VANCOUVER, CANADA
Are you moving to Vancouver because everyone’s talking about it BUT don’t know if it may actually be a good idea for you?
Vancouver has changed a lot over the years. And there are definitely some things people love about it and some things people are not so fond of.
I grew up in Vancouver and have lived here for most of my life so I’m going to give you the insider scoop!
Here’s what you’ll learn in this video:
What makes Vancouver a great place to live in
The reason as to why real estate prices keeps going up in Vancouver
What makes Vancouver so special
What you need to know about Vancouver before moving
The reasons why people are leaving Vancouver
Why housing prices are so expensive
Benefit #1 - Vancouver is a diverse city
What I love about Vancouver is the DIVERSITY!
I love how multicultural the city is and how we are such a welcoming place. We celebrate all diversities and cultures. Which makes the city a vibrant and harmonious community. When you walk down the street, you’ll hear a multitude of languages being spoken and encounter people from so many different backgrounds and walks of life. There’s always a festival or event going on!
Con #1 - Vancouver's High cost of living
Living in Vancouver comes with a high price tag, although it's not quite in the same league as cities like New York or London. Still, when you look at it on global scale, it's on the higher end. But hey, there's a reason for that – it's a pretty desirable place to call home. A lot of people move to Vancouver for a lot of different reasons and immigration is strong here. It's estimated that 500,000 new immigrants move to Canada every year. Which is one of the highest rates per population of any country in the world. So when there is demand … guess what.. Price goes up!!
And I’m not being bias here but when people do move to Canada, usually Vancouver’s a top choice because it is a bigger city and also because of its climate compared to Toronto. Toronto can get quite hot in the summer and also very cold in the winter. Although Vancouver rains a lot, it doesn't snow that much.
So it's definitely a better choice…
As for housing prices, for example, a decent size one-bedroom apartment could be close to $3000 to rent per month in Downtown. If you want to buy a one-bedroom, the average would be about $700,000. And to buy a house, we’re looking at close to $1.7 - $2 million for something that’s move-in ready and not a complete tear down. So it gets up there.
Benefit #2 - Vancouver's Dynamic Nature Retreat
The air here is just different! As soon as you step out of the airport you really can feel the fresh air quality here.
Because of the amazing nature surrounding us, we can indulge in a range of outdoor activities that caters to anyone! Picture this: You can hit the golf course in the morning, shred some fresh powder on the slopes in the afternoon, and finish the day off paddleboarding or kayaking under the sunset!
It might be exhausting but totally do-able. It’s great for adrenaline junkie or to unwind and soak in the beauty of the great outdoors. And this place has it all.
Con #2 - Traffic Troubles: The flip Side of Vancouver living
Because I’m a realtor and I travel from city to city and with the growing population here, the infrastructures do not allow for many cars on the road. So what I hate about Vancouver is the traffic!
On top of that, the public transportation system here is not the best… compared to other metropolitan cities like Hong Kong or Japan. Where a lot of people rely on public transportation. But instead, a lot of people in Vancouver have to rely on actually driving or else it may take them way too long and way too many transfers of buses and skytrains to get to and from work.
Because property prices are higher now, many residents are finding more value living further away from the city. So that makes travel time longer and more cars on the road… So that you can avoid rush hour!
Benefit #3 - Close to the border: Vancouver's Easy Access to the US
Another reason to love Vancouver is that we are so close to the border, the US border is only an hour away. Even less depending which part of the lower mainland you live in. It’s a fun little road trip going across the border and shopping at Trader Joes or just for a weekend getaway. If you’ve got a NEXUS card, that’s a game changer! So you can breeze through customs leaving you more time to enjoy everything else.
Con #3 - Parking Costs in Vancouver
The last item that I hate is along the same lines with driving. It is that parking in Downtown or popular areas can be a pain. On some roads, parking can cost around $8-10 per hour. So it might be a better idea to just take an Uber or taxi if you have an event or dinner to go to in the city.
Benefit #4 - Vancouver's Diverse food Haven
Now, for my favorite benefit of living in Vancouver is THE FOOD! Because of its diversity, there are a lot of different cuisines.
Especially Asian food, we have some of the most authentic dim sum and Chinese food, especially in Richmond. And very affordable mouthwatering sushi. Often, when people I know come to Vancouver, they have to try the sushi!
Because in different parts of the world. Sushi can be very expensive! And it's delicious and affordable here.
There’s a lot of Korean food and BBQ and at least 15 different ramen restaurants here like on Robson street.
Other than Asian food, we have Italian in Little Italy Commercial Drive. Steak houses, middle eastern food, Indian food and a lot of great seafood restaurants also! You name it, we have it!
Now that you know what I love and hate about Vancouver, watch my next video on the things people wish they had known before moving to Vancouver! So tune in for our next video!
If you have any questions about Vancouver and what it is like to live here, feel free to email me or text. Happy to answer any questions you may have!
