Vancouver DUers..A few questions..We're thinking of moving up there and...

[masmdu]

FIRST: Rural Areas

How far out of Vancouver can one find relatively cheap land for farming?

I'd like to be within easy access to mass transit but still live a rural life-style.

What areas can you recommend?

We are thinking of moving to Vancouver in the near future but don't know if we'd be able to find a place not too far from the city or a mass tranist link where we could farm and keep goats/chickens.

This would be our first preference, but if not....


SECOND: Non-Rural Areas

What non-rural areas of Vancouver (Greater Vancouver) are pleasant and still a good deal for housing (3 br / 2 bth)...also, with mass transit link

We would appreciate any and all advice and opinions on what areas of Vancouver (Greater Vancouver) to consider or avoid as a place to live.


Thanks in advance!

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I am bookmarking this for future reference!!!

[masmdu]

2. I sure hope it gets some helpful responses!..

[movonne]

3. Me too !!!

[MelissaB]

4. Me, three!

Dang! Wonder how many of us want to move?

Edited to say we are interested in Montreal, too.

[Spazito]

5. Some areas re rural/agricultural you might explore are

Chilliwack:

http://www.chilliwackagriculturalcommission.com/

http://www.gov.chilliwack.bc.ca/main/?CFID=2359188&CFTOKEN=22452253

Abbotsford

http://www.abbotsford.ca/site4.aspx

http://www.abbotsford.net/directory/real_estate/

These are two communities I could think of that are still have a lot of farmland, I am sure there are others that Lower Mainlanders can help you with.

[Nay]

6. Me four! Our first preference is Vancouver Island, but we would

consider any good ideas for places near Vancouver as well.

[tuvor]

8. What on Vanouver Island are you interested in?

I've lived mid-Island for a couple of years now (ex-Vancouverite) and would be happy to tell you what I can.

[tuvor]

7. What's your definition of "relatively cheap"?

It just came out last week that Vancouver properties are the most expensive in Canada.

Sorry, I don't have a link as I heard it on the radio. Rest assured, though, you'd be hard-pressed to find more expensive farmland in Canada.

[masmdu]

9. I guess I mean 'relative' to the price of living in Vancouver itself.

Also, what can you tell me about Vancouver Island?

Victoria, Nanimo, others?

Thanks

[tuvor]

10. LOL It's "Nanaimo". I'm LOL'ing because a company from Alberta

that does highway signs just got egg on their face for directing drivers to "Nanimo".

Annnyway.

My wife and I sold our 800 s.f. Vancouver West End condo almost two years ago, and with the proceeds purchased a 2000 s.f. house in Courtenay that we love. (There was also money left over.) A typical house starts at around $200K Canadian, and it wouldn't be hard to spend $300K if you were so inclined. I think a typical house in Vancouver is fast approaching a half-million. I imagine you could anticipate similar differences between farmland on the lower mainland vs. Comox Valley farmland.

Here are a couple of links to start you off.

http://www.tourism-comox-valley.bc.ca/recattract_farms_gardens.asp

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22comox+valley+real+estate%22&btnG=Google+Search

For Nanaimo and Victoria, I don't know very much, except that I'll bet it's more expensive overall the further south you go.

ON EDIT: The Comox Valley is a beautiful place to live. Although we miss Vancouver a lot, we love it here.

[HEyHEY]

11. Maple Ridge or PItt meadows are your best bet

But I hope you like biker gangs.

What do you consider "cheap"
And how much farmland do you need?

I grew up in Van-city and should be able to answer all your questions.

[masmdu]

12. Kick...Anybody else?

Thanks

[Canadian Socialist]

13. Have you thought about the Okanagan?

Land is plentiful and cheap. Reasonable access to Vancouver via the Coquihalla Highway. I guess it depends on what you want re: agricultural land.

[HEyHEY]

14. And he'd be snuggly close to HEyHEY

[masmdu]

15. last Kick....and thanks again for all the advice

[masmdu]

16. Really really Last Kick

[Canadian Socialist]

17. Try this link

http://www.bcvirtualtour.com/BC_Lower_Mainland.html
It might be of some help.:toast:

[V. Kid]

18. Hopefully this is helpful...

...you want to live close to Vancouver, with relatively cheap farmland and access to mass-transit? Those things are kind of mutually-exclusive...but here's my best shot.

Richmond has been largely developed in the last 25 years, it used to be a farming community, now it's a pretty heavily populated suburb that has become home to many new immigrants. It has decent transit such as the 98-B line that goes into Vancouver and they're building a mass-transit line called the "RAV" out to the place. It still has a bit of farm land on the Eastern Half of the Island that it's on (the main Island its on is Lu Lu Island in case you were wondering -- not kidding either). I would assume this would be relatively expensive farmland as it's threatened by development and just north of Richmond is Vancouver proper.

Delta is the municipality just south of Richmond, it's literally on a Delta, so like Richmond you don't want to be living there if an Earth Quake happens. It basically contains three major communities. Ladner is a smallish town in the NW corner of the municipality. It's relatively middle class, and cheaper than the relatively more upscale Tsawwassen. Ladner's closer to Vancouver too, but neither are particularly continent to access Vancouver from if your relying on Transit. There are buses, but who wants to take a bus for that long? The area in between those two communities and North Delta, which is relatively middle class, is called Burns Bog. And in between Ladner and Tsawwassen there's a lot of Farmland. It too is kind of threatened by development, so the land is probably pretty expensive. Just in case you care Tsawassen is usually referred to as "Sunny" Tsawwassen cause while it's raining in Vancouver, it's probably sunny in Tsawwassen.

Surrey is the municipality to the East of Delta. It's the second largest city in British Columbia. It has quite a lot of farmland though, but like all Farmland in the lower mainland it's threatened by development, and is kind of expensive, but it's probably cheaper than the same stuff in Delta or Richmond. The North of the city is working class, and has a lot of decent transit options. In fact the skytrain, which is basically what the RAV line will be goes into the city. The South is more upscale and middle-to upper-middle class. In between the two there's a lot of farmland but the transit isn't as good in the southern portions of the city.

Langley has a lot of farmland, but not a lot of really great transit. It's pretty middle class, but its cheaper than Richmond or Delta.

Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge don't have too much farmland anymore, the areas are mostly developed or forested...but you can still come across farmland. There's a commuter rail that goes through both towns but it's expensive, and like all the suburbs that are further out from Vancouver, the public transit isn't that great.

Abbotsford and Chilliwack were mentioned before, they're not in Greater Vancouver -- technically they're in the Fraser Valley. You wouldn't want to rely on public transit there either. But if you get a car you could commute from both those places into Vancouver if you wanted too...but obviously there'd be gridlock during peak times. Mission is another city in the Valley, it has some farmland. It's north of Abbotsford and East of Maple Ridge. It has the commuter rail running to it, but like I said it's expensive. The rest of the transit isn't particularly great. But like Abbotsford and Chilliwack if you have a car you can commute to Vancouver easily.

As for Non-farmland, no where in Greater Vancouver is particularly cheap. The most expensive areas would be West Vancouver, the West side of Vancouver (not to be confused with West Vancouver), the North Vancouver (although North Vancouver City, not to be confused with the District Municipality of North Vancouver, is somewhat cheaper), South Surrey/White Rock, the Westwood plateau of Coquitlam, Port Moody and Tssawwassen. The other areas are all somewhat cheaper, but keep in mind that the further out you go from Vancouver the cheaper the housing will most likely be. So while the east side of Vancouver might be more middle/working class and sections of it might be run down (well run down from a Vancouver / Canadian prospective) it may be more expensive than a "nicer" area like Maple Ridge perhaps -- that's not as geographically convenient. Burnaby and New Westminster are relatively affordable, with good transit. The same is true for Northern Surrey. Coquitlam is relatively affordable, same with Port Coquitlam, but they don’t have really good transit...ditto for Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge. Richmond is relatively affordable too, and has decent transit.

I’m tired so if you want anything cleared or exapnded upon ask (heh expanded on considering this rambling post).