Vancouver's Real Estate Market

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by Tapioca

We live in a 19 year-old townhouse that has a good mix of old and new - overheight ceilings with an open floorplan, but with forced air heating, larger windows, and storage closets. Ideally, I'd want to buy a unit that was built in the same era - rainscreen, no asbestos, modern electrical, PEX plumbing, etc.

Strata fees are not much of a concern as long as the strata is well managed and the owners know where the money is going. The biggest risk that I see is that the changes in the condo insurance market have screwed over a lot of strata corporations, despite the fact that there are very different risks for each complex based on what they are (high-rise vs low-rise, contingency fund, claims history, etc.). That's kind of why we're looking to get out of a strata property and into a non-strata rowhome, detached house, or at last resort, a non-conforming strata duplex which is likely not subject to the same chaos in the condo insurance market as other strata-titled properties.

Our biggest concern is the clusterfuck that is strata insurance right now. There is another hike for the 2020-2021 renew?

The problem is we aren't at the income or equity level where we can move into a house, and house comes with it's own issues. Wife is also on mat leave still and we can't make any moves until at least she's back to work, our son is in daycare, and our finances have settled down.

We live in a 1300sqft town house. We thought it was way too much space when we moved in. Now with one kid and two cats, I was already feeling like I need another few hundred sqft. With the shift towards working from home as well, we don't have enough space. Ditto when wife is back to work next March and we'll likely be both working at home lots. We are both in very meeting heavy jobs and we'll be fighting for quiet space.

Our monthly house expenses average to roughly ~2200, including all the utilities and property taxes etc. But being a car enthusiast, my car payment is the same as our mortgage payment
Getting rid of my car has been an ongoing discussion, actually from me and not my wife. She doesn't think I should get rid of it because she thinks I will get something even more expensive down the road
We can see ourselves being able to afford 1.5m, maybe 1.8m on a stretch for an upgrade in a few years before our son starts kindergarten. However we've been talking to a friend who's a public school teacher, and she's sending her kids to private school cause she personally thinks the current school system is messed up.
I've been very pro public school but her reasoning has had me thinking. Private school expense is/was not something I was thinking about until last night.



It does seem oddly true that the typical RS crew is not the typical Vancouverite. So many 6 figure earners on here.

[Tapioca]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

Our biggest concern is the clusterfuck that is strata insurance right now. There is another hike for the 2020-2021 renew?

The problem is we aren't at the income or equity level where we can move into a house, and house comes with it's own issues. Wife is also on mat leave still and we can't make any moves until at least she's back to work, our son is in daycare, and our finances have settled down.

Yeah, the mat leave is a big hit when you're trying to qualify. Hopefully, your wife's company doesn't fire her when she comes back (this has happened to a few of my wife's colleagues).

We live in a 1300sqft town house. We thought it was way too much space when we moved in. Now with one kid and two cats, I was already feeling like I need another few hundred sqft. With the shift towards working from home as well, we don't have enough space. Ditto when wife is back to work next March and we'll likely be both working at home lots. We are both in very meeting heavy jobs and we'll be fighting for quiet space.

That's exactly the same situation we're facing - meeting space is at a premium. I've set up a workstation in the kitchen and I've had to take external calls in my garage in a pinch when the kids were too disruptive.

Our monthly house expenses average to roughly ~2200, including all the utilities and property taxes etc. But being a car enthusiast, my car payment is the same as our mortgage payment
Getting rid of my car has been an ongoing discussion, actually from me and not my wife. She doesn't think I should get rid of it because she thinks I will get something even more expensive down the road

I wouldn't get rid of it. I got rid of my car when we had our first kid, but I regretted it the day I sold it. I wouldn't shut up about getting another car for 3 years until I switched jobs and needed something interesting to drive during my commute.

We can see ourselves being able to afford 1.5m, maybe 1.8m on a stretch for an upgrade in a few years before our son starts kindergarten. However we've been talking to a friend who's a public school teacher, and she's sending her kids to private school cause she personally thinks the current school system is messed up.

I think that if you can find a neighbourhood that is surrounded by other like-minded families, you can probably mitigate some of the shortcomings of the public school system. There's a pretty neat tool that's been developed by a local statistician called CensusMapper that basically depicts long-form census data visually.

https://censusmapper.ca/

There's lots of information on there such as median household incomes, the number of children per household, empty households, etc. After reviewing the data for my current neighbourhood, I'm finding that it would be tough to leave.

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

Our biggest concern is the clusterfuck that is strata insurance right now. There is another hike for the 2020-2021 renew?

The problem is we aren't at the income or equity level where we can move into a house, and house comes with it's own issues. Wife is also on mat leave still and we can't make any moves until at least she's back to work, our son is in daycare, and our finances have settled down.

We live in a 1300sqft town house. We thought it was way too much space when we moved in. Now with one kid and two cats, I was already feeling like I need another few hundred sqft. With the shift towards working from home as well, we don't have enough space. Ditto when wife is back to work next March and we'll likely be both working at home lots. We are both in very meeting heavy jobs and we'll be fighting for quiet space.

Our monthly house expenses average to roughly ~2200, including all the utilities and property taxes etc. But being a car enthusiast, my car payment is the same as our mortgage payment
Getting rid of my car has been an ongoing discussion, actually from me and not my wife. She doesn't think I should get rid of it because she thinks I will get something even more expensive down the road
We can see ourselves being able to afford 1.5m, maybe 1.8m on a stretch for an upgrade in a few years before our son starts kindergarten. However we've been talking to a friend who's a public school teacher, and she's sending her kids to private school cause she personally thinks the current school system is messed up.
I've been very pro public school but her reasoning has had me thinking. Private school expense is/was not something I was thinking about until last night.

It does seem oddly true that the typical RS crew is not the typical Vancouverite. So many 6 figure earners on here.

If you can afford to put your kids into a private school you should definitely do it. I was talking to my realtor and her kids are in private school. Her daughter is in 2nd grade and was learning about nutrition!!! and has been having up to 5 zoom meetings!!! a day. If your kid doesn't blow the opportunity they will definitely be ahead of the public school kids (aka mine if i'm blessed to have a child one day lol).

[Gerbs]

Just curious, did any of you guys grow up in private school? If so, do you feel like most of your peers are doing way better than those who went to public school?

[Tapioca]

Originally Posted by underscore

You may not be able to cut out the typical excess spending people have but if you wait til your youngest is in school you can redirect that $2k/month towards a mortgage though. If you want to move now you'd only be cutting into RRSP/RESP for those 2 years, and only for whatever amount the care for your youngest costs since by the time you actually move in your oldest will be in school.

Yeah, I think that's going to be the reality for us - cutting those savings plans in the short-term while managing the cash crunch. It just sucks because we're on the wrong side of 35 and you know, there isn't a ton of runway left with respect to compound interest and peak earning years.

[Traum]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

Just curious, did any of you guys grow up in private school? If so, do you feel like most of your peers are doing way better than those who went to public school?

At least from my own perspective, I do not feel people from my era were better off going to private school. You still have the same share of idiots and smart people. The private school kids might have had a bit of a head start in university, but that was by no means impossible to catch up. And by the time people were out of university, I feel like whatever initial edge the private school kids had had basically been all evened out.

But today's public school curriculum is totally messed up.

[twitchyzero]

can someone explain why public system is considered a farce nowadays

is 5 zoom meetings supposed to be a good thing for a 8 year old haha...im trying to delete that app and employers insist on using said platform

[underscore]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

Just curious, did any of you guys grow up in private school? If so, do you feel like most of your peers are doing way better than those who went to public school?

I didn't know many private school kids but the few I did know definitely weren't ahead of anyone else I knew. Some kids might do better in a slightly different environment but it's not going to magically make a kid a genius like some parents love to think. Likewise public school isn't going to be some crippling handicap as evidenced by the highschool friends of mine who have become doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.

In the end what environment is best is going to be a pretty individual thing, though in my mind a larger school is better from a social perspective. More kids = more opportunity to find friends they fit with. A small school is fine if a kid fits in with the rest of the kids in their class/grade (and as a parent you're lucky enough that they end up being decent kids) but if they don't it can be pretty rough having few or no friends.

If you are considering a private school definitely check into it first though. The one near the schools I went to was the school all the kids who got kicked out of public school ended up at. It was always funny to hear a parent bragging about their kid going to that school when you knew that's where all the assholes ended up too.

[ncrx]

i did private elementary and high school, but it wasn't a posh'y georges or van college.

i don't think private school kids do any better in university or necessarily work b/c of the school itself. i didnt feel like i learnt anymore than my friends who did IB at churchill for example. if anything i'd say they were more prepared for uni b/c of the IB program. i felt like i missed out on fun classes like shop or woodwork simply kuz my school was too small to have those.

the real secret is it really comes down to who your kids are surrounded by and the parental connections that are made from private school. positive influences, goal oriented, driven, those are the things that i think result in 'successful' kids. sometimes a private school can give you those things.

you will find a higher concentration of successful kids come out of the private system simply b/c of the environment the kids grow up in, some of its affluence, and parents who are interested in their kids success or more actively involved in their success

[Manic!]

Originally Posted by Tapioca

I've never been fan of renting out the basement, but it seems like the majority of middle class families are doing this out of necessity. With the tenancy laws increasingly in favour of tenants, it's hard to get rid of problematic tenants. If we had to, I would be open to finding a home with a bedroom and bathroom in the basement for a homestay to avoid having our rental business coming under the purview of the Residential Tenancy Act.

The problem is most don't know the BC tenancy act and don't do a proper screening. If you read the act, know the procedures, and do some proper screening it's not that bad renting out a basement. With a good tenant, it's easy money. My buddy in Langley has 2 suites in his house with good tenants.

My buddy just moved back to the island with his family and is loving it. Has a house on about an acre. Has a couple of dirt bikes, an ATV, and just bought some type of dune buddy for kids to drive.

[Traum]

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

can someone explain why public system is considered a farce nowadays

is 5 zoom meetings supposed to be a good thing for a 8 year old haha...im trying to delete that app and employers insist on using said platform

The continual dumbing down of the curriculum seems idiotic to me. The most infuirating thing for me has to be elementary school math. I saw it in my friend's kid's homework. It was some sort of 2-digit addition, like 23 + 38 or something like that. For something that I view as entirely basic and fundamental, esp when the kid is only in elementary school, what the hell is there to explain? Knowing how to add is the tool you use to do bigger and more complicated things. Just do it old school and memorize the mechanical process so that you can actually do some math.

But nope, the kid is supposed to draw it all out, separate the 23 into 20 + 3 first. Then separate the 38 into 30 + 8. Then do the 20 + 30 to get 50. And separately do the 8 + 3 to get -- wait! -- you need to further break the 3 down into 2 + 1, because then you can move the 2 to combine with the 8 so that you can end up with 10 and 1!

And then you lump your goddamned numbers back together:

- there is the 50
- there is the 10
- and then there is the 1

So now you do the 50 + 10 to get 60. And then you combine the 60 and the 1 to get 61.

Oh, and you're supposed to draw pictures of each of the different groups as well...

Fxxking goddammit!!! Are you fxxking kidding me?! Just do the damn mechanical addition and be done with it!

[blkgsr]

i'll do something similar for larger multiplication but that's seriously how they're teaching addition now? no wonder kids are getting dumber

[quasi]

I agree with what's said above the largest benefit of private school IMO is the networking factor, I really don't believe the education is that much better not to mention in high school your kid will lose out on a lot of the electives available in public school that are not available in private.

I really believe the reason you see kids come out of private school and on average do better is they are largely kids of entrepreneurs, business leaders and politicians and they have a huge advantage and a head start out of the gate after graduation with opportunities thrown at them. That combined with having a network of other people that are in that same boat they get short tracked. Most of those kids probably would have succeeded with or without private school due to the opportunities they have after graduation.

My son has been thriving in high school I mean I push him and I'm on him, I try to explain to him how important his grades are, it's funny because we choose his high school and had him going out of catchment to a high school that excels at athletics which is what he loves. Do I think he'll be a professional athlete? Lol absolutely not but there is no reason he can't go to UBC or SFU and play football as a walk on.

The one conversation I had with him that seemed to help him the most was I explained that he needs to think of his grades like opportunities. If he keeps all his grades at the top when he graduates he will get to pick and chose where he goes to university and what he studies he'll also have some opportunities at scholarships to help offset some of the costs and if he lets it slip he'll have less choices of schools and programs. So far he's on board I just have to keep on him, I'm lucky because he's a lot smarter than I am so it's not that hard for him but still I'm going to push him right to the end, stay on him and find creative ways to motivate him without being a total asshole.

[Hondaracer]

Im not a parent but from what i see my family and friends who have kids that thrive whether it be private or public school are the ones who mentor them outside of school hours and address weakness or struggles they have. Also, generally the successful, smart, kids are seemingly the ones who participate in extra curiculuars and team sports.

If you think a school is just a place to dump your kid off at and feed them an ipad once they are home, it wont matter if you go to Whalley Central or St.Georges imo.

My Wife went to private school through her entire life and i feel like she learned some good values and whatnot which werent too apparent in my public schools (albeit she went to a catholic school). However, a bunch of her former friends and acquaintances who followed the same path as her are fucking idiots lol..

[twitchyzero]

Originally Posted by Traum

The continual dumbing down of the curriculum seems idiotic to me. The most infuirating thing for me has to be elementary school math. I saw it in my friend's kid's homework. It was some sort of 2-digit addition, like 23 + 38 or something like that. For something that I view as entirely basic and fundamental, esp when the kid is only in elementary school, what the hell is there to explain? Knowing how to add is the tool you use to do bigger and more complicated things. Just do it old school and memorize the mechanical process so that you can actually do some math.

But nope, the kid is supposed to draw it all out, separate the 23 into 20 + 3 first. Then separate the 38 into 30 + 8. Then do the 20 + 30 to get 50. And separately do the 8 + 3 to get -- wait! -- you need to further break the 3 down into 2 + 1, because then you can move the 2 to combine with the 8 so that you can end up with 10 and 1!

And then you lump your goddamned numbers back together:

- there is the 50
- there is the 10
- and then there is the 1

So now you do the 50 + 10 to get 60. And then you combine the 60 and the 1 to get 61.

Oh, and you're supposed to draw pictures of each of the different groups as well...

Fxxking goddammit!!! Are you fxxking kidding me?! Just do the damn mechanical addition and be done with it!

but later on in college grouping numbers can be more efficient in approximating = faster process of elimination in m/c exams
because let's be honest...school eventually teaches you how to prepare for tests, not necessarily real world applications because that's what calculator and internet is for

[bcrdukes]

EvoFire - Isn't your average household income at the $250K benchmark, or above?

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by ncrx

the real secret is it really comes down to who your kids are surrounded by and the parental connections that are made from private school. positive influences, goal oriented, driven, those are the things that i think result in 'successful' kids. sometimes a private school can give you those things.

For context, I went to a fairly academic focused high school in Richmond (but not Richmond High). Did alright for myself in uni and landed big tech internships and full time work after.

I agree with most of what's said here. Being close with a few people who came out of CHS/VC... some thoughts they've shared

- Some say they wouldn't have been as academically motivated had they not been at a private school and around peers who were trying their best
- There are defs some who are still trying to find their direction in uni and adulthood
- Those with good drive and values are able to achieve some things that I can't; the people around them and in their network can help them achieve more >> here's where I think growing up around parents who are leading by example and modelling values is so so important.

[SkunkWorks]

100% agreed that private school's main benefit that increases one's chances of success is the networking factor.

Bunch of my peers are from the St. George's/VC/WPGA/LFA crowd and from many discussions, they had more opportunity definitely, but by no means did it guarantee success.

Meanwhile I went to an East Van highschool and a good portion of my classmates are now CPAs/P. Engs/lawyers/doctors/etc.

Instilling a good work ethic and desire to succeed are all things that are ultimately in the parents' control. Those that succeeded, private school or not, had parents and family units that instilled in them that work ethic and desire for success/goal attainment. As for the network? Just send them to a westside rugby club or an alpine skiing club. Full of yuppies

Disclaimer: I'm not a parent

[Infiniti]

Originally Posted by quasi

The one conversation I had with him that seemed to help him the most was I explained that he needs to think of his grades like opportunities. If he keeps all his grades at the top when he graduates he will get to pick and chose where he goes to university and what he studies he'll also have some opportunities at scholarships to help offset some of the costs and if he lets it slip he'll have less choices of schools and programs. So far he's on board I just have to keep on him, I'm lucky because he's a lot smarter than I am so it's not that hard for him but still I'm going to push him right to the end, stay on him and find creative ways to motivate him without being a total asshole.

Your son sounds mature and your approach seems to have resonated with him. Congratulations to you dad as it seems you have him on the path for success.

Now, I am curious how you motivate the other "types" of teenagers out there i.e. the Worldstar screaming-Tiktok addicted-skipping class at metrotown-types. Because, I highly doubt those groups have the maturity to think longer term as your son does and to consider the consequences of poorer grades.

[bcrdukes]

For those of you who know, know.

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by Infiniti

Now, I am curious how you motivate the other "types" of teenagers out there i.e. the Worldstar screaming-Tiktok addicted-skipping class at metrotown-types. Because, I highly doubt those groups have the maturity to think longer term as your son does and to consider the consequences of poorer grades.

High school teachers that I've visited have mentioned that the increase in access to information has widened the gap in achievement between the highly motivated and those who aren't.

Even compared to when I graduated (early 2010s), the education and learning available online is a completely different story.

[Euro7r]

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

High school teachers that I've visited have mentioned that the increase in access to information has widened the gap in achievement between the highly motivated and those who aren't.

Even compared to when I graduated (early 2010s), the education and learning available online is a completely different story.

Current generation is exposed to a lot of distractions (just a lot more things to do now than ever). Also we have to consider kids these days are spoiled by their parents, stuff is easily handed to them so their motivation to work harder isn't as strong as compared to previous gen. E.g. My grandparents/parents gen didn't have it easy, they had to work hard to build what they currently have from scratch. I learnt that hard working ethic from them as well as I wanted to become better (so I never asked for anything as they never had anything given to them ever).

It comes down to parenting the children. I don't see it being too much of an advantage going to private school as I know many that did go to private and didn't get quite far than your regular joe that went to public. Although it is always a factor to consider where you purchase your home as you don't want your kids surrounded by negative influence of naughty kids in public school.

[quasi]

Originally Posted by Infiniti

Your son sounds mature and your approach seems to have resonated with him. Congratulations to you dad as it seems you have him on the path for success.

Now, I am curious how you motivate the other "types" of teenagers out there i.e. the Worldstar screaming-Tiktok addicted-skipping class at metrotown-types. Because, I highly doubt those groups have the maturity to think longer term as your son does and to consider the consequences of poorer grades.

To be fair I didn't understand the importance of good grades when I was in school I wasn't dumb but I just did the bare minimum because that was the easy route it wasn't until I wanted to go to university and then realized I was nowhere near where I needed to be. My parents weren't involved in my education at all, they never asked me about it, never helped me choose my classes or asked to see a report card they had any idea how I was doing or even if I went to school or ditched that day to go to the beach with my friends. I always worked and had a car in high school I could go where I wanted when I wanted this was early 90s.

I didn't realize that in order to get certain professions you need special prerequisites, I want to make sure my kid knows what he wants and what he has to do to get there.

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

For those of you who know, know.

Then you get your ass whooped again when they break the stick from hitting you

[donk.]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

Anyone having troubles renting out their units? Tenants are both leaving at the end of July. Not sure how things are with the covid protocols.

Tenant gave me 3 months notice, in february
Posted my unit 2 months prior, had over 20 inquiries, about 4 people actually came out to view it (worse than selling a car on craigslist)
Got someone to sign 1 week before the tenant moved out
Price increased by 50$ from year prior

Friend had his tenant move out 1 week ago, had 2 applications 1 week after posting it, rented out