Where does a family of 4 live in Vancouver, B.C. area?

Question

We are a family of 4 with 2 young hockey playing kids. Looking to relocate to Vancouver, B.C. for a job. Where are the good suburban neighborhoods?

Answer 1

The bridges aren't as bad as some people make them out to be.

It really depends on the income!

Look at Kerrisdale, South Richmond, North Burnaby, East Vancouver

It really depends on your limitations...

Answer 2

Look for a place to live near where you work. As there are great neighbourhoods except near downtown. The rule in Vancouver is to never cross a bridge to get to work.

Answer 3

Sure, you want some backyard, a small pool in the summer, garden and a dog etc..  little league and rec programs, schools etc..   Same as I did when I moved here .   Unless you are very well to do and can afford $1million for any single family or large townhouse in City of Vancouver or North Shore areas you may have to look out of the city proper and into the Fraser Valley.  That is the areas of Surrey, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, Chilliwack which are the fastest growing areas for that reason of affordability.  There you can still get single family housing or nice townhouses for $350-$600K range.  If you need to commute to the downtown area then the closer to the downtown the higher the price.    Surrey more (650) and Chilliwack the least costly (350).  The Skytrain line runs only into the North Surrey area.  That area of North Surrey is pretty rough but under redevelopment and lots of townhouse/ condos going in there at relative cheap price.  But its probably not the place to raise your two boys.

Further out; There are transit connections from Cloverdale/Langley areas to the Skytrain.

I'd check out the Cloverdale area of south east Surrey or anywhere in the City of Langley worth a look. South Surrey around white rock very nice as well but getting very pricey too.

Those areas are family type environments with very active hockey little leagues, arenas, etc..   Lots of single family houses on the market.  Schools are closing elsewhere in vancouver as no family can afford the area but schools in the Valley still growing.  

if you go to http://www.mls.ca you can drill down into the regions above to find pricing in the areas above

More about the cities

http://www.surrey.ca

http://www.langley.ca

The market here seems to have topped out right now and stayed flat the last few months.  Probably going to decline a bit (we've had crazy increases past 15 years) and then because it basically a finite space between mountains, ocean and the border they will steady out or climbing again.  No crash is forecasted but you may be buying at a relativlety good time and the first buyer's market we've had here in 20 years .,

.Dont be to worried about bridges... yes its bad now but a new fraser bridge into north langley opens in 2009 and then they are twinning an existing bridge in 2012 and a third new bridge in 2013 so thats going to improve/

good luck on your move.... suggest 10 day vacation or stay in temp. residence on arrival here to scout before choosing area to live.