OT: Apartment hunting in Vancouver

[604]

$2000 doesn't get you a million dollar condo.

Funny, I'm pretty sure I'm living proof that it does... and so is my sister (we don't live together but both on Marinaside).

 

[thefeebster]

I find it odd how OP specifically mentioned he wants to be near downtown and you have suggestions for north freaking burnaby and surrey.

I live in yaletown and have several friends in North Burnaby. I find the commute long and tedious with the transfers (I did it for 5 years going to SFU).

I work in Surrey and I find the commute easier since I have no transfers but it takes about an hour each way with walking to and from home to the skytrain or work to the skytrain. That's two hours of my day gone. I wouldn't recommend it.

I have seen bachelor suites in my building for rent around $1000-1100, but I think you could get more space if you go a few blocks further. I suggest the buildings on top of Costco (Spectrum) or the general crosstown area. The buildings are new and are close to transit. Some unsavory characters but mainly yuppies and hipsters. However, if you want to remain closer to kits and downtown, perhaps look at south Granville (not to be confused with Souh Van).

 

[Goon42]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning on moving out to Vancouver in September, and I've begun looking for apartments on kijiji and craigslist, and it's been a nightmare so far.

I'm going to be working downtown, so I'm trying to find places around downtown (preferably the kits area) to live in. I'm working with a budget of about $700-$1000 a month for rent, and would be looking for a max of one roommate. I'm not interested in basement suites or dumpy places.

Does anyone have anything that could help me out?

You aren't going to find anything in Vancouver ESPECIALLY IN KITS that is livable for $1000 a month. You are looking at an absolute minimum of $1800.

 

[Pure West]

If you're willing to go 1k with a roommate, you can get a pretty nice place, likely with a view/balcony in a fairly new building downtown. If its for a 1 bedroom or bachelor, then you might be reaching a little bit and might not get anything to great.

I moved from a fairly new condo in Edmonds in Burnaby to an older West End apartment about 6 months ago and I definitely prefer the downtown peninsula lifestyle and I don't really care if I have granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The difference in rent IMO is made up by reduced transportation costs, particularly if you work downtown. You may have to look around harder than on craigslist or kijii (like directly to the property management companies, or walk around and call the building numbers with vacancies), as the best places are usually not advertised.

I wouldn't recommend Kits, as the access to amenities isn't as good as it is downtown and you lose a bit of walkability, and its basically the same price as the West End. It is really nice in the summer though.

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

I live in South Granville and there are plenty of apartments advertised between $700-$1000 per month.

15 minutes from the heart of downtown via a bus across the Granville Bridge.

 

[Pure West]

You aren't going to find anything in Vancouver ESPECIALLY IN KITS that is livable for $1000 a month. You are looking at an absolute minimum of $1800.

$1800? You must have had a pretty pampered childhood.

 

[Ernie]

$1000 isn't going to get you much. If you're looking or a "nice" place, forget about Kits or Yaletown. I'd start your search near the Main St / Mount Pleasant area. There are plenty of apartment buildings, some older but in good condition.

 

[thefeebster]

$1000 might not go far in Yaletown but if you are willing to look into bachelor suites, it's definitely doable and the buildings are "nice" with amenities.

If you are going to suggest main st/mt pleasant, I'd prefer south Granville instead. Mt Pleasant feels very dated.

You aren't going to find anything in Vancouver ESPECIALLY IN KITS that is livable for $1000 a month. You are looking at an absolute minimum of $1800.

Ignore this. It's absurd.

 

[ProstheticConscience]

I live in South Granville and there are plenty of apartments advertised between $700-$1000 per month.

15 minutes from the heart of downtown via a bus across the Granville Bridge.

Have you seen the apartments in that price range there? Frightening. Sure, some well-maintained buildings might have something livable for that, but not what I saw when I was looking around there in the $1000-$1200 range. Mind you, I did need a 2br 2ba, so that might have been part of the issue, but still.

And *facepalm* @myself. Just realized I forgot the OP was looking for a roommate. If he's splitting the cost, that bumps him up to the $1400-$2000 rent range. 2br might be doable in that case on the West side or downtown.

 

[Sinochick]

I highly recommend finding an apartment in the West End. I love being only a few blocks from all the great restaurants on Denman and being a few minutes from English Bay/Stanley Park. It only takes me 20 minutes to walk to work downtown and I never have to worry about Skytrain snafus or delayed buses making my commute to/from work hell.

 

[Walkingthroughforest]

Thanks a lot everyone, this has been really helpful.

I think I'm going to try and find sublet for the first month and actively search when I'm there.

 

[luongo321]

You aren't going to find anything in Vancouver ESPECIALLY IN KITS that is livable for $1000 a month. You are looking at an absolute minimum of $1800.

Meh, sometimes you can get really lucky.

I live across from Kits beach on cornwall in a 2 story apartment with the owner while I'm attending school. $600 for everything (shaw satellite/wifi, laundry). I realize that my situation is very rare, but if you keep your eyes open you never know.

 

[Walkingthroughforest]

Meh, sometimes you can get really lucky.

I live across from Kits beach on cornwall in a 2 story apartment with the owner while I'm attending school. $600 for everything (shaw satellite/wifi, laundry). I realize that my situation is very rare, but if you keep your eyes open you never know.

If you know of any openings for that building in that same situation, let me know!

 

[ProstheticConscience]

Agreed. I used to live near Edmonds station, nice neighbourhood and cheap mortgage (wasn't going to rent). 5-minute walk to the station, 25-minute ride downtown with no transfers.

We probably saw each other a few times if you were riding between 2006 and 2010.

lol yeah, possibly. Everyone's so zoned out in the mornings here, though. "Get me to work, don't look at me, do I have any eye boogers...mmmblph...need coffee..."

If you know of any openings for that building in that same situation, let me know!

His situation is a bit like finding that pristine 1969 Boss 429 Mustang on autotrader that was bought new by a little old lady who only drove it to church on Sundays and has faithfully followed the maintenance schedule all these decades.

 

[Aphid Attraction]

His situation is a bit like finding that pristine 1969 Boss 429 Mustang on autotrader that was bought new by a little old lady who only drove it to church on Sundays and has faithfully followed the maintenance schedule all these decades.

I get the feel his situation has more of a Hansel & Gretel kinda vibe to it.

 

[Topp Spin]

...and we don't have a SkyTrain.

I'll use transit when I have a meeting in Vancouver's downtown core because it's much faster than driving solo, but you're still on a bus until you get to the Bridgeport station.

Anything outside the downtown core I drive to...I'm not a huge fan of the general public.

Ditto, I hate Vancouver and if I were to move back to the lower mainland, it would be to South Surrey/White Rock

 

[TARS]

Given your price range and the proximity you want to downtown, I wouldn't bother trying to find a suitable 1 bedroom. Go the roommate route and there should be some pretty decent options.

Kits is awesome. Lower Lonsdale in North Van is a pretty easy commute, but can be a bit tedious if you're into nightlife because there isn't much to do in North Van (grew up there), the seabus stops at around 12:30 and cabs are not cheap from downtown.

 

[Ernie]

If you are going to suggest main st/mt pleasant, I'd prefer south Granville instead. Mt Pleasant feels very dated.

Mt Pleasant is a better neighbourhood. Better bars, better food, better coffee. And better bang for your buck when it comes to apartments.

Kits and Yaletown are for boring people. Probably the most underrated neighbourhood is Strathcona. Gets knocked on for its proximity to the DTES, but some really nice old refinished apartment buildings, and you can rent a floor of a heritage house for reasonable sums.

 

[MISC*]

Enjoy the bed bugs.

 

[luongo321]

lol yeah, possibly. Everyone's so zoned out in the mornings here, though. "Get me to work, don't look at me, do I have any eye boogers...mmmblph...need coffee..."



His situation is a bit like finding that pristine 1969 Boss 429 Mustang on autotrader that was bought new by a little old lady who only drove it to church on Sundays and has faithfully followed the maintenance schedule all these decades.

Pretty much. Just dumb luck. I wasn't even the first person to phone when I saw the advertisement. In fact, I was the last person to call that night, but I managed to book my viewing the earliest. There were literally people leaving messages on the answering machine to come and check out the place while I was viewing it. While we're on the subject of cars, I might as well add that someone has a Rolls-Royce in the underground parking.

I get the feel his situation has more of a Hansel & Gretel kinda vibe to it.

Thankfully not.

Sorry, I know I don't really bring much to this thread. Just keep your eyes open because you never know when some good fortune can come your way. OP, just keep searching as much as you can and don't settle until you really like it.

 

[mrmyheadhurts]

I find it odd how OP specifically mentioned he wants to be near downtown and you have suggestions for north freaking burnaby and surrey.

I live in yaletown and have several friends in North Burnaby. I find the commute long and tedious with the transfers (I did it for 5 years going to SFU).

I work in Surrey and I find the commute easier since I have no transfers but it takes about an hour each way with walking to and from home to the skytrain or work to the skytrain. That's two hours of my day gone. I wouldn't recommend it.

I have seen bachelor suites in my building for rent around $1000-1100, but I think you could get more space if you go a few blocks further. I suggest the buildings on top of Costco (Spectrum) or the general crosstown area. The buildings are new and are close to transit. Some unsavory characters but mainly yuppies and hipsters. However, if you want to remain closer to kits and downtown, perhaps look at south Granville (not to be confused with Souh Van).

North Burnaby covers a pretty larger area. My wife and I bought a townhouse in Willingdon Heights which is just past Boundry and we couldn't be happier with the location. It feels like we are just 10-20mins from everything because of it's central location. My commute to my downtown office is actually shorter than when I lived on Dunbar believe or not. I can bike to my office downtown in just over 20mins and sky train in about the same amount of time from the Gilmore station. Couldn't recommend the area more, especially those who have been priced out of Vancouver. There are quite a few new developments popping up as well, I recommend the OP check it out.

It also doesn't hurt that I'm 5mins from 8 rinks!

 

[thefeebster]

Mt Pleasant is a better neighbourhood. Better bars, better food, better coffee. And better bang for your buck when it comes to apartments.

Kits and Yaletown are for boring people. Probably the most underrated neighbourhood is Strathcona. Gets knocked on for its proximity to the DTES, but some really nice old refinished apartment buildings, and you can rent a floor of a heritage house for reasonable sums.

Way to drop a blanket statement on a neighborhood.

And I've never heard of better coffee used as a selling point for a neighborhood. Especially since "better" coffee is highly subjective and dependent on the person.

North Burnaby covers a pretty larger area. My wife and I bought a townhouse in Willingdon Heights which is just past Boundry and we couldn't be happier with the location. It feels like we are just 10-20mins from everything because of it's central location. My commute to my downtown office is actually shorter than when I lived on Dunbar believe or not. I can bike to my office downtown in just over 20mins and sky train in about the same amount of time from the Gilmore station. Couldn't recommend the area more, especially those who have been priced out of Vancouver. There are quite a few new developments popping up as well, I recommend the OP check it out.

It also doesn't hurt that I'm 5mins from 8 rinks!

North Burnaby is a big area, but that doesn't mean it isn't far. I have commuted there more than 500 times in the past 8 years and it definitely grows on you in a bad way. It's tedious. I have a dozen friends that live there so I've also driven to their houses. The drive is long (30 minutes or so for me door to friends' door and they have timed it too) and especially frustrating on Lougheed after work. One time it took me close to an hour. I try to avoid going to North Burnaby if i can. There's only one commute more frustrating to me and that is anything via the lions gate bridge.

We also find there is not much to do in North Burnaby. I think it has a suburb feel, similar to a place to settle down in.

 

[mrmyheadhurts]

Way to drop a blanket statement on a neighborhood.

And I've never heard of better coffee used as a selling point for a neighborhood. Especially since "better" coffee is highly subjective and dependent on the person.

North Burnaby is a big area, but that doesn't mean it isn't far. I have commuted there more than 500 times in the past 8 years and it definitely grows on you in a bad way. It's tedious. I have a dozen friends that live there so I've also driven to their houses. The drive is long (30 minutes or so for me door to friends' door and they have timed it too) and especially frustrating on Lougheed after work. One time it took me close to an hour. I try to avoid going to North Burnaby if i can. There's only one commute more frustrating to me and that is anything via the lions gate bridge.

We also find there is not much to do in North Burnaby. I think it has a suburb feel, similar to a place to settle down in.

I thought you said you were commuting to SFU? That is quite literally, twice as far from my place and I agree, a tough commute. I'm only roughly 10k from Yaletown, it's under 30mins by bike, car or transit. I don't consider that a long commute by my standards, which are apprently low...

As I said, we're very happy with the location and commute times, the OP my find he would like the area as well, especially when he sees how much further his dollar can go. It's obviously not for you but I was providing an alternative for the poster who asked the question.

To the OP, I would recommend trying out the different commutes and seeing what you think you can handle on a day to day basis. South Granville is definitely a great suggestion if you're determined to live in or right by the downtown core.

 

[thefeebster]

I thought you said you were commuting to SFU? That is quite literally, twice as far from my place and I agree, a tough commute. I'm only roughly 10k from Yaletown, it's under 30mins by bike, car or transit. I don't consider that a long commute by my standards, which are apprently low...

Yes, I commuted to SFU for school, but my friends don't live on campus. They live in various parts of North Burnaby - Brentwood to Lake City, Hastings & Kensington/Duthie area, and Willingdon - Hastings. I've commuted and driven to their places and it is at least 30 minutes door to door. If it is 2 or 3 AM, it is less because i am speeding and no one is on the road.

Great that you like it! But you are correct, its certainly not for me and its not what i'd recommend for someone who is moving here for the first time.

 

[gurfling]

I live 2 blocks from Metrotown, so very close to Skytrain, in a Bachelors for $800ish, though may be a bit far for you.

I would think your best bet would probably be on Canada Line somewhere.