Question 1

What do people regret most after moving to Vancouver?

Accepted Answer

Buying the postcard instead of the life they actually live. People obsess over the price when the real question is fit. The person who buys a small place because they’re always out in the mountains and on the water thrives, and the person who buys that same place because it was all they could afford, while quietly needing room and a yard, regrets it within a year.

Question 2

If I earn a great income, will Vancouver feel affordable?

Accepted Answer

Probably not the way you expect. I’ve sat across from doctors, senior tech people and families with a very strong combined income who are still doing painful math to get into a detached home. The price doesn’t flex because you’re a strong buyer, since there’s always somebody behind you willing to stretch a little further for good product, so run your real numbers before you tour anything.

Question 3

How much space will I give up to live here?

Accepted Answer

Less room than you imagined for more per square foot. A young professional who’s out hiking and at restaurants every weekend barely notices a small unit, and a growing family in that same unit can feel it close in within a year. Be honest about which of those people you are.

Question 4

Do I have to live in the city of Vancouver?

Accepted Answer

No, and insisting on it can cost you good options. Burnaby, North Vancouver, Coquitlam, Richmond and Delta are part of the same urban fabric, and detached houses are the minority of the housing stock anyway. The people who get in are the ones who ask what mix of location, commute, lifestyle and property type works for their budget, which might be a condo or townhouse in a fantastic spot instead of a teardown on a busy street.

Question 5

How bad is the traffic?

Accepted Answer

Worse than people expect for a city this size. When I covered it in August 2026, the TomTom Traffic Index had Vancouver with the worst congestion of any city in Canada, because the water and the mountains funnel everyone through the same few bridges and corridors. If your plan involves crossing a bridge at rush hour, drive that exact route at eight in the morning before you fall in love with the listing.

Question 6

Is the rain really that bad?

Accepted Answer

From about October into spring it’s gray and wet, and if you need your vitamin D, that’s a real adjustment. But summers here are better than pretty much anywhere, and it’s temperate year round, so there are very few places in Canada I’d live other than here or Vancouver Island. It isn’t one uniform climate either: some parts of the region get much more rain than others, so it’s worth knowing the microclimate of the area you’re choosing.

Question 7

What costs catch newcomers off guard?

Accepted Answer

Taxes and the building itself. Budget for property transfer tax on every purchase, GST on new construction, and know the speculation and vacancy tax, Vancouver’s empty homes tax and the home flipping tax before you write, because rules and rates change and an accountant should check your situation. On a condo, read the depreciation report and the minutes, because an under-maintained building can hand you a five-figure special assessment.

Question 8

I’m thinking of leaving Vancouver. What will I miss?

Accepted Answer

More than people expect. Clients who moved away tell me they miss the mountains and the ocean just visually, plus the walkability, the food, the hospitals and the options for their kids. Make a pros and cons list and don’t do it out of anger, because once you’re out it can be very hard to get back into the area you left.

Question 9

What’s actually great about living here?

Accepted Answer

You can ski and sail in the same day, the food is incredible because of how many cultures live here, and the nature is unmatched. My family’s favourites are Pacific Spirit Park, Charleston Park off the seawall near Granville Island, and Third Beach, which is my number one and one of the only beaches where I’ll actually get in and swim. For the right person, Vancouver is worth every one of the trade-offs.

Moving to Vancouver