carbon monoxide detectors in your place?

[fliptuner]

Or like $10 to buy one?

[GS8]

So many open houses today in New Horizons. Signs littered all over the corner yards like election sign trash.

You can tell by the cars who doesn't live in the area

[Mr.HappySilp]

For those that live in an apartment need your help....

Live in an apartment and there is a control for the temperature. Wanted to turn the heat but it seems like all I get is cold air blowing out.

I set it the temperature to 24.5 to 25 just to test to make sure heat is coming out. Seems like the panel knows I change the temperature but somehow the system blowing only cold air out.

There is a few screenshot
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CPA...F0vnx5B7A/view

This was me testing it last night forcing it to 24.5 overnight to see if it actually raise the temperature. Woke up in the morning to 18.5. Since no heat is coming out I had to turn the oven on and let the oven door open get some heat lol.

Oven heat the apartment to 22 around 11am and I went out forcing the system to 25. I was hoping it was coz the system never had the heater turn on so it takes time (Brand new apartment just move in in July. The A/C works fine.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_b_...hY4j7p3wg/view

Came home around 5 and temperature drop to 21. Set the system back to schedule which I set to 24.5

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E0v...YUUP8jB3w/view

Currently heat is sitting at 20....... I already email the building manager and the building warrnatly. At this point is there something I can do? Or is it more of a building issue? I ask a few people I know in the building and their units seems fine. However, I talk to the security and it seems the lobby have no have heat as well. The lobby is sitting at around 18.5 degree even though is set to 30 and same thing cold air is blowing out. So I don't think is a building issue because then there wouldn't be any heat on for everyone. The fan I can either set it to Auto or On. Auto means if the A/C is on it will blow cold air and if heat is on it SHOULD BLOW HEAT OUT. if the fan is set to on it will blow cold air.

Is it something with my unit (Maybe a switch hidden somewhere), or my unit is not hook up the heating system or maybe something is broken?

Really don't want to freeze my balls off overnight....

[fliptuner]

Originally Posted by GS8

So many open houses today in New Horizons. Signs littered all over the corner yards like election sign trash.

You can tell by the cars who didn't live in the area

I still look for your car when I'm over there. Haven't seen it yet. My buddy's on Georgeson..

[GS8]

Originally Posted by fliptuner

I still look for your car when I'm over there. Haven't seen it yet. My buddy's on Georgeson..

Parents live there. They're the original owners. Bought it in 1982 when it was about 30% built.

If you see me there, I'm visiting. I'm in Burquitlam now.

Spoiler!

Though I'm stashing my second car there lol

[Traum]

What kind of heating system does your building use?

I've had a suite where the building uses a geothermal system, but there is still a heat pump of some sort in each unit itself. Naturally, each unit would also have a thermostat (the thing that you use to set the temperature, as shown in your picture). I've had symptoms very similar to yours before multiple times, and the cause has been blamed on the heat pump and/or thermostat. Each time when the suspected faulty part is replaced, the heating system functions as you'd expect again for a good while, so I think the diagnosis was correct.

My heat pump problems happened during the initial 2 year warranty period, so the developer had someone take care of it. The thermostat problem happened after the initial 2 year warranty ran out, but the building manager was able to recommend someone to come and look at (and subsequently fix) our problem.

Originally Posted by Mr.HappySilp

For those that live in an apartment need your help....

Live in an apartment and there is a control for the temperature. Wanted to turn the heat but it seems like all I get is cold air blowing out.

I set it the temperature to 24.5 to 25 just to test to make sure heat is coming out. Seems like the panel knows I change the temperature but somehow the system blowing only cold air out.

There is a few screenshot
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CPA...F0vnx5B7A/view

This was me testing it last night forcing it to 24.5 overnight to see if it actually raise the temperature. Woke up in the morning to 18.5. Since no heat is coming out I had to turn the oven on and let the oven door open get some heat lol.

Oven heat the apartment to 22 around 11am and I went out forcing the system to 25. I was hoping it was coz the system never had the heater turn on so it takes time (Brand new apartment just move in in July. The A/C works fine.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_b_...hY4j7p3wg/view

Came home around 5 and temperature drop to 21. Set the system back to schedule which I set to 24.5

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E0v...YUUP8jB3w/view

Currently heat is sitting at 20....... I already email the building manager and the building warrnatly. At this point is there something I can do? Or is it more of a building issue? I ask a few people I know in the building and their units seems fine. However, I talk to the security and it seems the lobby have no have heat as well. The lobby is sitting at around 18.5 degree even though is set to 30 and same thing cold air is blowing out. So I don't think is a building issue because then there wouldn't be any heat on for everyone. The fan I can either set it to Auto or On. Auto means if the A/C is on it will blow cold air and if heat is on it SHOULD BLOW HEAT OUT. if the fan is set to on it will blow cold air.

Is it something with my unit (Maybe a switch hidden somewhere), or my unit is not hook up the heating system or maybe something is broken?

Really don't want to freeze my balls off overnight....

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by Traum

What kind of heating system does your building use?

I've had a suite where the building uses a geothermal system, but there is still a heat pump of some sort in each unit itself. Naturally, each unit would also have a thermostat (the thing that you use to set the temperature, as shown in your picture). I've had symptoms very similar to yours before multiple times, and the cause has been blamed on the heat pump and/or thermostat. Each time when the suspected faulty part is replaced, the heating system functions as you'd expect again for a good while, so I think the diagnosis was correct.

My heat pump problems happened during the initial 2 year warranty period, so the developer had someone take care of it. The thermostat problem happened after the initial 2 year warranty ran out, but the building manager was able to recommend someone to come and look at (and subsequently fix) our problem.

Don't think is a heat pump system. I read the manual and there is an icon on the thermostat if it is a heat pump system. Not a geothermal system for sure coz when I purchase the apartment I ask about it. I know it uses gas. I check the whole apartment and I don't see anything that have something to do heating/cooling system.

The only place I haven't check is that there is a panel at the ceiling near the entrance and there is a air duct right beside it. I notice that if the system is set to A/C All air duct blow A/C (There are several air duct around the apartment) But when it is set to heat only the Air dust near the panel is blowing cold air and I do notice there are some noise from the inside the panel when system is switch to heat.

Here is the pic of the panel....
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19qp...UOLWq2odQ/view

and here is the air duct next to the panel
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y9v...XknPyoosA/view

edit sorry read the manual again and the icon is for Auxiliary heat not heat pump.

[hud 91gt]

High rise apartment? Is it forced air (as in air coming out of vents?). Or do you have baseboard heaters?

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by hud 91gt

High rise apartment? Is it forced air (as in air coming out of vents?). Or do you have baseboard heaters?

High raise apartment. I am pretty sure is forced air as I don't have any baseboard heaters and there is A/C. The air vents is all around the ceiling area.

[Traum]

I should add that the building where my suite was was a low rise (4 floors). The heat comes out from air vents. (And I've already mentioned that it was a geothermal system that somehow still had an in-suite heat pump.)

The time when my thermostat went "bad", it was still intermittently functioning. Sometimes there would still be heat coming out to get the suite up-to-temp. Sometimes there would be warm air coming out, but not enough to get it up to my desired temp. And sometimes it would just blow non-warm air out. The heating system tech checked our heat pump, checked the thermostat, and possibly a couple of other things (don't remember all the details now), and recommended to us that the thermostat is probably faulty. Replaced it and it was all good again.

I have no idea why your system is messing up, but I do hope you'll get it resolved soon. If not, at least get yourself a portable heater of some sort first to keep your place warm.

Originally Posted by Mr.HappySilp

Don't think is a heat pump system. I read the manual and there is an icon on the thermostat if it is a heat pump system. Not a geothermal system for sure coz when I purchase the apartment I ask about it. I know it uses gas. I check the whole apartment and I don't see anything that have something to do heating/cooling system.

The only place I haven't check is that there is a panel at the ceiling near the entrance and there is a air duct right beside it. I notice that if the system is set to A/C All air duct blow A/C (There are several air duct around the apartment) But when it is set to heat only the Air dust near the panel is blowing cold air and I do notice there are some noise from the inside the panel when system is switch to heat.

Here is the pic of the panel....
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19qp...UOLWq2odQ/view

and here is the air duct next to the panel
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y9v...XknPyoosA/view

edit sorry read the manual again and the icon is for Auxiliary heat not heat pump.

[hud 91gt]

Hmm. Not familiar with forced air systems in condo's. I assume its a central system and you don't have your own furnace/heat pump. Which makes me think its probably related to your thermostat, or the controlling mechanism for your central air. I think your going to have to call someone in.

I guess a good question to ask is, is your heat covered in your strata? I doubt it. But if so, then you would think that is something they need to deal with.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by hud 91gt

Hmm. Not familiar with forced air systems in condo's. I assume its a central system and you don't have your own furnace/heat pump. Which makes me think its probably related to your thermostat, or the controlling mechanism for your central air. I think your going to have to call someone in.

I guess a good question to ask is, is your heat covered in your strata? I doubt it. But if so, then you would think that is something they need to deal with.

Is a central system. That's the weird part! A/C works but heat doesn't..... I check with other people's unit and their heat works just fine....... I email the building manager and the warranty service. The heat and A/C is cover in the strata but since the building is so nice I am pretty sure the strata is going to try to put the blame and pass the bucket to warranty and warranty is going to point fingers at the strata.......