Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

We are aiming to move to Vancouver and would like some ideas on affordable areas, we would be think of a three bed townhouse. We have friends in Pitt Meadows who have said Vancouver is an expensive place to live, but my wife may have an opportunity of gaining employment in Vancouver. We would like an area that has good schools and is commutable to Vancouver. :D

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Hi,

I'm also heading out to Vancouver & from my research Burnaby & New Westminster are very nice area's, cheaper than Vancouver & it's a good commute to Vancouver. My family lived in Burnaby for about ten years & said it was lovely!! There's a website called Jurock that's an estate agents, but also has a really good list of agents all over BC, hope that helps :)

Tamsin

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

I lived in Burnaby for most of my life, and can attest to the commute being an easy one. It depends where in Vancouver you work, of course, by the Skytrain and bus system is solid and makes life pretty easy. If you work downtown and live near the Skytrain, your commute is actually less than if you drove. Also, much of Burnaby is quite family-oriented and safe. I grew up on the South Slope (off Willingdon between Metrotown and BCIT).

New Westminster is a similar situation, only slightly further out from Vancouver. That means even lower property prices than Burnaby, though. Both places have the advantage of avoiding bridges between them and Vancouver. Bridges can be messy come commuter time. Why don't you have a look at www.realtylink.org for those areas and see what the property prices are like? You can choose specific neighbourhoods, or check the box that says "search whole area".

For what it's worth, for my money I'm moving to the North Shore. The transit system is good into downtown, the prices are decent for apartments (though admittedly I have no children), and the neighbourhood is quiet and safe. Also, great views of the city!

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Depends on your budget, decent 3 bed townhouses are hitting $340,000 plus in places as far out as Maple Ridge!

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

i lived in north van which was lovely but also very expensive now, lots of brits over there. burnaby would probably be the best bet for closeness to town. port moody is nice just past burnaby.

hows the sea to sky coming along now? are people starting to move as far as dear old squarmish?

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Did Sea to Sky 4 years ago and again last year, the road is getting there but still frigging dangerous drive though.
As for Squamish the place seems to be booming, load of construction going on. So the better road link courtesy of 2010 Olympics has done the trick..much like Jubilee extension has for East London.
The prices here are getting daft, condos in Port Moody high rises are going for $450,000 plus.
I was hoping to avoid all this property inflation, having suffered it as a contractor in the late 80's London. But if market forces keep dictating the lower mainland is going to be out of reach of normal people

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

i could drive the sea to sky with my eyes shut i did it so often. tried to buy a place in port moody for $220 five years ago and was gazumped at the last minute, bassstad builder bought it. prolly worth 450 now and i'd still be there. aint life funny sometimes.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Burnaby nice? In the ten years I have been here its become really quite grotty. Easy commute if you are near the Sky Train, driving in downtown is not bad. New West (established parts) is nice, but avoid anywhere around 4th and Columbia for about a two block radius all around it. Unless your name is Kandee or you want to purchase some unusual pharmaceuticals. ;)

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Hi Griff,
There are Brits all over Vancouver. I think you have got good advice from others - the north shore is a good area (if expensive). Burnaby and New Westminster too. I'd add Coquitlam as worth looking at. Your budget, how much time you are prepared to commute and other "lifestyle" factors are going to be big influences.

I am a realtor in Vancouver specialising in relocation, so if you want detailed info, not only on housing but also on other aspects of relocating, then I'd be happy to help. We did it ourselves, with 4 kids, dog and elderly mother-in-law, so have some personal experience of what it is all about. Perhaps you could start by having a look at my web site - the page on Vancouver and links from there will give you a bit of a snapshot:
http://www.relocation2bc.com/greater-vancouver.htm
If you have school age children, especially older ones, they might like reading our kids diaries. They're on the site too.

Use this forum to ask questions and get people's opinions... and if you can come here on a research trip that is going to be the best way of finding areas that work for you.

Good luck,

Warmly,

Frank

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

We live in Pitt Meadows and have been here 18 months. West coast express is close by. Good schools, a nice family area. House prices are going up though but we Love it!! :D

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

I lived around Columbia and 4th when I first arrived in Vancouver and never met anyone called Kandee or was offered unusual pharmaceuticals. :) In fact there are some luxury condos there in addition to the dumps.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

I know there are some OK condo's. My friend has one and has been broken into five times since 2004. Maybe the name was Krystal....lmao. You know what I mean though. People have to pick and choose where to live to the best of their budget ability. If you have the choice...avoid anywhere immediately next to certain Skytrain stations, New West at Columbia and 8th and Columbia and 4th, Metrotown, Broadway, Clarke and to a lesser extent Joyce downtown spring to mind. I must have that look...I get offered crap every time I go through New West. :rolleyes:

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Around New West station there are a lot of condos and more being built so I guess some people don't mind living around there-I guess many find it convenient to be near the station. However, no I wouldn't want to live there long term especially if I had kids.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Thanks to all you guys for the info, I agree that a trip out is a must. My wife may be offered a job in Richmond, and the HR staff there have mentioned Surrey and delta as possible places to live as they are a little cheaper. I would love to know what these are like.
I feel like a :beer: now as it all seems to happening so fast.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

When I first arrived in Vancouver a guy in my building told me I shouldn't move to Surrey. However, Surrey is quite big and I think south Surrey is supposed to be ok. The areas around the 2 Surrey skytrain stations aren't great, particularly the Whalley neighbourhood. Waiting for a bus at King George station (or is it Surry Central?) is an unpleasant experience.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Well, I would suggest Pitt Meadows! Housing is cheaper, it's a lovely area, andcommuting to downtown by way of the West Coast Express is a breeze. Schools are good. And the major plus is you would not be outnumbered by all the Chinese (Vancouver is called Hongcouver for good reason!)

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Welcome to the forum (as I reach for the ignore button).

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

i think u need to realise you're an immigrant yourself and the chinese have been in bc for a very very long time. top attitude for a new country.

i hope you're banned, u arse.

ignore x2

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Who's the the quote you're banned aimed at? and if the u arse is aimed at me, I consider it a verbal assault :mad:

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

not u mate the ann in bc nice comments about chinese.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

It was harshly phrased but isn't that a legitimate point ? I wouldn't move to Markham because I'm not Chinese and I wouldn't move to Woodbridge because I'm not Italian. Those are suburbs of Toronto but I'm sure something similar applies in Vancouver; moving to a place where one doesn't speak the language is an interesting challenge but probably not the challenge British immigrants to Canada are expecting.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

then live in england if u want to be surrounded by english speakers.

im sure there would be a different take on this if a chinese person came on and said dont live there its full of english people or how about dont live there cos its full of black people. ive got loads of chinese mates from when i lived in vancouver and they great people and proud canadians.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

I assume from your English that you're not a native speaker and, from your passion for things Chinese, you probably know Cantonese or Mandarin. Consider then, whether or not, you'd be comfortable in an area where the signage, newspapers, and regular conversation was in Italian or French, would you be comfortable in, say, Montreal ?

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

ooh the tired retort of questioning the other persons english... yes your english is perfect, congrats.

what the hell has montreal got to do with her original comment about hong kong chinese in vancouver? im not entering into a debate about the french in canada. my passion is against ignorant mugs who generalise about a whole nation of people.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

I don't say that my English is perfect, just that your usage suggested it was a second language for you. If you don't like Montreal as an example, think of Berlin or Paris or Tirana, some place where there's a different language and culture from yours. It might be difficult to live there, it might not, but you'd likely want to have so idea of the situation before going there. Similarly, if one is planning a move to Canada it would be useful to know the language and culture of the neighbourhood in question.

I'm not generalising about a whole nation. Assuming you mean Canada, the exact opposite is the case, I'm saying that one needs to know about the specific suburb rather than the country.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

yes your questioning my english wasnt a poor attempt an insult was it. thats quite the superiority complex u got there.

anyway u would have to be quite the dick to move somewhere and realise u didnt speak the language or indeed understand the culture. u obviously think that the chinese have so infested vancouver that its impossible for non chinese people to survive there.

lets agree to disagree.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Your English, as used here, is very poor. It may be an affectation and it could be that you are, in fact, literate but I've no way of knowing that.

"infested" ? Oh my. I, of course, didn't say anything of the kind, I just suggested that if someone was considering moving to an ethnic neighbourhood, it would be as well for them to know.

Well, there's little chance of agreeing wiv u.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Your resorting to lame insults about Londonuck's English shows you can't really defend your position about areas with large ethnic populations. Londonuck is clearly using the computer/texting shorthand commonly used and easily understood. I find what you are saying and the smug way you say it much more worrying.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

how do u now that londonuk cod right better if it wanted %

I think I can defend my position, it is only that, if an area has a large ethnic population and especially if the predominant language in that area is not English, it is reasonable to tell people planning to move to the area about the nature of the place.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

Hey, I lived with a family for a summer in Surrey, around 56th ave. There's a stunning view of Boundrey Bay. I think it took about 45 mins from the airport, possibly more. Where I stayed was very pleasent, but, like in most places there are unsavoury parts. I remember that around Newton Exchange bus loop wasn't too nice. This was in 2001 though. I have since returned to Canada and am now living in Burnaby near the Brentwood Sky Train Station. It takes 20 mins to get into Downtown Vancouver by transit, longer to Richmond. I live in a basement suite, which by British standards is huge ands very affordable.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

What's it like living in a basement suite? It's something I've avoided looking at as didn't fancy living in someone's basement! Also was worried that it would be very dark :confused: What do you think?????

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

It really depends on a number of things. Some basements are just that, with windows with no outside view. The basement in my place leads up to the garden and is really quite pleasant. When I was looking to rent, I saw some amazing basements where they are effectively the 1st floor, and very well insulated for sound etc.

Re: Areas of Vancouver good for Us Brits
 

I have windows at a reasonable hight...looking onto the floor of the garden. There's a lockable door between us and the main house and I'm lucking that I get on with the Landlady well. It's very spaciious down there. The heat is controlled by the main house, so it's warm in the winter without being charged ;) though there are vents that we can open and close. We also get use of the garage space (walk through to get to our door) and the garden. There is a middle room that hardly get's any natural light (only through open doors) which isn't perfect, but you get used to it. I'd say it's worth considering, if only as a temporary measure whilst you look at other properties.