Originally Posted by Kiwilass

haha to be honest, there's lots of Burnaby I wouldn't live in either for the exact same reasons. Where I live, in the heights, it feels more like east van, actually it really is like east van, just better cared for (no offence to east vanners as I love it, but it's almost like Vancouver ran out of steam when it got to COmmercial). Lots of character homes, little restaurants, great transit, only 15 mins to dt van, diverse popluation, mountain views, etc. etc. Dboy and I once had a long conversation about areas that are really appealing places to live, and why, they tend to be the older neighbourhoods like Kits, Commercial, Hastings, the heights, north van, and I think a large part of it is because they are older and were built before the car.

BUt go 10 blocks east and you're right, it's not different to Coquitlam - but it is a shorter commute to van.

by urban I didn't so much mean the towers though that's part of it. I mean coquitlam has plenty of towers too. IT's more the amenities (see first paragraph) and the people...likeminded people. IF that makes sense. The people who tend to want the surburban dream don't tend to live in inner burnaby or richmond...it's that mindset/lifestyle thing again. I see Coquitlam as way more car-oriented than where I live now, probably because it was built as a bedroom community in the 70s when it was all about the car.

sigh. I miss dboy.

Originally Posted by brizzle

Yes, I totally get what you're saying. Burnaby Heights/E.Van etc seem to have more of a European feel, rather than a N.American feel if you know what I mean. Trouble outside of Vancouver itself, you can count these areas on one hand. The rest is really suburbia and car orientated, but it depends what you're after really.

Personally speaking* (from someone who lives in the 'burbs), if someone has a burning desire to move to Vancouver because they love it, then I think that they really need to live in Vancouver proper or in Comm. Drive/Kits etc. Living out in the 'burbs seems to me to defeat the whole purpose, as it is a different lifestyle. If someone can't afford to do that, then maybe they need to rethink things. It's a bit like loving central London living and the associated lifestyle, but once you move you find that you can only afford Barnet. Nowt wrong with Barnet, but your lifestyle will be very different there.

*in very general terms

Originally Posted by brizzle

Yes, I totally get what you're saying. Burnaby Heights/E.Van etc seem to have more of a European feel, rather than a N.American feel if you know what I mean. Trouble outside of Vancouver itself, you can count these areas on one hand. The rest is really suburbia and car orientated, but it depends what you're after really.

Personally speaking* (from someone who lives in the 'burbs), if someone has a burning desire to move to Vancouver because they love it, then I think that they really need to live in Vancouver proper or in Comm. Drive/Kits etc. Living out in the 'burbs seems to me to defeat the whole purpose, as it is a different lifestyle. If someone can't afford to do that, then maybe they need to rethink things. It's a bit like loving central London living and the associated lifestyle, but once you move you find that you can only afford Barnet. Nowt wrong with Barnet, but your lifestyle will be very different there.

*in very general terms

Originally Posted by brizzle

Yes, I totally get what you're saying. Burnaby Heights/E.Van etc seem to have more of a European feel, rather than a N.American feel if you know what I mean. Trouble outside of Vancouver itself, you can count these areas on one hand. The rest is really suburbia and car orientated, but it depends what you're after really.

Personally speaking* (from someone who lives in the 'burbs), if someone has a burning desire to move to Vancouver because they love it, then I think that they really need to live in Vancouver proper or in Comm. Drive/Kits etc. Living out in the 'burbs seems to me to defeat the whole purpose, as it is a different lifestyle. If someone can't afford to do that, then maybe they need to rethink things. It's a bit like loving central London living and the associated lifestyle, but once you move you find that you can only afford Barnet. Nowt wrong with Barnet, but your lifestyle will be very different there.

*in very general terms

Originally Posted by lmartin999

Excellent post. Get a condo in Kits, take transit and walk. No need for a car. On a sunny day at the beach it will make sense.

Originally Posted by Dotty P

Funny you should say that....we're currently renting a flat and actually quite like it so we were discussing condo living too!

Originally Posted by Dotty P

Funny you should say that....we're currently renting a flat and actually quite like it so we were discussing condo living too!

Originally Posted by lmartin999

Excellent post. Get a condo in Kits, take transit and walk. No need for a car. On a sunny day at the beach it will make sense.

Originally Posted by Dotty P

Funny you should say that....we're currently renting a flat and actually quite like it so we were discussing condo living too!

Originally Posted by JonboyE

Kits is lovely, but $500,000 doesn't go far. 2 bed, 800sf and no view.

The middle option is a town home. You have a decent budget in many areas.

Originally Posted by stacey.cook1

I totally agree with renting somewhere first before buying. We currently live in Coquitlam and have done for the past 14 months but we're moving to North Van later this month. Coquitlam as a whole is quite nice, good mall, transit, trails, great couple of lakes for the summer etc but we realize we spend way more time in Downtown/North van for snowboarding and seeing friends etc so what might seem ideal for your needs when you first arrive may not be the case a year down the line.

Brizzle - you live in Coquitlam and are from Bristol?? SNAP! small world eh?!

Originally Posted by brizzle

Zummerset originally, but it's just way easier to say Brizzle as more people (not from UK) have heard of it. BTW I don't talk in the same way that I type. Oo aar

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

YEs, it is. It's much further to Vancouver and is truly suburban (except Surrey). Burnaby and Richmond are at least right next to Vancouver and they're urbanizing fast.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

haha to be honest, there's lots of Burnaby I wouldn't live in either for the exact same reasons. Where I live, in the heights, it feels more like east van, actually it really is like east van, just better cared for (no offence to east vanners as I love it, but it's almost like Vancouver ran out of steam when it got to COmmercial). Lots of character homes, little restaurants, great transit, only 15 mins to dt van, diverse popluation, mountain views, etc. etc. Dboy and I once had a long conversation about areas that are really appealing places to live, and why, they tend to be the older neighbourhoods like Kits, Commercial, Hastings, the heights, north van, and I think a large part of it is because they are older and were built before the car.

BUt go 10 blocks east and you're right, it's not different to Coquitlam - but it is a shorter commute to van.

by urban I didn't so much mean the towers though that's part of it. I mean coquitlam has plenty of towers too. IT's more the amenities (see first paragraph) and the people...likeminded people. IF that makes sense. The people who tend to want the surburban dream don't tend to live in inner burnaby or richmond...it's that mindset/lifestyle thing again. I see Coquitlam as way more car-oriented than where I live now, probably because it was built as a bedroom community in the 70s when it was all about the car.

sigh. I miss dboy.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

that's good because if you're open to condo living, there is WAY more choice of areas. North van, the heights *shameless plug for own neighbourhood* commercial, DT

Originally Posted by Dotty P

Hmmmm, it seems hubby isn't as much into condo living as me.....back to the drawing board! I thought he'd like it but he says it's okay to rent one for a while but not for keeps. Fair enough.

Still like this little house though.....

http://homes.point2.com/CA/British-C...al-Estate.aspx

Not sure how you cut and paste actually but maybe the above works? Maybe not. Anyway, what's Langley like?