New Westminster

The SkyTrain Living Lifestyle – Four Factors That Make SkyTrain Living Unbeatable

The average rent for a one bedroom in Vancouver as per the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) this month was pegged at $1750.00. That is a lot of money, and we hope you’re getting at least that! If you have an investment property and it’s already getting that it could be down to a couple of the following contributing factors. In this blog, we will outline four factors that contribute to why people pay more to live The SkyTrain Living Lifestyle.

What is the SkyTrain Living Lifestyle?

First of, if you are on this site, you believe in the power of purchasing property near the Sky Train but you do not understand why people want to live close to the system? Let’s outline four factors that we believe contribute to this trend:

 

Walkability

Houses, Townhouses, and Apartments whether in newer buildings or older buildings will always have the highest Walk Score when located within Rapid Transit corridors. What is a Walk Score and why does it matter? It is a number that uses an algorithm that incorporates the subject property address, and it’s proximity to restaurants, grocery stores, bars, transit, and other services. The equation produces a “Walk Score” out of 100. 100 being highly walkable or a “Walkers Paradise” and 0 being, well, the worst. Important because the higher the Walk Score, the more tenants will want to rent or buy your property for not only the transit factor but also the walkability one.

The Car-Free Lifestyle

This new lifestyle trend that s touted by the Municipal governments, environmentalists and health nuts alike is a growing trend that you can catch through savvy investing and marketing. This trend is seeing many people give up the gridlock in favour for bicycling, transit, and car shares. If this trend continues – it’s showing no signs of slowing down – anyone who has invested in Sky Train condos will not only see their property values grow faster, but they’ll also see the greatest rise in rental rates combined with a low vacancy rate.

Young People Are Not Driving

Yes, this is a thing! In the Metro Vancouver, there is a growing trend of 16-20-year-olds not getting their driving licences. That means in the next five to ten years these individuals will be your tenants and they will not have cars! They want to be close to the Sky Train so they can get where they need to go without the expense of car ownership. Much like the internet, this is the growing trend, and if you’re not investing in Real Estate with this trend in mind you are making a mistake.

Traffic in Metro Vancouver is the Worst

Not going into detail on this one but we just replaced our horn.

Do you agree with this post? You see all the trends that we have pointed out?! Well then, fill out a contact form, join our mailing list, or give one of our specialists a call and we will get working on finding the ideal property. Ensuring you will get one with a high Walk Score, takes advantage of the Car-Free Lifestyle movement, and prepares your Real Estate Investment portfolio for the new tenant entering the rental marketplace.

For properties or Presales close to Rapid Transit email ac.odnocniartyksobfsctd@ofni and check out some of the Coming Soon projects below.

 

Check out The Henry, a New Development located on the Canada Line.

HENRY – Pricing, Floor Plans

 

Sun Towers, Located on the Expo Line in Burnaby South.

SUN TOWERS METROTOWN

 

The Columbia – New Westminster’s Hottest New Development at Sapperton Station

The Columbia

Wesgroup’s newest addition to New Westminster’s Brewery District and Metro Vancouver Skyline has taken shape with the announcement of The Columbia. Boasting a mix of one, two, and three bedroom homes (floor plans available) ranging from 515 to over 1,000 square feet and a whole host of amenities. This walk to everything community is a great fit for anyone looking to live the car-free lifestyle or invest near Rapid Transit. This little city is considered by many as one of the best pieces of untapped value on Rapid Transit north of the Fraser.

Known for smart and savvy design, Wesgroup is not letting their consumers down with the attention to detail that awaits Homeowners in this new project. Consumers will have an option of two different colour schemes, allowing you to choose between a soft or bold interior statement. Laminate wood flooring in the living area and plush carpeting in the bedrooms. All units will come with private decks and patios. Kitchens will feature Stainless Steel Appliances, European Style Cabinetry with soft-close technology, quartz countertops, and under cabinet lighting. A great feature for one bedroom units will be a built in dining area into the Kitchens to ensure the greatest use of space. The Columbia will also feature beautiful bathroom suites that boast a glass shower, porcelain tile shower and bathtub walls, soaker tub, and under cabinet lighting.

 

Email ac.odnocniartyksobfsctd@ofni for Pricing, Floor Plans and VIP Early Access.

If the interior of the units is not tantalising enough one look at the Amenities on offer should push you over the edge. Boasting 12,000 Square feet of outdoor amenities: garden plots, play area, green space, terrace, lounge, BBQ and dining area. A 10,000 Square foot club (shared with all residents of the Brewery District) that includes fitness centre, yoga room, squash court, party room, treatment room, dance studio, multiple meetings rooms, and an entertainment room with a full kitchen.

Of course, having all these amenities at your fingertips is lovely but what about the neighbourhood and transportation? The Columbia is located only 200 meters to Sapperton SkyTrain Station, putting you 25 minutes to Downtown Vancouver, one stop to the Expo Line, and two stops to the Evergreen Line. If you are not a Rapid Transit user, Highway 1 is 5 minutes away which gets you on the road to anywhere in Metro Vancouver. For all your hunting and gathering needs (grocery shopping!), there are three major outlets where you can pick up the essentials. Within one block there is a Shoppers Drug Mart, Save-On-Foods, and Fratelli Bakery, leaving you with the question: to keep the car or not keep the car.

Email ac.odnocniartyksobfsctd@ofni or sign-up for Details.

For Columbia project details, visit:

The Columbia at Sapperton Station

 

Changes are coming to Vancouver’s Rapid Transit System

On September 19, 2016, Translink CEO Kevin Desmond announced that changes are coming to Vancouver’s Rapid Transit system. Users of the network will see these changes coming to effect on October 22 as part of a test to prepare for the opening of the new Evergreen Extension.

Here is a bullet point summary of how these changes will affect the Expo and Millennium Lines:

The Expo Line:

  • Implementation of two routes:
    • First one travelling between Waterfront (Downtown Vancouver) and King George Station (Surrey).
    • Second one travelling between Waterfront (Downtown Vancouver) and Production Way-University in Burnaby

The Millennium Line:

  • No longer travelling to Waterfront Station. It will go between VCC-Clark station in Vancouver to Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby.
  • Commercial Broadway
  • Lougheed Station (NOTE: MAKE SURE TO READ THE SIGN ON THE TRAIN AND/OR ON THE NOTICE BOARD! YOU COULD END UP ON THE WRONG TRAIN AS THEY ARE ARRIVING ON THE SAME PLATFORM)
  • Production Way-University

There will also be some changes once the Evergreen Line comes into operation which will affect the Millennium Line. The Millennium Line will now operate between VCC-Clark and Lafarge Lake – Douglas stations. Meaning that you will have the ability to enjoy a “one-seat” ride between Lafarge Lake – Douglas and VCC-Clark so you’ll have plenty of time to browse the internet, keep on to date on the market, and get some much-needed work done.

 

If you are concerned about these changes and are unsure of how it will affect your daily commute. Translink has provided a Trip Planner on their website that takes into the account and will show you how your daily commute is affected. You can log to http://tripplanning.translink.ca/ to see how your daily commute is affected.

 

You can see a map of the current plan and the new one by clicking on to this link: http://www.translink.ca/skytrainchanges

 

If you are unhappy with these changes and would like to speak out or you just have a better idea. You can contact Translink through these coordinates: http://www.translink.ca/en/Customer-Service.aspx

 

In the meantime, if owning a home near in one of Greater Vancouver’s Rapid Transit Corridors is on your list of things to do. Please fill out a contact form and one of our representatives will contact you to get you on your way to home ownership in one of Vancouver’s fastest growing areas for property ownership.