scrubbedexpat091

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?

R I C H

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

scrubbedexpat091

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

scrubbedexpat091

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.

scrubbedexpat091

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.

R I C H

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?

R I C H

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.

scrubbedexpat091

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.

scrubbedexpat091

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.

scrubbedexpat091

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.

R I C H

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.

R I C H

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.

scrubbedexpat091

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

Aviator

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.

R I C H

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.