House hunting is among the first few things you need to do and plan for early. Here are some resources from me and the current cohort. We hope it helps!
Where the current cohort has stayed this year:
Option 1: Charles Chang Innovation Centre (near Downtown campus) (30%)
Pros: located at downtown (99% classes taken in Downtown campus)
Cons: popular! (you need to apply early) and a bit noisy downtown at night
Option 2: Graduate and family housing (near Burnaby Campus) (>10% and my option)
Pros: located at Burnaby campus and relatively new
Cons: considerable travel time to Downtown Campus, you also need to apply early
Option 3: Housing across Vancouver (>60%)
Pros: a wide variety of options
Cons: some options are expensive, it’s time consuming to hunt for the right flat
Considerations:
Since over half of current cohort ended up pursuing Option 3, here are some more considerations related to house hunting across Vancouver.
Budget
First things first, determine how much can you spend on your rental.
The SkyTrain (Vancouver’s rapid rail transit system) map below shows the areas for your potential home. The rule of thumb is that the closer a rental unit is to Downtown, the more expensive the rent. Rent is also more expensive if the unit is close to a SkyTrain station.
Please budget extra for other expenses such as gas, water, internet and tenant insurance.
Accommodation types
There are many types of housing in Vancouver. The most common rentals are: house, townhouse and condo/apartment.
To find the type of accommodation that best suits your needs, ask yourself some questions:
- Do you want to live alone? You may wish to look for a studio apartment or one bedroom flat or condo. Studios are available in both downtown campus and Burnaby campus.
- Will you be okay to share a flat with someone? You can look for roommates on Facebook groups or websites that help you find roommates such as
- Will you okay with a basement suite which may not have many windows? Many houses and townhouses in East Vancouver and Burnaby will rent basement suites to students.
House hunting channels
- Search online listings such as Facebook Marketplace or Facebook groups
- Ask previous cohort/local friends if any for referral
Some examples of housing from the current cohort
- Brentwood/Holdom (homestay, condo): conveniently located near the SkyTrain (Millennium line) shopping malls and restaurants. There are a number of high-rise apartments in this area. The homestay family shares local news. Tip: understand and get to know the homestay family and ask about the details of the arrangement (whether it is basement, kids with different living pattern, pets, meals included or not etc)
- Production Way (homestay, house): quiet area for study. You may need access to a car for daily commute as it is not close to a SkyTrain line.
- Metrotown (one bedroom condo): convenient and close to a number of shopping malls. Clubhouse with swimming pool and gym in the building. Tip: check your budget and come prepared with rental deposit.
- New Westminster (shared flat): conveniently located near the SkyTrain (Expo line) with a lower cost compared to Metrotown (4 stations away), plenty of restaurants and grocery stores nearby. For shared spaces, be honest to ensure that living style is a good fit. Are you a night owl or an early bird? Are you comfortable with any pets?
- Nanaimo (studio): close to Downtown campus. Less expensive than Downtown or neighbourhoods west of Main Street. Be sure to check out the area as there may be some areas you may want to avoid when walking alone at night.
- Downtown (one bedroom apartment with partner): walking distance to Downtown campus, lots of restaurants and grocery stores nearby. However, it is expensive and can be noisy at night.
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About the Author
After earning her undergraduate business degree from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hebe Liu dedicated over a decade to the financial industry, specializing in quantitative equity research in the Asia Pacific region. She harbors a deep love for learning and held aspirations of pursuing graduate studies. Relocating to Vancouver with her family, she seized the chance to commence her studies in the MSc Finance program at the Beedie School of Business. Transitioning from a working professional to a full-time student, she is thrilled about the prospect of encountering talented individuals with diverse backgrounds within her cohort.