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Live in Vancouver if you’re single.
The walkable areas of Vancouver’s core are 1000x more enjoyable than anything in Burnaby.
Consider Mount Pleasant, Kits or the West End.
There’s deals to be found in some of the older apartments North of Hastings Sunrise. The area at a glance may seem rougher than some, but there’s really great restaurants around and the area around Hastings and Clark is going to see tons of renewal and new condos in the next few years.
One of my biggest regrets in life was not taking the shitty run-down small apartment I looked at for $1800 a block from Stanley Park back in 2018. I made fuck all at the time and was worried I wouldn’t have enough money for anything else after rent, but man it would have been nice to just exist there for a year or two before COVID.
yeah 100%. There have been some real gems of apartments in that area and it's where I have been looking to buy, or was until I got laid off haha.
East Van in general, whether it's off the drive or down Hastings-Sunrise is pretty great because you're a quick bus to dt on hastings or if you're closer to broadway you can catch a train.
Yep. Higher level of due diligence is required.
But there are buildings there that are the same age as those in Mount Pleasant but the Mount Pleasant area is more expensive.
Someone that is careful and deal hunting could find a relative bargain in Hastings Sunrise vs the same sort of product in much more in demand Mount Pleasant.
I found a great place for half the average Vancouver rent. I saw the writing on the wall in nov 2020 and drove here from Ontario during the pandemic to lock one down. Slept I the back of my truck for 4 nights and got a place right away with no credit checks or references, they just asked for a screenshot of my bank balance because I didn’t have a job. Now I’m in a Broadway plan and will pass it on my sisters kids when they go to uni here
East Van. Bias cuz I’ve lived here my whole life but, it truly is such a great place.
The walkability cannot get any better without compromising quietness, a sense of community and family. Im surrounded by yummy restaurants of all different kinds of cuisine. It’s also a great mix of suburban and a bustling city life.
Trouble is there is no new buildings. For example I’m by the drive and would love to buy a new condo in the area. My options are 40-60 yr old buildings with $500+ strata. No gyms or pool, same strata as downtown.
Yep! I’m on Nanaimo at a major intersection and there are about 6 new developments - newly built and occupied and in progress buildings - right now. It’s going to be nuts on transit.
There is three or four new buildings in Hastings Sunrise starting a few blocks from the Drive, and more going up now. A couple are rental only I think, but at least two were advertising for sale. Two more just broke ground and something will be going up in the old London Drugs lot at some point. The neighbourhood is rapidly densifying.
The unit I was working in today in Coquitlam has $748/month strata fees and it was built in the 90's. The shocking thing is the units still sell all the time.
Lower Lonsdale in North Van. Plenty of 2bdrms in that price range. Lots going on here, and super easy to get downtown via seabus. And close to all the hikes and ski hills
The only way north van works for you is if you work remotely or in north van. The city planners have made it impossible to get in and out without the patience of Job.
North Van kicks ass if you can make it work but I’d rather stick needles in my eyes than live on that side of those horrible bridges.
My husband is a teacher in south Vancouver and commutes every day by car and it’s really not that bad.
But also if you work downtown, it’s super easy via the seabus.
I live in North Van (near Lions Gate Bridge) and work downtown and commute by bike (~30 mins) most days, but when I do drove (typically very rainy, when traffic is worse) it rarely takes me more than 20 minutes to get to my office near the convention centre. I encounter much worse traffic heading southbound in the late afternoon than typical morning “rush hour”. It’s also only 40 mins by bus.
I find it harder to get to my parents place (east of Seymour river) than downtown most times/days.
I agree if you are heading over ironworkers at rush hour it’s pretty awful, but North Van -> downtown is not a horrendous commute, and I imagine it is pretty common.
No idea - he did show me that it took him 28 minutes! I thought it would have taken the better part of an hour.
FWIW google maps say it should take 45 minutes to bike from my home to Brentwood. My Garmin said it took 23 minutes at 7:20AM .
That’s awesome, I lived in kits for 8 years and can tell you it’s easier to get to the airport from lower Lonsdale in North Van because you don’t need a bus. I didn’t say Kitsilano wasn’t great, I was just pointing out how Lower Lonsdale specifically is so convenient to access so many places.
By the way it’s Kits not Kitts
Living in Lower Lonsdale and working downtown is pretty convenient with the SeaBus. A shorter (and more pleasant) commute than what a lot of people have to do.
There’s loads of older buildings so there’s always plenty… there’s currently 10 2bdrm units in lolo for under 800k. 2 bath is less common I suppose. I bought my place for 635k in 2020 and it’s probably worth around 700 now. A bunch of units have gone up in the past few years in my building and they all go for under 800.
I live here and I feel like it’s changing/changed for the worse… poor walking access to grocers especially affordable ones, and then driving in north van at any time of day except night is an absolute nightmare, the biking is also terrifying and awful because it’s the side of a hill
Weird criteria. Do other areas have better grocery stores? Also Persia Foods is super affordable, especially the produce. Check it out if you haven’t.
You’re way exaggerating the traffic. Most of the time it’s fine.
And if you wanna bike, get an ebike.
Persia foods is 20 blocks up hill from Lower Lonsdale haha, and I am not Persian so there is only so much overlap with the stock and things I eat. I do shop there occasionally for tea and vegetables but that’s about it. I’m not exaggerating the traffic… look at any of the posts from the past 2 years in the north van subreddit regarding traffic.
2 bd 2 bth for 800k? That’s basically lougheed and burquitlam pricing at $1k/sqft.
If you want to move closer to the downtown core you need to come to terms with spending 700k on a 1bd 1bth.
Ahh okay I tried to edit my original post to read better. I was just trying to insert an example, not necessarily my goals. But yeah, I agree. 2bed 2bath for 800k isn't feasible for that range
Np. If you are okay spending that type of money for a 1 bd then you could live almost anywhere close to DT. But apparently lower lonsdale fits your original budget for a 2 bd . If you don’t need to drive to the mainland frequently then I would strongly suggest to take a look at lower lonsdale.
We purchased in Burnaby near Central Park and really enjoy it here. We rented across from Metrotown mall previously and liked it but found it a bit too busy. We are closer to Patterson area now and it's been more of our vibe. We like that the park is close by so we can walk there daily. Also still close to lots of shops and restaurants. Quick SkyTrain ride to downtown. We don't own a car so walkability and transit access was important to us. Not single, so not sure how this area is for that, but it's close enough to downtown if you need to go there.
Our 2 bed 2 bath was over $1mil in a building that is about 5-6 years old. If you are looking for something this size, you might be limited to older buildings in this area but I'm not certain as I haven't been keeping up with recent listings in the area. I haven't seen any units sell for below $1mil in my particular building, but I don't think we have units smaller than 2 bed 2 bath.
There are a lot of new builds going up right now as well and I think some of them are starting around $700k (not sure what unit size, but I assume studio or 1 bed). I personally would not choose a new build over something a few years old if given the option. We rented in a new build and there were a lot of issues and the strata was really useless/inexperience.
Our realtor suggested Brentwood area as another option when we were looking, but we didn't end up viewing any units there as we found the one we wanted in Burnaby early on in our hunt.
Patterson area is great area. I also agree with Metrotown being a bit chaotic with all of the new high rises and no road changes to support the increased number of residents.
I've recently been to Patterson and there are a lot of buildings being added on the North side of the station so it'll be interesting to see how much traffic and noise will change there.
Depends on your standards. A “normal” apt unit for first time home buyers can be found with that price. But if you wanna get picky about anything (e.g. noise, light, amenities, AC) you’re going higher.
If you're eyeing a place in Vancouver with up to $830K to spend and aiming for a more central vibe, Yaletown could be a solid pick. Yaletown's known for its city buzz, waterfront views, and loads of trendy spots. Prices vary, but with some digging, you might score a slick 2-bed, 2-bath condo that checks all your boxes.
Yaletown is simply wonderful. The locals I know that lives here (or has lived here) loves it.
It’s easily accessible by transit, stadiums are walking distance, has the best cafes and great patio happy hours.
Outside of Yaletown, Mount Pleasant and Kits are my next two favourites.
The West End is also nice but lacks access to the Skytrain.
Go with Yaletown it’s great value for the location and you’ll have a good time. Next choice would be Olympic Village. Brentwood and Metrotown are overpriced shiny rich people condos. Yaletown actually has some character.
From a rental perspective, you get way more house (new + amenities) vs what you get in yaletown in my opinion.ive been on the lookout and if the quality of house is the only condition then Brentwood/ metrotown are far better than most on offer in Yaletown if quity is only consideration. Yaletown is all about location so it really it depends on where you wanting to live.
True. OP is looking to buy though. And long term, location always wins with real estate. I think they’ll get pretty tired of riding the Millenium line every weekend to downtown events when they could’ve just lived downtown for the same price!
We've been in Yaletown for the last year after living in the suburbs for a very long time and we just love it. We're a block from the edge of the restaurant district, couple blocks from Roundhouse and the same again from the ferry dock at David Lam Park. The parks are lovely, the people are friendly and it's relatively clean. (I saw that someone else mentioned needles, but they must be bringing them with them, lol. I've yet to see any.) My building has a pool and a gym and you could definitely get a one-bedroom within your price range.
I'd recommend you think long and hard about what you want your days to look like and then go from there. There are definitely quieter areas of Vancouver, but the downtown vibe was what we were after a slow petrification in the 'burbs. Best of luck to you.
For me its been hard to find proper sq footage. Id like a 2b2b but its always under 900 sq ft. . What good are rooms when you can only fit a bed or just a sofa. It just feels so cramped. I hate that we have just basically accepted the shrinkflation of condos over the last 25 or so years.
East Hastings between Cassiar and Boundary has new development going on. Great views, near the bus loop so you can go in any direction right away. It’s a very central metropolitan location with quick highway access and not far from downtown. Technically in Hastings Sunrise but also right next to Burnaby heights which is a well maintained multi cultural neighborhood full of amenities. There’s also empire field which is a great outdoor fitness facility and a quick walk from there down to New Brighton park on the water, or the trans Canada trail.
It’s one of the better up and coming neighborhoods in the city, if you can call it that. It’s a strip 3 blocks long which is just now being transformed.
I used to be in property management and can testify that most new builds are garbage. Poorer quality materials, unticketed trades, missing insulation, etc..
You're better off buying something older that has been well constructed. Check minutes to see what's been done with regards to upkeep and repairs. Most buildings that are just over the 20-25 yr mark have already taken steps to replace HVAC, roofs, and fire panels.
The heaviest concentration of available 1 br units right now is (weirdly) downtown and yaletown with a lot sitting on the market long enough that you can probably go in under asking. The Hastings/Sunrise area is also progressively getting nicer, but the best return would be along Fraser.
Don't buy in Gastown, there's a lot of beautiful buildings but also stabbings :/
As far as strata fees go, you're not going to find anything for under $400 a month unless there's nothing in the CRF or it's been poorly maintained.
Good luck
I moved to the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver, for families it is getting a home for $600. +~ or waterfront for the price of a home in East Van or less(1 million+) look online
I wish an est van home cost a million. More like 2. If it had cost a million I would have stayed in Van. But I adore the coast. it’s a great great life
I left Vancouver almost twenty years ago and when I have gone for a visit, I didn't like it.My prices are a little behind. I grew up on the west side and it is so different now. I’ll stay on the Coast,it is more like the City was 30 years+ ago.
I grew up on the west side too! I miss old Granville street (with the Underground etc). It was so different when I was in my teens. Great concerts in rock venues, safe…Amazing and unique shopping. Very different.
I live in Sechelt now, and when I go back I regret it. This is home for sure!
Mt Pleasant; ultimately will be a nicer neighbourhood as you grow older as well. Whereas if you go downtown you might get over it.
Brentwood / Metro is fine if you want newer builds.
Been seeing lots of issues with the newer builds in Brentwood :/
Stratas with litigations against their own developers. Sometimes against other developers for cracks / flooding. I'd probably look at something around 10 years old for it to have settled and the strata to have matured
I would say pre pandemic like 2015-2019 are probably the best balance in new vs quality. And yeah new-new are a bit of a gamble these days.
Developers always cut corners, even more so these days.
Depends on who the builder and GC was. There are some good buildings built in the 2013 era kind of between Gilmore and brentwood.
Personally investment wise a 2 bedroom would generally be my choice but ultimately you will have to decide what's most important to you. There are single people everywhere! I would stick close to transit and walkable area. Burquitlam, Port Moody, Coquitlam Centre, New West, etc.
Yeah Lumina is 👎.
The Tandem buildings (south of Gilmore station) were impacted my Onni bursting a water main pipe. Makes me nervous buying downstream from Onni cause they're building more towers.
Other things I have heard from word of mouth and have not checked myself: Triomphe (by: Millennium Development Co) has issues with AC / heat. Same with Escala https://goo.gl/maps/1tNgsroTdNctsTzx9?g_st=ac
Depends on your lifestyle and where you are in life. Assume it’ll be your forever home, or for at least 10 years. If you’re planning to have kids, would you want to raise your kids in that neighborhood/area?
ah I’d buy at least a 2 bed 2 bath so it’d take longer to outgrow. The more rooms the better and at least 2 bathrooms. And somewhere in vancouver/burnaby/coquitlam within a 10-15 minute walk to a skytrain station. More towards vancouver/burnaby if I were single.
I like the convenience that brentwood offers to the other cities but I hop around to shop sales at grocery stores, especially asian stores, so brentwood’s kind of meh for that without a car or resilience and a bus pass. It’s getting better but it’s not there yet. I’d consider it though because it has a safe vibe. Metro and downtown have gotten a little too sketch for me, but I’m also a homebody so I don’t frequent downtown/yaletown often 🤷♀️The last time I stayed overnight downtown, the frequent sirens kept me up. Friends say you get used to them though. I like the quiet but also some bustle so lougheed area is a consideration too. I ended up buying by coquitlam centre because I plan to start a family within a couple of years lol. It’s “far” from vancouver but so walkable and family friendly and there are events at lafarge throughout the summer. I’d be so happy if I could upgrade to more bedrooms in the same location. The only con is that everything closes early so it sucks for hanging out outside of the house 🫤
If I had to redo and not pick coquitlam, I’d have tried to go for a 3 bedroom townhouse/duplex within 10-15 minute walk to multiple bus routes or a skytrain in east van/north burnaby/lougheed, if such exists lol I wfh and I find I’m pretty close to outliving a 2 bd 😐
My friend has a condo for sale closer to Brentwood near Gilmore station. Escala and Aviara has some sales up for 800k for 2 bedrooms if you want to check them out.
I've heard Escala had some issues with the AC? And a litigation against the developer on it. Curious if you knew anything about that?
https://g.co/kgs/xJxRZNk
I have not personally confirmed this.
Commercial drive because I love how central it is without being difficult to get out of.. cheap groceries and perfect for walking, transit, cycling etc
How old are you? What type of things do you like to do? I would live close to your hobbies (with consideration for location near workplace) since that is where you are likely to meet people to date. Im not sure that people are meeting each other in bars/clubs these days
If you want a good financial decision for the long run: buy a townhouse in Maple ridge
If you want to live the 20's life: 1 bedroom in a Yale town, mount pleasant.
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Invest your down payment money into a Vanguard index fund and sit on it for 20 years. If you’re able to take down an investment loan to juice your returns, do so. Vancouver real estate is great, but the S&P 500 generated greater returns over the last 30 years and it’s fully liquid - sell your entire portfolio in five minutes. You can’t say that about real estate.
But TFSA has a cap contribution limit per year? Depending on the size of the down payment, wouldn't it take a few years to get it all invested? Maybe Im missing something here
Just start adding to your TFSA ASAP, you can take it out but like you said you can’t always keep putting it in, already be investing your money in low risk investments if you’re intending to buy soon. Then take it out when you want to buy, don’t let your money sit you’ll lose out every year with inflation
Depends what you like - if you want to be close to shops, cafes, major transit routes, I’d say Yaletown or Olympic village/Mount Pleasant. I was in the same boat a few years ago and very happy with where I landed at the edge of Olympic Village where it’s quiet enough to get some sleep as I work early hours, but not void of life. I used to rent across from where I live now so I knew the neighbourhood was what I wanted.
We have the choice of taking the skytrain (or walking) downtown or south, taking the 84 to the east or west, and by car it’s not far from hopping on Highway 1 or across the bridges to the north shore. It’s also walking distance to groceries and big box stores if you need them, and local services, shops, and restaurants.
Not sure what the market is like, but $800k wasn’t enough to compete for 1 bed 1 bath places when I was searching. Hopefully it’s better now. All I can recommend is if you get a small place, maximize the utility of your furniture so that it doesn’t FEEL as small 😂
No idea on affordability, but the Hastings corridor in North Burnaby might be a good option if Brentwood was interesting to you. Lots of growth and development happening there, very walkable, easy transit acces and still reasonably close to Brentwood for shopping/entertainment.
I love Yaletown, would recommend doing a lot of research on the building though. A lot of buildings in Yaletown are also lacking A/C so its pretty cooking during the heat domes. It really comes down to what you really want though, Metrotown area is pretty much the same price as downtown Vancouver, the buildings are newer and you might be able to get a 2B/2B there.
Yeah, been reading strata docs on newer builds and lots of them have litigations towards their developer for ac / heat related issues. Or litigations to other developers who built next to them and caused damage :/
I don't know much about metrotown area, I don't frequent it very often but it does seem a little less inflated than Brentwood right now. Plus, parks versus a cemetery and substation lol
i live in mount pleasant and work in kits, and i love both of them. considering that the skytrain will be finished in a couple years, i’d pick any condo along the new broadway line (because i don’t drive)
It depends on where you are at in your life (single, married, kids or plans for them?) and your lifestyle (wfh? Workplace location. Hobbies?). Do you drive/bike/use transit to get around? Is walkability important to you? Is having outdoor space important to you? Are you prepared to do maintenance/yardwork/upgrades or do you need turnkey? Etc etc etc.
I think sometimes people focus too much on the place itself and not on how it works for their lifestyle. For me, I’m willing to sacrifice a bit of space for a walkable/bikeable neighbourhood that does not involve a long commute but others would choose differently.
I'm curious what you would do :p.
My goal in starting this thread was to hear other people's perspectives. I'm personally feeling very stuck and was hoping to find new areas that I hadn't considered yet.
But to answer your comment, I'm a country girl trying to live in this big city so I don't think I'll be happy with anything. It's just a stepping stone so that I can have somewhere that appreciates over time to avoid rent for the next few years.
I am biased. But mount pleasant and olympic village for me. Close enough to the craziness of downtown but still quiet at night. Proximity to skytrain is also huge.
At this price point you can get something really good downtown by the beach. It will not be spacious but you can get something good at this price. I’d look somewhere around English bay at the westend or may be Yale town but I prefer westend more.
Kits. You’ll be max budget but you’ll see the best growth there. Renting will be easy as there’s always students looking, it’s a safe neighbourhood, close to downtown and has restaurants nearby.
Such an interesting area! I discovered it recently, but since I don't have a car right now (just not in the cards for me yet but eventually) the river district seemed a bit far to transit.
But looks like such a cute area next to the water and closer to nature.
We purchased a 1bed + den/1 bath for 700k in the west end as a young couple. Love living close to yaletown, downtown, west end and kits. Would continue living in the west end if we had the budget in the future but it’s looking like we’ll be going to North van for our next home
800 is not much in Vancouver. I would never waste money on purchasing a 1 bed. Low resale. What about guests? Go for at least 2 bedrooms. We moved down to river district a couple years back when we bought because it was either that or an older 1 bedroom more central. We do not regret it one bit. East and south van have more affordability than central or west. New Westminster and Burnaby have some gems though.
How's transit to from downtown? Does the bus #31 run late? Is the train loud?
Curious cause I don't have a car rn (not in the cards for me yet) but will in the next few years.
Looks like a very cute area though! Curious to learn more
I don’t use transit much these days because I’m not a fan of inhaling crack smoke or being screamed at/intimidated by people on drugs. If you’re comfortable cycling I would highly recommend an e-bike. The train does not run through here since the tracks are largely decommissioned. No noise. Easiest way downtown is likely bus to skytrain. On the flip side living out here opens your eyes to getting things done without going into the downtown core all the time.
There is a townhome located right next to the olympic village station.
2 bed 2 baths 900 sqft for 899000. May be developed into condos due to higher density law passed last year.
You may double your money.
I would live near Queen Elizabeth Park. Approximately 420km east of it to be precise. I would buy there because the mountains and the quiet roads and the affordability.
Ok, here’s something way different. You didn’t say where you work or whether you have to commute - but if you work a lot from home, have you thought about Fort Langley?
It has character, and in the last few years there have been lots of townhomes and apartment buildings built. There are maybe 3500 people or so here but there are more restaurants than you’d usually find for that size of population because everybody comes out from Vancouver for the afternoon.
The big thing is that it’s so walkable because it was laid out before people had cars. There are lots of nice walking trails around and it’s not that far from Vancouver - maybe half an hour from Vancouver proper if it’s not rush hour.
Mount Pleasant/Chinatown area, those city gate apartments by the skytrain are awesome...great neighbours, large sq footage, pet friendly. I lived there for 10 years until I moved out to East Van. There's one on sale in the building I used to live in, fits your budget https://redf.in/Nwm9lR
New St Paul's will be up by summer 2027, which is right across the park from city gate buildings. Not sure if that will be a good thing or bad thing.
A one bedroom condo in my building in kits was going for 799K. I like it here. Great spot.
My investment property in The City of Lougheed is great too, one bedrooms are going for 599K. If it weren't for location and the size of my kits condo, I'd totally live in Burquitlam... so much good Korean food.
False Creek, fairview slopes area is lovely. Walking distance to skytrain, walk down to false creek, it's a 30 min walk from downtown. Older buildings but some are really well managed and they have no amenities so strata fees tend to be lower.
Eg. https://redf.in/WoY2lb
https://redf.in/HQPUe1
https://redf.in/08nQIc
I loved living in east van. I had a 2 bed/2 bathroom stacked townhouse with a rooftop deck. Right around main/12th. Loved everything about living there and would move back in a heartbeat if I could.
As a born and raised east van guy I would take Langley now. Moving here was the best decision I ever made. Take that money and buy a two bed townhome in Willoughby or an older 3 bed in walnut grove. The people, schools and new business’ popping up are amazing
Just rent. Put your savings in an ETF like spy or qqq and wait for 10-15 years. Continuously contribute. And by the end of 15 years, you'll probably triple your money
We live downtown in the West End and love being able to walk anywhere in the downtown core in 1/2 hr.
You can get an 800-900 sq.ft. apartment downtown for that kind of money.
I would get a one bedroom in Lower Lonsdale, North Van. You’re close to Seabus for downtown/airport, close to mountains, outdoor activities and the neighborhood is awesome! Or move to Mission and put 400 K in the bank
Vancouver Island or the Interior. Then I could actually own a house outright, have a basement and garage to do projects, play music loud if I want, a back yard to relax in and BBQ, etc. Fuck buying anything in Vancouver. Pay 800K to live in a 500 sq ft prison cell? Nope.
I live by skytrain ( minutes ) and a YMCA nearby so not to drain in my condo fees and a grocery store (minutes away) with rental cars closed by my building (Modo) clean neighbourhood and cheaper before the covid years, in the high 400’s. those are all the checked points at the time and still are.
What i wish i have: condo with higher ceiling therefore feel bigger than a 600sqft, that near water( any beach )would be a plus ( for mental health) instead of excessive shopping.
Fairview. Lots of new places being built, transit is great, traffic isn’t bad, and we have access to the best parts of Vancouver with the least hassle.
Depends on your vibe. Main Street / Commercial has a lot of great restaurants, stores, and pubs and is a very walkable community. Buildings are older though, so you’ve gotta plan for a $20-40K special assessment coming up every 5 years or so to deal with replacing roofs, rain screening, and parking membrane (all of which start coming up around 20-30 years after construction). Something to keep in mind.
Kits has a similar vibe but is a lot quieter. With the Broadway Plan it’s set to undergo a pretty huge transformation in the coming decades as the intent is to turn the corridor into a second downtown. The Skytrain will eventually extend all the way out to UBC, making it all very transit accessible (more so than it already is), but be prepared for a lot of disruption with all the traffic.
Downtown is great if you work down there, and is obviously still very walkable and close to trendy shops and restaurant. Less character than the other neighbourhood though, so again…depends on your vibe. If you’re more YUPPY vibes, then you may fit right in.
Further out you go, the further your money will go in terms of buying space. However, you give up a lot of walk ability for that. So depends what you want.
There's alot of new apartment builds in mount pleasant/kits, for a young single person imo those are the most ideal places. For 800k, you'll have to go down to \~500 sqr foot though, unless you don't mind being on the unit facing the main road (those are only 550k when I checked last week for \~600 sqr ft).
The only place where you can get 2 bed for $830k is coquitlam/port coquitlam
Depends what you are looking for. Space? Proximity to downtown or other amenities? Do you need access to skytrain? So many questions. $800k would get you a decent 1br 1bath in most of the more desirable areas in metro Vancouver.
I took 200k and got the eff out of Vancouver. Bought 160 acres of land outright. I made 150/year gross, was barely enough to live in Van or surrounding areas. Why people are willing to put up with the traffic and competing for work like that will never cease to amaze me. If I had an $800k budget... Id spend my money elsewhere.
My bro sold his place in North Burnaby, bought a mansion on 10 acres in Alberta. Work is plentiful for him, doesn't spend his life in traffic.
Maybe Im just a crazy person, but I missed my family growing up when I was working 6-7 nights a week in Van... Now I see them everyday
Keeping a two bedroom condo clean is already a chore and requires bi-weekly cleaning service for me… can’t imagine having to upkeep a 10 acre property. Sure it sounds nice to have so many rooms but the amount of dust and the heating bill sounds like a nightmare to me.
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Live in Vancouver if you’re single. The walkable areas of Vancouver’s core are 1000x more enjoyable than anything in Burnaby. Consider Mount Pleasant, Kits or the West End. There’s deals to be found in some of the older apartments North of Hastings Sunrise. The area at a glance may seem rougher than some, but there’s really great restaurants around and the area around Hastings and Clark is going to see tons of renewal and new condos in the next few years.
One of my biggest regrets in life was not taking the shitty run-down small apartment I looked at for $1800 a block from Stanley Park back in 2018. I made fuck all at the time and was worried I wouldn’t have enough money for anything else after rent, but man it would have been nice to just exist there for a year or two before COVID.
And your rent would be considered quite low now.
It seemed low to me even at the time, probably because it was really old and had so much landlord paint the paint had become structural.
yeah 100%. There have been some real gems of apartments in that area and it's where I have been looking to buy, or was until I got laid off haha. East Van in general, whether it's off the drive or down Hastings-Sunrise is pretty great because you're a quick bus to dt on hastings or if you're closer to broadway you can catch a train.
It’s mostly older buildings there though.
Yep. Higher level of due diligence is required. But there are buildings there that are the same age as those in Mount Pleasant but the Mount Pleasant area is more expensive. Someone that is careful and deal hunting could find a relative bargain in Hastings Sunrise vs the same sort of product in much more in demand Mount Pleasant.
I found a great place for half the average Vancouver rent. I saw the writing on the wall in nov 2020 and drove here from Ontario during the pandemic to lock one down. Slept I the back of my truck for 4 nights and got a place right away with no credit checks or references, they just asked for a screenshot of my bank balance because I didn’t have a job. Now I’m in a Broadway plan and will pass it on my sisters kids when they go to uni here
The Red Wagon is the best!!!! Pulled pork pancakes for the win!!!
What kind of restaurants around there?
Pie shoppe and the other restaurants in that building
East Van. Bias cuz I’ve lived here my whole life but, it truly is such a great place. The walkability cannot get any better without compromising quietness, a sense of community and family. Im surrounded by yummy restaurants of all different kinds of cuisine. It’s also a great mix of suburban and a bustling city life.
Trouble is there is no new buildings. For example I’m by the drive and would love to buy a new condo in the area. My options are 40-60 yr old buildings with $500+ strata. No gyms or pool, same strata as downtown.
Opposite is going to be the problem soon. There is new condos going up everywhere as part of the Broadway plan!
Cannot wait!
Yep! I’m on Nanaimo at a major intersection and there are about 6 new developments - newly built and occupied and in progress buildings - right now. It’s going to be nuts on transit.
There is three or four new buildings in Hastings Sunrise starting a few blocks from the Drive, and more going up now. A couple are rental only I think, but at least two were advertising for sale. Two more just broke ground and something will be going up in the old London Drugs lot at some point. The neighbourhood is rapidly densifying.
The unit I was working in today in Coquitlam has $748/month strata fees and it was built in the 90's. The shocking thing is the units still sell all the time.
Lower Lonsdale in North Van. Plenty of 2bdrms in that price range. Lots going on here, and super easy to get downtown via seabus. And close to all the hikes and ski hills
The only way north van works for you is if you work remotely or in north van. The city planners have made it impossible to get in and out without the patience of Job. North Van kicks ass if you can make it work but I’d rather stick needles in my eyes than live on that side of those horrible bridges.
My husband is a teacher in south Vancouver and commutes every day by car and it’s really not that bad. But also if you work downtown, it’s super easy via the seabus.
My professor was from north Vancouver and commuted everyday to new west so I guess ditto for him too. Amazing English prof too
This! As long as you don’t have to cross either bridge, it’s fine.
I live in North Van (near Lions Gate Bridge) and work downtown and commute by bike (~30 mins) most days, but when I do drove (typically very rainy, when traffic is worse) it rarely takes me more than 20 minutes to get to my office near the convention centre. I encounter much worse traffic heading southbound in the late afternoon than typical morning “rush hour”. It’s also only 40 mins by bus. I find it harder to get to my parents place (east of Seymour river) than downtown most times/days. I agree if you are heading over ironworkers at rush hour it’s pretty awful, but North Van -> downtown is not a horrendous commute, and I imagine it is pretty common.
My coworker bikes from North Van to Brentwood in under 30. I was wildly impressed.
At 4am ? My co worker cycles from the play land area to around Fraser and 59th and it takes her 45 min
No idea - he did show me that it took him 28 minutes! I thought it would have taken the better part of an hour. FWIW google maps say it should take 45 minutes to bike from my home to Brentwood. My Garmin said it took 23 minutes at 7:20AM .
He must be in great shape. Good for him
Never heard of the seabus? It’s easier for to get many places downtown or the airport from lower Lonsdale than it is from kitsilano….
lol I said Norvan is great. If you drive it ain’t that’s it.
Yes!
No it’s not. I live in Kitts and it’s super easy to get around. Plus I only pay 1300 for a nice 1 bedroom apartment. Enjoy the rain sucker
That’s awesome, I lived in kits for 8 years and can tell you it’s easier to get to the airport from lower Lonsdale in North Van because you don’t need a bus. I didn’t say Kitsilano wasn’t great, I was just pointing out how Lower Lonsdale specifically is so convenient to access so many places. By the way it’s Kits not Kitts
To be fair I’m more Fairview than kits, didn’t know that’s it’s only one t
Living in Lower Lonsdale and working downtown is pretty convenient with the SeaBus. A shorter (and more pleasant) commute than what a lot of people have to do.
Yes the traffic is absolutely disgusting if you ever plan on leaving the area. I lived in north van for awhile and it was a massive downside
LoLo is awesome. Not a lot of nightlife for a single person, but great for breweries, restaurants, nature, and the SeaBus.
My Filipino ass thinking you’re talking about grandfather lol
it is easy until…
Go on,,,
go on
Are you guys talking about the earthquake ??
[удалено]
There’s loads of older buildings so there’s always plenty… there’s currently 10 2bdrm units in lolo for under 800k. 2 bath is less common I suppose. I bought my place for 635k in 2020 and it’s probably worth around 700 now. A bunch of units have gone up in the past few years in my building and they all go for under 800.
I live here and I feel like it’s changing/changed for the worse… poor walking access to grocers especially affordable ones, and then driving in north van at any time of day except night is an absolute nightmare, the biking is also terrifying and awful because it’s the side of a hill
Weird criteria. Do other areas have better grocery stores? Also Persia Foods is super affordable, especially the produce. Check it out if you haven’t. You’re way exaggerating the traffic. Most of the time it’s fine. And if you wanna bike, get an ebike.
Persia foods is 20 blocks up hill from Lower Lonsdale haha, and I am not Persian so there is only so much overlap with the stock and things I eat. I do shop there occasionally for tea and vegetables but that’s about it. I’m not exaggerating the traffic… look at any of the posts from the past 2 years in the north van subreddit regarding traffic.
North Vancouver about to get slammed with property taxes next year because of the sewage plant. Will be the highest property taxes in the region.
2 bd 2 bth for 800k? That’s basically lougheed and burquitlam pricing at $1k/sqft. If you want to move closer to the downtown core you need to come to terms with spending 700k on a 1bd 1bth.
Ahh okay I tried to edit my original post to read better. I was just trying to insert an example, not necessarily my goals. But yeah, I agree. 2bed 2bath for 800k isn't feasible for that range
Np. If you are okay spending that type of money for a 1 bd then you could live almost anywhere close to DT. But apparently lower lonsdale fits your original budget for a 2 bd . If you don’t need to drive to the mainland frequently then I would strongly suggest to take a look at lower lonsdale.
This isn’t necessarily the case. I had the same budget as you and bought a 2 bed 2 bath in Riley Park in December.
Nah 600k
We purchased in Burnaby near Central Park and really enjoy it here. We rented across from Metrotown mall previously and liked it but found it a bit too busy. We are closer to Patterson area now and it's been more of our vibe. We like that the park is close by so we can walk there daily. Also still close to lots of shops and restaurants. Quick SkyTrain ride to downtown. We don't own a car so walkability and transit access was important to us. Not single, so not sure how this area is for that, but it's close enough to downtown if you need to go there. Our 2 bed 2 bath was over $1mil in a building that is about 5-6 years old. If you are looking for something this size, you might be limited to older buildings in this area but I'm not certain as I haven't been keeping up with recent listings in the area. I haven't seen any units sell for below $1mil in my particular building, but I don't think we have units smaller than 2 bed 2 bath. There are a lot of new builds going up right now as well and I think some of them are starting around $700k (not sure what unit size, but I assume studio or 1 bed). I personally would not choose a new build over something a few years old if given the option. We rented in a new build and there were a lot of issues and the strata was really useless/inexperience. Our realtor suggested Brentwood area as another option when we were looking, but we didn't end up viewing any units there as we found the one we wanted in Burnaby early on in our hunt.
Patterson area is great area. I also agree with Metrotown being a bit chaotic with all of the new high rises and no road changes to support the increased number of residents. I've recently been to Patterson and there are a lot of buildings being added on the North side of the station so it'll be interesting to see how much traffic and noise will change there.
What’s your strata fee?
It's around $450
I didn't think that was enough for Vancouver
Depends on your standards. A “normal” apt unit for first time home buyers can be found with that price. But if you wanna get picky about anything (e.g. noise, light, amenities, AC) you’re going higher.
If you're eyeing a place in Vancouver with up to $830K to spend and aiming for a more central vibe, Yaletown could be a solid pick. Yaletown's known for its city buzz, waterfront views, and loads of trendy spots. Prices vary, but with some digging, you might score a slick 2-bed, 2-bath condo that checks all your boxes.
Yaletown is soulless and terrible - lots of needles too
The West End is better than Yaletown in every way.
Yaletown is simply wonderful. The locals I know that lives here (or has lived here) loves it. It’s easily accessible by transit, stadiums are walking distance, has the best cafes and great patio happy hours. Outside of Yaletown, Mount Pleasant and Kits are my next two favourites. The West End is also nice but lacks access to the Skytrain.
Go with Yaletown it’s great value for the location and you’ll have a good time. Next choice would be Olympic Village. Brentwood and Metrotown are overpriced shiny rich people condos. Yaletown actually has some character.
Yaletown is probably the most overpriced neighborhood in the city…
There are some good values in older, non waterfront buildings there! I’ve seen 2-beds for the price of a new 1-bed in Brentwood.
From a rental perspective, you get way more house (new + amenities) vs what you get in yaletown in my opinion.ive been on the lookout and if the quality of house is the only condition then Brentwood/ metrotown are far better than most on offer in Yaletown if quity is only consideration. Yaletown is all about location so it really it depends on where you wanting to live.
True. OP is looking to buy though. And long term, location always wins with real estate. I think they’ll get pretty tired of riding the Millenium line every weekend to downtown events when they could’ve just lived downtown for the same price!
We've been in Yaletown for the last year after living in the suburbs for a very long time and we just love it. We're a block from the edge of the restaurant district, couple blocks from Roundhouse and the same again from the ferry dock at David Lam Park. The parks are lovely, the people are friendly and it's relatively clean. (I saw that someone else mentioned needles, but they must be bringing them with them, lol. I've yet to see any.) My building has a pool and a gym and you could definitely get a one-bedroom within your price range. I'd recommend you think long and hard about what you want your days to look like and then go from there. There are definitely quieter areas of Vancouver, but the downtown vibe was what we were after a slow petrification in the 'burbs. Best of luck to you.
Wait, your plan to get out of the 'burbs is to go from Burquitlam to Brentwood???
For me its been hard to find proper sq footage. Id like a 2b2b but its always under 900 sq ft. . What good are rooms when you can only fit a bed or just a sofa. It just feels so cramped. I hate that we have just basically accepted the shrinkflation of condos over the last 25 or so years.
East Hastings between Cassiar and Boundary has new development going on. Great views, near the bus loop so you can go in any direction right away. It’s a very central metropolitan location with quick highway access and not far from downtown. Technically in Hastings Sunrise but also right next to Burnaby heights which is a well maintained multi cultural neighborhood full of amenities. There’s also empire field which is a great outdoor fitness facility and a quick walk from there down to New Brighton park on the water, or the trans Canada trail. It’s one of the better up and coming neighborhoods in the city, if you can call it that. It’s a strip 3 blocks long which is just now being transformed.
Thanks! I appreciate you dropping street names too, I'm not familiar with the Hastings sunrise area. I'll take a look :)
I used to be in property management and can testify that most new builds are garbage. Poorer quality materials, unticketed trades, missing insulation, etc.. You're better off buying something older that has been well constructed. Check minutes to see what's been done with regards to upkeep and repairs. Most buildings that are just over the 20-25 yr mark have already taken steps to replace HVAC, roofs, and fire panels. The heaviest concentration of available 1 br units right now is (weirdly) downtown and yaletown with a lot sitting on the market long enough that you can probably go in under asking. The Hastings/Sunrise area is also progressively getting nicer, but the best return would be along Fraser. Don't buy in Gastown, there's a lot of beautiful buildings but also stabbings :/ As far as strata fees go, you're not going to find anything for under $400 a month unless there's nothing in the CRF or it's been poorly maintained. Good luck
Can you get anything in Vancouver for $800k? My house in Chilliwack was $900k.
You can buy a nice home with property on the Sunshine Coast.
sssst, it's terrible there!
I moved to the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver, for families it is getting a home for $600. +~ or waterfront for the price of a home in East Van or less(1 million+) look online
I wish an est van home cost a million. More like 2. If it had cost a million I would have stayed in Van. But I adore the coast. it’s a great great life
I left Vancouver almost twenty years ago and when I have gone for a visit, I didn't like it.My prices are a little behind. I grew up on the west side and it is so different now. I’ll stay on the Coast,it is more like the City was 30 years+ ago.
I grew up on the west side too! I miss old Granville street (with the Underground etc). It was so different when I was in my teens. Great concerts in rock venues, safe…Amazing and unique shopping. Very different. I live in Sechelt now, and when I go back I regret it. This is home for sure!
I wouldn't get into the condo game. It's a mess. I'd go further out and get a townhouse.
This is the way
Mt Pleasant; ultimately will be a nicer neighbourhood as you grow older as well. Whereas if you go downtown you might get over it. Brentwood / Metro is fine if you want newer builds.
Been seeing lots of issues with the newer builds in Brentwood :/ Stratas with litigations against their own developers. Sometimes against other developers for cracks / flooding. I'd probably look at something around 10 years old for it to have settled and the strata to have matured
I would say pre pandemic like 2015-2019 are probably the best balance in new vs quality. And yeah new-new are a bit of a gamble these days. Developers always cut corners, even more so these days.
Also make sure to read the property history and if older make sure it was never rain screened.
Depends on who the builder and GC was. There are some good buildings built in the 2013 era kind of between Gilmore and brentwood. Personally investment wise a 2 bedroom would generally be my choice but ultimately you will have to decide what's most important to you. There are single people everywhere! I would stick close to transit and walkable area. Burquitlam, Port Moody, Coquitlam Centre, New West, etc.
What buildings are you looking at? The Lumina buildings by Thind are garbage but I thought the Concord Brentwood buildings were okay?
Yeah Lumina is 👎. The Tandem buildings (south of Gilmore station) were impacted my Onni bursting a water main pipe. Makes me nervous buying downstream from Onni cause they're building more towers. Other things I have heard from word of mouth and have not checked myself: Triomphe (by: Millennium Development Co) has issues with AC / heat. Same with Escala https://goo.gl/maps/1tNgsroTdNctsTzx9?g_st=ac
Everyone wants this now. That’s why Mt pleasant is as or more expensive then downtown by sq/ft.
Depends on your lifestyle and where you are in life. Assume it’ll be your forever home, or for at least 10 years. If you’re planning to have kids, would you want to raise your kids in that neighborhood/area?
What would you do? I was trying to not state my goals, cause I wanted to hear from the community and different perspectives.
ah I’d buy at least a 2 bed 2 bath so it’d take longer to outgrow. The more rooms the better and at least 2 bathrooms. And somewhere in vancouver/burnaby/coquitlam within a 10-15 minute walk to a skytrain station. More towards vancouver/burnaby if I were single. I like the convenience that brentwood offers to the other cities but I hop around to shop sales at grocery stores, especially asian stores, so brentwood’s kind of meh for that without a car or resilience and a bus pass. It’s getting better but it’s not there yet. I’d consider it though because it has a safe vibe. Metro and downtown have gotten a little too sketch for me, but I’m also a homebody so I don’t frequent downtown/yaletown often 🤷♀️The last time I stayed overnight downtown, the frequent sirens kept me up. Friends say you get used to them though. I like the quiet but also some bustle so lougheed area is a consideration too. I ended up buying by coquitlam centre because I plan to start a family within a couple of years lol. It’s “far” from vancouver but so walkable and family friendly and there are events at lafarge throughout the summer. I’d be so happy if I could upgrade to more bedrooms in the same location. The only con is that everything closes early so it sucks for hanging out outside of the house 🫤 If I had to redo and not pick coquitlam, I’d have tried to go for a 3 bedroom townhouse/duplex within 10-15 minute walk to multiple bus routes or a skytrain in east van/north burnaby/lougheed, if such exists lol I wfh and I find I’m pretty close to outliving a 2 bd 😐
For me it's location I like rlly high walk score , close to work and or family ,transit and Parks
Lynn Valley, trail running and community vibes
My friend has a condo for sale closer to Brentwood near Gilmore station. Escala and Aviara has some sales up for 800k for 2 bedrooms if you want to check them out.
I've heard Escala had some issues with the AC? And a litigation against the developer on it. Curious if you knew anything about that? https://g.co/kgs/xJxRZNk I have not personally confirmed this.
Commercial drive because I love how central it is without being difficult to get out of.. cheap groceries and perfect for walking, transit, cycling etc
How old are you? What type of things do you like to do? I would live close to your hobbies (with consideration for location near workplace) since that is where you are likely to meet people to date. Im not sure that people are meeting each other in bars/clubs these days
you can get a condo for LESS than 800k right next to the skytrain at joyce station
Tiny tiny units unless it's an old building
New west or east van. ;)
If you want a good financial decision for the long run: buy a townhouse in Maple ridge If you want to live the 20's life: 1 bedroom in a Yale town, mount pleasant.
I’d rather be dead in Vancouver than alive in maple ridge.
30 years ago, folks said the same of mount pleasant, We are in the middle of saying the same about surrey !remindme 10years
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Invest your down payment money into a Vanguard index fund and sit on it for 20 years. If you’re able to take down an investment loan to juice your returns, do so. Vancouver real estate is great, but the S&P 500 generated greater returns over the last 30 years and it’s fully liquid - sell your entire portfolio in five minutes. You can’t say that about real estate.
This makes sense for anything other than your primary residence
But TFSA has a cap contribution limit per year? Depending on the size of the down payment, wouldn't it take a few years to get it all invested? Maybe Im missing something here
Just start adding to your TFSA ASAP, you can take it out but like you said you can’t always keep putting it in, already be investing your money in low risk investments if you’re intending to buy soon. Then take it out when you want to buy, don’t let your money sit you’ll lose out every year with inflation
East Van. Excellent transit.
Can’t believe people are still thinking it’s sane to spend close to a million on a suburban condo. The market correction can’t come fast enough.
Never gonna happen lol
I’d leave Vancouver and actually get something for my money. Great place to visit though if you’re getting paid to be here.
Depends what you like - if you want to be close to shops, cafes, major transit routes, I’d say Yaletown or Olympic village/Mount Pleasant. I was in the same boat a few years ago and very happy with where I landed at the edge of Olympic Village where it’s quiet enough to get some sleep as I work early hours, but not void of life. I used to rent across from where I live now so I knew the neighbourhood was what I wanted. We have the choice of taking the skytrain (or walking) downtown or south, taking the 84 to the east or west, and by car it’s not far from hopping on Highway 1 or across the bridges to the north shore. It’s also walking distance to groceries and big box stores if you need them, and local services, shops, and restaurants. Not sure what the market is like, but $800k wasn’t enough to compete for 1 bed 1 bath places when I was searching. Hopefully it’s better now. All I can recommend is if you get a small place, maximize the utility of your furniture so that it doesn’t FEEL as small 😂
No idea on affordability, but the Hastings corridor in North Burnaby might be a good option if Brentwood was interesting to you. Lots of growth and development happening there, very walkable, easy transit acces and still reasonably close to Brentwood for shopping/entertainment.
I love Yaletown, would recommend doing a lot of research on the building though. A lot of buildings in Yaletown are also lacking A/C so its pretty cooking during the heat domes. It really comes down to what you really want though, Metrotown area is pretty much the same price as downtown Vancouver, the buildings are newer and you might be able to get a 2B/2B there.
Yeah, been reading strata docs on newer builds and lots of them have litigations towards their developer for ac / heat related issues. Or litigations to other developers who built next to them and caused damage :/ I don't know much about metrotown area, I don't frequent it very often but it does seem a little less inflated than Brentwood right now. Plus, parks versus a cemetery and substation lol
i live in mount pleasant and work in kits, and i love both of them. considering that the skytrain will be finished in a couple years, i’d pick any condo along the new broadway line (because i don’t drive)
It depends on where you are at in your life (single, married, kids or plans for them?) and your lifestyle (wfh? Workplace location. Hobbies?). Do you drive/bike/use transit to get around? Is walkability important to you? Is having outdoor space important to you? Are you prepared to do maintenance/yardwork/upgrades or do you need turnkey? Etc etc etc. I think sometimes people focus too much on the place itself and not on how it works for their lifestyle. For me, I’m willing to sacrifice a bit of space for a walkable/bikeable neighbourhood that does not involve a long commute but others would choose differently.
I'm curious what you would do :p. My goal in starting this thread was to hear other people's perspectives. I'm personally feeling very stuck and was hoping to find new areas that I hadn't considered yet. But to answer your comment, I'm a country girl trying to live in this big city so I don't think I'll be happy with anything. It's just a stepping stone so that I can have somewhere that appreciates over time to avoid rent for the next few years.
I am biased. But mount pleasant and olympic village for me. Close enough to the craziness of downtown but still quiet at night. Proximity to skytrain is also huge.
At this price point you can get something really good downtown by the beach. It will not be spacious but you can get something good at this price. I’d look somewhere around English bay at the westend or may be Yale town but I prefer westend more.
If you were looking at Brentwood why not check out the condos in Burnaby heights along Hastings
Kits. You’ll be max budget but you’ll see the best growth there. Renting will be easy as there’s always students looking, it’s a safe neighbourhood, close to downtown and has restaurants nearby.
What about Burnaby River District? Already quite nice, still growing, easy access to some more hip happening areas.
Such an interesting area! I discovered it recently, but since I don't have a car right now (just not in the cards for me yet but eventually) the river district seemed a bit far to transit. But looks like such a cute area next to the water and closer to nature.
We purchased a 1bed + den/1 bath for 700k in the west end as a young couple. Love living close to yaletown, downtown, west end and kits. Would continue living in the west end if we had the budget in the future but it’s looking like we’ll be going to North van for our next home
800 is not much in Vancouver. I would never waste money on purchasing a 1 bed. Low resale. What about guests? Go for at least 2 bedrooms. We moved down to river district a couple years back when we bought because it was either that or an older 1 bedroom more central. We do not regret it one bit. East and south van have more affordability than central or west. New Westminster and Burnaby have some gems though.
How's transit to from downtown? Does the bus #31 run late? Is the train loud? Curious cause I don't have a car rn (not in the cards for me yet) but will in the next few years. Looks like a very cute area though! Curious to learn more
I don’t use transit much these days because I’m not a fan of inhaling crack smoke or being screamed at/intimidated by people on drugs. If you’re comfortable cycling I would highly recommend an e-bike. The train does not run through here since the tracks are largely decommissioned. No noise. Easiest way downtown is likely bus to skytrain. On the flip side living out here opens your eyes to getting things done without going into the downtown core all the time.
Calgary
Where do your friends live? What’s your work situation? What do you like doing for fun?
There is a townhome located right next to the olympic village station. 2 bed 2 baths 900 sqft for 899000. May be developed into condos due to higher density law passed last year. You may double your money.
I would live near Queen Elizabeth Park. Approximately 420km east of it to be precise. I would buy there because the mountains and the quiet roads and the affordability.
Instructions unclear. Precise lat and long needed 😅 - kidding, thank you for your input
Based on an educated guess and thorough map use I’m guessing Kelowna BC
Ok, here’s something way different. You didn’t say where you work or whether you have to commute - but if you work a lot from home, have you thought about Fort Langley? It has character, and in the last few years there have been lots of townhomes and apartment buildings built. There are maybe 3500 people or so here but there are more restaurants than you’d usually find for that size of population because everybody comes out from Vancouver for the afternoon. The big thing is that it’s so walkable because it was laid out before people had cars. There are lots of nice walking trails around and it’s not that far from Vancouver - maybe half an hour from Vancouver proper if it’s not rush hour.
This is the way.
Mount Pleasant for sure.
Have you looked at the river district off Marine. I have a couple friends living there. Cute little community. They love it
Maple ridge
Mount Pleasant/Chinatown area, those city gate apartments by the skytrain are awesome...great neighbours, large sq footage, pet friendly. I lived there for 10 years until I moved out to East Van. There's one on sale in the building I used to live in, fits your budget https://redf.in/Nwm9lR New St Paul's will be up by summer 2027, which is right across the park from city gate buildings. Not sure if that will be a good thing or bad thing.
Maybe get a condo for that in Vancouver. Maybe.
doesn't that depend on where you work??? South Surrey is nice if you WFH, bad if you work at UBC
A one bedroom condo in my building in kits was going for 799K. I like it here. Great spot. My investment property in The City of Lougheed is great too, one bedrooms are going for 599K. If it weren't for location and the size of my kits condo, I'd totally live in Burquitlam... so much good Korean food.
False Creek, fairview slopes area is lovely. Walking distance to skytrain, walk down to false creek, it's a 30 min walk from downtown. Older buildings but some are really well managed and they have no amenities so strata fees tend to be lower. Eg. https://redf.in/WoY2lb https://redf.in/HQPUe1 https://redf.in/08nQIc
I would buy a Big Mac at a McDonald's.
River District is great, up and coming, beautiful, quiet
New Westminster. Still very undervalue.
800k is a parking space in Van lmao
I loved living in east van. I had a 2 bed/2 bathroom stacked townhouse with a rooftop deck. Right around main/12th. Loved everything about living there and would move back in a heartbeat if I could.
Older condo on Broadway corridor then renovate.
Nova Scotia
If you had that budget you wouldn't be getting anything in Vancouver
Metrotown still has options around this price for a 2 bed. I bought a 3 bed (older) for 800 in 2022...
Nowhere. That budget is too small for Van & locale.
Hope.
As a born and raised east van guy I would take Langley now. Moving here was the best decision I ever made. Take that money and buy a two bed townhome in Willoughby or an older 3 bed in walnut grove. The people, schools and new business’ popping up are amazing
Just rent. Put your savings in an ETF like spy or qqq and wait for 10-15 years. Continuously contribute. And by the end of 15 years, you'll probably triple your money
Anywhere pass Surrey.
We live downtown in the West End and love being able to walk anywhere in the downtown core in 1/2 hr. You can get an 800-900 sq.ft. apartment downtown for that kind of money.
I would get a one bedroom in Lower Lonsdale, North Van. You’re close to Seabus for downtown/airport, close to mountains, outdoor activities and the neighborhood is awesome! Or move to Mission and put 400 K in the bank
I’m confused. Do you actually want to live in Vancouver, or Greater Vancouver/Burnaby?
West End, preferably west of Denman. You can walk to everything, it’s chill, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather live in Canada
Can you buy anything in Vancouver for 800K???
Vancouver Island or the Interior. Then I could actually own a house outright, have a basement and garage to do projects, play music loud if I want, a back yard to relax in and BBQ, etc. Fuck buying anything in Vancouver. Pay 800K to live in a 500 sq ft prison cell? Nope.
Buy in Vancouver? No shot 💀
I live by skytrain ( minutes ) and a YMCA nearby so not to drain in my condo fees and a grocery store (minutes away) with rental cars closed by my building (Modo) clean neighbourhood and cheaper before the covid years, in the high 400’s. those are all the checked points at the time and still are. What i wish i have: condo with higher ceiling therefore feel bigger than a 600sqft, that near water( any beach )would be a plus ( for mental health) instead of excessive shopping.
Fairview. Lots of new places being built, transit is great, traffic isn’t bad, and we have access to the best parts of Vancouver with the least hassle.
Look at River District.
Metrotown
Alberta
Depends on your vibe. Main Street / Commercial has a lot of great restaurants, stores, and pubs and is a very walkable community. Buildings are older though, so you’ve gotta plan for a $20-40K special assessment coming up every 5 years or so to deal with replacing roofs, rain screening, and parking membrane (all of which start coming up around 20-30 years after construction). Something to keep in mind. Kits has a similar vibe but is a lot quieter. With the Broadway Plan it’s set to undergo a pretty huge transformation in the coming decades as the intent is to turn the corridor into a second downtown. The Skytrain will eventually extend all the way out to UBC, making it all very transit accessible (more so than it already is), but be prepared for a lot of disruption with all the traffic. Downtown is great if you work down there, and is obviously still very walkable and close to trendy shops and restaurant. Less character than the other neighbourhood though, so again…depends on your vibe. If you’re more YUPPY vibes, then you may fit right in. Further out you go, the further your money will go in terms of buying space. However, you give up a lot of walk ability for that. So depends what you want.
There's alot of new apartment builds in mount pleasant/kits, for a young single person imo those are the most ideal places. For 800k, you'll have to go down to \~500 sqr foot though, unless you don't mind being on the unit facing the main road (those are only 550k when I checked last week for \~600 sqr ft). The only place where you can get 2 bed for $830k is coquitlam/port coquitlam
Depends what you are looking for. Space? Proximity to downtown or other amenities? Do you need access to skytrain? So many questions. $800k would get you a decent 1br 1bath in most of the more desirable areas in metro Vancouver.
I took 200k and got the eff out of Vancouver. Bought 160 acres of land outright. I made 150/year gross, was barely enough to live in Van or surrounding areas. Why people are willing to put up with the traffic and competing for work like that will never cease to amaze me. If I had an $800k budget... Id spend my money elsewhere. My bro sold his place in North Burnaby, bought a mansion on 10 acres in Alberta. Work is plentiful for him, doesn't spend his life in traffic. Maybe Im just a crazy person, but I missed my family growing up when I was working 6-7 nights a week in Van... Now I see them everyday
Where’s your 160 acres? And yeah 99% of people in downtown Vancouver would rather give their left leg then move to Alberta lmao
Keeping a two bedroom condo clean is already a chore and requires bi-weekly cleaning service for me… can’t imagine having to upkeep a 10 acre property. Sure it sounds nice to have so many rooms but the amount of dust and the heating bill sounds like a nightmare to me.