Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Hello oh wise BE peeps,
We have been living in North Vancouver for 6 years and, well, its time we broke up. She has grown too expensive for our taste and we are growing increasingly depressed at her housing prices. So we are looking to relocate (we love trees, mountains, snow and coast still)and are currently researching Halifax and surrounding areas. Is there anyone there who can give us the lowdown? Areas to avoid? My husband is an accountant and I am a Pilates instructor. We have two young girls of 4yrs and 1yr plus a large hairy dog.
Already read the Wiki!
Thanks in advance!

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

My daughter is a Vancouver native who relocated to the Halifax area after she married a NS man 16 years ago.

She's now settled, and knows they will never be able to move back here although that had been their original idea.

They have a nice house ...... and a big mortgage. They did look at buying in Halifax, but that was expensive so they bought in a nearby community.

Schools are the same as everywhere ............ some good, some bad. Halifax School Board (which also covers Dartmouth across the harbour) has a school year that is 12 days longer than in BC (and probably elsewhere in the country!). They adopted this a few years ago after so many school days had been lost to "snow days", and it has now become permanent. This can impact on parental holiday arrangements .......... for example, the Christmas break is usually no more than 10 days.

Grocery stores are more expensive than here. Restaurants more expensive ......... for example, sushi is as much as 3 times the cost here, and you never see wild sockeye listed.

There is downhill skiing in NS, but cross country skiing and snowshoeing is common ............. at Ski Martock the hill is 600' high, 7 trails, 5 lifts. Ski Wentworth is 815' high and has 20 trails.

Weather can be horrendous ........... they get the tail end of many hurricanes in summer and nor'easters in winter. We've been there in real blizzard conditions. Our daughter snowshoes or uses her cross country skis to get to work, with transit for part of the trip, 2 or 3 times every winter.

I find it is more difficult to get to know the "natives" there, than when we came to Vancouver.

It's faster to get back to the UK, but very expensive to fly to other parts of Canada.

That's the bad side.

You need to investigate the job situation very carefully, although it seems that you have the skills to run your own businesses if needed. I know there has been a downturn in the building and construction industry and there are a lot of people out of work.

The outdoor life is great, with lots of hiking, camping, etc ........... and often cheaper than on this side.

It can be difficult to access sand and sea other than at public beaches ........ home owners own the beach down to the low water mark and can ban the public form even walking across "their" beach.

There's loads of mosquitoes and blackflies!

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Given what Scilly says, I would just head further East in BC if that is feasible .:unsure:

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

I'm from North Van and co-incidentally went on very short trip to Halifax last week.

Flying in was horrendous (see my separate thread on that). However, I found out that it's not that uncommon (problems with fog etc.).

My impressions of Halifax were that: the people were lovely and very friendly/welcoming all that sort of thing, that it seemed like a nice holiday destination (I said to my husband who was not with me that we should come again and explore), that I don't think I'd like to live there long term.

I also thought stuff was a bit more expensive in the shops. I noticed that Tim Hortons was a bit cheaper, but by the time the tax went on it was the same or more expensive (am I right?). I went to a supermarket type store called Pete's which had a lot of British stuff but ordinary food items seemed a bit more than here. People seem to like lobster: even McD's sell it.

The fog really got to me actually, but I think I was partly apprehensive about the return trip.

Why don't you go for a holiday and see what you think?

S

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Pete's is not your average supermarket. They are trying to be more Whole Foods than Asda, and are more expensive than Superstore / Sobeys.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Yes, I thought this. It was just the store I stumbled upon during my brief trip there which was close to the hotel. It's not Whole Foods. It's a bit like Fresh Street in West Van.

S

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Fog is particularly crap right now as we are having an unseasonably cool Jun and I for one cant wait for it to leave.
I don't see much downturn in the construction industry, there seems to be construction and new buildings going up everywhere.
For some real estate info take a look at: www.viewpoint.ca
For accounting jobs Accounting Staffing and Meridia are good options for recruitment consultants and also there are some good accounting positions going at Emera www.emera.com


Good luck with your decision. We love it here.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

That's going backwards. Move west, go to VI, if you can't afford Victoria then there are plenty of other places that you can twiddle your thumbs while not freezing your nads off.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Maybe it's just the Halifax architectural firms that are not getting any business then. Daughter is an architect.

Actually, I believe most of those new buildings may well have gone through the design and approval processes some time ago, then put into abeyance while money was raised for building. The architects were very busy up to about 3-4 years ago, most have been scratching for contracts since, laying off staff, cutting back, etc.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Interesting and useful info for sure. I hope that turns around for your daughter soon

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Thank you so much you guys are awesome. I think we will take a look at the Kootenays and more on the Island. It would be great to be closer to home but I don't like the sound of all those mosquitos and black flies!! Or the weather! We are so ready to leave Vancouver. Its soul destroying watching the property market!

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Yeah, that sounds like a plan- Oink certainly has a good point with the Island. I suppose it depends if you need to be in spitting distance of the Ocean. I like the Kootenays but somewhat isolated IMO. Consider our patch- minimal insects :thumbup:

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Or forget about it all.... and come to New Brunswick....No Fog...No employment either, of course...and as yet...No Summer Sunshine:blink: It is however, very green...very, very green...it's the rain you see;)

We have more snow, generally, than Nova Scotia, so the winter sports are even better, and they last much, much longer...house prices are better too! Thanks to the climate and the HST....

When you have sorted is all out and found a home away from home from Vancouver....please let us lot on the East Coast know about it!

Very best of luck:thumbup:

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

The weather, or bug situation in NS are anything like what Scilly described.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

So good weather and no flies?

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

1 tail end of a hurricane and a couple of tropical storms in seven years that I can remember .
Winter storms can be a pain in the arse, we do seem to get a lot. A couple of years ago it seemed like every Wednesday, probably wasn't. February is normally the worst month. We do get quite a lot of thaw days though.

Black fly mainly around in June, don't seem to populate urban areas. Can be horrible by lakes though.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

You are right, it WAS every Wednesday or near as dammit.
I think the black fly are gone already - probably as sick of the weather this June as I am. Its forecast to be 21C on Saturday - you can bring that on asap

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Been here a week now. "Let's move to Halifax", says the wife. Worst mistake we have ever made! It is a dump! And so very overpriced, considering its moribund economy, Stay west of the Saskatchewan/Alberta border and you can't go wrong.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Only 7 years, eh??


Hurricane Juan hit NS in September 2003, wiped out most of the trees in Point Pleasant Park, as well as in throughout the city, and causing days-long power outage. We were in Halifax at Thanksgiving that year, and the damage was devastating

White Juan hit NS in February 2004 ......... a hurricane-strength nor-easter blizzard. Halifax and Dartmouth got almost 100 cm of snow over 2 days.

There was a huge blizzard on Boxing Day 2004, we could not leave the house for a full day. There has been at least 1 blizzard day on 3 of the Christmas visits that we have made since 2004.

The records show that there has been one land-falling hurricane every other year and 1-2 storms of tropical origin moving over land each year since 2000. That's an increase over what used to be the case.

This does not count the heavy rainfalls due to being at the edge of tropical storms that have moved further out to sea.

I've been going to NS regularly since 1999, and 3 or 4 times before that from 1972.


I agree that black flies are not too much of a problem in Metro Halifax ........... but they are bad out in the country in the woods and by the lakes. And that is a deterrent if you like the outdoors. Mosquitoes are around for much longer than black flies ............ they always find me

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Heavy Rain, floods, ice storms, big snow storms, tornadoes, power outages, bone chilling cold...there's stuff like this in most of Canada isn't there?

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

To the OP.

Are there any other reasons apart from expensive housing that you are looking to leave Vancouver?

Halifax is not a cheap city to live in. The housing is quite expensive for these parts but the wages are no higher. General cost of living here is not cheap either. Taxes(property and income) are among the highest in the country and you will have quite the shock when your Jan and Feb power bills come in.

I think the weather has been covered above but dont underestimate just how crap it can be. Nor Easters will wear down even the most ardent of snow lovers.

Do you go to the states very often? Very long drive to get there or 3 hour drive and insanely expensive ferry.

The biggest problem with this part of the country is lack of employment opportunities which keeps wages low. You may like many here find yourself underemployed and overlooked time and again for better jobs or promotions because you are an outsider or are not connected. Nepotism is the order of the day here. A lot of the best and brightest up and leave for points west because of this.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

My daughter and her Aussie friend have just done a massive road trip and Fredericton was by far their most favourite place they visited, even though they had a big problem with their hire car there!

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Yep there was a bad hurricane in NS 13 years ago

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

I live in rural Nova Scotia and seem to have lucked in to an area where there are no black flies! I'm sure as soon as we move we'll encounter them so I'm bracing myself.

We've had 3 winters here so far... the first had a lot of snow compared to the UK, with a snow storm every Wednesday for about a month! The second year was insane, more snow than most locals had seen for 30+ years. Last year was tame in comparison, not much snow. All of that means I have no idea what constitutes 'normal'!

Someone earlier said than in NS the beaches can be owned down to the low watermark. I'm not sure where you heard this but I don't think this is the case. I do a lot of beach walking (I'm into rockhounding!) and have been out with a few walking groups and we have no problem walking on beaches; someone even asked this question on the last hike I went on and was told all beaches in NS are public and cannot be owned. I'm not very good with legalese but this document seems to suggest the same:
Beaches Act
particularly this line:
The beaches of Nova Scotia are dedicated in perpetuity for the benefit, education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Nova Scotians.

I've never lived in Halifax but to visit it has always seemed like a nice city; I lived in Vancouver for a few months and Halifax reminds me of a mini Vancouver at times :-)

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

I love reading this----- sat in Halifax now, friendly people great vibe (football on shortly). Spent a beautiful day at the beach yesterday, so many to choose from, clean and great facilities. Spent the evening having fish and chips in a fishing village, so many people out enjoying it.

Downtown now, just had lobster for lunch, the variety of restaurants never seen to amaze me. Havnt been here since March and omg the downtown skyline seems to have changed with so much construction going on.

Been here on and off for 7 years and will finally move over next year, never had a problem with beach access, black flies or anything else. Yes taxes maybe higher but looking at house magazines now and the average price is about $250,000.

I lived in Calgary for 4 years, seemingly lower taxes but expensive and expensive houses and don't ask about the weather there------ you couldn't pay me to live there.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Enjoy! I couldn't move from the spot

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

The Halifax Real Estate Blog - Welcome

A quick search on realtor.ca will show you what you get in Halifax for 250k - not much.

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/m...yTypeGroupID=1

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

I should think "houses for sale under $250,000 in Vancouver" would not be a search that would tax even the rubbish search engine at realtor.ca

It seems to me that if you want to live by the ocean and are happy to live in English, then Halifax is a much better bet than Vancouver, provided you can find a job.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

I agree, just wanting to provide info to the OP. 250k figure is a bit misleading and you wont get your McMansion for that in Halifax. Here in NB maybe. The trouble is that many come to this part of the country and find it a challenge due to the other factors talked about.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

I amended that search to include houses only, changed it to $225k to $250K and selected a more central area of Halifax.

Over 100 listings. Sounds pretty good and a lot of it looks perfectly decent :unsure:

Maybe I'm a bit 'out' on what counts as central.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

A lot of those are condos. The houses are either small, Old and dated or in areas that you might not want to live in. I did not mean to say that there were not any but that 250k does not go as far in Halifax as one might expect given the averages in NS and the Maritimes

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

I think it all depends on where you are living before hand.
I live in London, UK and the prices are ridiculous and when I see the homes my family own and the price they paid compared to where I rent in London it's quite shocking and NS prices seem like tremendous value.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

One could, of course, say the same about prices in County Down or Kinross.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Do they have a Tim Hortons or Shoppers Drug mart? :)

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

That's why I changed it to houses only, to remove the condos.

I 'sampled' a few of the houses. They didn't seem small or especially old - although I've seen some people suggest 20 years is old. :rofl:

The areas, I have no clue about, other than going by the media there seems to be an awful lot of violent criminal activity relating to Dartmouth. :ohmy:

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

No idea. I've been to Halifax a good number of times and couldn't tell you if they have them there either. Are you hoping to work for one of those firms?

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

Looks like about 32 Tim Hortons and about 9 Shoppers:cool:

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

That's one baffling thing about Canadians, the retail brand identification. You don't hear of Swiss people thinking of themselves as Migros fans or English ones pining for Boots the Chemist. Specific goods, sure, people might miss Select cigarettes or Branston pickle but the nostalgia for a specific outlet of generic goods seems really strange. I doubt most non-Canadians could tell you where they bought their last disposable razor or blob of fatty fried dough.

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

But is that a desire for the brand or just general identification?

We buy tissues and kitchen roll, with brand varying but the mother in law and kids, being Canadian, call them Kleenex and Scott Towels even though they're not.

Same with the vacuum cleaner or Hoover even though it's not. ;)

Re: Trading Vancouver to Nova Scotia
 

We are re-visiting Vancouver, where we lived for 26 years before retiring in Bali. The price of property IS astronomical but the 'powers that be' don't seem to have an answer for the speculators. I hear some overseas buyers are prioritized by developers and buy unseen, then put the property back on the market at higher asking prices, and gettin even higher offers.
IMO....this is unsustainable.
Our vacation rental apartment downtown (AirBnB) looks out over many, many vacant apartments. Maybe that issue should be addressed.
We visited friends in Nanaimo last week and drove up the coast where we found many reasonable properties for sale at reasonable prices. Worth taking a look around Parksville with it's lovely views, water and forest...and easy access to the ferries and shopping in Nanaimo... but not so good for those looking for a job.