Get more, pay less: Score an affordable two-bedroom in The Brewery District

Nov 10 2016, 12:28 am

“So how long is your commute?”

It’s an age old question here in Vancouver. After all, a commute can easily take up to a couple hours of your day – time you could otherwise allocate to exercise, grocery shopping, family, friends – basically fun things.

Weighing the options, you can either live in Vancouver for an arm and a leg, or move to a hot new area that gives you the same conveniences – for way less. But when you take a closer look, just make sure you’re getting a great deal.

If you compare municipalities within the Lower Mainland based on price points and access to rapid transit, you’ll be astounded by the differences. At first glance, your potential neighbourhood might appear to be a win-all, but you might be close to making the wrong decision. When choosing where to buy, it’s important to remember that not all neighbourhoods are created equally.

Since Vancouverites love not only the best in urban conveniences, but a fair price too, here’s a list of different neighbourhoods so you can better make an informed purchasing decision.

Sapperton, New Westminster

A neighbourhood in New Westminster, Sapperton, has earned a reputation as one of the smartest places to live within the Lower Mainland – and for good reason too. Located in The Brewery District, Wesgroup’s new development called The Columbia offers impeccable access to rapid transit. For starters, it’s just 200 metres to Sapperton SkyTrain and two stops to both the Millennium Line and Evergreen Line. The train will take residents to Lougheed Mall in five minutes, downtown Vancouver in under 30 minutes, Brentwood Mall in 15 minutes, Metrotown in 15 minutes, and King George SkyTrain Station in 18 minutes.

Two-bedroom homes start from under $500,000, and according to Wesgroup, The Columbia offers the best value on transit with spacious homes, excellent amenities, and convenient access to everywhere on transit. Homes are perfect for anyone looking to upsize from their small condo and enjoy a stress-free commute to downtown Vancouver. As an added plus, they’ll admire a breathtaking view of the Fraser River upon returning to their spacious, beautiful home.

Residents will also receive an exclusive membership to Club Central, a 10,000 square foot facility complete with a squash court, indoor lounge, sauna, gym, and more. Homeowners will also reap the benefits of on-site amenities including Save-On-Foods, Browns Socialhouse, Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks, TD Canada Trust, Freshii, and more. Break a sweat at the local yoga/pilates studio, get your cut at the barber shop, browse character shops along Columbia Street, take a stroll throughout the highly walkable neighbourhood, and travel over the pedestrian bridge that gets you across busy Brunette without having to deal with the busy traffic.

Metrotown, Burnaby

Burnaby

Burnaby/Shutterstock

Metrotown’s the heart of Burnaby. It’s the meeting place for Metropolis at Metrotown, and offers access to a slew of different amenities. With prices that are lower than Vancouver’s, you might initially think that buying is well worth your money – but a closer look might make you reconsider.

Two-bedroom homes start at close to $600,000 – although there is a limited supply. Recognized primarily as a shopping district, the mall and street shops are often crowded.

Traffic in Metrotown tends to be congested – the intersection at Kingsway and Willingdon offers long waits at stop lights. Packed roadways aren’t conducive to pedestrian friendly walkways, where people spend lots of time waiting at street corners. And although they have close access to buses and the SkyTrain, rush hour lineups are frustrating for those trying to get to their chosen destination on time.

Burquitlam, Coquitlam

Burquitlam

Burquitlam/City of Coquitlam

Venture further out of Vancouver and you’ll find yourself in Burquitlam, a neighbourhood located in Coquitlam near Burquitlam Plaza, a shopping plaza by the intersection of Clarke Road and Como Lake Avenue.

The area scores within a variety of different convenience factors. For one, it’s close to Simon Fraser University, is aligned with Clarke Road, and has access to rapid bus service to Coquitlam’s Regional Town Centre.

Going further out of the city compared to many other municipality options, the average price for a home in Burquitlam is roughly $675 per square foot, higher than that of homes in areas such as Surrey City Centre and New Westminster.


Sizing up areas within the Lower Mainland can be a little daunting for those looking at conveniences like transit access, walkability, access to amenities, and more. To get more information about living in an area that gives you all the perks along with a great price, you can register for updates regarding The Columbia in Sapperton via thebrewerydistrict.ca, call 604-525-3941, or email [email protected].

You can also talk to someone in person by visiting the sales centre at 285 Nelson’s Court at Sapperton SkyTrain Station in New Westminster.

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