Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Canada
Reload this Page >

Building A House In Vancouver

Building A House In Vancouver

Old Jan 8th 2011, 5:35 pm
  #1  
Just Joined
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 2
ljay101 is an unknown quantity at this point
Question Building A House In Vancouver

Hi Everyone

We are new to Vancouver and are thinking about building our own home in the next couple of years.

Would be great to hear any advice, thoughts people might have. Rough cost ideas would be sweet also.

We are looking to build a 3 Bedroom House around $CAD 550,000, commutable to down town with out car, somewhere with green space around us.

Thanks People
Louis
ljay101 is offline  
Old Jan 8th 2011, 6:25 pm
  #2  
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Alan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by ljay101
Hi Everyone

We are new to Vancouver and are thinking about building our own home in the next couple of years.

Would be great to hear any advice, thoughts people might have. Rough cost ideas would be sweet also.

We are looking to build a 3 Bedroom House around $CAD 550,000, commutable to down town with out car, somewhere with green space around us.

Thanks People
Louis
Good luck with that. The land alone will probably set you back considerably more than your budget.

To actually build your house I'm going to guess somewhere around $250k depending on your sqft requirements; R I C H who posts here has built houses so he'll be able to give you a better idea.
Alan2005 is offline  
Old Jan 8th 2011, 6:40 pm
  #3  
slanderer of the innocent
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
ExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond reputeExKiwilass has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

I think you should be thinking more $700-$800 CAD at least. Land value around $500K (though you may be able to find cheaper, it's unlikely to be much less than that) then like Alan says a few hundred grand for the house itself. that's assuming you don't have to demo a house that's already there.

On the other hand, if you mean greater Vancouver not Van proper, maybe you could find some cheaper land close to the west coast express line - maybe Abby or Mission or somehwere like that. Maple Ridge. etc.

Last edited by ExKiwilass; Jan 8th 2011 at 6:42 pm.
ExKiwilass is offline  
Old Jan 8th 2011, 6:52 pm
  #4  
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Alan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond reputeAlan2005 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by Kiwilass
I think you should be thinking more $700-$800 CAD at least. Land value around $500K (though you may be able to find cheaper, it's unlikely to be much less than that) then like Alan says a few hundred grand for the house itself. that's assuming you don't have to demo a house that's already there.

On the other hand, if you mean greater Vancouver not Van proper, maybe you could find some cheaper land close to the west coast express line - maybe Abby or Mission or somehwere like that. Maple Ridge. etc.
His budget would go quite a long way out here (Maple Ridge). It's just about possible to commute to downtown without a car if he could get close enough to the west coast express. But actually living out here without a car? I don't think it's do-able.
Alan2005 is offline  
Old Jan 8th 2011, 7:21 pm
  #5  
Binned by Muderators
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
JonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

There is not much point in building your own home unless you are going to build something decent, so the OP should be budgeting about $200 per square foot - maybe a bit more if they are going really high-end in the kitchen and bathrooms. So a 2,000 sf home will cost about $400,000 to build.
JonboyE is offline  
Old Jan 8th 2011, 8:48 pm
  #6  
Pea Brain
 
R I C H's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: TBD
Posts: 6,005
R I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond reputeR I C H has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by JonboyE
There is not much point in building your own home unless you are going to build something decent, so the OP should be budgeting about $200 per square foot - maybe a bit more if they are going really high-end in the kitchen and bathrooms. So a 2,000 sf home will cost about $400,000 to build.
^ This.

$200 sq/ft will build you something 'average'. $250-$275 sq/ft is a better estimate for the inevitable cost over-runs, and for higher quality fixture/fittings.
R I C H is offline  
Old Jan 12th 2011, 5:18 am
  #7  
Just Joined
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 2
ljay101 is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Thanks to you all for the information!! I think we had better head back to the drawing board!

Thanks again for the help

All The Best
Louis
ljay101 is offline  
Old Jan 15th 2011, 1:49 am
  #8  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Tracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant future
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by ljay101
Thanks to you all for the information!! I think we had better head back to the drawing board!

Thanks again for the help

All The Best
Louis

You shouldn't give up just yet... go round some local builders and get estimates. We recently built a house it is in Kamloops so pricing is maybe cheaper than Van but nevertheless it shows what you can do on a relatively modest budget. Our build cost was $400k This is our house http://www.aandt.ca/residentialwallbankresidence.htm.
Tracywall is offline  
Old Jan 15th 2011, 3:32 am
  #9  
BE Enthusiast
 
ducktastic's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Cheltenham, UK was Vancouver, BC
Posts: 704
ducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by Tracywall
You shouldn't give up just yet... go round some local builders and get estimates. We recently built a house it is in Kamloops so pricing is maybe cheaper than Van but nevertheless it shows what you can do on a relatively modest budget. Our build cost was $400k This is our house http://www.aandt.ca/residentialwallbankresidence.htm.
I am moving to Kamloops!!
Seriously....fab house, congrats!
ducktastic is offline  
Old Jan 15th 2011, 8:03 am
  #10  
keep checking....
 
mhhp's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: was Switzerland/Germany now BC Canada
Posts: 1,440
mhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to allmhhp is a name known to all
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Vancouver is very expensive and cannot be compared in any way (neither land nor building price) with the Interior. We just moved to the coast renting now but were looking into build or buy.

Land prices for the typical 33*122ft lot are basically 1M on the west side,700k$ east side, 500k$ in Burnaby, Delta, Surrey (perhaps with slightly larger lots) The price for an empty lot is about the same as for one with a crappy old house on it.

As for building cost: It is virtually impossible to build below 250$/sqft in Van unless you do everything yourself and dont count your labour cost.

Having said that Vancouver is the most incredible city in North America, so if you can afford I guess in a way it is worth it, if not........

Sir mhhp
mhhp is offline  
Old Jan 15th 2011, 5:08 pm
  #11  
Binned by Muderators
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
JonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond reputeJonboyE has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by mhhp
As for building cost: It is virtually impossible to build below 250$/sqft in Van unless you do everything yourself and dont count your labour cost.
If you do decide to go ahead then get in touch and I can recommend a few project managers who can bring in a nice custom home much nearer the $200 psf mark.
JonboyE is offline  
Old Jan 16th 2011, 2:32 am
  #12  
Assimilated Pauper
 
dbd33's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,014
dbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond reputedbd33 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by Tracywall
You shouldn't give up just yet... go round some local builders and get estimates. We recently built a house it is in Kamloops so pricing is maybe cheaper than Van but nevertheless it shows what you can do on a relatively modest budget. Our build cost was $400k This is our house http://www.aandt.ca/residentialwallbankresidence.htm.
That looks kind of neat but, in the kitchen, I see no stove. I see no draining boards. Do you eat out all the time?
dbd33 is offline  
Old Jan 16th 2011, 3:51 am
  #13  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Tracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant future
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by dbd33
That looks kind of neat but, in the kitchen, I see no stove. I see no draining boards. Do you eat out all the time?
LOL... I wish I could afford to eat out all the time. The stove is an electric cooktop and is on the other side of the raised granite countertop. Draining boards.... what do I need one of those for I have a dishwasher
Tracywall is offline  
Old Jan 16th 2011, 3:53 am
  #14  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Tracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant futureTracywall has a brilliant future
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by ducktastic
I am moving to Kamloops!!
Seriously....fab house, congrats!

Yay! When are you moving? Why Kamloops? We love it here have been here for just over two years now and are 100% totally settled.
Tracywall is offline  
Old Jan 16th 2011, 6:34 pm
  #15  
BE Enthusiast
 
ducktastic's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Cheltenham, UK was Vancouver, BC
Posts: 704
ducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond reputeducktastic has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Building A House In Vancouver

Originally Posted by Tracywall
Yay! When are you moving? Why Kamloops? We love it here have been here for just over two years now and are 100% totally settled.
Ah, not really moving to Kamloops I was just amazed/green with envy at what was acheived by the poster for the cash there, as I am living in Vancouver and it would be quite impossible for that cash to achieve anything near this fab house!
Pleased you enjoy the 'Loops though, we are heading your direction in the next month for a ski.
ducktastic is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.