I may be moving to vancouver, b.c., any tips?

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Dillon Partanen

Buy a good umbrella

get an umbrella....

Susan F

Bring cash. Lots of it.

The Metro Vancouver region as its now known (used to be Greater vancouver regional district) is very expensive to live. the prices of real estate is incredibly high, and there is a low vacancy rate (thus high rents) in the rental market.

North Vancouver is beautiful, but you will pay for the beauty not only in costs, but also in your commute out of North Van. When the bridges back up, EVERYONE is late for work.

There are plenty of other locations throughout the lower mainland where you will be close to the mountains and forests - Coquitlam is one - that are slightly less expensive than North Van.

Good luck in your decision to move! The area IS beautiful. While some people will count this as a bad point, I don't - it rains a lot. The rain is what gives us our amazing forests. It doesn't get below freezing in the winter very often, but last winter it got VERY cold. We had -20 C temperatures and loads of snow. That is not normal winter weather. Usually it rains rains rains rains rains. But it always remains green and lawn-mowing season runs between late october and march.

Tigertrot

Coquitlam, B.C. is the best place to move to - it's not too far from Downtown Vancouver (40 minutes if the traffic conditions are right) or the airport (20 minutes when rush hour isn't on). Although the population is increasing from a steady trickle of people coming in, it is getting nothing close to packed in here. The streets are still practically bare of pedestrians, and the lake is five minutes' walk from our beautiful city hall.

Make sure to pick an apartment/house right around the city hall - the library is attached to it, and EVERYTHING (the newly renovated shopping centre, supermarket, restaurants, lake, small forested areas, hills, elementary/middle/high school, college) is within twenty minutes' of slooow walking distance. If you walk fast, you can get to anywhere in ten minutes' guaranteed. They're building madly right now (five highrises last time I counted, not to mention the houses), and there's always other houses that are being sold ( http://www.mls.ca lists all real estates being sold across Canada).

Unfortunately, this is a pretty bad time to move from the financial point of view. Real estate prices are skyrocketing, so expect to have to pay a LOT if you're buying a new home. Even secondhand homes are selling at unheard of prices, so be prepared.

On a final note, if your job will be located in the Downtown city core, I suggest that you take into consideration the daily commute, which can get ugly during rush hour, although there are monthly public transit passes
(unlimited riding of buses and Skytrain) you can purchase at Safeway stores.

coolshades

I have friends who live in Coquitlam, and it's pretty close to some forested areas. Although there are forests all around Vancouver, so no matter where you live, they'll be nearby.

LittleBarb

Go a bit north of Vancouver up the SunShine Coast to a little area known as Pender Harbour... my parents live there---it is a GORGEOUS little seaside town with GORGEOUS views of the ocean and rolling mountains that seem to come right down into the ocean....the fishing is great there (been MANY TIMES) and the climate isn't all that bad--it doesn't snow much and rarely goes below 30 degrees in the winter....they are usually out planting their flower gardens in February...There are wide open spaces, beautiful lakes, wildlife AND the benefit of people when you WANT them around... I met LOTS of people in Pender Harbour and they were all REALLY friendly and helpful and generous people....just learn to say they word " AY" and you will fit right in... you go on a Ferry boat outside of Vancouver up through Seashelt and onto Pender Harbour... my parents went there one time, fell MADLY in love with it and bought a house within weeks of seeing the tiny town and surrounding area......

Lex

That's so weird, I live near Salt Lake and I want to move to Vancouver B.C. too. Sorry my answer couldn't be more helpful, but I'm in the same boat you're in.

Grand pa

North vancouver can be pricy Try coquitlam., Port Moody Deep Cove

hello

i'm moving there too

SHARON

No, don't get an umbrella.
Trust me, people will judge you for it.

Umbrellas are for sissies and tourists.

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