Question: Hello Svetlana.
I want to buy land away from Vancouver and build a house there. I have a family in Vancouver and we want to live away from the bustle of the city for 2 or 3 months a year. I need land away from neighbors. So that our house is covered with trees and it is desirable that there is a view of the sea or the river and the mountains. I read your article on building a straw block house and got hooked on the idea. Where in Vancouver can I buy a suitable piece of land? And for how much.
Eugene, Vancouver.
Hello Eugene. Thank you for reading what I write. That article was not written by me, I translated it from a Canadian magazine. There are written interesting and real things. These houses, which I myself saw, which are already 100 years old, are located in the state of Nebraska, USA, and in Canada they are built everywhere, especially a lot of them on the prairies: in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where there are endless fields of grain. Probably because the forest is in short supply there, and there is nowhere to put the straw, it is partially burned in the fall, partially plowed into the ground. Straw is a cheap, warm and environmentally friendly building material. You can buy it everywhere for a penny.
Now about the earth. While there seems to be plenty of land in Vancouver, it is heavily regulated. You can buy a piece of land on your own, but it’s not always possible to build a house on it. If the land belongs to agricultural land, then it can only be used for needs Agriculture building a house on it is not allowed. AT British Columbia plots are allocated from time to time for the construction of housing, and as long as there are free lands (undeveloped and uninhabited), you can only build there.
Lots are currently for sale in Chilliwak, about an hour from Vancouver. They cost 40 ... 50 ... 60 ... 70 thousand dollars, but they are very close to each other, within sight of a neighbor by a neighbor. If you drive 2 hours from Vancouver to the Hope area, then you can find sites near the river ... and with a view of the mountains. It should be borne in mind that the beautiful view and proximity to the water increases the price of the land. The cost of an average 5+ acre lot to build a home there is around $100,000.
Very beautiful and inexpensive plots of land, located in a fabulous location, 8 hours drive from Vancouver to the mountains, towards Calgary along the 1st highway. There's a town there called Hot Springs. Resort places and hot radon springs. Indescribable beauty. crystal fresh air and mountain rivers.
A three-room modern new apartment costs 50-70 thousand dollars there. The land is also for sale. At a price of 5 to 10 thousand per acre.
There are several more options. You can’t write everything, we’ll talk and choose the most the best option. I do not take any money for the purchase.
My phone and skype: 778-707-5544, SKYPE svetabot66.
Why the best? Research group Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the British edition of The Economist four times - in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. awarded Vancouver such a title.
Let's see what the best city in the world looks like?
What society are you guys from?
- Labor reserves.
- And what, Dynamo runs?
- Everyone is running.
At the Vancouver Aquarium White whale- Beluga.
skytrain. Trains are controlled automatically (without drivers). The world's longest fully automated rapid transit system.
The system includes 3 lines, which include 47 stations. The Expo line was built for the 1986 World Expo, the Millennium line was opened in 2002 and the Canada line in 2009 in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Expo and Millennium lines are used by 240,000 passengers in weekday and 105 thousand passengers on the Canada line. The record passenger traffic was recorded during Olympic Games when the system was used by an average of 622,000 passengers daily for 17 days of games. The SkyTrain system also includes the SkyBridge metro bridge, which was put into operation in 1990. This bridge is still the longest cable-stayed bridge used only by the subway.
Vancouver is the largest locality British Columbia and the third largest in Canada.
The population of the city itself is 600,000 people. (as of June 2006), but in Greater Vancouver (Greater Vancouver), if you count more than 20 suburbs, there are more than 2 million people. Greater Vancouver is also often referred to as the Lower Mainland, meaning the Lower big land, referring to its location on the coast (as opposed to Vancouver Island, where the provincial capital, Victoria, is located). Along with other neighboring municipalities, Vancouver is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) council.
The inconspicuous, quiet street of Gastown, in Vancouver, is lined with red tiles ... Cars scurry along the narrow cobbled road, Vancouver people walk slowly along the sidewalks. Behind the next turn suddenly appears before my eyes ... Big Ben in miniature, from the clock tower of which thick smoke is pouring. More precisely, steam - from the side it seems that the hooligans just set fire to this small structure.
No, this is not an unfortunate parody of a London landmark. Rather, a tribute to steam mechanisms, which was laid in the form of a steam clock in Vancouver by designer John Insho. He probably wanted to show that everything is subject to an engine driven by steam. Well, almost everything.
Steam clocks are always shrouded in light white puffs of steam. But their originality does not end there. Every quarter of an hour, the spire valves at the top of the little Big Ben open slightly, “whistling” a simple melody. That is, the steam clock can be called musical without a twinge of conscience!
The valves that release steam open exactly as much as necessary to make a sound of one or another height - at the same time, while the melody is playing, the clock tower is completely enveloped in white "clouds" - it is practically invisible. The music of the steam clock is somewhat reminiscent of the organ: the same slightly hoarse and infinitely solemn, despite its simplicity.
When you come closer to the steam clock, a long thin glass window catches your eye, which opens a view to the tourist on internal organization mechanism. The heart of the steam clock is in in constant motion, lightly tapping. steam engine measuredly and leisurely walks up and down, jingling thin chains. From above, like a huge pendulum, a massive cylinder swings. Vancouver's steam clock seems to have a life of its own. own life, just as watching passers-by as they stare at them.
These steam clocks, which sing their amusing songs to tourists, are calling card Vancouver. They are constantly surrounded by a crowd of onlookers who meet new sounds with such enthusiasm, as if prettier than music they haven't heard yet. However, the exoticism of the steam clock, no doubt, attracts the eye for a reason - after all, there are no analogues to this mechanism anywhere in the world. Of course, “singing” clocks are not new for us, but you certainly won’t find singing steam clocks anywhere except in Vancouver!
Vancouver - city North America. About two million (that is, almost half) of the inhabitants of the western Canadian province do not live at all in its capital, Victoria, but in the city that has become the third largest and most important city in the country - Vancouver. This vast agglomeration of the city itself and its 20 suburbs is called Greater Vancouver, or Lower Mainland, which means “Lower Great Land” in English.
The last name reflects the peculiarities of the city's location on the coast of the Pacific Barrard Bay, which turned out to be so convenient for ships of various sizes, purposes and classes that it turned Vancouver into one of the main Canadian ports.
The city itself is located on a small peninsula, which protrudes into the bay, and, apparently, therefore, is often referred to by its name. Barrard surrounds the city from the northeast, and from the southwest it goes around the so-called English Bay. In the north, east and south, the city is protected by snowy mountains - the Coast Range mountain system Cordillera. Nearby is the US-Canadian border.
In this natural bowl, protected from the winds, a unique microclimate has developed: it rains often (for at least half a year) and for a long time (during the day), but the moisture quickly evaporates. There is even a special “monument” dedicated to the rain: a sculpture of a giant blue raindrop near Barrard Bay. Combining high mountain glaciers with almost evergreen grass and fruit trees (apricots and peaches) blooming in the surrounding valleys, this climate gives Vancouver's landscapes a unique charm.
City `s history
The first inhabitants of these places were Indians: they lived here for at least 10 thousand years before the arrival of Europeans, the first of which is considered to be Spanish Marine officer, who appeared here in 1791 and explored the local straits - Jose Maria Narvaez (1768-1840). And in 1792, the navigator George Vancouver (1758-1798) arrived here, after whom the city was later named.
And only in 1860 the first permanent settlement of Europeans appeared here. So Vancouver is one of the youngest Canadian cities. The village grew up around a sawmill. Even then, the settlers paid attention to the convenient combination of a quiet bay and huge forest reserves around. Until now, logging is important direction local economy.
On the shore of the bay of Barrard Bay, a port has grown, which plays essential role in transport network and the economic structure of Canada (timber, non-ferrous metals and wheat are transported through it). At first, the village was christened Estown. Later renamed Granville. There was another intermediate option - Vancouver-Cuadra, it retained the name of the second head of the hydrographic expedition to the Pacific coast of North America, Juan Bodega y Cuadra (1744-1794). But this option did not take root, and now everyone remembers only Vancouver, a tireless explorer. Pacific Ocean, a brave participant in the 2nd and 3rd voyages of Captain J. Cook (1728-1779). They say that he made his very first voyage at the age of 14. He landed on the shores of the future namesake city when he was 35, and at the age of 40 the traveler had already died, having managed, according to rumors, for his entire short but full of maritime adventures career so and not learn to swim.
For the 19th century the city grew before our eyes: largely thanks to the port and the Canadian Pacific railway, extreme western point which Vancouver became. By the way, many workers from China took part in its construction, literally for $ 1 a day. Since then, Vancouver has one of the largest Chinatowns. And for a long time there was a shortage of women in the city: in the same Chinatown, by the beginning of the 20th century. for more than 2000 men there were about 100 women, and in general the population of the city by 1902 was approaching 30,000, of which more than half of the inhabitants were men.
Gradually, outposts of fur traders, other sawmills and fishermen's villages began to organize along the coast, from which the modern suburbs of Vancouver merged with it. There are a small number of old buildings in this city, and many of those that could survive to this day burned down in a short-term (45 minutes), but large-scale fire in 1886. At that time, one-story buildings were built here mainly from dry tarred boards.
Population
The city acquired a regular plan, characteristic of modern metropolitan areas. In the appearance of its diverse districts, traces of many cultures can be found, because it was built by “the whole world”, and besides, it has always been distinguished by tolerance and multinationality. The number of immigrants from Hong Kong is so noticeable that sometimes they make fun of the city that it has turned into "Honcouver". In addition to the Chinese, Italians, Greeks, Indians and Koreans, Vietnamese and Filipinos, Cambodians, Ukrainians and even the Japanese found a second home here, with whom the Canadians at one time had difficult relationship.
Even at the beginning of the last century, emigrants from Japan literally flooded into the city in search of work, mainly at canneries. It came to gang warfare: the gangs that controlled the local fishing industry were desperately fighting for power with outsiders. And the war of the allies with Japan during the Second World War finally spoiled relations: Japanese men were sent to labor camps or simply evicted from Canada. True, after the war the situation improved, the Japanese began to be granted citizenship - and now Vancouver has its own Little Japan.
Even the hippies, who in the 1960s-1970s chose the coast of Falls Creek, found their own area: in memory of their fun time, Hippie Days are held here. All this makes Vancouver one of the most diverse ethnic composition, cultural and linguistic features territories of Canada. But the Anglo-Saxon group of inhabitants is still the majority.
Vancouver is now not only a leader in raw material processing. Pipelines connected the city to the oil fields of British Columbia and Alberta. Wheat from central parts countries and many other goods are exported through this large transport node. Vancouver is one of the world's leading fuel cell manufacturers, a high technology development hub and the world's largest mining venture capital market.
The city reminded the world of itself with the successful Expo 86 world exhibition and the 2010 Winter Olympics. Stars also like to shoot movies in Vancouver: it turned out that production is much cheaper here. About 10% of American film production is created in the city and its environs, for which Vancouver was nicknamed the "Hollywood of the North", giving, for example, such popular TV series as "Smallville" and " Secret materials».
The city is loved not only by filmmakers. The Chinese annually arrange their races here on carved boats in the form of dragons, pyrotechnicians from all over the world flock to the Festival of Light fireworks festival, theatergoers to the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare festival, and tourists to all these and many other events of the turbulent Vancouver life. .
general information
Location: East Coast North America.
Administrative-territorial division: 23 districts.
Languages: English and French.
Ethnic composition: British, Chinese, Italians, Greeks, Indians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Cambodians, Ukrainians, Japanese.
Religions: Catholicism - 19%, Protestantism - 17.4%, Buddhism - 6.9%, others - 14.5% (including Islam, Orthodoxy, etc.), non-religious - 42.2%.
Currency unit: Canadian dollar.
Major river: Fraser.
Airport: Vancouver International Airport.
Numbers
Area: 115 km2.Population: city - 603,502 people, agglomeration - 2,313,328 people. (2011).
Population density: city - 5248 people / km 2.
Economy
Industry: woodworking, machine-building (including shipbuilding and production of equipment for the mining and forestry industries), oil refining; high tech(development software), light, food grade.
Biotechnology, film industry.
Fishing.
Service sector: tourism, financial, transport.
Climate and weather
Moderate, warm.January average temperature:+3.3°С.
July average temperature:+17.5°С.
Average annual rainfall: 1199 mm.
Attractions
■ Science World Center (a state-of-the-art science museum), the historic Gastown district, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world.■ Harbor Center Tower (with observation deck).
■ Landscape: Capilano Park: long suspension bridge, waterfalls and canyon of the same name, ancient forests: Botanical Garden Queen Elizabeth, Stanley Park (the second largest urban park in North America).
■ Museums: anthropology, centuries (together: planetarium and marine).
■ Suspension bridge"Lion's Gate" (1938, 516 m).
■ Monument to the Drunkard, Spirit of the Haida Kwai Monument (Airport, Bill Reid).
■ The Royal Hudson Steam Train (a copy of the train that traveled across Canada in 1939 English king George VI with his wife).
■ Districts: Shannon Falls, railway museum.
Curious facts
■ The first gas station in all of Canada opened in 1907 in Vancouver, and the first car in the city appeared in 1899 and was powered by steam.■ Everyone knows social organization protection environment"Greenpeace" (i.e. " Green World”) was founded in 1971 in Vancouver. The appearance of Greenpeace in the USSR in 1989 led to a new record in the Guinness book: the organization raised funds by selling music album"Greenpeace. Breakthrough”, which was recorded by many stars, and Moscow remembered the legendary line of many thousands for this album.
■ A local sculptor wanted to give the city a copy of Anderson's "The Little Mermaid" (such as in Copenhagen), but the Danes did not give him permission, and the master sculpted his own version - the Little Mermaid in a wetsuit.
■ Vancouver's Stanley Park is named after the Governor General of Canada, Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley. A prominent English politician emphasized that the park is "for the use and pleasure of people of all skin colors, creeds and customs." In memory of the lord, a statue of him was erected at the entrance (1960). The outrageous lord is also famous for the establishment of the hockey cup - the very Stanley Cup, for which the best NHL teams fight. In 1892, Lord bought a decorative bowl for $49, and in 1893 it was awarded to the winning team for the first time. The names of the winning players are engraved on the ribbons under the cup. This is the only sports prize in the world, with which each player has the right to do whatever his heart desires for 24 hours. Travels with the players, of course, a copy of the cup, and yet she gets it: she went to the drain and the dry cleaner, the cinema, the sauna and the strip bar, the bed of champions and at the bottom of the pond, she was used as a bowl for her beloved dog's food and bowls for the baptism of a child.
“Investing is not just the art of effectively investing money, it is a fusion of experience, intelligence and foresight, expressed in an endless series of precise decisions.” - Warren Buffett.
Unlike other types of business, investing in real estate in Vancouver requires you to be able to analyze the market according to the recommendations received from an experienced Realtor. What are the most simple ways to increase your capital offer us the prevailing conditions in the Vancouver real estate market.
Financing the construction of apartments in high-rise buildings acquiring objects before the start of construction.
Having financed the construction of a high-rise building from the zero cycle / the first phase, you can profitably rent out the living space, and in a few years sell this apartment for an amount sometimes significantly exceeding the funds you invested. With the profits you make, you can expand your business by investing in large quantity residential facilities. Sometimes it is enough to sell an apartment before the completion of the residential complex, but the profit will not be so significant. Even the purchase of a small apartment in a new building is always the right investment.
Acquisition land plots in Vancouver for development in prestigious areas.
For example, you have the opportunity to finance the purchase of a plot of land in a prestigious area in the amount of $800-900 thousand (perhaps with an old bungalow / ranch / "old timer" house for scrapping), then spend $350-400 thousand dollars to build a house for this area. Then, with the help of a Realtor, you sell this house with a plot of land for $1,500 - $1,600 million. Thus, even with overhead costs, your net profit will be at least $ 100,000 dollars, or approximately 15% per annum. If the construction cycle (from preparing a house project to complete completion of work) is standard 8-10 months, then your profit will increase significantly in annual terms, as the turnover of funds accelerates.
Long-term, but the most profitable investment is the purchase of private homes in the area of West and North Vancouver.
If you buy a 3-4 room house with 2 kitchens in North Vancouver, for example, for $1,000 million, you rent it out for $3,500. Or you yourself live on the top floor and rent out the bottom floor for $1,200 or more, helping yourself to pay the mortgage at the expense of the tenant. In these two areas, the growth in land prices is the fastest, and in five years the cost of such an object will increase significantly. Every 4-5 years, you quietly buy another house on the accumulated profit due to rising prices. Of course, it must be taken into account that one of the main conditions for issuing a mortgage for financial institutions is often confirmation of your stable income and making a down payment of at least 20 percent.
Buying a home in Vancouver is not difficult, but understanding in which particular area your hard-earned money should be invested, how old the building should be, and what the minimum plot size should be for a successful investment, comes only after talking with an experienced Realtor.
I help many of my clients to purchase homes in Vancouver not only for long-term investment, but also for quick profits by increasing the value of housing. due to the repair or reconstruction of this property. What you need to consider in the case when you decide to do this type of business.
The acquired object must be located in a prestigious, promising area of the city.
The more expensive the purchased object, the greater your profit at the end of the repair or restructuring of the house. That is, buying a house you earn more than buying an apartment in Vancouver, buying a house in expensive area earn higher profits. Objects located close to coastline, beaches or ocean view homes are always in demand and these Vancouver homes are always sold easily with huge fluctuations in price per square foot to the real estate seller.
Housing should be in a fairly neglected state. It makes no sense to overpay for a ready-made repair, made in accordance with someone else's taste or from expensive but unfashionable materials.
The investor must have a reliable source of financing: own funds, or consent financial institution provide a loan for this project. Frankly, behind such objects in good areas cities the real one is coming hunting, there are very few options. But also specialists who could correctly calculate the profit for you, in literally, units.
Before acceptance final decision about buying a house, a thorough technical inspection of the object must be carried out. The investor must be absolutely sure that the house needs cosmetic, not major repairs, otherwise, instead of gaining, the investor may suffer losses.
The notary must carefully check the property rights of the current owners for the absence of any claims and claims from third parties, creditor organizations.
Availability of an inexpensive and reliable team of builders. Execution prices construction works in Vancouver can vary by 30-50% (!), depending on the size of the company, the season, the qualifications of the workers, etc. The quality can also be very different. Deadlines are extremely important.
You need sources of inexpensive but high-quality materials (wholesale stores building materials, factory warehouses, discount stores and discontinued goods).
Design and architectural support of the project. Only a professional designer-architect can turn an old and abandoned house into a modern, open and bright one with just a few strokes.
Realization of the renovated object. Again, the Realtor is absolutely indispensable. When selling, contact the agent who himself is engaged in similar types of business or is an expert in the construction business.
Accounting support. Renovation of a house is an activity for the purpose of making a profit, i.e. business. Any business under Canadian law is entitled to tax write-offs and a number of financial benefits. This will help you professional accountant, with the help of which you can legally reduce the actual income received, if not to zero, then, by at least, to a reasonable minimum level. Find out before putting a house on the market about all the features of making a profit from its sale.
Buy an apartment, buy a house in Vancouver.
