Buying the Lifestyle: What to Look for Before Committing to a Particular Neighbourhood

Marci • January 1, 2014

Whether you’ve landed a new job in Vancouver or you’re moving here to enjoy the coastal beauty, buying a new house or condo is an excellent opportunity upgrade your quality of life. You’ll need to make a few considerations when ‘buying the lifestyle’ in Vancouver, so let’s take a look at some areas that you’ll want to pay attention to when you begin hunting for that new home.
Moving to Vancouver_ How Your Choice of Neighbourhood Can Drastically Affect Your Mortgage
<h2>What Amenities Are Important to You?</H2>

 

As the old adage goes, real estate is all about ‘location, location, location’. Greater Vancouver has dozens of communities and neighbourhoods of every size, each with its own distinct culture and amenities. Ask yourself which amenities are important to you and your family, and perhaps jot down a list of items that you’d like to have close by such as a gym, community centre, tennis courts or a marina.

 

Traffic and commuting time should be another concern, especially if you will be working in the downtown core. Greater Vancouver has repeatedly been nominated as having the worst traffic of any major city in North America, and the situation doesn’t appear to be getting better very quickly. If you aren’t a fan of sitting in your car for long periods, consider buying near a SkyTrain or Canada Line station, or close to your workplace.

 

<h2>How Are the Local Schools?</H2>

 

Are you moving to the Vancouver area with children? If so, the quality of the schools around your home will be worth investigating. Each year the Fraser Institute ranks elementary and secondary schools based on standardized tests completed by students in various grades. The results are posted on a public website which is searchable by school name, city or community, so if you have an idea of which part of Vancouver you would like to live in you can target available homes within walking distance to high-quality schools.

 

<h2>Check out the Parks and Other Public Spaces</H2>

 

If you’re a fan of the outdoors, Vancouver has you covered. As you start to make your short list of real estate opportunities, be sure to consider the local parks and green spaces. For example, if you’ve decided that you want to live in or near downtown, look for a home close to the seawall so you can enjoy those early morning runs or evening strolls with the family. If you’re buying a detached home in central Vancouver, find out which parks are nearby so you can enjoy a picnic or playing with the dog.

 

<h2>When in Doubt: Ask the Locals</H2>

Don’t forget that the best possible resource that you can tap into for local information is… us locals! Whether you’re moving in to Maple Ridge or Kitsilano, you’ll find that on the whole Vancouver has a friendly population. If you’ve already started viewing homes, take some time to meet with your potential new neighbours to find out what it is that they love about their local community.

Are you ready to buy your dream home in Vancouver? If you’re in need of mortgage advice, I would be happy to share my expertise. Contact me at your convenience by email – I look forward to working with you!

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RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan Explained: A Smart Way to Buy Your First Home

By Marci Deane • July 22, 2026
Saving for a down payment is one of the biggest challenges first-time buyers face. What many don’t realize is that the Canadian government offers a program designed to make it easier—the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) . This program allows you to withdraw money from your RRSP to help purchase your first home, without immediate tax consequences. Here’s how it works: Who Qualifies? To be eligible, you generally need to be a first-time home buyer. In practical terms, this means you must not have owned a home in the past four years, nor lived in a property owned by your spouse or partner during that time. There are also special allowances if you’re living with a disability or helping a relative with a disability. In these cases, you can use the HBP even if you’ve owned a home more recently. How Much Can You Withdraw? Under the program, you can access up to $35,000 from your RRSP as an individual. Couples can combine their withdrawals for a total of $70,000 . These funds must have been in your RRSP for at least 90 days before you take them out. Paying It Back The HBP isn’t “free money”—it’s an interest-free loan from your own retirement savings. You’ll have 15 years to repay the full amount back into your RRSP, starting in the second year after withdrawal. Each year, the CRA will send you an HBP Statement of Account outlining how much needs to be repaid. If you don’t make your repayment in a given year, that amount will be added to your taxable income. Why It’s a Smart Strategy The HBP can give first-time buyers a powerful boost toward homeownership. It helps you put together a larger down payment, which can reduce your mortgage amount and monthly payments. Just remember: it’s important to balance the short-term benefit of homeownership with the long-term impact on your retirement savings. Next Steps Thinking about using the Home Buyers’ Plan? Let’s sit down and review whether it’s the right move for you. Together, we can create a strategy that gets you into your first home while keeping your future financial goals on track. 📞 Reach out anytime—it would be a pleasure to guide you through the process.

Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — July 15, 2026

By Marci Deane • July 15, 2026
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. The tone of today's announcement is notably more optimistic than previous months. Here's what's changed and what it means for you.

Let’s Talk About Getting Top Dollar for Your Property

By Marci Deane • July 8, 2026
When it comes to selling your home, most people think the first call should be to a real estate agent. But the smartest first step often isn’t with your agent—it’s with an independent mortgage professional. Why? Because your mortgage plays a bigger role in your bottom line than most people realize. Planning to Buy After You Sell If selling means you’ll also be purchasing another property, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand financially before listing. Mortgage rules change regularly, and qualifying once doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify again. Getting a pre-approval in place ensures you know what you can afford and eliminates surprises later. On top of that, reviewing the terms of your existing mortgage could uncover options you may not have considered. For example, porting your mortgage instead of arranging a brand-new one could save you thousands. Selling Without Buying Even if you aren’t planning to buy right away, there’s still an important step: understanding the cost of breaking your mortgage. Unless your mortgage is open, penalties apply—and they can be significant. By reviewing the numbers with a mortgage professional, you might find that simply adjusting your timeline could reduce or even avoid costly fees. Navigating Life Changes In situations like a marital breakdown, it can feel like selling the family home is the only path forward. But that’s not always the case. With the right guidance and a legal separation agreement, one spouse may be able to buy out the other, keeping the home and providing stability for everyone involved. The Bottom Line Selling your property is more than just putting a sign on the lawn—it’s about creating a financial plan that protects your equity and positions you for the best possible outcome. Before you take the leap, let’s sit down and review your options. 📞 If you’re ready to talk strategy and make sure you get top dollar for your property, I’d be happy to connect anytime.