misery at Vancouver housing cost?
#377
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 102
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
We are a young family living and renting in North Vancouver. We also have a large dog and nowhere else to go until we can save enough. The island is a really great option. Some people even commute to down town via ferry or float plane. The prices are however starting to creep up. Surry is one of the worst places to live here. There are shootings every other day but south Surry is nice white Rock area. There's always a shortage of GP's so I don't think you will have any problems finding work. Feel free to message me if you want more info.
#378
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,274
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
One of the reasons Vancouver's property market is overheated because foreigners, mainly Chinese, have speculated or have purchased but moved back to Asia to make more money than they can acquire in Canada....and leave places empty.
I have spent a couple of summers living on my boat in False Creek and have witnessed the numerous apartments in Yaletown left empty as the lights are always off and there are few people in the street. If those apartments were full the businesses in that area would be booming with people.
The new Mayor of London was interviewed this week and said the same was happening in London and he was going to do something about it...I hope Vancouver can also do something.
One idea which Whistler and Florida do is increase property tax on vacant property.
I have spent a couple of summers living on my boat in False Creek and have witnessed the numerous apartments in Yaletown left empty as the lights are always off and there are few people in the street. If those apartments were full the businesses in that area would be booming with people.
The new Mayor of London was interviewed this week and said the same was happening in London and he was going to do something about it...I hope Vancouver can also do something.
One idea which Whistler and Florida do is increase property tax on vacant property.
Last edited by Davita; May 15th 2016 at 4:27 am.
#379
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 87
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
Have seen a few decent looking properties in Maple Ridge. With coquitlam a possible place of work then Maple Ridge area looks probable. Also seen a couple of good properties in West Vancouver for $370000. Properties were off build but looked very good given the price and proximity to downtown Vancouver.
I don't really get it to be honest regarding Surrey and the high crime rate. It just doesn't seem consistent with Vancouver being one of the best cities in the world to live in, and not conducive with raising young children. I was originally looking at this area due to being close to the city and reasonable house prices, but sounds more akin to some of the American big cities.
I don't really get it to be honest regarding Surrey and the high crime rate. It just doesn't seem consistent with Vancouver being one of the best cities in the world to live in, and not conducive with raising young children. I was originally looking at this area due to being close to the city and reasonable house prices, but sounds more akin to some of the American big cities.
#380
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
...
I have spent a couple of summers living on my boat in False Creek and have witnessed the numerous apartments in Yaletown left empty as the lights are always off and there are few people in the street. If those apartments were full the businesses in that area would be booming with people...
I have spent a couple of summers living on my boat in False Creek and have witnessed the numerous apartments in Yaletown left empty as the lights are always off and there are few people in the street. If those apartments were full the businesses in that area would be booming with people...
Interestingly, there is of members of condominiums. In Vancouver 3.5% of owners of condominiums are not resident in Canada.
#381
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
Have seen a few decent looking properties in Maple Ridge. With coquitlam a possible place of work then Maple Ridge area looks probable. Also seen a couple of good properties in West Vancouver for $370000. Properties were off build but looked very good given the price and proximity to downtown Vancouver.
I don't really get it to be honest regarding Surrey and the high crime rate. It just doesn't seem consistent with Vancouver being one of the best cities in the world to live in, and not conducive with raising young children. I was originally looking at this area due to being close to the city and reasonable house prices, but sounds more akin to some of the American big cities.
The crime rate you refer to is presumably the recent spate of shootings. There is a turf war at the moment between dial-a-dope gangs. It flares up every now and again in Whalley and Newton. I don't sell drugs. It is not part of my life.
Apart from Whalley and some of Newton Surrey is mostly farmland and inoffensive dormitory suburbia that is designed for family living.
#382
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
There was a section on the local TV news (CBC) about this last night. They were talking about a change in the provinces property purchase tax rules where a buyer would have to state their citizenship. The reporter was saying that there are currently no records of the citizenship, origin or residence of owners of land in the province.
Interestingly, there is of members of condominiums. In Vancouver 3.5% of owners of condominiums are not resident in Canada.
Interestingly, there is of members of condominiums. In Vancouver 3.5% of owners of condominiums are not resident in Canada.
#383
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,274
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
There was a section on the local TV news (CBC) about this last night. They were talking about a change in the provinces property purchase tax rules where a buyer would have to state their citizenship. The reporter was saying that there are currently no records of the citizenship, origin or residence of owners of land in the province.
Interestingly, there is of members of condominiums. In Vancouver 3.5% of owners of condominiums are not resident in Canada.
Interestingly, there is of members of condominiums. In Vancouver 3.5% of owners of condominiums are not resident in Canada.
It wouldn't be too difficult to create a by-law, in the City at least, to double property taxes by a specific date. Then allow those owners to prove residency or show a lease that the property is rented....and get a rebated property tax.
I think there would be a scurry to sell, or find tenants, which would immediately create a price war and deflate the market from speculators.
Just a thought!
Edit: Just read engineer's post and agree with his last statement...not enough control has been put on illicent money being laundered. I saw this in Bali when Russians were buying almost anything, at any cost, then surreptitiously laundering into clean cash.
Last edited by Davita; May 16th 2016 at 4:26 pm.
#384
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 87
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
Here you go jonboy. There's another one pretty similar and same price if you have a look on the site.
So taking into account areas like Surrey and Maple Ridge, there is enough housing for a reasonable price, just not 10 minutes to the City.
412 BETH Crescent , Kingston, ON K7P 0K8 MLS®-360892436 for Sale
So taking into account areas like Surrey and Maple Ridge, there is enough housing for a reasonable price, just not 10 minutes to the City.
412 BETH Crescent , Kingston, ON K7P 0K8 MLS®-360892436 for Sale
#386
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 87
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
??
It shows on the map within West Vancouver. Shown last night and again today.
Go on Remax its still there.
It shows on the map within West Vancouver. Shown last night and again today.
Go on Remax its still there.
#387
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
Foreign ownership restrictions would be treating the symptom and not the cause. The market is red hot because of simple supply and demand economics. When you have less housing stock than people needing housing, prices go up. Until you build more houses than are required you won't solve the issue.
Restrictions on properties being bought as investments are required though and owners leaving their properties empty should be hit with huge tax implications.
We do have to be careful about creating rules for political reasons that are ineffective in practice. Mexico has a law that says only Mexican citizens can own property in certain coastal zones. You go there and cannot move for property owning gringos. In Vancouver, what about properties owned by Canadian corporations, or Canadian trusts? There can be many good reasons for having real estate owned by a trust and it would not be good public policy to stop this.
The one thing that can be regulated is use. There is already a mechanism in the property tax system to penalize homeowners who do not occupy their homes as their principal residence. Maybe this can be extended.
Solving the self regulation of realtors would be a start as well to stop illegally obtained foreign money being laundered in real estate transactions.
Last edited by JonboyE; May 16th 2016 at 6:32 pm.
#388
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
Here you go jonboy. There's another one pretty similar and same price if you have a look on the site.
So taking into account areas like Surrey and Maple Ridge, there is enough housing for a reasonable price, just not 10 minutes to the City.
412 BETH Crescent , Kingston, ON K7P 0K8 MLS®-360892436 for Sale
So taking into account areas like Surrey and Maple Ridge, there is enough housing for a reasonable price, just not 10 minutes to the City.
412 BETH Crescent , Kingston, ON K7P 0K8 MLS®-360892436 for Sale
Edit: the best site to view Canadian homes for sale is realtor.ca.
Last edited by JonboyE; May 16th 2016 at 5:05 pm.
#389
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 962
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
I agree things are down to supply and demand however currently supply and demand are detached from the local population and artifically driven by foreign investment. In London, Vancouver and Sydney, foreign ownership is extremely high. These foreign owners are pricing the local population out of the market. Arguably the laws and politicians of the land should act in the interests of the local population and I think restrictions on foreign buyers buying up large areas of cities for investment purposes would definitely be in the interest of the local population. This way although supply and demand would still operate and so property prices will inevitably rise in the long term; the link between the local population and supply and demand would be re-established. I have no doubt that in all three cities that if people have property on the market for a long time because the local population cannot afford the property then the sellers would start to lower their asking prices or at least the market would cool allowing inflation to catch up wages to prices.
#390
Re: misery at Vancouver housing cost?
I agree things are down to supply and demand however currently supply and demand are detached from the local population and artifically driven by foreign investment. In London, Vancouver and Sydney, foreign ownership is extremely high. These foreign owners are pricing the local population out of the market. Arguably the laws and politicians of the land should act in the interests of the local population and I think restrictions on foreign buyers buying up large areas of cities for investment purposes would definitely be in the interest of the local population. This way although supply and demand would still operate and so property prices will inevitably rise in the long term; the link between the local population and supply and demand would be re-established. I have no doubt that in all three cities that if people have property on the market for a long time because the local population cannot afford the property then the sellers would start to lower their asking prices or at least the market would cool allowing inflation to catch up wages to prices.