After umming and aahing for a long time while we wait for PR, we've decided that we want to live in an apartment in Greater Vancouver, and we're hoping to have a research trip early next year to narrow down exactly where we'd like to live.

I've looked through a lot of threads here about places like Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, etc, and it's hard to choose one above any other because as far as we're concerned they all seem to have similar pluses (relatively close to Vancouver downtown, good range of housing) and minuses (growing crime/drug/homelessness problems, occasional ethnic tensions).

So I was wondering, if you were looking for an apartment - we'd like a house, but I don't think that's realistic - for less than $200,000 that is within 45-60 minutes commute to Vancouver (preferably by train) and in a reasonably safe area, where would you go?

We're hoping to get work in Van (me in media/graphic design/web work, my Better Half in something office/admin-based), rather than where we eventually end up living, so the commuting possibilities are very important to us. But it would be nice to live somewhere with lots to do in evenings and weekends, so we don't have to keep going to Van for our entertainment.

I've seen the suggestions to look at Brits2Vancouver, etc, which I will do. But I've really appreciated the responses of BE members to my previous posts, and I've love to hear from anyone who can help. Any comments will be welcomed.

Hi

We are hoping to head out that way early next year as well, looking at North Delta / Sunshine Hills at the moment.

Have a read of this http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Vancouver

Good luck

I don't think you can get a place in Gtr Van for $200k or less and if you could I wouldn't want to live there.

I wouldn't call Chilliwack Gtr Vancouver as it is too far out, you would soon get fed up with a 2hr commute each day..

On mls.ca we've seen three-bed apartments on Hastings Street in Burnaby and Tims Crescent in Abbotsford that suit our needs for around $180k. We could buy a place for $180k without a mortgage, but if the location is no good then we'd be willing to take out a mortgage for up to $100k if it meant we could get somewhere more worthwhile.

Obviously we won't get a clear idea of what places are like until we go there, but if someone can tell us places to steer clear of it would make our next recce trip a little easier. I think we've ruled out Surrey because it seems to have major crime problems, but anywhere else is up for grabs...

We lived in Abbotsford for a few years and enjoyed it, 60-75 mins to downtown Vancouver. We are now a bit further out in Chilliwack, 95 minutes to downtown. I don't commute, as such but do have to travel in several days a week on for about 6 months of the year. The extra time was a bit of a drag for a while, but it soon becomes the norm. Still better then Surrey to London!

Then I think you are making a big mistake. Parts of Surrey are grim, I agree, but it also contains some of the best, reasonably priced, new housing and some of the most exclusive and expensive neighborhoods around. Give Whalley, Newton and Guildford a miss for sure, but don't rule out Fleetwood or Cloverdale especially. You can even buy Condos (Flats) in South Surrey for $250,000 +.

Thanks. OK, I'll put Surrey back on our list.

This would certainly be very convenient for buying crack.

East Hastings is certainly one to avoid, other parts are not quite so bad though. I would certainly visit and check out all the places you are considering. Hastings would not be up there on my list of places to live. When somewhere is cheaper than surrounding areas there is usually a reason.

Unfortunately, suburbia isn't exactly known for being the most exciting place. Unless you enjoy shopping malls, highways, strip malls, and big box stores.

If it was me, I would just rent an apartment for a year in downtown Vancouver, and take that time to really learn about the different areas of Greater Vancouver before buying.

I completely agree with this sentiment.

There's not a whole lot to do in the evenings in most suburbs, other than going for walks, or going to the local shopping mall, grocery store, library or movie theatre.

You have to see for yourself. I can tell you where I would live, but that doesn't mean you will be happy there. By all means make up a list of wants/don't wants and research all you can. However, my guess is that this will all go out the window when you see what things look like on the ground.

If you can't male up your mind on your reccie trip then renting downtown is a very sensible idea. It will cost you about $11,000 to sell a $250,000 place if it turns out you don't like the area after all - and this is not far off a year's rent in a downtown apartment.

The OP said Hastings Street in Burnaby - nothing like the downtown eastside part of Hastings in Vancouver. Personally, I'd rent an apartment in the westend, for the short term.

West end is nowhere near Burnaby. West Hastings is downtown, Hastings Street, Burnaby is East of the TCH (highway 1).

If planning on renting and accessing downtown, North Vancouver has some nice & affordable communities and relatively good public transport into downtown, buses and the sea bus. If looking to access downtown by train, Abbotsford is a 15 minute drive to Mission and the West Coast Express
Other communities on the West Coast Express route can be found here.

I don't think he was suggesting that the West End was anywhere near Burnaby. I think he was just saying that the West End might be a nice place to rent for a few months before deciding where to live.

Also, East Hastings is only really bad for a few blocks around Main Street. Once you head east of Clarke, you're in the Sunrise neighbourhood. Working class, cheap, a bit dull, but a different world all things considered. Once you travel east of Hwy 1, yes, it turns into Burnaby.

I think we should all realize that Hastings Street is rather long, so if we are to refer to it, we should really specify the neighbourhood or the crossroads.