An Expat Talks about Moving to Vancouver, Canada

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Vancouver

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

Top of the list is my Mercedes G wagen. Diesel off road vehicles just aren't available here.

My heavy tools, bandsaw, planer, whacker, etc. I sold most of them before emigrating thinking that they'd be cheap to buy used here. They're not.

Don't ship any 220 volt printers. I wasted my time bringing a laser printer that has languished in an outbuilding for the past five years. 220 volt workshop tools are ok though.

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Where you move to will depend on your work. Visit first and decide which localities you like that might offer the type of employment you are engaged in. Then go job hunting or start your business. If the latter, make sure there is enough of a market to provide your business with critical mass. Too many people move to the gulf islands, stay a year then move out because they find they can't earn a living.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

I have a small farm, 11 acres, on the ocean. We have 5600 square feet of home, offices and workshops. This isn't typical for expats.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

I bought a house near where my daughter initially wanted to go to school. She changed her mind before we moved in, wanting to attend school in a different town. So we moved 4500 miles together only to live 30 miles apart. She boarded, came home at weekends. Soon as my residency permit came through, I sold the house and bought one in the gulf islands.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

Cost of housing less than the UK but living costs around the same. Typical median house in the islands would be around $650k CAD.