Would value your opinion of what I have gathered are our various housing options in Vancouver area.

I'll be working in North Van, but to live in that area we could only afford strata housing. Not used to this kind of accommodation, don't have this kind of thing in UK as far as I'm aware. But for the same price as a town house with no garden (we have a dog by the way), we could get a newish detached, large (3-6bed) house in coquitlam type area, with private garden. The downside would be the time and cost of commuting everyday.

I'd really love to hear what others would do if they had the choice.

You may not have a choice if your dog is over 19" tall. Most strata's have pet rules, most exclude them completely and those that do allow dogs usually have a size restriction.

I lived in PoCo for six years and know Coquitlam very well. I would not live there if you paid me. Keep looking in North Van if you can, if you are at Lions Gate you will not want to be living in Coquitlam.The commute to North Van from there can be a pig, depending on the time of day.

I tend to agree with Dingbat, though I think he/she is rather harsh about PoCo and Coquitlam - there are some lovely areas in both towns. But, if you are going to be working in North Van you'd be better off getting something affordable there. Mind you, my neighbour commutes from Maple Ridge to North Van and says it's not bad. Wouldn't do it myself. But I guess Barnet Highway to Second Narrows via HOV lanes would be fairly quick.

what on earth is a Strata?

Condominiums.

Think Victor Meldrew, with the force of law. It is a residents council - they approve what you can do in and with your own home, in return for cutting the grass and fixing external renovations. You pay a handsome monthly fee for the priviledge of having your rights over your own property restricted. Town houses, gated complexes and condo's can be strata. New single family detached houses in "exclusive" gated complexes can also be strata.

hmm this doesn't bode well for us! If duplex/townhouses are no good, and podo/coquitlam are no good, we seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place! Lesser of 2 evils?

with a budget of $500,000 where else would poeple suggest. Hubby might not get work as he will be main childcarer, or it would have to be part time, so we are trying not to take on a mortgage if we can help it.

are we snookered?!!!!!

And now for the glass is half-full description:

I am involved in two stratas. I pay $160 for one, $210 for the other... per month and that fee includes hot water, heat, exterior maintenance, garbage/recycling pick-up, building insurance... essentially, the upkeep of the common property of which I own a percentage of.

In exchange for that, I can't play my music loud enough to bother my neighbours, I don't have to put up with the sounds of barking dogs or screaming sprogs and the exterior of my curtains (the bits seen from the outside) must be a neutral colour.

And I get to watch a young, bronzed, muscled, shirtless dude mow the grass each Thursday morning.... that alone is worth the monthly fee.

loving the bit about the bronzed gardening dude, but I do have sprogs and dogs (a dog to be precise!)

Well you could probably find yourself a strata/condo place that allows pets and kids. I purposely chose condos with those restrictions as I'm not really fond of living near dogs or kids.

Each strata has it's own unique set of rules/restrictions.

[QUOTE=dingbat;5088849]
I lived in PoCo for six years and know Coquitlam very well. I would not live there if you paid me.

I'd be interested to know why you wouldn't go back there? neighbourhood? housing? poeple?

Can't they vote complexes to be "no renters" in BC too? They can't do that in Alberta.

Yes. I can't rent out my condo in Victoria as the strata council voted many years ago to have rental restrictions. I knew that when I purchased the place and that's one of the reasons why I purchased the place. They use to have a 'only 5 units in the building can be rented out' rule (or something) but the owners voted to ditch it.

Yeah Alberta it is pretty much... 'hey, do whatever you like!'

[QUOTE=nursemakeyouwell;5089931] Check the brits2vancouver website, lots of ex Brits on there living in Coquitlam and PoCo and you will get honest opinions from them on the best areas. From what I read they are all happy there, and also Port Moody is a good location.

[QUOTE=nursemakeyouwell;5089931]
I just did not like Coquitlam, everyone has their own preferences and I found it to be not to my taste, particularly as it expanded. I also had issues with the schooling on offer, which was a big problem at the time.

Someone mentioned Port Moody. I like Port Moody. Why I like Port Moody and not Coquitlam, I have no idea, after all one blurs into the other. It's just "felt" nicer. Coquitlam has a reasonable shopping mall.