Vancouver's Real Estate Market

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by JDMDreams

^^ I looked into 3 or more bed apartments, basically it's not worth it as you're looking to buy the most expensive units. Strata is the highest as you have the largest unit, property tax is high, and you still only get one parking space and storage. More if you're real lucky. If you're looking for more than two beds just look into townhouses. Strata is half the cost, more space and property tax is similar and you get more private space

Originally Posted by JDMDreams

O and you don't have to deal with bs condo insurance rates, the townhouse insurance is like half the cost of a one bed condo

Yeah, definitely looking into townhomes, not apartments. Detached is still out of my budget sadly.

Originally Posted by quasi

That's a big one, I wish I had that when my son was that age I probably would have had a second kid for sure. Getting my parents to babysit on a weekend night so my and I could go on a date kid free twice a year was like pulling teeth. At least he's old enough where we could leave him now.

Hopefully we will be close enough to both sets of parents for childcare help in the future - Asian parents are good that way, at least.

Originally Posted by winson604

We almost fell into the trap of going the let's buy a starter place then upgrade later. At the time we had 1 kid and had plans on having a 2nd down the road but not soon. Looked at 2 bedroom condos as a starter place but after months and months of looking decided to stretch the budget and go all in on a 3 bed townhome. Thank god we did, we have 2 now and everyone has their own room and we have enough space in theory to last us for some years to come.

Yep, definitely don't want to do that. Want to try to avoid moving for at least a decade. I hate moving!

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

And with a baby on the way and presumably (one income earner losing a chunk of income), daycare expenses. I mean WTF, does everyone get an automatic raise when they announce they're pregnant?

Some companies do top up so you don't completely lose your income. Both our jobs topped up when we had our baby, it meant I could take the 9 weeks off and help out at home while wife took 18 months(her company topped up the first 4 months).

I subsequently took a higher paying job to cover some of the lost income as well.

Originally Posted by Tapioca

The Child Care Benefit sorta helps and a small portion of daycare fees can be tax deductible. However, the child care benefit is scaled to income, so most households buying $1M+ homes aren't really going to benefit from it much because the payments are small once income earners hit the 80K income level.

At the end of the day, one of the big reasons to pay daycare fees is to maintain/ increase your household income so that you can move up the property ladder.

Most people, at least those who are on here probably doesn't qualify for much CCB.

Everyone does get basic daycare assistance, but it's like $200. We make too much to get any sort of "extended" assistance, which sucks.

Originally Posted by winson604

We almost fell into the trap of going the let's buy a starter place then upgrade later. At the time we had 1 kid and had plans on having a 2nd down the road but not soon. Looked at 2 bedroom condos as a starter place but after months and months of looking decided to stretch the budget and go all in on a 3 bed townhome. Thank god we did, we have 2 now and everyone has their own room and we have enough space in theory to last us for some years to come.

This is what we did. We got a 3 bed TH as our first home. Thank god we did. With WFH FT for the foreseeable future we could do with even more space. A 2 bed condo would be sucked.

[alex.w *//]

Open houses cancelled as from today?

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by alex.w *//

Open houses cancelled as from today?

According to my sources, yes, all open houses cancelled.

[G0rilla]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

I think his S2000 is doing better than his ETFs

If BAT is any sign, cars are a better investment than gold lol

[blkgsr]

Originally Posted by sdubfid

I would avoid near downtown Vernon and along 24th Ave towards okanagan landing. Lots of homeless problems. The further from downtown the better things get.

Comparable houses are at least 100k cheaper in Vernon than kelowna. Rent prices are not much less than kelowna. House with a suite is the best bang for buck in my opinion. Would bring in minimum $2600-3000 between both units and you can find for $400-450k with patience. 20mins to silverstar skiing and biking, 1hr to Kamloops, close to revelstoke, 40mins to kelowna airport. 3.5-4 hours to Vancouver.

ok sweet thanks

one benefit for us in vernon is my father in law lives there so he could check in and help with any issues without us having to drive up there

are you up there? any contacts for realtors?

and what's the rental market like? surplus or shortage of places?

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by B!tch

3 years! Nothing should surprise me anymore but is it sitting in a .5% savings account waiting? Could you not left it 'invested' until you purchase?

I started putting some money back into the markets since it seems like it won't be 2021 until I get a place. The area I was planning to buy in this summer got decimated by vacancy and I wanted lower volatility and lower vacancy for my first rental unit.

If I decide to buy a principal residence first, I'd look for 2br's and have a roommate to cover some overhead. I just moved out in October with a roommate into a 2br and so far I feel like this is my ideal set-up for the next 5 years. It's nice having a roommate to share some household expenses. Also really fun socially.

I currently have 15% of my cash in lower volatility stocks and ETFs focussed on dividends. 20% in REITs. The remaining 65% is sitting in what used to be the 3.3% HISA at LBC digital. It's like 1.5% now? It's also against every personal finance advice to keep the money you need within the next 5 years in the market. If the market goes down, you can't buy because your downpayment will be severely reduced.

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

I think his S2000 is doing better than his ETFs

14% YOY for the last 2 years

But it doesn't matter, it brings too much happiness and fun for me to ever sell it. I see myself dropping $50k for another lower km one in 15 - 20 years down the line.

[B!tch]

[HonestTea]

Thoughts on Carleton by Censorio in Burnaby Heights? Wood frame, brand new build and never lived in. 720 sqft for 599K

[bcrdukes]

So many ballers on Revscene Why aren't more girls on here snatching up all you ballerz?!

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

So many ballers on Revscene Why aren't more girls on here snatching up all you ballerz?!

All the girls know not to date a car guy lol

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

All the girls know not to date a car guy lol

Gerbs - Are you single?

[BIC_BAWS]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

[emoji38]

Gerbs - Are you single?

Gerbs lucked out. Got a car girl

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

[SkunkWorks]

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

Gerbs lucked out. Got a car girl

Thought you were single.

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

Gerbs - Are you single?

Nope. But I'll boot her outta the garage for you dukes.


https://imgur.com/a/vpxYHZk

But realistically, ever since I moved out. I noticed how easy it is for my friend/roommate to date and hookup with girls when you have your own living space, good career, and generally attractive. Mans clapping cheeks every week lol. I think it's because most guys in their 20's are stuck living at home, which hinders dating and social life.

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

Nope. But I'll boot her outta the garage for you dukes.


https://imgur.com/a/vpxYHZk

But realistically, ever since I moved out. I noticed how easy it is for my friend/roommate to date/hookup with girls when you have your own living space, good career, and generally attractive. Mans clapping cheeks every week lol. I think it's because most guys in their 20's are stuck living at home and that hinders dating.

1) It's awkward af to bring a girl home when you are 3 steps away from your snoring parents

2) It's awkward af for a girl to come with you when there's a chance she might run into your parents

3) ditto both if you have siblings

4) If you have your own place chances are you've got your shit together, if they are evaluating this long term it just makes way more sense for them.


@Gerbs wtf do you do to own a house with a garage?

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

1) It's awkward af to bring a girl home when you are 3 steps away from your snoring parents

2) It's awkward af for a girl to come with you when there's a chance she might run into your parents

3) ditto both if you have siblings

4) If you have your own place chances are you've got your shit together if they are evaluating this long term it just makes way more sense for them.


@Gerbs wtf do you do to own a house with a garage?

There's no way I can afford a house, not yet at least. We got it for like mid 400's back in the early 2000's but pretty much grew up house poor to be able to pay it off.

I just moved out for the first time in October to get a better feel of different areas I wanna buy into. I store the car at my mom's garage. She's getting pretty old and has poor vision so she can't drive anymore and has no use for the garage. So I'm pretty fortunate to have some extra spaces at home to store a car.

I can't believe 2 - 3 BR condos only have 1 parking spaces. 2 if you're lucky.

[mikemhg]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

1) It's awkward af to bring a girl home when you are 3 steps away from your snoring parents

2) It's awkward af for a girl to come with you when there's a chance she might run into your parents

3) ditto both if you have siblings

4) If you have your own place chances are you've got your shit together, if they are evaluating this long term it just makes way more sense for them.


@Gerbs wtf do you do to own a house with a garage?

I was fucking in my late teens and early 20's, the girls just had to say hello to my mom on the way up the stairs to my room But yes, having your own spot is definitely easier.

The problem nowadays is every girl wants to be at your place 90% of the time, to the point they might as well move in. Rent here has created an atmosphere where every couple shacks up within a year of dating, the Vancouver special

[Traum]

Originally Posted by mikemhg

I was fucking in my late teens and early 20's, the girls just had to say hello to my mom on the way up the stairs to my room But yes, having your own spot is definitely easier.

LOL~

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

There's no way I can afford a house, not yet at least. We got it for like mid 400's back in the early 2000's but pretty much grew up house poor to be able to pay it off.

I just moved out for the first time in October to get a better feel of different areas I wanna buy into. I store the car at my mom's garage. She's getting pretty old and has poor vision so she can't drive anymore and has no use for the garage. So I'm pretty fortunate to have some extra spaces at home to store a car.

I can't believe 2 - 3 BR condos only have 1 parking spaces. 2 if you're lucky.

Sounds like my parents. They cashed out a few years ago though and have been moving all over the place. Been through a TH and 2 condos. My mom is thinking of moving again.

Our 3br TH has 2 parking. Some of the units have 3 spots and I am indefinitely jealous cause I would 100% have some other POS sitting in that 3rd spot.

[Tapioca]

Originally Posted by mikemhg

The problem nowadays is every girl wants to be at your place 90% of the time, to the point they might as well move in. Rent here has created an atmosphere where every couple shacks up within a year of dating, the Vancouver special

Back in the late 2000s, it was not uncommon to score rentals under $1000 per month in good locations, like the West End. The pressure for couples to live together was not nearly as great back then as it is now.

I guess the appeal of 'having your own place' has changed considerably over the past decade too. Even just 10 years ago, it was a given for most people under-30 to be able to live on their own and for many to have a starter condo somewhere on the east side, or in the near suburbs.

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

Sounds like my parents. They cashed out a few years ago though and have been moving all over the place. Been through a TH and 2 condos. My mom is thinking of moving again.

Our 3br TH has 2 parking. Some of the units have 3 spots and I am indefinitely jealous cause I would 100% have some other POS sitting in that 3rd spot.

I'm definitely grateful having that extra space to store a car or two haha. But I think we might downsize soon. My brother will be moving out soon and if my mom stays at the house alone. The carrying costs average out to like $800 - 1,000/month.

At what age would you consider your parents moving back into you so you can help them out? My mom wants to live with me in the future after I get married and have kids. She's turning 70 next year. However, I can't fathom living with her again since after finally moving out. The privacy and space is too good to give up lol

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by Tapioca

Back in the late 2000s, it was not uncommon to score rentals under $1000 per month in good locations, like the West End. The pressure for couples to live together was not nearly as great back then as it is now.

I guess the appeal of 'having your own place' has changed considerably over the past decade too. Even just 10 years ago, it was a given for most people under-30 to be able to live on their own and for many to have a starter condo somewhere on the east side, or in the near suburbs.

I weighed out my options and it went like this.

My rent options if I wanna stay within 10 - 20 minutes of where my friends and work. I'd be saving difference compared to buying.

$1,000 - 1,300/month splitting a nice 2br condo
$1,600 - 2,300/month for a 1br
$2,300 - 2,700 for a 2br so I can have a home office

or I can drop $100 - 150k on a downpayment and live a bit further away in areas I considered.

$550k - Studio in Oly Village
$530 - 600k 1br in Kits
$525 - 550k 1br in Joyce
$650- 675k 2br in Brentwood
$400 - 525k in Richmond

The issue I have is that if the place I'm buying isn't better than my current place at home. I rather just move back home and be closer to everything. That's why I haven't considered older place in like New West, Coquitlam, Edmunds, and Richmond. I guess I'm spoiled and priviledged because I have that option.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

I'm definitely grateful having that extra space to store a car or two haha. But I think we might downsize soon. My brother will be moving out soon and if my mom stays at the house alone. The carrying costs average out to like $800 - 1,000/month.

At what age would you consider your parents moving back into you so you can help them out? My mom wants to live with me in the future after I get married and have kids. She's turning 70 next year. However, I can't fathom living with her again since after finally moving out. The privacy and space is too good to give up lol

Get a place with an inlaw suite? With kids your privacy is shot anyways, but this way she still has her own space and you get on-site babysitting.