Moving to Vancouver - 2022 Edition

[brownky]

Howdy.

 

So, in an uncharacteristic move, I have decided to move to the city of Vancouver. I've been entirely out of the loop of Van life for a long, long time. Most of the information I can dig up online is "relatively" new but... the world changed in the last 4 years in many cases.

 

Anybody got the "Today's news" cliff notes version of where to go, where to live, where NOT to live? I'll be renting for the first while (obviously, I wasn't a pro athlete) by myself. Mostly interested in 'good areas' for a condo. Was also thinking north shore and seabussing across. My work will be right centre downtown about 2 mins from downtown skytrain.

 

So whatever ya got, happy to hear it. I lived in Edmonton for a couple years next to the gunfights in Alberta Avenue half a lifetime. And I'd rather avoid re-living that experience. Thanks!

[Alflives]

We are downtown in a concrete box.  Yuk. 

If you can, don’t be downtown.  Can’t even drive the scooter more than a 100 yards without running over some guy sleeping under a box.  

 

[Ghostsof1915]

A. Do you have a job lined up here already? 

B. How big a place are you looking for?

C. Rentals are insane prices. My friend is paying $2400.00 for a 2 bedroom in PoCo. Now it is a new building. 

 

Try to find a job close to home, because traffic or transit is horrible here. 

 

If you are buying I hope you have a boatload of cash. 

[-AJ-]

If you're so close to the sky train, it might be worth considering living a bit further out for cheaper rent, though the commute would be a bit longer, so there are pros and cons. I don't know much about Skytrain travel though, so maybe the ones that reach out to Surrey or Coquitlam aren't good options.

[brownky]

32 minutes ago, Alflives said:

We are downtown in a concrete box.  Yuk. 

If you can, don’t be downtown.  Can’t even drive the scooter more than a 100 yards without running over some guy sleeping under a box.  

 

I did a foot-based scouting trip and I noticed that. The true downtown core seemed less... appealing.

 

I walked around Yaletown, it 'seemed nice' but looks can be deceiving. Does Vancouver consider that 'nearby area' as 'downtown' as well? Same with the western side just south of Stanley Park, on the bay?

 

4 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

A. Do you have a job lined up here already? 

B. How big a place are you looking for?

C. Rentals are insane prices. My friend is paying $2400.00 for a 2 bedroom in PoCo. Now it is a new building. 

 

Try to find a job close to home, because traffic or transit is horrible here. 

 

If you are buying I hope you have a boatload of cash. 

A) I do have a job lined up. Specifically why I'm coming to town, knowing the rental market is pretty nuts.

I figure a 1BR place / 600 SQ FT is probably sufficient. Big enough for my king bed and a living room. Don't need a den or office or anything, just a 'not bachelor' room.

C) I saw that. 2.4 in PoCo is pretty bad... - (how far is the commute?)

 

I'm not buying now or for awhile. Got to make sure that I'm 'happy' back in the city. At least there's year round hockey for me to play again.

 

How bad IS transit in rush hours? For seabus I saw it had bike 'parking' for riders - is that always full in the morning? I'm a very able cyclist and am used to -30/40 winters, so if it's a 10 min ride to the quay, seabus, then the 5 mins to the office in the bike lanes that'd be fine IF the seabus is reliable.

[brownky]

Oh one 'next question' - getting into the city to look at places is a hell of a trek. I might have 'one more' trip in before having to move, but it would be way too close to the goal line date anyway. Are there any *reputable* services for hire out there who can go around and do walkthroughs on zoom/facetime/etc? I realize it's not as good as doing it myself but... it's tough.

[JM_]

10 minutes ago, brownky said:

I did a foot-based scouting trip and I noticed that. The true downtown core seemed less... appealing.

 

I walked around Yaletown, it 'seemed nice' but looks can be deceiving. Does Vancouver consider that 'nearby area' as 'downtown' as well? Same with the western side just south of Stanley Park, on the bay?

 

the area west of Denman can be quite nice actually. Mostly older buildings but many are well maintained, and if you like the idea of being close to the seawall (e.g. if you're a runner) it can be ideal. Pacific Ave right on English Bay is worth looking at too, lots of older concrete rentals there. 

 

The area around Lower Lonsdale in North Van might work well for you too, the sea bus is an easy ride from there. 

 

If you want to live on a sky train line and are more of an indoor mall type person, try Brentwood in Burnaby. Some massive new rental towers there now. 

 

Olympic Village and around False Creek is good too, just off downtown. 

 

I'd avoid Gastown, lots of rentals right now but the city has let the area go and it needs to be cleaned up.

 

 

 

 

[Ghostsof1915]

14 minutes ago, brownky said:

I did a foot-based scouting trip and I noticed that. The true downtown core seemed less... appealing.

 

I walked around Yaletown, it 'seemed nice' but looks can be deceiving. Does Vancouver consider that 'nearby area' as 'downtown' as well? Same with the western side just south of Stanley Park, on the bay?

 

A) I do have a job lined up. Specifically why I'm coming to town, knowing the rental market is pretty nuts.

I figure a 1BR place / 600 SQ FT is probably sufficient. Big enough for my king bed and a living room. Don't need a den or office or anything, just a 'not bachelor' room.

C) I saw that. 2.4 in PoCo is pretty bad... - (how far is the commute?)

 

I'm not buying now or for awhile. Got to make sure that I'm 'happy' back in the city. At least there's year round hockey for me to play again.

 

How bad IS transit in rush hours? For seabus I saw it had bike 'parking' for riders - is that always full in the morning? I'm a very able cyclist and am used to -30/40 winters, so if it's a 10 min ride to the quay, seabus, then the 5 mins to the office in the bike lanes that'd be fine IF the seabus is reliable.

Depends on the location, some places close to Skytrain or west coast express work (WCE if your work hours line up). 

I live in South Van, and work in North Van. It's 45 minutes with little or no traffic. Bad days can be 90 minutes each way. 

 

https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/skytrain

 

Stay away from Downtown Eastside. Whalley in Surrey. And certain parts of New Westminster. 

Finding a place will be your biggest challenge. And a lot of apartments have no vacancies, and they get snapped up fast. 

 

 

[brownky]

1 hour ago, JM_ said:

the area west of Denman can be quite nice actually. Mostly older buildings but many are well maintained, and if you like the idea of being close to the seawall (e.g. if you're a runner) it can be ideal. Pacific Ave right on English Bay is worth looking at too, lots of older concrete rentals there. 

 

The area around Lower Lonsdale in North Van might work well for you too, the sea bus is an easy ride from there. 

 

If you want to live on a sky train line and are more of an indoor mall type person, try Brentwood in Burnaby. Some massive new rental towers there now. 

 

Olympic Village and around False Creek is good too, just off downtown. 

 

I'd avoid Gastown, lots of rentals right now but the city has let the area go and it needs to be cleaned up.

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Depends on the location, some places close to Skytrain or west coast express work (WCE if your work hours line up). 

I live in South Van, and work in North Van. It's 45 minutes with little or no traffic. Bad days can be 90 minutes each way. 

 

https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/skytrain

 

Stay away from Downtown Eastside. Whalley in Surrey. And certain parts of New Westminster. 

Finding a place will be your biggest challenge. And a lot of apartments have no vacancies, and they get snapped up fast. 

 

 

Cheers for this! I'll target the west end / londale I think, older buildings don't scare me, and yet it's still a "longer" walking distance to the action downtown when desired. Done a lot of looking around. Found one that I really like, hopefully I get it. Biking is easy, parking is available though not super plentiful. Parking passes can be in effect. Hate decals on my car though, but c'est la vie. Lots of learning curve for somebody going city from the country for so long.

 

As for the rest, shows what I know though, I thought Gastown was still nice. Glad I asked.

[JM_]

4 minutes ago, brownky said:

 

Cheers for this! I'll target the west end / londale I think, older buildings don't scare me, and yet it's still a "longer" walking distance to the action downtown when desired. Done a lot of looking around. Found one that I really like, hopefully I get it. Biking is easy, parking is available though not super plentiful. Parking passes can be in effect. Hate decals on my car though, but c'est la vie. Lots of learning curve for somebody going city from the country for so long.

 

As for the rest, shows what I know though, I thought Gastown was still nice. Glad I asked.

Gastown is still fun to visit, but it gets pretty wooly down there at night, lots of car crime, etc. 

 

North Van is a nice option with the Quay too, nice market and lots of good places to eat. 

 

[Ghostsof1915]

What I think is hilarious is that the residents of Gastown didn't want the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium idea, as they didn't want rowdy fans affecting their property values. 

[brownky]

4 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

What I think is hilarious is that the residents of Gastown didn't want the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium idea, as they didn't want rowdy fans affecting their property values. 

Can't fix the silly. Plenty of evidence out there proving 'new' sports facilities tend to bring new investment and and thus an increase in value. Plus, walking distance to something cool.

 

That's one part I can't wait to be in Vancouver for. Sports tickets, even just nosebleeds with a couple brews that are affordable (except the nux lol).