Metro Vancouverites Would Prefer a House Over a Condo

[whatnext]

Interesting survey that came out last week:

..When asked what type of housing they’d buy if given $1 million, 34 per cent of renters and property owners in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley surveyed would rather have a large house and property in a suburban setting, compared with just 12 per cent who would opt for a luxury apartment in the city, according to a Mustel Research Group poll...

..“We were a bit surprised that, despite all the talk about densification and walkability, despite the fact that condos have taken over from houses in many parts of our region, the overwhelming choice was for a large house on a big suburban property,” said Elizabeth Wilson, content editor for REW.

Another surprising find, she said, was that the younger folks — or the so-called GenYs — were the most keen to own a big house and property...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business...#ixzz2P2xHAqjt

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Interesting survey that came out last week:

..When asked what type of housing they’d buy if given $1 million, 34 per cent of renters and property owners in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley surveyed would rather have a large house and property in a suburban setting, compared with just 12 per cent who would opt for a luxury apartment in the city, according to a Mustel Research Group poll...

..“We were a bit surprised that, despite all the talk about densification and walkability, despite the fact that condos have taken over from houses in many parts of our region, the overwhelming choice was for a large house on a big suburban property,” said Elizabeth Wilson, content editor for REW.

Another surprising find, she said, was that the younger folks — or the so-called GenYs — were the most keen to own a big house and property...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business...#ixzz2P2xHAqjt

They should have added "buy a 10 acre farm with some cows" based on the answers from Surrey/Delta/Langley.

Dumb survey, dumb results.

http://www.rew.ca/news/vancouver-rea...survey-mar2013

And who would actually sit through answering these dumb questions?

[McPaul]

Very surprising. I thought the number preferring a large house would be much closer to 100%.

[spm2013]

Should have also added "go to a retirement home"

[logan5]

Maybe if condos had a living space that more closely resembled a small house, e.g. - 1400 sq. feet, then maybe more people would consider high density living.

Let's see. 1400 x $500/sq.ft = $700 000. Hmm, 40 000 dollars more expensive than a 7 year old 2800 sq. ft house in New West.

I guess that's why condo developers don't want to sell family sized apartments, because it becomes glaringly apparent what a rip off condo's are.

[Pinion]

I thought I would always be a condo guy but the inconsideration of my neighbours (specifically one across the alley) has made me want to live far away from my fellow Vancouverites.

Still can't stomach a 30+ minute commute though.

[dreambrother808]

The survey shows big differences depending on where people live, and indicates suburbanites are more likely than city slickers to desire the white picket fence life. More than half of the respondents who said they’d buy a big house in the ’burbs already live in Surrey, Delta and Langley.

Of the folks who live in the city of Vancouver, most would go for the cash or the small detached house in the city, and only about 10 per cent said they’d rather have an estate in the burbs.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business...#ixzz2P3g0HPIX

So most people already live where they want to... Not particularly surprising.

I would prefer to live in a West Van mansion along the water if my "dreams" came true. In the meantime, my downtown apartment is the current best option for me.

[GeeCee]

I definitely don't want a house. Too much upkeep versus a condo. Though if money was no issue, I could just pay people to take care of stuff around the house so...

[Alex Mackinnon]

On the other hand, you have to deal with often moronic strata councils when big things need to be done. I would rather own a house just because of that.

[Pinion]

Yes, my strata council is awful. They consistently make poor decisions (e.g. always hiring the cheapest company available, who - surprise - does a horrible half-assed job) and now I have to shell out $9,000 for multiple projects that should've been spread out over the last several years.

The building looked great when I bought it, but the strata president was in my unit and the new one is terrible.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Yes, my strata council is awful. They consistently make poor decisions (e.g. always hiring the cheapest company available, who - surprise - does a horrible half-assed job) and now I have to shell out $9,000 for multiple projects that should've been spread out over the last several years.

The building looked great when I bought it, but the strata president was in my unit and the new one is terrible.

Yeah, I think I mentioned in a previous thread that I've had to put way less money into my pre-war house than most friends who are in post-1970 condos. And that doesn't count the ~$400 monthly maintenance fees they're paying.

[Jebby]

I've lived in both. I gotta say, I'd take house over condo any day.