51–60 of 161 posts
Here is a link to one my favorite sites about housing in Vancouver. Take the quiz: http://www.crackshackormansion.com/ http://www.crackshackormansion.com/part2.html
I've lived in Vancouver. There are really only three industries: (dodgy) junior mining, retail, and real estate. Property is bought by absentee owners who take supply out of the market, drive up prices, but do not contribute to the economy. The city is more expensive than NY without the amenities (except the outdoors), culture, or opportunity. The city should be Canada's powerhouse but it's turned into a high price v…
So what's the motivation to buying property you don't live in. Are they renting it out? The OP made it sound like many units are vacant. Are they buying and holding hoping to sell later for more? Normally a boom in high-end housing is good for local trades (plumbers, electicians, carpenters, painters, decorators, etc) as the first thing most upper-tier home buyers do when they buy a place is renovate, remodel, or at…
I've been going to Vancouver regularly (about once a year) since the mid 90s. As the return of Hong Kong to China approached, the influx of Chinese investment spiked. It started in Vancouver, people who had been in the better parts of Vancouver and were of retirement age sold and moved out (basically the first wave) and those being bought out moved to places like the Okanogan, etc. Then, single story buildings in Kit…
In the early/mid 2000's Vancouver had a healthy games industry. Not sure about now. But your point is valid. Vancouver doesn't really have any technology industry that's in a virtuous cycle yet.
Vancouver is one of the worst places to live in the western world imo. Poverty and violence are much bigger problems than people realize. I have many friends who already have pretty bad health problems, and they're only in their 20s. I have no idea why this is happening, but I believe stress and hopelessness must be playing a large role. Kids can't seem to afford to do anything in this city except abuse drugs and van…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Google / Microsoft / others are building office complexes in Richmond, Surrey, and other places close to the border because of "US immigration" limitations, but those aren't going to help build industry. Until the mid 2000s, I was looking for a viable company / excuse to move to Vancouver (meet the required points/immigration first bar), but never felt like tech was taking off there. I was involved in the identity ar…
Facebook / Microsoft is here too but they hire almost no Canadians, most are foreigners, until they can get the green light to work in the States. Amazon is the only one hiring locally but I often find that they just advertise positions but never really end up hiring
I've been going to Vancouver regularly (about once a year) since the mid 90s. As the return of Hong Kong to China approached, the influx of Chinese investment spiked. It started in Vancouver, people who had been in the better parts of Vancouver and were of retirement age sold and moved out (basically the first wave) and those being bought out moved to places like the Okanogan, etc. Then, single story buildings in Kit…
Price Waterhouse Cooper has a "BC Techmap" project: http://www.pwc.com/ca/en/technology-industry/bc-techmap.jhtm...
This is a big poster you can order.
Unfortunately, the preview site for it is defunct. The map traces the linage of tech companies in BC back to the 1940's.
Here is someone's shot of the 2003 version:
http://cie-unsw.blogspot.ca/2012/06/announcing-gig-engine.ht...
If your idea of a tech scene is that there must be a mushrooming of "like Facebook, but for dogs" type startups, then indeed, no, Van is not a hotbed for that kind of thing.
Vancouver is one of the worst places to live in the western world imo. Poverty and violence are much bigger problems than people realize. I have many friends who already have pretty bad health problems, and they're only in their 20s. I have no idea why this is happening, but I believe stress and hopelessness must be playing a large role. Kids can't seem to afford to do anything in this city except abuse drugs and van…
You know who is getting squeezed? It's people who grew up in Vancouver, whether they are Aboriginal, Indian, Asian, Black, Caucasian, Chinese, Whatever.
I just don't think this has anything to do with race but more with socioeconomic classes. Are certain cultures tend to be higher in the ladder? Of course, but anyone that is working and trying to live in Vancouver is feeling the heat from the lack of leadership.
Vancouver is one of the worst places to live in the western world imo. Poverty and violence are much bigger problems than people realize. I have many friends who already have pretty bad health problems, and they're only in their 20s. I have no idea why this is happening, but I believe stress and hopelessness must be playing a large role. Kids can't seem to afford to do anything in this city except abuse drugs and van…
Anyways, I take it you have not lived out near surrey or richmond. It's a bit different in the suburbs. The city is a much nicer place to live, especially when you have rich parents.
And yes it is amazing in the summer, in Vancouver, not the suburbs. The nature is undisputed, but that's about it.
Vancouver is one of the worst places to live in the western world imo. Poverty and violence are much bigger problems than people realize. I have many friends who already have pretty bad health problems, and they're only in their 20s. I have no idea why this is happening, but I believe stress and hopelessness must be playing a large role. Kids can't seem to afford to do anything in this city except abuse drugs and van…
A 2011 study by Landcor Data showed that 74 per cent of luxury purchases in Richmond and Vancouver’s west side were by buyers with mainland Chinese names with no western variant. Not surprising, given that Richmond is 55% Chinese[0]. West side Vancouver is probably around the same. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_British_Columbia#Demo...
So it hinges on Chinese people westernizing their last name to ensure they are counted as Canadian? Plus this is only counting luxury properties. Sadly it's really important now WHICH set of rich people own those properties.