Vancouver's Real Estate Market

[DragonChi]

Originally Posted by westopher

I'd say $500 a month for decent quality food is impressive, but doable. I am bound by needing to know exactly where my meat comes from which means I spend a lot on it. Eating local produce isn't cheap either, but it sure tastes better.
This brings up another point about the real estate. What are you sacrificing to be able to afford your mortgages?
If you are eating $200 of food a month, I guarantee your health is going to be one of the sacrifices.

It's possible to each healthy on $200 a day. Ferra posted a breakdown that shows that.

The worst things on his list are; peanut butter, banana, and milk. IMO.

Even then, you can do alright by looking for the brands/varieties that have the least sugar in them, peanut butter wise. Bananas and milk, I don't think vary much.

You can even out the macros by adding in supplements.

When I was in post secondary, I spent around 150-200 a month.

Best delicious junk food for cheap, frozen pizza. On sale for like 5 dollars a box. that's like 2 days worth of dinners.

[Manic!]

The western diet is way too expensive. Low food costs is one of the main factors on why South Asians are financially successful and why home ownership is so high compared to everyone else. $200 to $300 could easily feed a whole Indian family of 5 for a month.

[Ferra]

Originally Posted by DragonChi

It's possible to each healthy on $200 a day. Ferra posted a breakdown that shows that.

The worst things on his list are; peanut butter, banana, and milk. IMO.

Even then, you can do alright by looking for the brands/varieties that have the least sugar in them, peanut butter wise. Bananas and milk, I don't think vary much.

You can even out the macros by adding in supplements.

When I was in post secondary, I spent around 150-200 a month.

Best delicious junk food for cheap, frozen pizza. On sale for like 5 dollars a box. that's like 2 days worth of dinners.

wtf all natural peanut butter, banana and milk are all good stuffs
i bet that list is healthier than 95% of what most people eat (0 added sugar and minimal salt)
I'd say the only bad thing is the canned tuna...
I actually kinda ate mostly those stuffs for about a year (swapped the canned tuna for chicken breast, and of course different variety of veggie/fruit, pasta instead of rice..etc)
Not for cost reason, just wanted to eat clean and healthy...it is a bit of a depressing diet tho lol

Monthly grocery was around $200-300 a month for myself. (+eat out 3-4 times a month with friends and family)

[Ch28]

Not sure if posted, but saw this on a friend's feed

Low oil prices and real estate market are worries in Canada - Business Insider

[UFO]

Originally Posted by westopher

Jesus $200 on food per month? What are you eating? Mr Noodles twice a day?
If I were to eat at home 2 times a day every day I'd still end up spending 800 dollars a month on food for the 2 of us at the cheapest, but I do like to eat food with nutritional value.

It's not that bad really, you just have to put an effort into trying/planning vs buying whatever you feel like cooking/eating any given day. On $300 for the 2 of us, we shop a lot at asian grocery stores. When certain meats are on sale, stock up and into the freezer. We rarely buy meat or produce at full price. Rice is cheap, $30 for a huge sack that would last us 4-6 months; pasta doesn't cost much more. When we make dinner we always make enough for both our lunches the following day

Nowadays with a toddler and a baby, time is at a premium so we aren't and to deal hunt the same way nor spend as much time cooking and planning meals. But we also don't go out as often either just due to practicality with the kids, and we also have space for a big upright freezer which allows us to hoard cheap meat and ice cream even more effectively. We're around $450-500/mth now for our total food budget, that's for family of 4. I'm sure that will rise some once the baby eats real food too

We've actually become looser while eating out now since we don't go out nearly as often, and also settled into our house and not penny pinching for our next move so disposable income is actually better for us now vs when we were saving aggressively.

[fliptuner]

Originally Posted by DragonChi

It's possible to each healthy on $200 a day.

I sure hope it is

[Timpo]

What do you think is going to happen to the Vancouver real estate market when Donald Trump becomes the US President?

Probably nothing??

[quasi]

Originally Posted by UFO

It's not that bad really, you just have to put an effort into trying/planning vs buying whatever you feel like cooking/eating any given day. On $300 for the 2 of us, we shop a lot at asian grocery stores. When certain meats are on sale, stock up and into the freezer. We rarely buy meat or produce at full price. Rice is cheap, $30 for a huge sack that would last us 4-6 months; pasta doesn't cost much more. When we make dinner we always make enough for both our lunches the following day

Nowadays with a toddler and a baby, time is at a premium so we aren't and to deal hunt the same way nor spend as much time cooking and planning meals. But we also don't go out as often either just due to practicality with the kids, and we also have space for a big upright freezer which allows us to hoard cheap meat and ice cream even more effectively. We're around $450-500/mth now for our total food budget, that's for family of 4. I'm sure that will rise some once the baby eats real food too

We've actually become looser while eating out now since we don't go out nearly as often, and also settled into our house and not penny pinching for our next move so disposable income is actually better for us now vs when we were saving aggressively.

That's really reasonable if you can do it. We're a family of 3, I also try and make enough for leftovers for lunches and we spend anywhere from $1,000 to $1,200 a month on just groceries. That doesn't include any eating out which we don't spend much on. My son is growing and eats as much if not more then I do. I don't do frozen meats so that probably hurts the budget, meat is bought as we eat it.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by VR6GTI

200 OR less what in the hell

Is simple you buy what's on sale (doesn't matter if you don't like it if it is on sale you get it). Some supermarkets even start selling ugly looking fruits/veggies cheaper than the good looking ones(get those they same exact the same.). Buy in Bulk like Costco bread is a lot cheaper to buy them bulk, put them in the freezer. No name brand Vs name brand is the same thing so again pick the cheaper one. Is also cheaper to cook the same thing in bulk (used to have a co-worker who eat the same thing for lunch 5 days a week coz he cook the same thing once and protion them into 5 different meals.) yea it sucks but save money.

And that's only for food cost/doesn't include other stuff.
BTW I can't drink milk and most of the stuff I ate are really filling like rice and brown bread. I am really the type to eat little things.

EDIT. I have seen customer who I deal with have $200 to $300 bills in cable and internet each month. When they got cut off for payment issue a lot of claim they either lost their job, didn't have enough money to pay. When i suggested them maybe after they pay the bill off they should downgrade their service. 95% of them refuse to that is like "OMG NO I need to watch movies, I need GoT etc etc...." dude when you have no money and out of a job the last thing you need is $300 bill just for cable and internet or going to Starbucks. The life of DT. Rather be dirt poor and have account sent to collections and ruin your own credit and keep on spending like the sky rains money..........

[6thGear.]

$200/ month for groceries is quite do-able. When I lived on my own that was my monthly grocery bill give or take $50. Like some has said, buy stuff on sale and stock up on discounted meat (freeze right away and it's always fine) or buy bulk like most say. Learn to break down big pieces of meat vs precut to help save costs. If one has to have ribs/steak/lobster every night then yes grocery bill does get up there. However my basis on grocery budgeting is really from my upbringing and has nothing to do with mortgage affordability. Now with my gf living with me and having a new dog I'd say our monthly bill is maybe low $300.

[Tapioca]

Here's the thing about Vancouver - there are places where you can buy cheap produce, but they're typically ethnic markets in neighbourhoods where rent is still cheap, like pockets of East Van, Burnaby, or in Surrey. These markets buy produce that is B-grade and sell it for 10-20% less than the major grocers. While you can save money by going to these shops, you have to know where they are, have to be comfortable picking out the few good pieces from the utter crap, and you have to be comfortable paying cash (no points for your fancy, schmancy credit cards). Unless you live in East Van or in other communities where these grocers are located, you most likely need to drive to get to them which can negate any savings (since you actually have to spend your gas and time to go to these places).

Another reason why immigrants tend to have lower foods costs than Anglo-Canadians is that immigrants eat everything from animals. Tendon, stomach linings, and other lesser cuts and body parts are a typical part of the diet of people from East Asia. Ironically, a restaurant like Wildebeast has made a killing selling to hipsters and yuppies what Asians have done for years.

To bring this tangent back to the tread... the problem I see with all these new transit oriented communities is that while they're designed to minimize the use of the car, what you end up getting is only the most expensive grocers who are able to afford the rents in new retail sites. Less square footage and more expensive stores for your daily needs. It seems like the only businesses who can afford rent in new street level retail are hair salons, dentists, or Starbucks.

[hud 91gt]

Originally Posted by Mr.HappySilp

Is simple you buy what's on sale (doesn't matter if you don't like it if it is on sale you get it). Some supermarkets even start selling ugly looking fruits/veggies cheaper than the good looking ones(get those they same exact the same.). Buy in Bulk like Costco bread is a lot cheaper to buy them bulk, put them in the freezer. No name brand Vs name brand is the same thing so again pick the cheaper one. Is also cheaper to cook the same thing in bulk (used to have a co-worker who eat the same thing for lunch 5 days a week coz he cook the same thing once and protion them into 5 different meals.) yea it sucks but save money.

And that's only for food cost/doesn't include other stuff.
BTW I can't drink milk and most of the stuff I ate are really filling like rice and brown bread. I am really the type to eat little things.

EDIT. I have seen customer who I deal with have $200 to $300 bills in cable and internet each month. When they got cut off for payment issue a lot of claim they either lost their job, didn't have enough money to pay. When i suggested them maybe after they pay the bill off they should downgrade their service. 95% of them refuse to that is like "OMG NO I need to watch movies, I need GoT etc etc...." dude when you have no money and out of a job the last thing you need is $300 bill just for cable and internet or going to Starbucks. The life of DT. Rather be dirt poor and have account sent to collections and ruin your own credit and keep on spending like the sky rains money..........

As much as I hate saying this (I don't have cable, haven't for 10 years). Cable TV can save people money. The North American can sit their ass in front of a TV and days go by without moving. When I leave the house I spend money. But I know what your saying as well. Discipline.

[wingies]

Originally Posted by Ch28

Not sure if posted, but saw this on a friend's feed

Low oil prices and real estate market are worries in Canada - Business Insider

I don't know how many times I've heard that the market will come down, the bubble will burst, we are all doomed, etc, etc. But I do agree that if there was a housing crash, it will definitely be slow and painful and not drastic and sudden like in the US. It will be impossible to time

[meme405]

Originally Posted by Tapioca

Here's the thing about Vancouver - there are places where you can buy cheap produce, but they're typically ethnic markets in neighbourhoods where rent is still cheap, like pockets of East Van, Burnaby, or in Surrey. These markets buy produce that is B-grade and sell it for 10-20% less than the major grocers. While you can save money by going to these shops, you have to know where they are, have to be comfortable picking out the few good pieces from the utter crap, and you have to be comfortable paying cash (no points for your fancy, schmancy credit cards). Unless you live in East Van or in other communities where these grocers are located, you most likely need to drive to get to them which can negate any savings (since you actually have to spend your gas and time to go to these places).

Another reason why immigrants tend to have lower foods costs than Anglo-Canadians is that immigrants eat everything from animals. Tendon, stomach linings, and other lesser cuts and body parts are a typical part of the diet of people from East Asia. Ironically, a restaurant like Wildebeast has made a killing selling to hipsters and yuppies what Asians have done for years.

To bring this tangent back to the tread... the problem I see with all these new transit oriented communities is that while they're designed to minimize the use of the car, what you end up getting is only the most expensive grocers who are able to afford the rents in new retail sites. Less square footage and more expensive stores for your daily needs. It seems like the only businesses who can afford rent in new street level retail are hair salons, dentists, or Starbucks.

These businesses exist all over neighborhoods as well, I know of atleast 5 on the north shore alone. Including one in West van. Many of them are run by iranians, so white people might not know as much about it, but they are awesome family run businesses, they don't have the overhead of a store like superstore.

And the produce isn't B-Grade, many times it can be better than superstore if you spend an extra 10 seconds to pick nice apples instead of just blindly shoving 5 in a bag.

The people in here who say they spend 1000+ on their families (4 people) in groceries, if you are trying to be frugal, you are doing it all wrong.

Don't buy name brand shit, that will cut down 30% right away, grab the no-name brand chips instead of the lays. I actually prefer the presidents choice version of nutella over actual nutella. It also helps that it's like 3 bucks cheaper.

I'm not going to tell you what to eat because people are sensitive about that, I will say though that if you're having steaks a few times a week, then you aren't trying to save money.

This generation constantly uses the excuse that food is a requisite to live and therefore the cost doesn't matter. That's crap. There are plenty of foods that you can live off of healthy and they hardly cost anything. I had a buddy who didn't give a fuck what the cost of something was, he only cared about his gains, he ate brocolli, chicken breast and rice for lunch and dinner every day. You know how cheap his immensely clean diet was? And he wasn't trying to be cheap, he was just eating the cleanest food to aide his bulk.

If you choose organic, and "knowing where my meat comes from", then that's your choice, but that's not an average cost to bear. You made that decision, you decided "hey I rather know that my pig was allowed to frolic in the fields before it was brutally slaughtered." instead of going to the movies, or buying that new car part I wanted, or saving that extra 200 a month so I can buy my dream house 5 years sooner.

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by meme405

And the produce isn't B-Grade, many times it can be better than superstore if you spend an extra 10 seconds to pick nice apples instead of just blindly shoving 5 in a bag.

Both of you guys are talking about the same type of stores.
Both sell A and B grade items.
It all depends on the item and the time of the week/month.

But yes, these family run stores will be cheaper than the big box or Kins/Langley farm type stores.

[unit]

i'd definitely like to challenge the notion that you have to spend like $500 a month on groceries to eat 'good'. i eat pretty healthy and enjoy my meals and i'm not spending anything close to that. sure i'm not eating $30/lb meat several times a week (i don't eat much meat in general), but i eat a lot of 'real' food and i prepare it nutritiously.

[Manic!]

Shop where the Indians shop: Welcome To Fruiticana - Fruiticana he jaaana

If your looking for spices in s place like Superstore head to the Indian food section. Spices like black pepper will be way cheaper than the regular spice isle.

[Ronin]

Originally Posted by hud 91gt

As much as I hate saying this (I don't have cable, haven't for 10 years). Cable TV can save people money. The North American can sit their ass in front of a TV and days go by without moving. When I leave the house I spend money. But I know what your saying as well. Discipline.

But you can do the same thing with YouTube.

Other than live sports, there's no reason to have cable. What can't you stream now?

[quasi]

Originally Posted by Manic!

Shop where the Indians shop: Welcome To Fruiticana - Fruiticana he jaaana

If your looking for spices in s place like Superstore head to the Indian food section. Spices like black pepper will be way cheaper than the regular spice isle.

I've only attempted twice but the Fruiticana near my house has terrible produce, looked worse then the wilted shit in the bottom of my crisper that I forgot about for 2 or 3 weeks. Maybe I'm just a food snob? Lol I don't know, we mostly shop at Superstore for the isles, Butcher for meat and I'll go to a Fruit stand for our fruits and vegetables like Two EE's.

For the record I'm not really complaining about my grocery budget, I buy whatever I want to eat because I can. I'm all for saving some money here or there but at the end of the day I'll eat what I want to eat whatever it costs.

[Verdasco]

hey guys, was wondering how much is a 2br basement suite in east van around these days? Years back, single was like 600 or 800 and double was like 1200.

[dat_steve]

i'd say a 2br in my area (joyce/29th) could fetch 1.2-1.5k relatively easily (utils, cable, laundry access included).

a friend just rented a basement studio out for 1k, and apparently there was a ton of interest.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by Verdasco

hey guys, was wondering how much is a 2br basement suite in east van around these days? Years back, single was like 600 or 800 and double was like 1200.

We rented our basement suite for $900 it was the price we rented it for the past 7 to 8 years? We got a good family renting so we rather not raise the price.

[Hondaracer]

Originally Posted by Verdasco

hey guys, was wondering how much is a 2br basement suite in east van around these days? Years back, single was like 600 or 800 and double was like 1200.

Our neighbor rents his 2br 1 bath for 1500 a month and it's kind of a dump.

Most open houses I've been to which have a suite are typically a minimum of $1000 for a 1br

[wingies]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

Our neighbor rents his 2br 1 bath for 1500 a month and it's kind of a dump.

Most open houses I've been to which have a suite are typically a minimum of $1000 for a 1br

Seriously? $1000 for a 1br basement suite?

[originalhypa]

This is insane.
I was in Kamloops last week, and found my dream subdivision house for $600k. Brand new executive home in a great neighbourhood. Across from the bike ranch mountain bike park, an ice rink, and both a dirt, and concrete RC car track.

For that kind of money, I could sell my Langley house and buy the one I mentioned, and another, slightly older house with a dock right on the river. Or a house in Vernon, Kelowna, etc. It's insane just how bad our real estate market has become in the lower mainland.

For the record, the most expensive house in Kamloops is $3.14 million, and it's spectacular.



That one is a little out of my range, but for a million bucks you can get a really nice place.