[Surrey] The Urban Village | 102m| 35fls | Completed

[GMasterAres]

Strata councils can make or break a building. Also almost every new building seems to go through a growing period where the first few years are a bit turbulent. We had that in the first year here in the Verve development just because owners were new and desperate to get renters in, Strata was new and not established, and we were dealing with a developer who doesn't seem to know what the word "security" means.

After a year we've pushed for smarter rules, have been enforcing existing rules and bylaws, and instituted additional security measures including CCTV cameras and an education system for owners. Problems have dropped considerably to "normal" levels for a building this size.

Ultra sounds to be similar where Strata wasn't really doing their job and the riff-raff was given license to do whatever they wanted.

Can happen ANYWHERE in any strata complex. That's why it is super important if buying into an already established building to review those strata minutes.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by jhausner

Also almost every new building seems to go through a growing period where the first few years are a bit turbulent. [...] Can happen ANYWHERE in any strata complex. That's why it is super important if buying into an already established building to review those strata minutes.

Not sure if I would describe the stories on that website only as "little turbulence". Many of those incidents sounded downright scary and even dangerous for other residents. I sure hope such behavior is not a norm in new buildings but rather an exception. The problems in Ultra sounded widespread and not be caused by one or even two tenants, but it is good to hear that things have improved.

Btw, could someone change the title of this thread from The Urban Village to Ultra? Or is former the official name for this complex? I am always confused by the name of this thread.

[Whalleyboy]

Originally Posted by jhausner

Strata councils can make or break a building. Also almost every new building seems to go through a growing period where the first few years are a bit turbulent. We had that in the first year here in the Verve development just because owners were new and desperate to get renters in, Strata was new and not established, and we were dealing with a developer who doesn't seem to know what the word "security" means.

After a year we've pushed for smarter rules, have been enforcing existing rules and bylaws, and instituted additional security measures including CCTV cameras and an education system for owners. Problems have dropped considerably to "normal" levels for a building this size.

Ultra sounds to be similar where Strata wasn't really doing their job and the riff-raff was given license to do whatever they wanted.

Can happen ANYWHERE in any strata complex. That's why it is super important if buying into an already established building to review those strata minutes.

I actually grew up in surreys oldest strata complex. For the most part no major issues there. Sure there were trouble people there time and again but with age comes good wisdom on how to deal with issues. All these new buildings are just dealing with growing pains in and area thats dealing with growing pains. The complex i grew up in is actually in central to and its due to its age has managed to not have major issues coming up.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Not sure if I would describe the stories on that website only as "little turbulence". Many of those incidents sounded downright scary and even dangerous for other residents. I sure hope such behavior is not a norm in new buildings but rather an exception. The problems in Ultra sounded widespread and not be caused by one or even two tenants, but it is good to hear that things have improved.

Btw, could someone change the title of this thread from The Urban Village to Ultra? Or is former the official name for this complex? I am always confused by the name of this thread.

Take with a grain of salt. Not saying it isn't all true but I question anything post-able as a review in the anonymous Interweb. Just read through reviews on any site from Amazon and Canadian Tire through to reviews on Restaurants and Hotels. You'll see plenty of "This is amazing the best ever!" to on the same item "This is complete garbage and didn't work and I replaced it 10 times and never worked!"

Same items, same places. So I take it all with a grain of salt. I don't think it is as _BAD_ as people make it out, it is also not as _GOOD_ as people make it out.

I can tell you my neighborhood is fine and then you can find someone who got mugged and they would say my neighborhood is a cesspool of crime. Who do you believe?

Thus read the strata minutes first and do some real research.

[GMasterAres]

Sorry missed your last part. Yah the thread I guess should be called "Ultra" and be completed.

The new tower is Evolve and I believe has its own thread.

[Nites]

My property value went up by $25k since I purchased. On the other hand at Park Place the value went down from the price of the original purchase according to BC assessment.

[w34lth]

Originally Posted by skymaster

My property value went up by $25k since I purchased. On the other hand at Park Place the value went down from the price of the original purchase according to BC assessment.

Sorry if you had already posted this.

Which unit did you purchase at either building?
1 bed?
2bed?

[Nites]

Originally Posted by w34lth

Sorry if you had already posted this.

Which unit did you purchase at either building?
1 bed?
2bed?

1 bedroom on 23rd floor for Ultra Plan B (Corner unit & Southwest view). Friend purchased 2 bed on 27th floor at Park Place (Corner view & Southwest view).

[dpapis4]

Hello All, new to this place. I lived in City center a block away from ultra back in 2012 for 3 months. Well my question is to know if it is a good idea to invest in city center. Hear lot of bad things about the place even-though I have never experienced anything while I lived there. kinda worried a bit because I spent quite some money for an apartment at evolve

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by dpapis4

Hello All, new to this place. I lived in City center a block away from ultra back in 2012 for 3 months. Well my question is to know if it is a good idea to invest in city center. Hear lot of bad things about the place even-though I have never experienced anything while I lived there. kinda worried a bit because I spent quite some money for an apartment at evolve

Good and bad things can happen everywhere. A lot of people like to dump on Surrey. I lived there for a lot of years and nothing bad happened to me.

Were you buying as an investment (prob not good due to all the development happening - lots of places coming to market) or as a place to live?

[dpapis4]

My colleagues at work do say bad things abt the place, hopefully it will get better. I bought the place to live in it but I do hope it will keep at least its value if I decide to sell and upgrade in the future.

[Shift]

I have been living in Ultra since last summer (after 4 years downtown Toronto, and 6 years downtown Vancouver) and have had no problems here. The area has been fine, it's actually nice. Usually pretty quiet and relaxed throughout the neighbourhood. The Surrey Centre area is really gonna change over the next few years anyway, so any sketch that is left will be gone, at least in this area. I walked around the Metrotown area outside the mall yesterday, and actually preferred Surrey Central after coming back. Shaping up to have more of a downtown feel, despite Metrotown having more towers.

[Nites]

Originally Posted by dpapis4

Hello All, new to this place. I lived in City center a block away from ultra back in 2012 for 3 months. Well my question is to know if it is a good idea to invest in city center. Hear lot of bad things about the place even-though I have never experienced anything while I lived there. kinda worried a bit because I spent quite some money for an apartment at evolve

I wouldn't invest if you plan on making a short term investment. The reason I bought was because I got a killer deal that I couldn't pass up. I plan on keeping it for at least 15+ years.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by dpapis4

My colleagues at work do say bad things abt the place, hopefully it will get better. I bought the place to live in it but I do hope it will keep at least its value if I decide to sell and upgrade in the future.

This might help ease your jitters

Originally Posted by SpongeG

found this video http://www.centralcity.ca/central-city-lifestyle-video/

[dpapis4]

Well I have already invested around 350k and unless something major happens or I need to upgrade I dont think I will sell. Thank you for the video, quite interesting it can turnout to be a good buy, unless I paid too much for it...
I took a two bedroom two bathroom apartment in the 29th floor.

[w34lth]

Originally Posted by dpapis4

Well I have already invested around 350k and unless something major happens or I need to upgrade I dont think I will sell. Thank you for the video, quite interesting it can turnout to be a good buy, unless I paid too much for it...
I took a two bedroom two bathroom apartment in the 29th floor.

What made you choose that building over other in the area?

The area is perfectly safe and quiet.

[dpapis4]

Originally Posted by w34lth

What made you choose that building over other in the area?

The area is perfectly safe and quiet.

The Main Reason I went for it is that I have about 2 years to save some money to get the mortgage down to 200-230k. I was a block away from ultra when I went to live in surrey few years ago and liked the area. I really didnt have a chance to visit the other sale centers, Civic was like +400k and the other buildings seemed to have higher square footage prices.
Seemed like evolve was the cheapest. Wave wanted around 330k for a 2 bedroom but then I had to pay the mortgage right away and with my flights to work every 2 weeks, it would have been a bit too tight for me.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by dpapis4

My colleagues at work do say bad things abt the place, hopefully it will get better. I bought the place to live in it but I do hope it will keep at least its value if I decide to sell and upgrade in the future.

It will hold its value more or less. Likely see it drop a bit then rise a bit then drop a bit over the next 5-10 years. That's simply because there is so much coming online. Unless we get a huge hike in prices for new construction which indirectly pumps up everyone else, I think the Surrey Central market will remain fairly stable but you won't be getting a huge pay off in the short term.

My unit in Park Place jumped up quite a bit right after completion and has now hovered +-3% the past 3 years. I'd still make a nice profit if I sold but it isn't no +300% increase or anything like that. I'm in for the long haul though.

If you are buying at market value though you won't really make any money at all because prices aren't really rising for condos in Surrey Central right now again due to all the supply coming online in the next few years. So if you're in the market already, good. If you want to buy, I'd be careful and do so only if you can buy under market value or are going to live in it for several years.

[Cypherus]

Evolve seems to be a good buy for some investors. But like jhausner said, the Surrey condo market is not taking off in the foreseeable future due to the anticipated supply coming down the road. Give or take 10 years to see some upward movement.

Also, average price per sq. ft. in Evolve for its upper floors is about $425 give your take some minor variances. Problem with Evolve is that it squeezes too many units on the floors. Upper floors have micro-suites which seem to encroach on the floor plans of remaining units - making those small as a consequence. Everything in Evolve is small as well - small living space, kitchen, bedrooms, storage and bathrooms. You'd also lose your views, unless you have a west facing unit, due to the development of the 4 other towers in the Urban village and Wave/Wynd to the north. If you're paying $300k+ for such a living space, you might as well look into townhomes which offer more space and appeal more to first time homebuyers or those who want to start a family.

[dpapis4]

Hum, I see. I am actually buying to live in it, I kinda believe I paid a little too much for this place but on the long run I should be ok (well I hope). I have a south west facing view on the 29th floor which should give me a good view but the its only 726sqrf. You are right that we have too many suites, just hoping people will respect their neighbors. If it doesnt loose its value, it will be a good way to build equity and upgrade in the near future.