Tootlepootle

They run the train bus instead during the day which only stops at the WCE stations. My OH commutes daily from Coquitlam and has no real issues. Will you be buying or renting?

theotherlebowski

avoid the Richmond and Delta areas, not because they're rough or dangerous but because they are the regions that are most susceptible to intense liquefaction in the event of a substantial Cascadia fault rupture of the west coast of Van Island.

just saying...

scrubbedexpat091

The entire lower mainland more or less has become one big over priced and un-affordable region...

You should see the insanity of Chilliwack now as well, this year has been insane.

Housing prices to own up 20% over last year, 412k average for a single family home.

jad n rich

My neice and BF bought in Delta, he was raised there, Would assume he knows that then.

They paid high 400's 4 years, did a good paint, basement type reno, thinking 900 now.

Engineer_abroad

You can get a hold of a free geo-map of Vancouver from the source below.

GeoMap Vancouver, geological map of the Vancouver Metropolitan area

The image you are after is the Earthquake-liquefaction map with red being the areas at highest risk. You will notice it extends to most of the false creek (and were False creek used to run right up to Clark Drive) , Fraser valley etc. Anywhere near the water is likely to have soft saturated silty soils which will liquefy.

theotherlebowski

it's all reclaimed land i believe so it's not very solid.

Engineer_abroad

Delta and Richmond aren't necessary reclaimed they just sit on the Fraser river delta so comprise of all the wash out silts from up river. You will notice on the geo-map that the flood risk map matches the liquefaction risk map as areas which flood have a lot of silt washout left behind when floods recede.

If the land under a property has been treated effectively i.e. compacted to sufficient depth to densify the silts then it should be ok. likewise if you live in a high rise in False creek it is likely installed on piles to bedrock so will not be effected by liquefaction in the event of an earthquake.

If buying a modern home in these areas you should be ok as it should of been done to a modern building code which includes liquefaction risk however, I wouldn't buy a heritage home in these areas for any amount.

UKcastaway

I need to suss out how to get to ubc. Any ideas please ? Getting a bit lost trying to figure it out

scilly

where is your starting point?

If on the West Coast Express line, a quick guess would say get the Express to Waterfront Station, walk out the main door of the station on to Cordova Street, and catch the no. 84 or 44 bus to UBC

However ............. getting home will be more iffy as the last train leaves much earlier than you might want!

adele

The 84 doesn't go downtown, it's VCC - UBC.

Depending on exactly where your stating point is you may also be able to feed into the skytrain and then take either the 99 from Commercial Broadway to UBC or the 84 from VCC to UBC. The new Evergreen line may also help with this (when it finally opens).

Tootlepootle

If you are in central Coquitlam take a shuttle to the train station and take WCE. As stated the no44 from Cordova takes you straight to UBC. its about 11/2 hours though.

Fred Louise

Oh an engineer - excellent

We bought an older house in Alberta, structurally, do you think there are important modifications to houses?

I know you were talking about BC - one of my children live out west but in the East Van area. Same question - for people who buy older houses, can they make modifications themselves that will help in the case of natural disasters?

Fred Louise

11 hours seems steep, even half of that.

Tootlepootle

It was late!!!!

Drthorne

Hi All, Sorry for the late reply on this. Thanks for all the messages. Really useful information. So things have progressed a little since my original post. I am in discussions about taking a role in Vancouver on around the 110k mark with a relocation package of around 16K.

It's become clear that moving to Vancouver would be a challenge but not something that we could not overcome. I guess the other area of interest is schooling having a 2 and 4 year old (5 next year) what are the costings like?