Of the three top cities in Canada, Vancouver feels the most exotic. Vancouver draws people from all points of the world to its city of peninsulas and waterfront vistas. Whether you’re a tech-savvy entrepreneur or a longshoreman, Vancouver has a place for you. With some of the best condos in British Columbia spread out across the whole city, Vancouver offers plenty of real estate opportunities for first-time homebuyers and seasoned market professionals alike.
About Vancouver, BC
Vancouver is the most populous city in British Columbia and the third-largest metro area in Canada, with a population of over 2.3 million people. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada with an immigrant population of people ranging from South Korea to Singapore. You can walk the streets of Vancouver and hear over 100 different languages spoken, and sample foods from all over the world.
As you might have guessed, the population of Vancouver trends towards the younger side. The median age in Vancouver is 39, but the largest age group is between 25 and 29 years old. If you’re just getting started out in your career and you move to Vancouver, you’ll have plenty of other people to meet and connect with.
Vancouver is an active city. Whether you want to do a solo hike in the nearby mountains of Cascadia, or kayak with your friends on the Burrard Inlet, the opportunity is almost always there. Despite its rainy reputation, late Spring through early Autumn are generally dry and sunny months perfect for rock climbing up by Squamish or taking a roadtrip to the parklands around Kamloops.
Known for its quality of life and its nearly limitless economic opportunities, it’s not hard to understand why so many people want to call Vancouver home.
Vancouver, BC Real Estate
Vancouver is known for its condo market, especially its high end, luxury condos. Though just about every neighbourhood in the city can boast of its fair share of condos, you’ll find the best condos for sale downtown. It should come as a relief to many that condo prices widely vary in every part of Vancouver. Even in downtown neighbourhoods you can find condos for sale for less than $700,000 oftentimes right alongside their multi-million dollar luxury counterparts.
Better still, the Vancouver condo market has increased 16% year-over-year to an average of $808,000. Though this is undoubtedly a reaction to even greater appreciation rates in the detached home market, it’s a sign of the health and virility of Vancouver’s condo market.
This city is built on condos, which make up over two thirds of the housing market. Now, not all of the condos are owned, many are rented. Slightly more people rent their condos in Vancouver rather than own them, but anyone interested in owning a condo can find a home just about anywhere in Vancouver.
Despite what many people think, condos are a solid real estate investment, especially if you’re young and trying to build up equity to buy a single-family house in the future. Owning your condo allows you to save all the money you’d be throwing away on rent with an apartment.
Here’s a quick look at some of the best neighbourhoods to buy a condo in Vancouver.
West End
West End is just what it sounds like, it’s the western side of Vancouver’s downtown. West End has some of the most affordable condos for sale in Vancouver, with prices ranging from as low as $425,000 to 1.3 million. You’ll find a mix of everybody in West End, from old school Vancouver residents to brand new immigrants making a start in the city.
Kitsilano
Kitsilano is just across False Creek (not an actual creek, go figure) and is a great neighbourhood for anyone looking to live in Vancouver proper without being dominated by highrises and skyscrapers. Kitsilano is more of your typical low-rise neighbourhood, with lots of closely spaced detached homes. That being said, there are plenty of condos for sale on the main thoroughfares, and the waterfront properties can’t be beat. The view of downtown Vancouver alone is enough to covet any Kitsilano condo. As you might expect, Kitsilano has some of the higher end condos for sale in Vancouver, with most listing around $1,000,000.
Gastown
Gastown is the quintessential Vancouver neighbourhood, at least for tourists. Keep that in mind if you’re looking for a condo for sale in Gastown. This neighbourhood is always busy and always bustling. There are a million and one things to do here and the condos here are very affordable, with most selling in the $700,000 range, with a few others pushing past $1,000,000.
Yaletown
Yaletown is just southeast of Vancouver’s downtown core. This is a very trendy neighbourhood known for its restaurants, its nightlife, and its proximity to BC Place, the home of Vancouver’s beloved Lions and Whitecaps football teams. Yaletown has lots of waterfront properties, and the condos for sale here list from as low as $600,000 and all the way up past 2 million.
Coal Harbour
We saved the best for last. Coal Harbour has the best luxury condos for sale not just in Vancouver, but probably in all of Canada. You can see everything from Coal Harbour; from the great expanse of Vancouver Harbour and the wooded hillsides of North Vancouver to the skyscraper nexus of downtown, living in Coal Harbour is like living on top of the world. Needless to say, Coal Harbour has some of the most valuable condos in Canada, with prices ranging from $2,000,000 and beyond.
Vancouver Schools In British Columbia
Vancouver is home to some of the top schools in North America, including the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. The city is also home to a plethora of secondary and primary schools, both public and private, and the phenomenal Vancouver School Board. Remember, where you live in Vancouver determines which schools your kids can attend, so keep that in mind as you’re hunting for condos. Here’s a look at some of the best schools in Vancouver.
Crofton House School (all girls) K-12
200 W 41st Ave, Vancouver, BC V6N 3E1
Pear Tree School (K-9)
2678 W Broadway #215, Vancouver, BC V6K 2G3
Lord Byng Secondary School (8-12)
3939 W 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6R 2C9
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School (French immersion school) 8-12
7055 Heather St, Vancouver, BC V6P 3P7
Dr. R. E. McKechnie Elementary School (K-7)
7455 Maple St, Vancouver, BC V6P 5P8
Maple Grove Elementary School (K-7)
924 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 3S3
Vancouver, BC Economy
As a major world city, Vancouver enjoys a strong, diverse economy that acts like a magnet for all the business going on around the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver is well known for its tech industry, as well as playing host to several well-known media companies like Microsoft Studios and Electronic Arts. The city has a low unemployment rate of 5.6 and its largest employment sectors are sales and service, followed by business and finance, health care, retail, and tech.
Transportation
You can get around Vancouver by land, air, and sea. It’s a city of bridges and busy streets. Though Vancouver continues to make groundbreaking strides in its public transportation services, most residents still commute via car whenever they can.
Distance to Nearby Cities
- 107 km (76 miles) from Victoria
- 393 km (244 miles) from Kelowna
- 354 km (220 miles) from Kamloops
- 25 km (140 miles) from Seattle
Things To Do in Vancouver, BC
There’s always something to do in Vancouver, BC. From the serene waterfront at Spanish Banks and Lighthouse Park to the thrills of skiing or snowboarding at Grouse Mountain, there are a number of parks and attractions that will keep you busy as you explore Vancouver! Here are some of the top things to do throughout the city:
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a public park running along the edge of Burrard Inlet with views across to North Vancouver. This park features 200 hectares (500 acres) of woodlands, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and picnic shelters.
The Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals from across the globe. Fun for the whole family, you can take public tours as well as behind-the-scenes VIP experiences for a special look into marine wildlife.
Granville Island
This community of shops, galleries, theatres, and restaurants is located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, offering visitors everything from locally made chocolate to artisanal ice cream.
Grouse Mountain
This mountain resort in North Vancouver attracts about two million visitors annually. Come out in the winter for skiing or snowboarding and other activities all year-round.
Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology houses a number of permanent exhibits that illustrate life in British Columbia prior to contact with Europeans. The museum also contains galleries for temporary exhibitions and an auditorium that screens films and hosts lectures by special guests.
