Need (lots of!) Vancouver Neighbourhood Advice

[Scott M.]

It looks like I may have a job in Vancouver, a place we've been wanting to live in for years. For the most part, I'll be able to work from home, but my wife needs to find a job as a law clerk/paralegal, so she'll have to work downtown likely.

We'll be renting for a few years.

We have a large, well behaved Standard French poodle (80lbs).

We are highly active people, biking/running/hiking with our dog pretty much every night if possible, so we'd need something near a good network of biking or hiking paths.

What neighbourhood can you recommend that's near a good network of biking/hiking paths, with a reasonable commute to downtown? Our budget maxes out at about $2400/month before utilities.

Thoughts? Where to start?

[Kohanz]

How much space are you looking for? With that budget, you could easily live downtown.

[Scott M.]

We'd be comfortable in 900 sq ft or more. The key for us, though, is being near a good network of biking or hiking paths -- as in within 5 minutes walking distance.

I assume the dog will also limit which units will be available to us.

[jacksorbetta]

We'd be comfortable in 900 sq ft or more. The key for us, though, is being near a good network of biking or hiking paths -- as in within 5 minutes walking distance.

I assume the dog will also limit which units will be available to us.

Try to find a townhouse near Metrotown or Brentwood mall area. A lot of places will allow a pet with a deposit. The key for you is to be near the Skytrain so she can easily commute. Burnaby has some really nice areas, and it's very central. Another option is Coquitlam, as it has Skytrain and Westcoast Express access.

[Scott M.]

Just looked up Burnaby... didn't realize how close Metrotown was to Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake parks. Hmm.

Any other ideas?

[jacksorbetta]

Just looked up Burnaby... didn't realize how close Metrotown was to Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake parks. Hmm.

Any other ideas?

Deer Lake is awesome, plus it's not far to Cypress or Alouette park (miles of hiking on a mountain lake).

Other ideas: North Van, Lonsdale quay area. Pricey, but you have a healthy budget. View is incredible!

or......New Westminster quay (sketchy area N of the tracks, but the housing on the river are great) and it's near the skytrain.

[jacksorbetta]

Port Moody maybe?

Found this ad on CL:http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pml/apa/3122155352.html
It's close to the WCE, and doesnt' look horrible :p.

New West: http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/apa/3135101260.html

Burnaby (oooooh has a pool!) http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/apa/3137444089.html

Love this one,,, very modern http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/apa/3141717520.html

House:http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bnc/apa/3133441422.html

Anyway, that gives you an idea what's out there. If you want any help, give me a holla.

[Kohanz]

We'd be comfortable in 900 sq ft or more. The key for us, though, is being near a good network of biking or hiking paths -- as in within 5 minutes walking distance.

I assume the dog will also limit which units will be available to us.

The west end of downtown is near Stanley Park. Best Hiking trails are on the north shore, and you'd be a bike ride/short drive from many of those.

[manixc]

$2400 !!! Go for Kits or Fairview. It's where all the yuppies are but I think you will love it.

[forwhatreason]

I've always liked the False Creek area. There's bike/walking paths there and it's close to downtown. If you google Millbank you can see how the condos/townhouses are really close to the water. You could walk out the door and the bike path is right there, next to the water. If you walk towards Main St and Science World, the path ends up connecting with the seawall around Stanley Park. It's a long, long walk (well at least for me, but I'm pretty lazy) but if you like hiking it'll be worth it.
Also, closer towards Main St is the Olympic Village, where the athletes stayed when the Olympics were in town: http://www.thevillageonfalsecreek.com/
I don't know if you can rent there but I know there are still places available to purchase.
It's also near two skytrain stations (canada line and expo line) which would be great for commuting easily into downtown.

Hope that helped!

[Syne]

If youre willing to blow $2400 mo. just get a mortgage. Otherwise in a few years you will have paid someone else's

[Kohanz]

If youre willing to blow $2400 mo. just get a mortgage. Otherwise in a few years you will have paid someone else's

Obviously this is not in personal finance, but that kind of thinking shows a lack of understanding of the real rent vs. buy tradeoffs.

[Scott M.]

Port Moody and Coquitlam are wonderful ideas -- I never realized the West Cost Express has you to downtown in 30 minutes! That is quite "express" from there!

According to Environment Canada Climate Normals, both Port Moody and Coquitlam have more rainy days than North Vancouver, downtown Vancouver or the Airport. Does that jive with your experiences?

The challenge will be to find a place that takes a big dog (Worlds biggest standard poodle).

The idea is to rent for a few years, hopefully at much lower than our maximum budget amount, make sure being out west "fits" us, then hopefully the market will have fallen enough that we can buy that wonderful house in North Vancouver just beside Lynn Creek for a mere $400k. ;)

[manixc]

Port Moody and Coquitlam are wonderful ideas -- I never realized the West Cost Express has you to downtown in 30 minutes! That is quite "express" from there!

According to Environment Canada Climate Normals, both Port Moody and Coquitlam have more rainy days than North Vancouver, downtown Vancouver or the Airport. Does that jive with your experiences?

The challenge will be to find a place that takes a big dog (Worlds biggest standard poodle).

The idea is to rent for a few years, hopefully at much lower than our maximum budget amount, make sure being out west "fits" us, then hopefully the market will have fallen enough that we can buy that wonderful house in North Vancouver just beside Lynn Creek for a mere $400k. ;)

Keep in mind that the express only run during communting hours. Any other time, it's a bus.

Also, traffic is a pain. So I highly suggest a more central location

[jacksorbetta]

Keep in mind that the express only run during communting hours. Any other time, it's a bus.

Also, traffic is a pain. So I highly suggest a more central location

Ah, Barnet Hwy isn't too bad, and I love the scenery :). They're building the new Evergreen line right now, and it should be finished in a few months, so that saves taking the bus. I'd move to 'Moody myself, but I'd never uproot my kid from his school.

Scott: find a place somewhere between your max, and average prices, and I think you'll find just the right neighborhood. The general consensus is: if you have to cross a bridge, you've gone too far. Stay somewhat central near Hwy 1, or Lougheed, near grocery stores. Will you be bringing a car? or strictly public transit?
*as far as rain goes, it rains all the time, every where. You get used to it. The big bonus is we don't EVER get that skin soakin' humidity you live with out East :)

[Scott M.]

Don't you have to cross a bridge pretty much anywhere in Vancouver? :)

We will most certainly bring our car - we'll even have snow tires! Much easier to get to trail heads that way. As I'll be working from home traffic's not bad for me, but my wife will be working at the law offices downtown.

Thanks for the heads-up on the Evergreen line -- it looks awesome! We'd have to live with existing until summer 2016, I guess. I wonder if it will cause a big boom out in Port Moody and Coquitlam?

[Haz]

Be careful with those CL ads. Lots of them are scams.

[jacksorbetta]

Don't you have to cross a bridge pretty much anywhere in Vancouver? :)

We will most certainly bring our car - we'll even have snow tires! Much easier to get to trail heads that way. As I'll be working from home traffic's not bad for me, but my wife will be working at the law offices downtown.

Thanks for the heads-up on the Evergreen line -- it looks awesome! We'd have to live with existing until summer 2016, I guess. I wonder if it will cause a big boom out in Port Moody and Coquitlam?

the central part of Lower Mainland is pretty much bridge-free. You cross a bridge to Surrey, Richmond, North shore and the Valley. The rest is all basically just a mess of roads.

Oh, big boom already happened in Coq years ago. Port Moody is slightly mountainous, with water on one side. Doubt they can expand much! The expected boom is farther east.

[jacksorbetta]

Be careful with those CL ads. Lots of them are scams.

Safe to use a management company. Check the BBB first. My sis-in-law works for Bentall, I'm sure she could help find you a legit rental.

[Scott M.]

Okay, perhaps a bit confused. I understand that, in general, there needs to be back-check of any private landlord. But is there some kind of rash of scam artists on Craigslist or something I should be aware of? Is there some kind of rental scam whereby someone shows you a unit, takes first and last month, then disappears? How did they get into the unit to show it?

How does the scam work, exactly?

There has to be hundreds of legitimate landlords out there considering the speculation in the market, no?

[Scott M.]

By the way -- something that will sound like a silly question, I'm sure -- are all communities in the Greater Vancouver Region primarily English speaking? Are there any English/French communities? We're coming from Quebec and I'd love to keep up my French if I could.

[Haz]

Okay, perhaps a bit confused. I understand that, in general, there needs to be back-check of any private landlord. But is there some kind of rash of scam artists on Craigslist or something I should be aware of? Is there some kind of rental scam whereby someone shows you a unit, takes first and last month, then disappears? How did they get into the unit to show it?

How does the scam work, exactly?

There has to be hundreds of legitimate landlords out there considering the speculation in the market, no?
All the ones that say they are out of town are scams. If can at least give you a 604/778 phone number to call them to talk, that would be a start.


By the way -- something that will sound like a silly question, I'm sure -- are all communities in the Greater Vancouver Region primarily English speaking? Are there any English/French communities? We're coming from Quebec and I'd love to keep up my French if I could.
I can't think of a French speaking neighbourhood. A few stores and restaurants, sure, but I can't think of a French neighbourhood.

[Scott M.]

All the ones that say they are out of town are scams. If can at least give you a 604/778 phone number to call them to talk, that would be a start.

Indeed, I would expect (want) to be able to meet them and go into the property prior to renting.


I can't think of a French speaking neighbourhood. A few stores and restaurants, sure, but I can't think of a French neighbourhood.

That's too bad. Does Port Moody or Coquitlam have a different "second language"? I've noticed in Burnaby there seems to be a lot of Chinese signs. That's another language I would like to take a crack at... is Burnaby primarily Mandarin or Cantonese?

[jacksorbetta]

Coquitlam is fairly Asian. Port Moody is a mix, but primarily caucasian. Burnaby can go either way. But for the most part, english is dominant

[92gsr]

There are no Francophone enclaves, but there's a larger population of French-speaking here than you would initially think. Coquitlam features a historic Francophone neighbourhood called Maillardville, but aside from a few street signs and French-themed businesses, there's not much else in terms of a visible French presence. There is however a yearly Francophone festival in Vancouver which involves the closing of a couple of streets and a relatively unrestricted beer garden which is unique in BC.

Personally, I would agree with Jacksorbetta that Burnaby is a great compromise city because you can get quite a bit of house for your budget and there are ample green spaces for your dog (Central Park is a good park too if you're in the Metrotown area.) The highway is generally accessible from Burnaby too which means you go north or east relatively quickly.

[Scott M.]

Burnaby looks like a very good option if we can be near the Skytrain.

On another vital topic... every time I've been out to BC, which is quite a fair bit, I've never really found roadside chip trucks or casse-croutes. Places where you can go and they fresh-cut potatoes right there, and double-fry them in two different temperatures (and types) of oil to create french fry heaven.

I've eaten at many of the burger joints, such as the splitz grill, but their fries were ho-hum. Is that just one of those things you have to give up when you move to Vancouver?

[jacksorbetta]

Burnaby looks like a very good option if we can be near the Skytrain.

On another vital topic... every time I've been out to BC, which is quite a fair bit, I've never really found roadside chip trucks or casse-croutes. Places where you can go and they fresh-cut potatoes right there, and double-fry them in two different temperatures (and types) of oil to create french fry heaven.

I've eaten at many of the burger joints, such as the splitz grill, but their fries were ho-hum. Is that just one of those things you have to give up when you move to Vancouver?
I've seen a chip truck near Cardero's on the waterfront (by the Westin), but other than that... only at the PNE etc. Maybe in Kits you might see one. I find the best fries are from Fish/chip places-wrapped in newspaper. Noms.

You might want to consider making a trip out for a few days, and having someone from a property management company tour you around. Or make a detailed listing of the places you want to look at, set some Mapquests on your phone and try to see them all in a day or 2.

[newsflash]

Downtown near Stanley Park. I recommend west of Denman area.

[Scott M.]

So NorthWest of Denman then? Is there a lot of rental properties that have a backyard for dogs there, or is it more condos?

[92gsr]

So NorthWest of Denman then? Is there a lot of rental properties that have a backyard for dogs there, or is it more condos?

The West End is about 95% apartment buildings which means there will be no back yards. However, some of the newer buildings may feature private gardens which may allow pets.

In response to your chip wagon question, there are no chip wagons in Vancouver because until recently, vendors were only permitted to sell pre-cooked foods such as hot dogs. However, the City of Vancouver has a street food cart program which has allowed food trucks to operate. None however sell fresh-cut fries exclusively; the food truck scene is catered towards healthy and local cuisine.

[forthewinwin]

Indeed, I would expect (want) to be able to meet them and go into the property prior to renting.

That's too bad. Does Port Moody or Coquitlam have a different "second language"? I've noticed in Burnaby there seems to be a lot of Chinese signs. That's another language I would like to take a crack at... is Burnaby primarily Mandarin or Cantonese?

Obviously examine well the place you move into. I try my best to stay away from very old buildings because you never know what's broken or is about to break until you're living in there for a while, especially if you're to sign a lease. Going through that right now..

For area, I'm personally not a fan of East Vancouver, especially near the Hastings area.

Coquitlam, Richmond, and Vancouver (yet most is Richmond) has a lot of asian people. For Burnaby, depends upon area. North Vancouver, less. Outside these, such as in Surrey, Langley, Delta, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, etc.. Considerably less. I wouldn't take it too much into consideration.. You'll be fine with English!
The commute to Vancouver is noticeably longer.

I'm in a similar dilemma as you- have to look for a new place in September (I go to UBC for school), on a budget a bit smaller than yours.

[litebrite]

Watch out for places with bed bugs in the West End (denman/davie area near english bay). Use that website that maps out where the bed-bug buildings are.

I personally prefer Kits, Arbutus or Dunbar area. But Dunbar might be too far west for you. Actually Cambie village is nice and pretty central.

[newsflash]

So NorthWest of Denman then? Is there a lot of rental properties that have a backyard for dogs there, or is it more condos?

It's mostly condos. It's a nice area if you don't mind Stanley park as your backyard. However, If you want a place with a backyard that's not too expensive then east Vancouver around Fraser and Broadway might work. Or even in the more popular area around Main St. Kitsilano is nice, but it's more expensive and crowded.

Edit: sorry forgot you want something near bike path and trails...hmm...we prefer to drive around and try different parks and trail. Would that work for you?

[Scott M.]

Toby, my dog, needs plenty of exercise. As in a 10-15km bike ride every other day. What would be optimal (and what we're lucky enough to have out here at Gatineau Park) is a roadway or pathway system with grass strips along side, so that we can ride our bikes with him (we have a "Springer" dog walking attachment). He's way too fit and too big to be able to get him enough exercise with us running (in fact, he can run faster than I can bike!). The grass is much easier on his paws.

So... an area with plenty of trails (hardpack or ashphalt) with grassy strips alongside? Lesser-used roads without curbs with grassy strips are also welcome.

[forthewinwin]

Toby, my dog, needs plenty of exercise. As in a 10-15km bike ride every other day. What would be optimal (and what we're lucky enough to have out here at Gatineau Park) is a roadway or pathway system with grass strips along side, so that we can ride our bikes with him (we have a "Springer" dog walking attachment). He's way too fit and too big to be able to get him enough exercise with us running (in fact, he can run faster than I can bike!). The grass is much easier on his paws.

So... an area with plenty of trails (hardpack or ashphalt) with grassy strips alongside? Lesser-used roads without curbs with grassy strips are also welcome.

I know in Port Coquitlam, which is further from work but also cheaper, there is Gates Park. There is a lengthy trail there that my father, I, and my younger siblings used to ride our bikes down.

I think it's best that you visit the area one time though to see for yourself. Give each of the larger parks a visit and see how you like them. Then, decide where you want to go :)

Oh and watch out for these...


http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g350/winwinphoto/Untitled-1-5.jpg

[jacksorbetta]

I know in Port Coquitlam, which is further from work but also cheaper, there is Gates Park. There is a lengthy trail there that my father, I, and my younger siblings used to ride our bikes down.

I think it's best that you visit the area one time though to see for yourself. Give each of the larger parks a visit and see how you like them. Then, decide where you want to go :)

Oh and watch out for these...


http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g350/winwinphoto/Untitled-1-5.jpg

LOL. That HORRIBLE grammar is a tip off. Plus, anyone who places an application form in the listing? Total scam.

As a side note.....I'm considering renting out my place (2010 former showhome :)) Pm me if you're interested. My mother wants to co-habitate with me, and my house has stairs she can't manage, so we're going to find a ranch house.

[newsflash]

Toby, my dog, needs plenty of exercise. As in a 10-15km bike ride every other day.
So... an area with plenty of trails (hardpack or ashphalt) with grassy strips alongside? Lesser-used roads without curbs with grassy strips are also welcome.

Hmm I don't think there are many places in Vancouver for that. Only place other than Stanley Park would be near UBC (Dunbar, West Pt Grey, or on UBC campus). Close to Pacific Spirit National Park. I think your dog will like that park :)

Link: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks_lscr/regionalparks/Pages/PacificSpirit.aspx

[MVP1]

If you're willing to spend that much a month on rent, live downtown especially if your wife is gonna be working down there as well.

Another area I recommend is Fraserview, which is right by the Fraser River and boardwalk. It's not as expensive as downtown and quite central in Vancouver.

[Scott M.]

Pacific Spirit does look delightful - what a great professionally done video too! Wow!

The host of the video said it was the busiest park in Vancouver -- would that mean that, as a cyclist, I'd be slowing down/pulling over all the time?

[Scott M.]

I must say I've always liked portions of activities such as passages, clutch of the coffee and divided groups that roll.

[Scott M.]

Watch out for places with bed bugs in the West End (denman/davie area near english bay). Use that website that maps out where the bed-bug buildings are.

Are Bed Bugs a big problem in Vancouver? As a tenant, if the property has bedbugs is it the responsibility of the landlord or me to have them eradicated? What if they predated my tenancy?

[samm]

Are Bed Bugs a big problem in Vancouver? As a tenant, if the property has bedbugs is it the responsibility of the landlord or me to have them eradicated? What if they predated my tenancy?

My coworker had bed bug problem twice in the West End rental apartments. They can easily travel inside walls. Hard to protect yourself from future infestations from your neighbors.

[EnyCe]

You're gonna love Stanley park.

[litebrite]

Are Bed Bugs a big problem in Vancouver? As a tenant, if the property has bedbugs is it the responsibility of the landlord or me to have them eradicated? What if they predated my tenancy?

I haven't lived in Vancouver in a few yrs, but they sounded like an issue in the West End. I think I also read that there were bedbug problems in Burnaby, in a public library of all places. As other posters mentioned, they travel b/t walls so they're hard buggers to get rid of. Not sure how much responsibility the landlord will take. I can see them taking the cheapest fumigation route that might not be the more effective...