You could buy a castle in Europe for the same price as a Vancouver condo
If you are in the market for a Vancouver condo, you could use that same amount of money to purchase a castle in France instead.
Castle Collector is a platform that aggregates castles across Europe, and it includes a few listings below a million euros, or about C$1,580,120.
For example, if your real estate budget is around $900,000, you could consider buying a medieval castle in Pays de la Loire, a western region in France.
It’s currently listed for €574,000, or approximately C$906,713.36.
The 14-room, nearly 50,000-square-foot building has 10 beds and four baths.
It is “nestled in the heart of the Angers vineyards, in the enchanting setting of the Château de Varennes,” reads the listing.
Castle Collector/Supplied
It is located on a 13-acre estate, with a “majestic park” and “picturesque garden,” along with a paved courtyard, walkway on the water, and a 17th-century chapel.
“This peaceful and inspiring setting on the banks of the Loire is perfect for imagining a wide range of projects: large family residence, rental investment, guest rooms or high-end seasonal rental.”
It is a 10-minute walk from a Savennières, which is part of the “Val de Loire” complex and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Castle Collector/Supplied
If you’re shopping in Vancouver with the same budget, one option is a 890-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment on Abbott Street.
On Realtor.ca’s listing, it boasts of in-suite laundry, a den and solarium, and that the building has an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, gym, meeting room, and a “serene garden courtyard.”
Realtor.ca
“Experience a real-world life of everything at your fingertips in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Steps to Gastown, Yaletown, Chinatown, T&T, Costco, Rogers Arena, BC Place, Skytrain & top restaurants/entertainment options. Not to mention the future St. Paul’s Hospital,” the listing reads.
Realtor.ca/supplied
How does $1,160,000 compare?
For €735,000, or approximately C$1,161,226.50, you could afford a 12-room, 45,000-square-foot castle in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a region in the southwest of France.
The ground floor has a “spacious entrance,” “superb library,” living room, kitchen, laundry room, cloakroom, and toilets. Upstairs, there are two private master suites with private bathrooms, two additional bedrooms, and other bathrooms.
Castle Collector/Supplied
The third floor has a small heated room that the listing says can be renovated.
There’s also over 1,000 square feet of additional buildings on the property, including a shelter, storage room, and three garages.
The outside of the property has a vegetable garden, a tennis court, and a meadow for animals.
Castle Collectors
With the same budget of about $1,160,000 in Vancouver, one of your options is a 1071-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in East Vancouver.
According to Realtor.ca, it includes a parking lot, patio, and most of the units have flex spaces.
“Kitchens offer sleek cabinetry, durable quartz countertops, and fully integrated European appliances for a clean finish,” reads the listing.
Realtor.ca
It adds that “the area is so walkable, one could easily live without a car or, at least, rarely have to use it.”
If you think moving to France is a pipe dream, think again: last year, Daily Hive spoke with a Vancouver couple who bought a castle in France for about $1,000,000.
However, one of them was a dual citizen, which made it both easier to purchase the property and for their partner to get a visa.
If you aren’t a French dual citizen, you will have to apply for a French visa, which requires booking an appointment with a VFS Global Center (there’s a location in Vancouver). It costs €99 (about C$156.00) for a long-term visa.
France doesn’t impose restrictions on foreigners buying property, but it might require visa documentation or proof of income. You will also have to work with a notary, who verifies the ownership, reviews legal compliance, and manages the transfer of ownership, as well as tax and fees.