A conversation split from Vancouver housing costs thread.
 

But the jobs tend not to be in the smaller communities unless well skilled like yourself.

Take a couple like us, where the housing is within our reach there is high unemployment and very limited jobs and most of the towns not within commuting distance of a larger city.

Public transit is poor in much of Canada as well and BC has horrible transit once out of Vancouver and very time consuming.

Its not reasonable to commute on transit 2 or 3 hours one way and require at minimim 2 buses and a sky train.

That is how long it takes to get to Vancouver from this area on transit.

Its also pricey at 100 a month for the BC Transit portion and 170 a month for the translink portion. 2 seperate transit systems so need 2 seperate passes.

Living further from work and spending more time commuting is the opposite of what we should be encouraging.

But now there really is no affordable city with commute of Vancouver so its really a moot point anyhow.

Sometimes there is simply no way to housing and owning regardless of the will. If the areas with the affordable housing lack jobs they have to be taken out of consideration.

Those without high demand skills dont have mobility mentioned.

Unfortunantly its difficult to obtain skills training in BC due to high cost of tuition and lack of programs outside of Vancouver.

BC is too Vancouver centric.

A conversation split from Vancouver housing costs thread.
 

No doubt some over spend. But there are a great many who spend nothing but what they need like housing and food and basic clothing and such.

Hard to save for retirement if ones rent is 50% of their income and they are already in a low rent for the region housing.

Sometimes its simply not possible to save with every dollar in going out on essentials.

We went to a financial advisor and other then reducing rent she could not find anywhere else to cut as were were spending below average amounts on food and everything else.

No fancy phones here, no vacations, no fancy clothes. But housing eats up 40% of income alone. And we rented the lowest priced place we could find.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Most current monthly stats for Chilliwack.

530 sales for April, up 89% over previous year.

Sales by dollar volume up 132%.

Average home prices on annual month to month basis up 20%.

Highest number of homes sold were in the 400 to 599k range.

Of the 530 sales, most were sigle family homes and town houses, folowed by 54 apartments.

Inventory remains low. Realtors report bidding wars and going above asking price and being bought sight unseen.

Hot market largely created by overflow from Vancouver and western burbs becoming unaffordable and Chilliwack being the last affordable city within commute of Vancouver and along the Hwy 1.

Investors are also buying in the market.





http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/news/378713651.html?mobile=true

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Every single statement you made there had a negative in it... Thereby lies the problem I fear :(

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Part of the issue, no doubt there, I am the first to admit that. My brain has always worked like this, it's just how the thoughts are formed.




If the link works, it will show how little housing there is in our price range that is pet friendly. In the City of Vancouver.

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/searc...800&pets_dog=1

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

So Vancouver is out of yours and a lot of other peoples price range JS, and incidentally mine as well. I get that- advice that we repeatedly give to newbies on the forum, therefore people do have to look further afield. This has been suggested to you before I believe..:cool:

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

I mentioned Vancouver as its one of the few places where one can get the appropriate treatment for borderline and covered by MSP, and not necessarily living there for life. Just the hurdle that prevents us from living there which prevents me from treatment, and also from having a job in something I would enjoy like working at the airport.

We have moved to Chilliwack, but now the cost of housing has gone insane out there, so we are back to the same issue.

Kamloops and Kelowna don't look much if any cheaper, and Victoria on the island is pricey, and places like Campbell River too isolated and limited employment and housing to buy isn't exactly low cost either.

In fact except in high unemployment areas or small towns that are somewhat isolated, I can't think of anywhere in BC that offers a decent living with affordable housing that isn't isolated in the north, or in the interior.

I am not a rural living person, I need to have modern amenities and decent transit as I no longer personally drive, and I can't continue being stuck at home 8-10 hours a day and wait for my wife to drive me somewhere, but transit sucks in the smaller communities.

Because of disability we like many are tied to BC, since the moment one leaves BC, disability support ends.

Other provinces tend to offer far less as well to the disabled, so our life isn't actually likely to improve in another province as as far as I can tell from the gov't websites, BC has the best supports.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Maybe you should try less of the labelling of yourself?

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Jsmth321: Housing here starts at well under $100k for a studio apartment, and $200k would get you 2 bedrooms. Plenty of $15p/hr+ jobs available. Enjoy all the resort amenities, walk to work and continue to access BC's health care.

If you worry about a roof over your head, the rising cost of rent, and finding reasonably paid work, you could do a lot worse.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Besides outdoor things, is there anything else to do?

Other then retail, hotels, and food service any other kinds of jobs?

Close to things like movies, and aquarium stores?

Good transit so one can get out of the region without a car?

We are a good 6 to 7 years from being in a position to buy at this point, so who knows what will be left in that time frame, a lot can change. If wife and I had known one another 7 years ago, and assuming current income, Chilliwack was an option, but its gone up so much in the last 7 years, its become unaffordable.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

It's true. We both have mental health issues which cloud our judgement and thinking, and I have major mood swings that I find difficult to control on a good day, and hard to hide sufficiently to keep people from noticing.

I've been trying alone to fix my issues through the years with various self help books and websites, and clearly have not done well and have gotten quite a lot worse especially in the last 4 or so years, so not sure what else I could actually do at this point to fix the issues at hand, self help can only go so far.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Maybe try this.. Or similar

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Anywhere you live is likely to be a compromise, and that's the same for the vast majority of the population. I'm suggesting somewhere affordable, attractive, low crime rate, reasonable wages and a relaxed environment - all the things you often suggest aren't available.

There are physical jobs (labouring/maintenance, mechanics), recreation related work (customer service, golf course/sports centre, ice rink), property management roles, gardening contractors, snow removal etc.

Kamloops is 40 mins away and offers what any regular 100,000 population city does. Airport, Greyhound and train station if you want to go visiting elsewhere.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

I am in Canada, that is my compromise. I compromised by staying here, and originally coming here, but then maybe that is part of the issue, always compromising for others vs doing what is best for me.

I am not sure if living in a small region where a car is essential is a positive. The interior is so isolated, and by isolated I mean far from the mainland, and US border.


Where do people look for rentals there? Kijiji doesn't seem to have much rental wise, and google doesn't bring much up either.

Sun Peaks | Apartments & Condos for Sale or Rent in Kamloops | Kijiji Classifieds

Or is the town called something different?

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

So is Kamloops a pricey rent city? Is there a lack of pet friendly rentals?

Somewhere else locals there use to find rentals?

Not much comes up on these websites.

https://kamloops.craigslist.ca/searc...900&pets_dog=1

Rent, Buy or Advertise 1 Bedroom Apartments & Condos in Kamloops | Apartments & Condos | Kijiji Classifieds


I am not familiar with the area really, and I like to check the rental market of an area to see if its even viable, but I am not finding much.

But those are the only 2 sites I know of.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

I need an actual book* and this one looks promising, I think anyhow.

* I don't have a portable reader thinger, and when reading need to be away from the house so I can concentrate and be free of distractions.

Seems the one below is only electronically available?

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Is access to the lower mainland and the US really that important? I'd rather need a car here and enjoy the quiet roads and freedom to explore/commute easily without gridlock and the frustration that traffic volumes create in major cities. The Fraser Valley is under 3 hours away, YVR within 4 hours. It doesn't feel isolated here, and if I want a weekend in Vancouver it's an easy drive to have a change of scenery.

Sun Peaks Survivors, which is a Facebook group you can apply to join, the local paper Sun Peaks Independent News (http://sunpeaksnews.com/) and on notice boards in the grocery store and realtors offices. Most is word of mouth.

I needed a 2 bedroom property yesterday for some of my staff to live in this summer season, so I made a few calls and found a 2,500 sq/ft home, all utilities included for $1000 p/mth.



I've not much knowledge of the Kamloops rental market, but this is from the local paper: Kamloops rental vacancy rate double the B.C. average | Kamloops This Week

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

We pay 850/month right now for rent, so anywhere we go we need to pay closer to 600-650/month to make the move worthwhile, but is that doable for a pet friendly 1 bedroom rental in your area?

Are prices for food stuffs higher, and likely to just pay more for food, and other basic necessities and thus being in the same boat?

Sun Peaks could be an option, pending what I can find on rental prices, but not as easy as Whistler in finding ads...lol

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Is this the only medical clinic/place to see a doctor without going to Kamloops?

Sun Peaks Health Centre at Sun Peaks Resort community.


Anyone know if there is any mental health units in the area? My google search did not turn up anything except the above.

For obvious reasons we need easy access to both a GP and psychiatrist and if Kamloops is the closest that could be an issue.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Interesting article, wonder how often these sorts of things happen in Canada? Everyone we know except 1 couple is in the same boat we are, the one couple who owns does rent out their basement suite, but its not pet friendly, we inquired as the location is good, and the rent they charge (600) is good as well, but they would not budge on the pet rule.

They are both well off in career jobs, where the rest we know are either single income, or on disability.

I did notice one thing in the article, those who bought and are now renting out all seemed to have gotten money from family in one form or another.

I wonder if those folks didn't have the family help financially if they could buy?


We would gladly buy with family if that option existed.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

You'll have to make some calls/research to see what's suitable and affordable. I rent out a 1,200 sq/ft 2 bedroom basement suite for $1000 which is pet friendly, so a smaller place might be within budget.

Food prices in Save On, Safeway, Costco etc aren't any different from elsewhere in BC. Why would they be?

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

How many clinic options do you need in a community of 200 permanent residents? For more specialist care, Kamloops offers all you need - unless you require immediate attention and a 40 minute journey is likely to be life threatening I don't see the problem of a short journey.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

well grocery prices in Whistler are a fair amount more vs Vancouver prices, and Squamish prices were more costly then Vancouver and Fraser Valley prices, would think a somewhat isolated resort town would have premium pricing.

Most chains don't do nationwide pricing, they can vary even store to store within the same city.

Problem is who does one call? Is there a dedicated number to call for this info? I did research and I found nothing or very little for either housing or employment for that region, hence why I asked you,.

We need lower as the wages you mentioned is what wife makes now, so if rent is the same there as here, and wages the same, no benefit to moving.

We are looking for regions with rents under 800 for a 1 bedroom apartment.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

I didn't realize it was that small a place.

Thanks for your help, and we were thinking about it, but it's a lot smaller then we thought.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

BC Gov't as a cost of living calculator, so I compared a few places.

I am tired, but does the gov't calculator pretty much show there is little difference cost wise between these places?

Income used was 30,000 as that is what we made.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Kamloops has 8 or more major grocery stores. Between them price points vary to some degree, but it's not difficult to work out what's best value. Nobody shops in Sun Peaks for groceries other than in an emergency.

I gave you the sources for housing - you'll have to do some leg work, engage on the Facebook page and make some calls. Employment opportunities are also listed in SPIN, via the Sun Peaks tourism website and as usual via word of mouth.


I've illustrated typical rent here, which appear to meet your criteria.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

During the summer and winter tourist seasons, the community hosts 8,000+ people, so the amenities are geared to accommodate, entertain and support that number. It's a small permanent population, but with facilities suited to big influxes of people.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

The link had nothing current that I saw, hence why I asked. I cannot do word of mouth since I do not live there and would not know who to call/email.

Regardless its too isolated rents on par with our current rent, so no net savings or decrease in costs, only more costs with having to drive 40km for everything we need.

I need an urban city, like Vancouver, I will not be happy isolated in small towns. I hate Chilliwack because its too small...lol

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Perhaps its time to look at what you have got and not keep being dissatisfied with what you don't have.

Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Looks current to me: For Rent - Sun Peaks Independent News | SunPeaksNews.com it's easy to call the realtors and property management companies to determine what's available.

If you register with the Facebook group you'll see plenty of rental options, but if you believe $1000 for a 2 bedroom 1,200sq/ft suite is more expensive than Chilliwack, or that prices to buy here are similar then fair enough.

The drive to Kamloops is only necessary once a week, so not a major overhead. The rest of the time a car isn't needed.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

Live a day in my shoes before telling me that.

Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
 

However you don't know what other people deal with daily, have dealt with and the way they deal with it. Many others have their challenges and demons. Maybe, be glad you are not living in their shoes! Sometimes we have to take what we have, as it is all we have. Better to be thankful for what we have and can do than dwell on all the things we don't have and cannot do.

Some folks overcome adversity, some won't let themselves move forward. Many people struggle though daily life, often those with nothing to smile about are the most cheerful.

It can be a fight, a struggle, but if you don't fight and face the struggle, what else is there?

This guys life changed in a flash https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Weston

Re: A conversation split from Vancouver housing costs thread.
 

Okay.

So here are the posts that I moved from the Vancouver housing costs thread.

They are really a conversation about the issues that jsmth321 experiences and the knock on effects.

I am actually going to close this thread, as at the moment I don't think him typing about all of this is helping his wellbeing.

For some a vent helps . For Jsmth321 it catches him in a spiral so it does not help.

I hope you understand Jsmth321 I do this with your best interests in my heart.