Vancouver is widely regarded as a wonderful and vibrant place to live. Its access to nature, city life, an international airport, and a killer food scene make it desirable not only to Canadians but to people around the world.
If you are planning to move to Vancouver and purchase a home, you should spend time researching neighbourhoods. Many areas are well-loved by Vancouverites, but each delivers a different lifestyle, affordability and accessibility.
What’s the best way to research Vancouver neighbourhoods?
The best way to know what is best suited for you is to first narrow it down to a few options. Do this by:
- Asking trusted locals, like friends or family
- Speaking to real estate agents
- Visit often before moving (if you are easily able to)
- Check area livability websites, like areavibes.com
- Check the average cost of homes in different areas to make sure it matches your budget
Once you have a shortlist, you can start with renting in your desired neighbourhoods. This can help you decide whether your experience meets your expectations.
A good way to cover more ground is to put your belongings in storage when you first arrive in Vancouver and indulge in short-term rentals. You can easily do this through websites like Airbnb or Vrbo. These types of rentals also come furnished, so you don’t have to worry about moving your furniture constantly.
What are Vancouver’s best neighbourhoods?
Truth be told, there are many wonderful areas to call home in Vancouver. However, if you need help getting started, here are some recommended areas:
1. Mount Pleasant
Situated just southeast of downtown Vancouver, this vibrant area came in 40th in Time Out’s 49 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World in 2021.
One of its key selling points is the fact that it’s only a stone’s throw away from Vancouver’s downtown core. With Mount Pleasant being largely residential, this means you can have the best of both worlds; a chance to experience city life with the option to escape and enjoy a calmer vibe at home.
Mount Pleasant also has so much to offer to its residents. It is also a food lover’s paradise, with easy access to well-known restaurants, breweries, pubs, bakeries, cafes, and more. There is also a great art scene elevated by a mix of modern and historical brick buildings.
If you are looking to move here with your family, you will have access to a few elementary schools, and high schools. However, daycares within this area are more limited, so you may need to travel outside Mount Pleasant to find this.
Regarding affordability, the cost of living is about 17% lower and home prices are about 41% lower than the Vancouver average. This is because a majority of the homes available are condos instead of larger detached homes.
2. Cambie
Cambie is a small and vibrant neighbourhood located just south of W 12th Avenue and continues all the way down to Douglas Park. It has become hugely desirable for long-time residents and newcomers alike, as it tends to “tick all the boxes” as a great place to live.
What makes this area so alluring is the accessibility to everything. You have a choice of restaurants, cafes, shops, and more, but you can easily escape back to quiet, tree-lined streets full of charming detached homes and boutique condo buildings.
For families, it has similar access to schools and daycare as Mount Pleasant. A unique selling point for those moving to Cambie is the fact that it also has two French-speaking schools. Those are Rose-Des-Vents and Ecole Secondaire Jules Verne and are both operated by the Conseil Scolaire Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique.
The area is also easily accessible to the rest of the city, with major roads surrounding it and the Canada Line connecting it to the rest of the sky train network. This means you can easily get out to the YVR airport or pop into the downtown core for a change of scenery.
If you purchase a home here, real estate prices run about 15% higher and the cost of living is about 6% higher than the Vancouver average.
3. Main Street
If you spend any time in Vancouver, it won’t be long before you hear the locals talk about Main Street.
Although it’s not a well-known tourist attraction, it’s lined with countless top-tier restaurants and boutique shops that make it a popular place for Vancouverites to visit or enjoy an evening out.
Main Street itself stretches from downtown Vancouver near Crab Park to the Fraser River in the south. In terms of the best part of Main Street for real estate, consider looking closer to Riley Park – Little Mountain.
It has an excellent livability and walkability score, meaning you have easy access to everything you need within the same neighbourhood.
The proximity to Queen Elizabeth park also makes it a very desirable area, as it offers a wide variety of activities to enjoy. You can enjoy a stroll in the well-manicured gardens, visit the conservatory, or play tennis, golf, or basketball, just to name a few.
Average prices tend to be higher than the rest of Vancouver. You can expect to spend 10% more on the cost of living and about 22% more on real estate as compared to the Vancouver average.
Need Help Making a Shortlist?
If you are still not sure what area would be best for you, you are invited to get in touch with Michele Laurent for more guidance. As a long-time Vancouver local, she will be able to give you unparalleled insight into different neighbourhoods around Greater Vancouver.
To get in touch, email Michele at info@michelelaurent.ca or give her a call at 604-312-1266.
Meet Michele
With over 25 years of experience, Michele has been a consistent, top-performing realtor with 16 years of Medallion Club status; top 10% of the industry in Greater Vancouver.
Her clients can be confident in her knowledge, professionalism and efficient approach to the buying and selling process. The majority of her business comes from referrals from satisfied clients. Michele is an expert at valuing properties, negotiating with finesse, and getting to know what works best for each client.