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Getbig Main Boards => General Topics => Topic started by: deadz on August 16, 2011, 12:34:00 PM
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I am thinking of relocating from the East Coast of the U.S. to Vancouver and would like to know the livability of that city. My wife has dual citizenship so we are aware of what I would need to do in order to become a citizen. Thanks!
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Beautiful city! Visited about three years ago and had a great time. I stayed downtown several blocks from Stanley Park. Hard to judge a city based on a weeklong visit, but I was impressed with Vancouver. I toured the University of BC and that was cool. A cool gym was just around the corner from my hotel… did the whole boat ride to Victoria, etc…. Eventually, we drove up to Whistler… a breathtakingly beautiful drive! Do it!!!!!
It would take a lot to get me to leave SF, but if one or both of us got phenomenal job offers in Vancouver I would not immediately say no.
Yep, I rode in that gondola... and took this pic of Vancouver at night. 8)
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i have family there and visit a couple times a year. I love it there!! Beautiful city, great weather(for canada ;D )
If i was to move to anywhere else in Canada...thats where i would be in a heartbeat
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Thanks for your insight Bay and Blinky. We are hoping to make the move by 06/12.
My wife and her family have visited and they only had good things to say about Vancouver.
We will be taking a short trip their in the next few months so I can get a feeling for the city.
After living in the S.E. my entire life, I believe, this would be a good move for us.
With the direction that the U.S. is heading in it is just more incentive to leave.
Both our careers are easily transferable so I don't see the downside.
After your description Bay, I am more excited to check it out. I have watched videos on
Vancouver and read a lot about it but hearing first hand experience makes a big difference.
I also know you travel quite a bit Bay so for you to give it two thumbs up says a lot.
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I live in Vancouver... and i'll be honest.
The weather sucks ass. It's literally nice for 2-3 months if your lucky. The rest of the year is grey / wet / depressing
Vancouver has a shocking homeless population / community. It's to the point where if you walk in certain parts of the downtown your just like 'wow'
If you like living in asia than Vancouver is perfect, the population is like 80% asian in the lower mainland. The city has zero culture, it's another failed 'multi-culturalism' experiment. The majority of ethnicity's hang out with their own kind.
Everything is wayyyy too expensive.
All in all i've lived here for almost my entire life and I'm moving to Europe in the next 5 years cause this city is a joke. Not to mention outside of Vancouver there is fuck all. the next closest cities are Montreal and Toronto.
Umm oh ya, and the police are quickly turning into american style 'police state' type of officers. Very unapproachable and almost all act as if they are SWAT members.
All in all it's nothing special. If you earn 3k a month your spending 3k a month. Anyone who didn't come from another country and is well off is stuck paying mortgage and bank and are tied down to their careers. Very depressing.
I go up there all the time due to work and I already tried warning him, you just verified everything I feel about the place. The riots over a hockey game tell you lots about the spoiled brats that live there. The Chinese have taken over and its disgusting seeing 17 year old Chinese kids drive around in expensive BMWs and Audi's while sleeping in all day while mom and dad foot all the bills. They don't bother learning English and are rude as fuck. I think the pot epidemic has rotted everyones brain, how else do you explain peoe paying 1-2 million for atotal shifhole of a house. you couldn't pay me enough to live in that city. Nice to visit but to live? No way.
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I live in Vancouver... and i'll be honest.
The weather sucks ass. It's literally nice for 2-3 months if your lucky. The rest of the year is grey / wet / depressing
Vancouver has a shocking homeless population / community. It's to the point where if you walk in certain parts of the downtown your just like 'wow'
If you like living in asia than Vancouver is perfect, the population is like 80% asian in the lower mainland. The city has zero culture, it's another failed 'multi-culturalism' experiment. The majority of ethnicity's hang out with their own kind.
Everything is wayyyy too expensive.
All in all i've lived here for almost my entire life and I'm moving to Europe in the next 5 years cause this city is a joke. Not to mention outside of Vancouver there is fuck all. the next closest cities are Montreal and Toronto.
Umm oh ya, and the police are quickly turning into american style 'police state' type of officers. Very unapproachable and almost all act as if they are SWAT members.
All in all it's nothing special. If you earn 3k a month your spending 3k a month. Anyone who didn't come from another country and is well off is stuck paying mortgage and bank and are tied down to their careers. Very depressing.
sounds like a real shit hole when you put it like that.
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I go up there all the time due to work and I already tried warning him, you just verified everything I feel about the place. The riots over a hockey game tell you lots about the spoiled brats that live there. The Chinese have taken over and its disgusting seeing 17 year old Chinese kids drive around in expensive BMWs and Audi's while sleeping in all day while mom and dad foot all the bills. They don't bother learning English and are rude as fuck. I think the pot epidemic has rotted everyones brain, how else do you explain peoe paying 1-2 million for atotal shifhole of a house. you couldn't pay me enough to live in that city. Nice to visit but to live? No way.
I live in South Florida aka the Banana Republic. I grew up here and over the years the ethnic ratios have changed drastically.
South Florida is now over run with Blacks and Hispanics. I think i'd rather deal with snobby Asians rather than the ghetto thugs around
South Florida. Rude people exist everywhere in the world so it's hard to avoid them. Luckily, I am not much of a people person so
I don't anticipate having too many run-ins with assholes. Bindare, if you lived in South Florida you might understand where I am coming
from. Although, the cost of living here is dirt cheap the price just isn't worth staying. After my research so far on Vancouver, my
only hurdles are the rainy winters in Vancouver which I am not used to and the cost of living which we believe will be
manageable. Otherwise, the city to us is still appealing. Appreciate your input though.
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Spent a little more than 3 weeks in Vancouver, setting some things up for a project. As mentioned, lots of Asians and China mainland money around. Vancouver builds up, rather than out, so lots of extra tall building are being built because of increased population. Some buildings have full grown gardens & tree's of top of them. The American dollar didn't go as far as before (that was last year) so thing were expensive. Eating out was really high. The nightlife is OK, though nothing special. People tend to get drunk early and than go out, like NY when everything is somewhat close and easy to get to. Can also get cigars from Cuba up there.
Weather was good in early Sept, but at noon everyone comes out of their offices to sit out in the sun. Which tells me the weather must be pretty damp & wet most of the year. This was confirmed by locals I met there.
Some major American TV/Movie productions are shot up and around Vancouver, so I hung around some the those people. That's popular because Canadian actors can get a few gigs going for them. Believe Canada requires so many citizen to be hired on American film productions. Also kind of cool hearing a French speaking talk show and DJ radio when I was there.
I liked Victoria much better. Much smaller city but fairly nice. Can tell the British influence right away. Old clique, as far as Vancouver goes, "Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there". If getting bored in Vancouver take the short hop to Seattle, cool place to hang.
If your the outdoors type, Vancouver island and BC would be like heavens gate for you. Hiking, camping, boating, hunting, fishing, etc. Every turn in a river brings something new and more unexpected to view.
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bump
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Vancouver is an amazing city. I live on the Island in between Victoria and Vancouver so it's a lot quieter, just the way I like it. Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, turn your ass the other way and you have a spectacular view of the ocean. I never really appreciated just how fucking awesome this place was until I ventured out of the country to see how shitty all the concrete jungles and ghettos are.
The cost of living in Vancouver is astronomical though, this is the huge downfall. We pay fuckloads of tax, BC Hydro is always raising rates, the BC Ferries are fucking outrageous and food and goods and services are hella expensive for really no reason. However, it's still beautiful here. Whenever the money situation gets you down, just remember that we have some of the best weed in the world, if not the best. There are great vineyards in BC and lots of micro breweries which are pumping out some fantastic suds. I'm not much of a drinker but our province is getting a lot more respect and recognition for what we're brewing now too.
I like how it's such multi cultural province too. White people don't always speak English, Asian people aren't just limited to Japanese and Chinese, damn near all of the foreign women are fucking gorgeous and I want to stick my rod in every one of them and it just seems like people are friendlier here. Anytime I leave I always get such shocking responses when I interact with people. I always say please and thank you, open doors and make sure to smile - I thought it was just something everyone did but that's not the case. Everyone here is polite as fuck. If you see someone spark a joint on a beach or bring a case of beer it's almost guaranteed that they'll let you join in or pass you a wobbly pop. It's just the way we roll.
If you say where you come from is already expensive, pack your bags and get the fuck over here, man. If you do move here and you're on the Island then send me a PM and we'll meet up for some joints and beers or something lol
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Any city that calls itself the best place on earth has at it's heart a real self esteem issue. It's an inferiority complex that is usually treated with copius amounts of drugs as was already mentioned by the previous poster but unfortunately heralded as a cool thing. "Money situation got you down? Smoke weed!" ::) yeah, that's a good selling point for the normal family.
That's the problem with Vancouver, the people have been sticking their heads in the (marijuana) clouds for too long. Maybe the brain damage caused by the vaporized grass is the reason they pay so much to live there?
The west coast of the US has just as many beautifull places to live and for waaay cheaper. why bother paying so much for anything up there when eventually the housing bubble they are experiencing is going to blow up even worse then any place down here?
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Wife and I spent an hour on Skype this evening with an immigration attorney from B.C.. Looks like I can establish permanent citizenship within 14 months. Wife may go up prior to me, start working, and arrange our living situation. Got some good suggestions on areas to live from our attorney. Dustin, she recommended Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Sury, any thoughts?
Apparently, the rainy season is dark and damp with light rain. The winters in general are mild from what I have read. Here in S. Fla. the rains are brutal downpours and the summer temperatures are as high as 100 with the heat index factored in. Our attorney mentioned the economy is in good shape unlike the United States where it will continue to be piss poor for years to come.
We will be planning a trip their soon, first trip is to Montreal so my wife can show me around the city where she was born.
Thanks for the offer Dustin, just might have to take you up on it one day minus the weed. Those days are pretty much over for me. Your analysis of B.C. was informative and appreciated.
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Any city that calls itself the best place on earth has at it's heart a real self esteem issue. It's an inferiority complex that is usually treated with copius amounts of drugs as was already mentioned by the previous poster but unfortunately heralded as a cool thing. "Money situation got you down? Smoke weed!" ::) yeah, that's a good selling point for the normal family.
That's the problem with Vancouver, the people have been sticking their heads in the (marijuana) clouds for too long. Maybe the brain damage caused by the vaporized grass is the reason they pay so much to live there?
The west coast of the US has just as many beautifull places to live and for waaay cheaper. why bother paying so much for anything up there when eventually the housing bubble they are experiencing is going to blow up even worse then any place down here?
West coast is very pricey. Where are you suggesting? The main reason for our move is to get out of the States and take advantage of a quality school system, universal healthcare, thriving economy, less crime, expanded social services, and so I don't feel as if I am living in a Banana Republic which is what S. Fla. has become. The U.S. is a busy body country, always poking their nose into the world affairs and I'm sick of it. This Nation is slowely crumbling and we want out.
Bindare, you may be happy with where you are but everyones experience is not the same as far as the places they decide to visit or live. Bindare are you happy with your surroundings and where you live, which city do you live in if you don't mind me asking?
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Any city that calls itself the best place on earth has at it's heart a real self esteem issue. It's an inferiority complex that is usually treated with copius amounts of drugs as was already mentioned by the previous poster but unfortunately heralded as a cool thing. "Money situation got you down? Smoke weed!" ::) yeah, that's a good selling point for the normal family.
That's the problem with Vancouver, the people have been sticking their heads in the (marijuana) clouds for too long. Maybe the brain damage caused by the vaporized grass is the reason they pay so much to live there?
The west coast of the US has just as many beautifull places to live and for waaay cheaper. why bother paying so much for anything up there when eventually the housing bubble they are experiencing is going to blow up even worse then any place down here?
Get over yourself, bro. ::)
deadz, I wouldn't recommend Surrey at all. I'm brown and even I don't feel safe there. New West is a bit of a dump and Burnaby is also pretty ghetto. I don't go to Richmond much, but it's the epitome of "Hongcouver" and that's about as much as I know about it. I go to the mainland to visit friends and relatives a lot but to me, it kind of feels the same everywhere.
I'd have to keep recommending the Island for sure. Victoria is fun to visit but not the funnest place to live like most people have mentioned. Ask your immigration attorney if they know of any places here that they could recommend. As far as housing is concerned, I've got a home already but will be looking into buying another if my wife wins her insurance case and gets a good settlement, so I should probably pay attention. That shit is such a headache though and really isn't my forte. All I know is that everything on the mainland is absolutely brutal. So many Asians and East Indians bring their families over and buy homes with drug money too. The thought of living there never even enters my mind.
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Get over yourself, bro. ::)
deadz, I wouldn't recommend Surrey at all. I'm brown and even I don't feel safe there. New West is a bit of a dump and Burnaby is also pretty ghetto. I don't go to Richmond much, but it's the epitome of "Hongcouver" and that's about as much as I know about it. I go to the mainland to visit friends and relatives a lot but to me, it kind of feels the same everywhere.
I'd have to keep recommending the Island for sure. Victoria is fun to visit but not the funnest place to live like most people have mentioned. Ask your immigration attorney if they know of any places here that they could recommend. As far as housing is concerned, I've got a home already but will be looking into buying another if my wife wins her insurance case and gets a good settlement, so I should probably pay attention. That shit is such a headache though and really isn't my forte. All I know is that everything on the mainland is absolutely brutal. So many Asians and East Indians bring their families over and buy homes with drug money too. The thought of living there never even enters my mind.
Our immigration attorney is the one who recommended those areas I mentioned. We may want to rent a house initially or a condo in the city. Do you know of any areas that would be rent friendly and nice? Living on the island may make it time consuming to get to work if we are working in the city. My wife and I are past the point about caring about a "happening nightlife" so a quite area would be fine. Also, no offense to you about my pointing to blacks and hispanics as a reason for getting out of S. Fla.. As you know ethnicities do vary quite a bit in their behavior and the behavior of the majority of blacks and hispanics here is ghetto. As I mentioned, we will be visiting in a few months but it's always good to get a reference of the area from a local, thanks.
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Vancouver is an amazing city. I live on the Island in between Victoria and Vancouver so it's a lot quieter, just the way I like it. Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, turn your ass the other way and you have a spectacular view of the ocean. I never really appreciated just how fucking awesome this place was until I ventured out of the country to see how shitty all the concrete jungles and ghettos are.
The cost of living in Vancouver is astronomical though, this is the huge downfall. We pay fuckloads of tax, BC Hydro is always raising rates, the BC Ferries are fucking outrageous and food and goods and services are hella expensive for really no reason. However, it's still beautiful here. Whenever the money situation gets you down, just remember that we have some of the best weed in the world, if not the best. There are great vineyards in BC and lots of micro breweries which are pumping out some fantastic suds. I'm not much of a drinker but our province is getting a lot more respect and recognition for what we're brewing now too.
I like how it's such multi cultural province too. White people don't always speak English, Asian people aren't just limited to Japanese and Chinese, damn near all of the foreign women are fucking gorgeous and I want to stick my rod in every one of them and it just seems like people are friendlier here. Anytime I leave I always get such shocking responses when I interact with people. I always say please and thank you, open doors and make sure to smile - I thought it was just something everyone did but that's not the case. Everyone here is polite as fuck. If you see someone spark a joint on a beach or bring a case of beer it's almost guaranteed that they'll let you join in or pass you a wobbly pop. It's just the way we roll.
If you say where you come from is already expensive, pack your bags and get the fuck over here, man. If you do move here and you're on the Island then send me a PM and we'll meet up for some joints and beers or something lol
Whats the name of the area/island? How far are you from a business district?
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Get over yourself, bro. ::)
deadz, I wouldn't recommend Surrey at all. I'm brown and even I don't feel safe there. New West is a bit of a dump and Burnaby is also pretty ghetto. I don't go to Richmond much, but it's the epitome of "Hongcouver" and that's about as much as I know about it. I go to the mainland to visit friends and relatives a lot but to me, it kind of feels the same everywhere.
I'd have to keep recommending the Island for sure. Victoria is fun to visit but not the funnest place to live like most people have mentioned. Ask your immigration attorney if they know of any places here that they could recommend. As far as housing is concerned, I've got a home already but will be looking into buying another if my wife wins her insurance case and gets a good settlement, so I should probably pay attention. That shit is such a headache though and really isn't my forte. All I know is that everything on the mainland is absolutely brutal. So many Asians and East Indians bring their families over and buy homes with drug money too. The thought of living there never even enters my mind.
He was asking about VANCOUVER, thanks for validating what a dump it and its neighboring cities are.
The cost of living in Vancouver is astronomical though, this is the huge downfall. We pay fuckloads of tax, BC Hydro is always raising rates, the BC Ferries are fucking outrageous and food and goods and services are hella expensive for really no reason.. Everyone here is polite as fuck.
If you see someone spark a joint on a beach or bring a case of beer it's almost guaranteed that they'll let you join in or pass you a wobbly pop. It's just the way we roll.
If you say where you come from is already expensive, pack your bags and get the fuck over here, man. If you do move here and you're on the Island then send me a PM and we'll meet up for some joints and beers or something lol
LMAO.
I hope this post is as transparent to deadz as it is me, read it really well, add the positives and the negatives, the answer tis clear. This guy tells me to get over myself but then goes on to list a bunch of things that most people find unpleasent about the place.
"Everything on the mainland is brutal." Yeah thats what were saying, so whats your problem?
Hey deadz, all you have to do is either win the lottery, win a settlement with the insurance company or get into the drug trade and you can live like a king there. lol
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He was asking about VANCOUVER, thanks for validating what a dump it and its neighboring cities are.
HEY DUMBFUCK!! His immigration attorney recommended these places which is why I had commented on them. Feeling a bit bashful now, cock sucker?
LMAO.
I hope this post is as transparent to deadz as it is me, read it really well, add the positives and the negatives, the answer tis clear. This guy tells me to get over myself but then goes on to list a bunch of things that most people find unpleasent about the place.
"Everything on the mainland is brutal." Yeah thats what were saying, so whats your problem?
Hey deadz, all you have to do is either win the lottery, win a settlement with the insurance company or get into the drug trade and you can live like a king there. lol
You really are a fucking prick, aren't you?
Yes, of course I'm going to highlight BOTH the good and the bad. Moving is a serious decision and he needs all the facts. I'm just giving him MY personal observations so he can form his own conclusion. He's a smart man, unlike yourself you fucking twat.
By the way, I live in Nanaimo. Hopefully Bindare_Dundat stops by for a visit soon so I can smack some sense into him.. fucking prick. Vancouver is habitable and you don't need to be a millionaire. But in comparison to places which are nearby and are far more beautiful, you really need to weigh out the pros and cons. Some people love living in a concrete jungle but personally it's not for me. I do however like being close enough that if I want to venture into busier places like Vancouver or Victoria, they're just a bit over an hour away. I've found that Islanders are far more relaxed... the Asians in Vancouver can be pretty disrespectful like others have mentioned. Try walking down the street or through a busy mall and the dumb fuckers won't move an inch. I just shoulder check the dumb fuckers if they don't move out of the way. I'm courteous enough to move out of the way but when they keep walking completely straight then I do the same thing. :-*
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HEY DUMBFUCK!! His immigration attorney recommended these places which is why I had commented on them. Feeling a bit bashful now, cock sucker?
You really are a fucking prick, aren't you?
Yes, of course I'm going to highlight BOTH the good and the bad. Moving is a serious decision and he needs all the facts. I'm just giving him MY personal observations so he can form his own conclusion. He's a smart man, unlike yourself you fucking twat.
By the way, I live in Nanaimo. Hopefully Bindare_Dundat stops by for a visit soon so I can smack some sense into him.. fucking prick. Vancouver is habitable and you don't need to be a millionaire. But in comparison to places which are nearby and are far more beautiful, you really need to weigh out the pros and cons. Some people love living in a concrete jungle but personally it's not for me. I do however like being close enough that if I want to venture into busier places like Vancouver or Victoria, they're just a bit over an hour away. I've found that Islanders are far more relaxed... the Asians in Vancouver can be pretty disrespectful like others have mentioned. Try walking down the street or through a busy mall and the dumb fuckers won't move an inch. I just shoulder check the dumb fuckers if they don't move out of the way. I'm courteous enough to move out of the way but when they keep walking completely straight then I do the same thing. :-*
Ah, lovely chilled island attitude you have. Those west coasters, so laid back.
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Ah, lovely chilled island attitude you have. Those west coasters, so laid back.
I want to rip your face off and wear it as a mask while I defecate on your corpse.
Then go for a lovely seaside walk and listen to the seagulls and sound of the gentle waves crashing against the shore. So relaxing.
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I've flown from Calgary to Vancouver on business trips dozens of times. The weather is pretty crappy. Lots and lots of rain, and many times it rains non-stop for weeks at a time. When it's a blue sky and not raining, it's a beautiful City, but sadly, most of the year it's cloudy and rainy.
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I've flown from Calgary to Vancouver on business trips dozens of times. The weather is pretty crappy. Lots and lots of rain, and many times it rains non-stop for weeks at a time. When it's a blue sky and not raining, it's a beautiful City, but sadly, most of the year it's cloudy and rainy.
Good feedback. Any other observations about Vancouver?
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My father retired to Vancouver Island British Columbia. It's a two-hour ferry from Vancouver (Victoria or Nanaimo). And he lived two hours drive north.
If you want to see Paradise go there, I visited 3 times. It's a long way, it's the end of the earth.
I even drove all the way across to the Pacific, to Tofino.
Vancouver Island is the size of England.
Yes, it's a temperate climate, similar to here where I now live in the UK. Which means that you get weather. It's sunny, it's hot, it rains. It's a million shades of green and truly fabulous. It snows in winter, it's everything.
If you want hot all day and desert, go to Africa or Nevada or Australia. If you want cold and snow and short days with no sun go to Scandinavia or Russia.
>>>But if you want sunshine out back whilst there's rain in the front garden, go to BC. Mountains and Oceans. Mist and ozone. Rainbows and thunder and lighting. Stupendous sunsets. Islands upon islands, mountains every which way you look. Truly incredible scenery (as they say, awesome...
There's an island off Vancouver Island called Quadra and an island off that which you can move to where land is free, just take a ground sheet and a case of beer. There are purple and yellow starfish and orange sunfish on the beach in the morning and neon green phosphorescence at night in the ocean. It's technicolour.
Laid back people, I adored it. Yes there are many homeless in Vancouver City, as in any populous place nowadays.
xL in London England
Things will get worse and I suggest you aim to move toward safer places for your future
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lol
That was hillarious.
All that and this can be yours for only $1.3,000,000.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i7IqN0dMk7g/S8fThKwiKzI/AAAAAAAAEdU/LLTCXFEKTMw/s400/vancouver+crack+shack+2.jpg)
http://louminatti.blogspot.com/2010/04/are-canadians-insane.html
or maybe you perfer something with even more of the "serial killer lives here" look for only $1.6,000,000. But don't worry, you only have to travel for about 3.5 hours to see some star fish and check out that awesome landscaping.
(http://m.ctv.ca/assets/images/thumbs/470_bc_real_estate_110602.jpg)
Or how about this gem. Only $2.5 million. No... no real estate bubble here.
(http://vreaa.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/v887015_1.jpg)
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My father retired to Vancouver Island British Columbia. It's a two-hour ferry from Vancouver (Victoria or Nanaimo). And he lived two hours drive north.
If you want to see Paradise go there, I visited 3 times. It's a long way, it's the end of the earth.
I even drove all the way across to the Pacific, to Tofino.
Vancouver Island is the size of England.
Yes, it's a temperate climate, similar to here where I now live in the UK. Which means that you get weather. It's sunny, it's hot, it rains. It's a million shades of green and truly fabulous. It snows in winter, it's everything.
If you want hot all day and desert, go to Africa or Nevada or Australia. If you want cold and snow and short days with no sun go to Scandinavia or Russia.
>>>But if you want sunshine out back whilst there's rain in the front garden, go to BC. Mountains and Oceans. Mist and ozone. Rainbows and thunder and lighting. Stupendous sunsets. Islands upon islands, mountains every which way you look. Truly incredible scenery (as they say, awesome...
There's an island off Vancouver Island called Quadra and an island off that which you can move to where land is free, just take a ground sheet and a case of beer. There are purple and yellow starfish and orange sunfish on the beach in the morning and neon green phosphorescence at night in the ocean. It's technicolour.
Laid back people, I adored it. Yes there are many homeless in Vancouver City, as in any populous place nowadays.
xL in London England
Things will get worse and I suggest you aim to move toward safer places for your future
Thanks Linda. Bindare, when we visit we will be meeting with a realtor. We have looked at some home listings in Vancouver that seemed reasonable but we weren't familiar with the areas. I read through the blog you posted and if that is the reality of the real estate market in Vancouver we may be long-term renters, idk.
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Thanks Linda. Bindare, when we visit we will be meeting with a realtor. We have looked at some home listings in Vancouver that seemed reasonable but we weren't familiar with the areas. I read through the blog you posted and if that is the reality of the real estate market in Vancouver we may be long-term renters, idk.
Everyones experience will be different, depending on many factors. If I didnt say it already, hope it all works out for you.
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Everyones experience will be different, depending on many factors. If I didnt say it already, hope it all works out for you.
How come you hate this place so much? We have an esoteric cynicism here where we bitch about the high cost of living and real estate, but Jesus Christ it's not that bad lol. If we bitch about it, it's in good humor. But when everyone else bitches, it's jealousy lol 8)
I know some pretty good realtors here too. I don't get a kick back from them or anything so I'm not trying to plug anyone. Mine was nice and we got a new home with an ocean view in the nice end of Nanaimo. Actually found out that she works under the guy I would recommend, just found out when he started going to my gym.
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How come you hate this place so much? We have an esoteric cynicism here where we bitch about the high cost of living and real estate, but Jesus Christ it's not that bad lol. If we bitch about it, it's in good humor. But when everyone else bitches, it's jealousy lol 8)
I know some pretty good realtors here too. I don't get a kick back from them or anything so I'm not trying to plug anyone. Mine was nice and we got a new home with an ocean view in the nice end of Nanaimo. Actually found out that she works under the guy I would recommend, just found out when he started going to my gym.
When the time comes i'll take that recommendation. Thanks
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How come you hate this place so much? We have an esoteric cynicism here where we bitch about the high cost of living and real estate, but Jesus Christ it's not that bad lol. If we bitch about it, it's in good humor. But when everyone else bitches, it's jealousy lol 8)
I know some pretty good realtors here too. I don't get a kick back from them or anything so I'm not trying to plug anyone. Mine was nice and we got a new home with an ocean view in the nice end of Nanaimo. Actually found out that she works under the guy I would recommend, just found out when he started going to my gym.
I don't hate the place but there are some serious problems developing there and most of the people are blind to it.
Jelousy? Riiight.
I don't know deadz financial situation, if hes rich, he'll be fine. For the average person the housing is ridiculously bad. The average house value is 11 times normal earnings. You don;t have people buying to live there for years and years, they are buying to flip and make money. Speculative mania.
Here is another example of the crazy prices:
Why would you pay for this in Vancouver, BC:
asking price: $3.180 million, that's $350,000 more than what the current owner payed for it only 6 months ago
(http://vreaa.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/4411-w-11th.jpg?w=500&h=375&h=375)
When look what you can get in Redmond, WA for the same price:
(http://vreaa.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/3018-3.jpg)
West Seattle: same price, look at the photos, the place is gorgeous, the Vancouver house is garbage and backs on to a garbage alley.
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2480-Crestmont-Pl-W-Seattle-WA-98199/48726738_zpid/
(http://photos3.zillow.com/p_d/IS6e5feefbo143.jpg)
Take a good look and tell me Vancouver isnt going to be seeing a massive correction in its market. So many people have all their wealth in real estate. Dropping home prices would see many people in deep trouble. The economy is based on its real estate speculation and drugs.
Don't listen to real estate sales people, what else do you think they are going to say other than house prices will go up forever and the banks are strong?
Personally I would wait before considering making a life there for another few years but thats me.
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Bump
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HEY DUMBFUCK!! His immigration attorney recommended these places which is why I had commented on them. Feeling a bit bashful now, cock sucker?
You really are a fucking prick, aren't you?
Yes, of course I'm going to highlight BOTH the good and the bad. Moving is a serious decision and he needs all the facts. I'm just giving him MY personal observations so he can form his own conclusion. He's a smart man, unlike yourself you fucking twat.
By the way, I live in Nanaimo. Hopefully Bindare_Dundat stops by for a visit soon so I can smack some sense into him.. fucking prick. Vancouver is habitable and you don't need to be a millionaire. But in comparison to places which are nearby and are far more beautiful, you really need to weigh out the pros and cons. Some people love living in a concrete jungle but personally it's not for me. I do however like being close enough that if I want to venture into busier places like Vancouver or Victoria, they're just a bit over an hour away. I've found that Islanders are far more relaxed... the Asians in Vancouver can be pretty disrespectful like others have mentioned. Try walking down the street or through a busy mall and the dumb fuckers won't move an inch. I just shoulder check the dumb fuckers if they don't move out of the way. I'm courteous enough to move out of the way but when they keep walking completely straight then I do the same thing. :-*
You are the dumbfuck in this thread. Lol you are validating all his points with your posts!
You pwned yourself!
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I don't hate the place but there are some serious problems developing there and most of the people are blind to it.
Jelousy? Riiight.
I don't know deadz financial situation, if hes rich, he'll be fine. For the average person the housing is ridiculously bad. The average house value is 11 times normal earnings. You don;t have people buying to live there for years and years, they are buying to flip and make money. Speculative mania.
Here is another example of the crazy prices:
Why would you pay for this in Vancouver, BC:
asking price: $3.180 million, that's $350,000 more than what the current owner payed for it only 6 months ago
(http://vreaa.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/4411-w-11th.jpg?w=500&h=375&h=375)
When look what you can get in Redmond, WA for the same price:
(http://vreaa.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/3018-3.jpg)
West Seattle: same price, look at the photos, the place is gorgeous, the Vancouver house is garbage and backs on to a garbage alley.
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2480-Crestmont-Pl-W-Seattle-WA-98199/48726738_zpid/
(http://photos3.zillow.com/p_d/IS6e5feefbo143.jpg)
Take a good look and tell me Vancouver isnt going to be seeing a massive correction in its market. So many people have all their wealth in real estate. Dropping home prices would see many people in deep trouble. The economy is based on its real estate speculation and drugs.
Don't listen to real estate sales people, what else do you think they are going to say other than house prices will go up forever and the banks are strong?
Personally I would wait before considering making a life there for another few years but thats me.
That's a no-brainer! Can't believe it is that expensive for that little house in Vancouver!
Btw, I have family living in Vancouver. I liked it when I was there but this was over 20 years ago.
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You are the dumbfuck in this thread. Lol you are validating all his points with your posts!
You pwned yourself!
lol
I bet he still doesnt get it.
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There's an island off Vancouver Island called Quadra and an island off that which you can move to where land is free, just take a ground sheet and a case of beer.
??? Never heard of this. Where?
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Dude, look at anywhere just south of the border in WA. You can find houses soooo much cheaper. Its crazy.
Half a million in Bellingham, house is around the same age, same kind build but this one is just a bit smaller and no smelly garbage lane anywhere near you, plus a view.
(http://l.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/2eCaM2sZOei0zCSy2OXveQ--/YXBwaWQ9eXJlYWxlc3RhdGU7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7Ymc9RkZGRkZGO3c9NjAwO2g9NDAwO3E9NzA-/http://l.yimg.com/qf/re301/1c4fd46cf648c541d7a3b56f2c9abd/7b68d231250ed465616582b58065c32d.jpg)
(http://l.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/PQ3Vssae_UYWWOaZhHcuIA--/YXBwaWQ9eXJlYWxlc3RhdGU7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7Ymc9RkZGRkZGO3c9NjAwO2g9NDAwO3E9NzA-/http://l.yimg.com/qf/re301/1c4fd46cf648c541d7a3b56f2c9abd/656ac3283559e4ff78977a18db485296.jpg)
A $2,000,000 dollar view right in Seattle! Man, you can't compare.
(http://l.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/ZOoH.JFVIDmK92.MOTVUZw--/YXBwaWQ9eXJlYWxlc3RhdGU7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7Ymc9RkZGRkZGO3c9NjAwO2g9NDAwO3E9NzA-/http://l.yimg.com/qf/re301/cdafdf49a5213e1159a6ff7ac976bb15/a2959cd99c7b3db9b925cae11fc9866e.jpg)
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Shit, nice places in Seattle. it's a shame it has to be in America though. As shitty as Vancouver is, the fact that it's in Canada makes it 1000x better than any nice house in the states.
How so?
And have you ever heard of any free land there?
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You are the dumbfuck in this thread. Lol you are validating all his points with your posts!
You pwned yourself!
Pwned? What the fuck are you talking about? Every area has it's problems, of course! But I'd rather live here than just about anywhere else on Earth.
I'll tell you what - Why don't you and bindare send me a postcard from your gumdrop house on Lollipop Lane? Maybe I'll consider moving then... ::)
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Ah, where to live in this big world. I contemplated what I wanted in a city and came up with a short list. English speaking, beach, sub-tropical, big city. Came up with LA, San Diego, Honolulu, Miami, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane. That was about it. I now live in Sydney. Great place but a bit far away from Canada.
A lot of Canadians move south to escape the long, cold winters. They go to Florida, California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. If I were an American and were considering Vancouver I would prefer to live in or around Seattle. Slightly better climate and it is still America. Changing one's citizenship is a huge move. In Seattle you are close enough to Vancouver and can drive there in a couple of quick hours. I would check these out before any move across the border. You have Bellingham and other cities to choose from. Portland, Oregon is another possibility. So are places like Folsom east of San Francisco. Nice place. Santa Barbara is my pick of California. Very nice place and it would be a great place to bring up children.
I grew up in Kamloops, BC., in the interior. Hot and dry in the summer and definite seasons. A great place to live and bring up kids. Ditto for the Okanagan including Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon. I went to UBC and lived in Vancouver for many years. It is one of the best cities in the world to live in. Beautiful scenery, Mountains in the distance, Beaches nearby, good transit system and the Canadians are generally friendly.
The downside is the loooooonnnng, wet winters. You really have two seasons there: cool and wet and mild and wet. It is sunny in August and part of September. If you love the beach then Vancouver isn't for you. You might want to consider swapping homes with someone in Vancouver. I am sure you would get plenty of offers and then try the place out for a year and see how you go.
Where to live in Vancouver? I like the West End which is full of apartments but is close to downtown. North Vancouver is nice, too, but a bit wetter. It goes something like this: White Rock 30" rain, City Hall 40", Downtown 60", North Vancouver 80" and West Vancouver 120". It is one of the few cities in the world where at times you can go from the beach to the snow on the same day. I love when the snow covers Grouse and Seymour Mountains, both of which have skiing facilities. Living out at Ladner or White Rock is good because the climate is the best there. Modern communities and good amenities.
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Good input, thanks.
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Too much for one post. Vancouver Island is becoming a popular place to live. Nanaimo is booming and rightly so. Good climate and still not that big to have problems re size and not knowing people. The Gulf Islands are magic but a bit isolated. Chilliwack is another place that is growing. Close to Vancouver and still has a lot of farms around. Housing should be cheaper there, too.
Canadians pride themselves on being tolerant and accepting. They tend not to like the Yanks, however. You might not know this if you visit but the animosity is there. A bit like the Aussies who dislike most foreigners. A generalization but this is what I sense from the men. I always get along with the women!
Probably the best place to live in Canada at the moment is Calgary. The province is booming because of the oil and gas. Climate not too bad and it is a modern city. Great scenery to the west in the foothills and Rockies. Housing is affordable there, I think. Seasons more pronounced but some people enjoy this. Remember, only poor people need to have seasons! Rich people can go where they please. They have good medical plans in Alberta. The richest province in Canada I believe.
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Too much for one post. Vancouver Island is becoming a popular place to live. Nanaimo is booming and rightly so. Good climate and still not that big to have problems re size and not knowing people. The Gulf Islands are magic but a bit isolated. Chilliwack is another place that is growing. Close to Vancouver and still has a lot of farms around. Housing should be cheaper there, too.
Canadians pride themselves on being tolerant and accepting. They tend not to like the Yanks, however. You might not know this if you visit but the animosity is there. A bit like the Aussies who dislike most foreigners. A generalization but this is what I sense from the men. I always get along with the women!
Probably the best place to live in Canada at the moment is Calgary. The province is booming because of the oil and gas. Climate not too bad and it is a modern city. Great scenery to the west in the foothills and Rockies. Housing is affordable there, I think. Seasons more pronounced but some people enjoy this. Remember, only poor people need to have seasons! Rich people can go where they please. They have good medical plans in Alberta. The richest province in Canada I believe.
I've heard the same, although the temperature their would be a challenge for me since I have lived in S. florida my entire life. You mentioned Miami as one of the places you considered moving to. Be happy you didn't choose Miami. It's a miserable place to be. I am north of their thankfully.
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Ah, where to live in this big world. I contemplated what I wanted in a city and came up with a short list. English speaking, beach, sub-tropical, big city. Came up with LA, San Diego, Honolulu, Miami, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane. That was about it. I now live in Sydney. Great place but a bit far away from Canada.
A lot of Canadians move south to escape the long, cold winters. They go to Florida, California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. If I were an American and were considering Vancouver I would prefer to live in or around Seattle. Slightly better climate and it is still America. Changing one's citizenship is a huge move. In Seattle you are close enough to Vancouver and can drive there in a couple of quick hours. I would check these out before any move across the border. You have Bellingham and other cities to choose from. Portland, Oregon is another possibility. So are places like Folsom east of San Francisco. Nice place. Santa Barbara is my pick of California. Very nice place and it would be a great place to bring up children.
I grew up in Kamloops, BC., in the interior. Hot and dry in the summer and definite seasons. A great place to live and bring up kids. Ditto for the Okanagan including Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon. I went to UBC and lived in Vancouver for many years. It is one of the best cities in the world to live in. Beautiful scenery, Mountains in the distance, Beaches nearby, good transit system and the Canadians are generally friendly.
The downside is the loooooonnnng, wet winters. You really have two seasons there: cool and wet and mild and wet. It is sunny in August and part of September. If you love the beach then Vancouver isn't for you. You might want to consider swapping homes with someone in Vancouver. I am sure you would get plenty of offers and then try the place out for a year and see how you go.
Where to live in Vancouver? I like the West End which is full of apartments but is close to downtown. North Vancouver is nice, too, but a bit wetter. It goes something like this: White Rock 30" rain, City Hall 40", Downtown 60", North Vancouver 80" and West Vancouver 120". It is one of the few cities in the world where at times you can go from the beach to the snow on the same day. I love when the snow covers Grouse and Seymour Mountains, both of which have skiing facilities. Living out at Ladner or White Rock is good because the climate is the best there. Modern communities and good amenities.
Some good suggestions. That's why I also suggested WA. first.
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Some good suggestions. That's why I also suggested WA. first.
Our main priority is to get out of the States. What is so good about living in the States? My wife and I do not see it. Canada isn't exactly a communist country. They have a stable economy and overall appear to be a lot more stable then the U.S.. Yes we will have to contend with a long rainy season, but have you ever been to S. FL? We have torentual downpowns almost everyday from May until the end of October. Not light rain, buckets of rain with lightning. People get hit with lightning here all the time. Lets not forget about hurricane season, brutal. Lets not forget about the economic crisis that exists throughout the U.S. right now and it's not going to get better in a year or two or three, it's going to be many years. The crime in the U.S. is high, what is so great about living here? If you compare it to some countries yes its wonderland but compared to Canada it seems like shit to me. If the real estate market is in a bubble in B.C. thats fine we dont mind renting in the city for the next several years. Owning in S. FL. has shown me the American dream of owning a home is dead and will be for years to come.
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BTW, I realize you're trying to be helpful but we are likely at different places in our lives and willing to deal differently with the situations that we face.
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You seem to have made up your mind. As a Canadian living in a foreign country I can tell you it isn't easy to leave and not come back. You will miss your home.
All the complaints you have can be rationally solved by moving to places that don't have those problems. Take Santa Barbara. A nice climate, not too big and away from LA. Probably one of the
best places to live in America. Honolulu is another possibility. Probably be my choice if I could have stayed there.
Getting back to Canada. Calgary has a much drier climate and is sunnier in the summer and hotter. They can have some mild days in the winter because of a phenomenon called the Chinook. It is a warm
wind coming down from the high Rockies. As air decends it heats up. I haven't heard anything bad about that city so it would be a place to keep in mind.
BC is a great place to live. Spectacular scenery and when it is sunny Vancouver is magic. Very green all year. Never gets too hot. Well, maybe for a week in the summer. I used to hang out at English and
Kitsilano Beaches so they do have a summer and there are lots of nice places to live. If you go out to Surrey it is the suburbs and close to the American border so there are advantages there. They have a skytrain of auto trains operating to the downtown. You can then take a ferry over to North Vancouver. You really do need a raincoat and umbrella when you live there. In Sydney you can get by without one.
It rains here but not that much. Come to think about it you could consider Sydney as a possibility if you want to leave. However, if your wife is from Vancouver then I recommend that you go there because family is important. You won't regret it as it is a nice place. Yes, there are Asian communities but I have grandchildren there and they go to school and mix well. All of that is a good thing. There still aren't many blacks in Canada. Just throwing that in without a comment.
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You seem to have made up your mind. As a Canadian living in a foreign country I can tell you it isn't easy to leave and not come back. You will miss your home.
All the complaints you have can be rationally solved by moving to places that don't have those problems. Take Santa Barbara. A nice climate, not too big and away from LA. Probably one of the
best places to live in America. Honolulu is another possibility. Probably be my choice if I could have stayed there.
Getting back to Canada. Calgary has a much drier climate and is sunnier in the summer and hotter. They can have some mild days in the winter because of a phenomenon called the Chinook. It is a warm
wind coming down from the high Rockies. As air decends it heats up. I haven't heard anything bad about that city so it would be a place to keep in mind.
BC is a great place to live. Spectacular scenery and when it is sunny Vancouver is magic. Very green all year. Never gets too hot. Well, maybe for a week in the summer. I used to hang out at English and
Kitsilano Beaches so they do have a summer and there are lots of nice places to live. If you go out to Surrey it is the suburbs and close to the American border so there are advantages there. They have a skytrain of auto trains operating to the downtown. You can then take a ferry over to North Vancouver. You really do need a raincoat and umbrella when you live there. In Sydney you can get by without one.
It rains here but not that much. Come to think about it you could consider Sydney as a possibility if you want to leave. However, if your wife is from Vancouver then I recommend that you go there because family is important. You won't regret it as it is a nice place. Yes, there are Asian communities but I have grandchildren there and they go to school and mix well. All of that is a good thing. There still aren't many blacks in Canada. Just throwing that in without a comment.
I will have permanent resident status once I am approved by immigration and move to Canada. I will still be allowed to come back to the U.S.. Your experience living in Canada seems to have been a positive one which is good to hear.
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BTW, I realize you're trying to be helpful but we are likely at different places in our lives and willing to deal differently with the situations that we face.
OK, you asked about the livability of the city, so far you got lots of info about the weather, geography and some weed. I always thought livability was about more than that. No one else has really emphasized the cost of living, the jobs situation (look at the numbers, some areas are not much different then the States. Yes the States is overall worse now but it is closer to bottoming out, whereas B.C. hasn't even started its correction.) The job field is very narrow. The taxes are insane, so much so that the people went berserk when they tried to bring in a new tax called the HST and so they voted against it because they are strapped to the hilt with debt.
For every dollar the average Canadian makes they are in debt $1.50. The countries government had its own stimulus plan for an economy that was tanking, (they don't live on another planet, they are affected by the global downturn as well.) You asked about Vancouver, ( so I am assuming you are looking for urban living), but many posters are talking about areas, (Kamloops, Okanogen), that are sparsly populated which in turn will effect your employment chances as well as travel time, (if the only work you can find is in the lower main land area.)
You mentioned the schooling system but I just read that some Vancouver parents were asked to pay for their kids computer printing paper because some school districts are feeling the financial squeeze, many suburban schools have shut down completely. The health care system is headed for some major funding issues as there are less and less young people available to pay into a system straining under the baby boomer generations health care. B.C. has the highest level of child poverty in Canada. (read the news)
I can find you tons of newspaper clips about people leaving B.C. because the livability for them sucks and they have better chances elsewhere. Sometimes the grass seems greener when it really isn't. Again, you have not mentioned your job situation or your money situation so I am giving you a view from an angle where all that matters. If it doesn't, then go and let us know how it works out for you. Anyway's, that's it for me. I have tried to stress some important factors that will help you make a decision as a person that wants to actually live there long term and not just visit and enjoy the weather. Take care bud.
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Yes, there are Asian communities but I have grandchildren there and they go to school and mix well. All of that is a good thing. There still aren't many blacks in Canada. Just throwing that in without a comment.
There are lots of blacks in eastern Canada. Lots.
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Yes, there are Asian communities but I have grandchildren there and they go to school and mix well. All of that is a good thing. There still aren't many blacks in Canada. Just throwing that in without a comment.
You mentioned that your grandchildren "mix well" in a school of their own country of origin. Are they a minority?
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ok, you asked about the livibilty of the city, so far you got lots of info about the weather and some weed. I always thought livibilty was about more than that. No one else has really emphasized the cost of living, the jobs situtation (look at the numbers, some areas are not much different then the States. Yes the States is overall worse now but it is closer to bottoming out, whereas B.C. hasnt even started its correction.) The job field is very narrow. The taxes are insane, so much so that the people have gone beserk when they tried to bring in a new tax called the HST and voted against it becasue they are strapped to the hilt with debt.
For every dollar the average Canadian makes they are in debt $1.50. The countries government had its own stimulas plan for an economy that was tanking, (they dont live on another planet, they are affected by the global downturn as well.) You asked about Vancouver, ( so I am assuming you are looking for urban living), but many posters are talking about areas, (Kamloops, Okanogen), that are sparsly populated which in turn will effect your employment chances as well and travel time.
You mentioned the schooling system but I just read that some Vancouver parents were asked to pay for their kids computer printing paper becasue some school districts are feeling the financial sqeeze, many suburban schools have shut down completly. The health care system is headed for some major funding issues as there are less and less young people available to pay into a system straining under the baby boomer generations health care. B.C. has the highest level of child poverty in Canada. (read the news)
I can find you tons of newspaper clips about people leaving B.C. becasue the livibility for them sucks and they have better chances elsewhere. Sometimes the grass seems greener when it really isnt. Again, you have not mentioned your job situation or your money situation so I am giving you a view from an angle where all that matters. If it doesnt, then go and let us know how it works out for you. Anyway's, that's it for me. I have tried to strees some important factors that'll help you make a decision as a person that wants to actually live there long term and not just visit and enjoy the weather. Take care bud.
I will consider all things mentioned, thanks again.
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Check it out. Took only a few minutes to find.
http://www.fraserinstitute.org/research-news/news/display.aspx?id=17445
Average Canadian family pays more in taxes than it does for food, clothing, and shelter combined
VANCOUVER, BC—The average Canadian family spent more than 41 per cent of its annual income on taxes in 2010, more than it paid for food, clothing, and shelter combined, concludes a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, Canada’s leading public policy think-tank.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/public-sectors-carbon-offsets-subsidize-b-c-big-090752409.html
Public institutions such as schools and hospitals spent $18.2 million last year buying carbon offsets to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions -money that subsidized energy-efficiency programs of big industry rather than being reinvested in energy projects within the public sector.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/09/08/bc-deficit-triples-with-rejection-of-hst_n_954292.html
B.C. Deficit Triples With Rejection Of HST
B.C.'s finance minister says the province's deficit has tripled because of the rejection of the HST and that is going to mean cuts to government spending in the years ahead.
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/06/01/the-real-problem-with-vancouvers-outrageous-house-prices/
The real problem with Vancouver's outrageous house prices
Far more insidious is the impact housing unaffordability is having on employers and the broader economy. You hear stories of smart, young people leaving for jobs elsewhere. At the same time smart, young people from elsewhere aren’t coming here for jobs. The price of real estate and cost of living are too high, while pay is simply too low relative to other parts of the countryThis is very bad. Worse arguably than if house prices crashed. As Vancouver develops a reputation as a place where only the uber-rich can afford to buy property, it could seriously undermine the economy.
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Check it out. Took only a few minutes to find.
http://www.fraserinstitute.org/research-news/news/display.aspx?id=17445
Average Canadian family pays more in taxes than it does for food, clothing, and shelter combined
VANCOUVER, BC—The average Canadian family spent more than 41 per cent of its annual income on taxes in 2010, more than it paid for food, clothing, and shelter combined, concludes a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, Canada’s leading public policy think-tank.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/public-sectors-carbon-offsets-subsidize-b-c-big-090752409.html
Public institutions such as schools and hospitals spent $18.2 million last year buying carbon offsets to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions -money that subsidized energy-efficiency programs of big industry rather than being reinvested in energy projects within the public sector.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/09/08/bc-deficit-triples-with-rejection-of-hst_n_954292.html
B.C. Deficit Triples With Rejection Of HST
B.C.'s finance minister says the province's deficit has tripled because of the rejection of the HST and that is going to mean cuts to government spending in the years ahead.
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/06/01/the-real-problem-with-vancouvers-outrageous-house-prices/
The real problem with Vancouver's outrageous house prices
Far more insidious is the impact housing unaffordability is having on employers and the broader economy. You hear stories of smart, young people leaving for jobs elsewhere. At the same time smart, young people from elsewhere aren’t coming here for jobs. The price of real estate and cost of living are too high, while pay is simply too low relative to other parts of the countryThis is very bad. Worse arguably than if house prices crashed. As Vancouver develops a reputation as a place where only the uber-rich can afford to buy property, it could seriously undermine the economy.
Why are you so obsessed?
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Why are you so obsessed?
Why are you so stupid?
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Back up^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Hey man, I'm not too keen on the housing and mortgaging stuff as my wife bought our current home by herself. But I'm looking into buying a home under my name. Lots of great homes on the Island right now. Haven't looked too far outside of my area because obviously I don't want to move anywhere else, but it seems pretty good.
Good financing rates and lots of good deals. If you buy new, you'll have to pay HST (12%) HOWEVER, there is an HST rebate that you may qualify for. It brings the tax down to just the GST which is only 5%. Once I check into it more I can provide more info. A lot of developers are including the HST rebate in their deals though so you don't have to throw that down right away. I don't know about other closing costs like land transfer fees and all that other shit because I really don't know if it differs in Canada and the US, but once I talk to more mortgage brokers and my realtor I'll ask if they know.
I was going to refer you to another guy if you were serious, but I found out the realtor we bought our home with actually works for him. The dude is fucking balling to the max. He must have at least 4 luxury cars and a few homes because I've seen him rolling all over town like a G. And this realtor we're dealing with is a real sweetheart. I'm actually a complete dickhead for forgetting about her. She helped us into our beautiful home but we're going to be expanding the family and want a place we can rent out to my grandmother as she's getting older.
After I talk to the appropriate people over the next two days I can hit you up with any pertinent info. People bitch and complain about Vancouver and the Island, but the fall and winters are beautiful so FUCK the haters. :)
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Perfect storm brewing. You have to be blind not to see they are in deep shit.
For the first time in ten years there are now more people leaving B.C. then are coming because its an overly expensive dump but the people are brainwashed into beleiving they live in "the best place on Earth".
Incomes, house prices leave young B.C. families worse off than anywhere in Canada
B.C. is the only province in Canada to report a drop in average income for this age group, the study found.
At the same time, housing prices have skyrocketed across Canada, and nowhere more so than in B.C.[/b] Real estate prices have risen 149 per cent in this province since 1976, when housing costs accounted for less than three times the average household income for young couples. Today, it is seven times as much.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Incomes+house+prices+leave+young+families+worse+than+anywhere+Canada/5567613/story.html#ixzz1cfXVLnTX
Leading realtor calls Vancouver's housing market "unhealthy"
Andrew Hasman has been in the business since 1993. "The local person is completely out of this market," he said. While skyrocketing prices have made business good, Hasman said that the current market, with housing prices rising 10-15 per cent each year, is unhealthy.
"Anytime you have extremes in markets, it's never healthy," he said. "You end up with a bubble. If the local economic base can't support these levels, then at some point you're going to have a lot of people burned big time. It's not sustainable."
Leading real estate professionals reacted today to yesterday's news that home prices in Vancouver now exceed New York and London's. One realtor said he believes that buyers from Mainland China have pushed the local buyers out of the market. Each cited homes bought and traded like stocks and bonds and investment properties sitting empty, but some see the Chinese home rush as a bonus to Vancouver, while another sees it as a liability.
"Many people who buy here aren't buying because they're moving here," said Hasman. "They're buying on speculation or to park money here ... There have been cases where people come and purchase five or six houses. No one needs five to six houses unless you're speculating."
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/city/2011/05/20/leading-realtor-calls-vancouvers-housing-market-unhealthy
http://vreaa.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/stories-of-people-avoiding-vancouver-vancouver-is-just-too-expensive-for-what-it-is/
MMM – “I recently lost a great young employee from my office here for the sole reason that he was offered a job in the US where he has since purchased a house for around one-fifth of the cost here (which includes not a rental suite but and entire separate rental HOUSE on the grounds). I didn’t believe that people would leave town for this reason myself either until I saw it first hand.”
keL – “I’m a late-twenties engineer (as is my spouse) and most of our friends in our personal and professional networks have a timeline for leaving Vancouver. We’ve already lost several close friends to Ontario, Alberta, the US and even China. A friend of ours who is a surgeon accepted a position in Regina instead of Vancouver citing the cost of living as the reason (specifically housing.. he said “I’m not buying a dump for 750K”).
ams – (33 years old, married, young son) “I have been a consultant for past several years in the software industry and do about 120K to 220K in business per year. I find it depressing that in Vancouver I can’t afford to buy a house. I put in the time doing some serious research and have seen that owning would be financial foolishness.”
ams (anecdote within anecdote) – “When I was renting in Kits, the old man across the street complained me that all his kids were in Eastern Canada because they could not afford to buy real estate in Vancouver.”
DM – “We are Vancouverites who left for 8 years and lived in Hong Kong and returned 2 years ago. Housing was expensive there too, but we were still able to buy a 1300 sq. foot flat with sea views and 25 minutes from the central business district. Even with the downpayment that we have, which is pretty significant, I can’t do the same here.”
Captain Jack – “I’m a professional making 150k a year. Live like a caged rat in a condo. RE has killed my love for the west coast. I’m outta here for good in the next 3 months.”
Makaya – (Moved here from Europe 4 yrs ago; 95K income; rents downtown) “After many discussions with my wife, we have finally decided to leave Vancouver. We have already started to look for jobs and once the right opportunity appears, we’ll be gone for good. Real Estate prices, along with general prices of goods and services here (why does everything has to be more expensive here?), are the things that turn us off, and that’s the reason why we are leaving . Vancouver is just too expensive for what it is.”
DB – “My wife and I, both early-career finance professionals, got sick of watching prices climb based on emotion, hype, and speculation and being pressured by peers to “buy before you miss the market — you don’t want to RENT forever, do you?” We packed up and left Vancouver 8 months ago.”
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Well hopefully that bubble bursts in the next few years.
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Well hopefully that bubble bursts in the next few years.
Actually, I was a bit harsh calling the province a dump. Any city that has mountains, ocean, huge forrests, etc.. is naturally beautiful but the realities of the living standards damage that experience.
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Canada is pretty expensive, period. Alberta might be a bit cheaper but it's a dump. I wouldn't want to live in the US just because of money alone. I could make twice as much money and I won't move there.