Moving to victoria?

[ryanb]

Hi

I have the opportunity to transfer to Victoria and was hoping to get some opinions from those that live there.

Currently live in metro Vancouver and the more relaxed lifestyle, higher level of safety for the kids, ease of access to great fishing grounds all appeal to me.

My highly overvalued metro Vancouver house allows me move into the hot Victoria market without too much pain so that's not an issue.

Any opinions to offer from those that currently live in Victoria or surrounding areas , or have in the past?

 

[Stosh]

If you like to fish and love the outdoors, you can't go wrong living here in or near Victoria. Fishing can be good around here. Less than an hour and you can be in Sooke. If you prefer fishing Barkley Sound for a change, you can tow a boat to Port Alberni, launch and be in Bamfield in under 4 hours. Lots of great opportunities here. The biggest problem for most people is the cost of housing in Victoria - but sounds like you have that well looked after. In my humble opinion, its the best place in the world, and unlike many locals I chose to live here after living out east, on the mainland and up island.
Good to hear you have this opportunity.
Stosh

 

[Deewar25]

If you really like to travel around, the island does limit you....to the island....as there is a weird mental block (for me anyway), to not give a penny to BC Ferries unless you really have to! Of course the island has amazing places to see and it will take you a long time to be bored. Given holding a house in Van, you can probably afford 95% of homes in Victoria...thats a big plus. Victoria won't have the nightlife vancouver does (no idea if this is an issue if you are 30 or 60 or in between! Also not the calibre of dining you'd see (especially good sushi say). Personally, we live in the west shore and rarely go downtown. Just not a draw for us and everything we need is in west shore.

As fishing goes, depends on preference. If you like to focus on halibut, you may be more than happy being downtown to Oak Bay area. If you prefer salmon, while that area has great winter fishery, it pales in comparison to Sooke in the summer, so factor that in. Oak Bay to Sooke would be near an hour driving and would mean extra early wakeup. We also have construction of a major interchange starting in a few months which will really create traffic chaos coming from town.

Maybe acreage is your ticket and focus on Metchosin....some amazing properties out there, great for the kids (I grew up there), and some amazing waterfront properties as well. Then you are only 15-20min from fishing grounds. Only catch is another 15-20min from civilization - stores etc. Langford area is usually a happy median, but not too much higher end stuff - Glen Lake and Langford Lake have nice properties as does Bear Mountain if you are into golf. All of these areas will get you to a launch in around 30min and you are within 10min of major groceries, swimming pools, movie theatre, ice rinks, soccer fields etc etc

Thats about what I can fill you in with based on the limited stuff you provided! Don't forget also, we are in a rainshadow and get 40% less rainfall! That's a biggee in my books!

 

[hambone]

What general area will you be working? Traffic isn't nearly as bad as Vancouver but there are still problems that can easily be avoided by the location you choose to live. You'll get endless opinions on different neighbourhoods in Victoria. If you narrow it down a bit more and maybe give some things you're looking to be close to it might help.

After going to school and renting for nearly 10 years throughout Vic, I ended up buying in the Gorge area (a place I didn't have the greatest opinion of) and I couldn't be happier.

 

[ryanb]

Working at the airport so that definitely creates a bit of a commuting issue. I don't really know all the neighbourhoods in Victoria all that well, but I know I want at least a 1/4 acre lot with a spot to park my boat, preferably with a spot to build a custom garage for my boat.

I'd love to be in Sooke or Metchosin, but I'm just not sure I could handle the commute. Right now my commute is only 10 mins and that means a lot to me.

 

[Stosh]

You really would hate the commute from the western communities to The airport, and its only getting worse. Look around the airport many nice big lots near Brentwood Bay etc. You could always moor your boat near Sooke during the fishing season.
Good luck
Stosh

 

[Deewar25]

yep, work location throws alot of my ideas out! Anywhere around the airport is nice and lots of high end stuff along Lands End/Deep Cove, acreage along W Saanich Road....you could moor at Van Isle - not bad to halibut grounds, but the Sidney fishery isn't an easy one. Some people are great at it and do well, but I think there is a really big learning curve from those I know that fish it. It wouldn't be a fun drive to Sooke for sure from that area but I'm sure people do it.

 

[ziggy]

Try Ardmore in North Saanich. Lots are big (mostly an acre) properies and it has great walking trails. Close to ferry and airport as well as several marina's and golf courses. Fishing not as great as Sooke, but pretty good and you can either trailer your boat or moor it in Sooke. If you work at the airport the commutes a few minutes, heck you could ride a bike!

 

[pescador]

The commute from Sooke to the airport is a nightmare. Do not do it. You'll regret it. Victoria has a terrible designed road network and that's one route you don't want to do daily. Another point, once you move to Vic, moving back to Vancouver may be an economical challenge. Its a one way deal unless you have excessive $ if that matters to you. I would consider Sannich or, Esquimalt. I know people are down on Esquimalt, but, you're 10 minutes to downtown and 5 minutes to launch your boat. From Esquimalt Anglers launch you can be to Beechy Head in 25 minutes in your boat on a good day 10 minutes to the Hali grounds.lots of big lots 120x200 plus to build a nice garage.

 

[Kildonan]

I would consider Sannich or, Esquimalt. I know people are down on Esquimalt, but, you're 10 minutes to downtown and 5 minutes to launch your boat. From Esquimalt Anglers launch you can be to Beechy Head in 25 minutes in your boat on a good day 10 minutes to the Hali grounds.lots of big lots 120x200 plus to build a nice garage.

Esquimalt is Victoria's best kept secret and has historically been cheaper than the rest of the inner core of greater Victoria. That's due to the fact it's had a bit of a rough reputation in the past that comes with what some perceive as a low income area. Esquimalt has changed a lot, especially in the last 5 years. The thirty somethings are moving in and totally changing the energy here in a very great way.
The launch here is top notch, annual membership is 50 bucks!! Best 50 bucks you'll ever spend.
http://esquimaltanglers.ca/

The hardest thing to find in Esquimal is a property to buy. They go up for sale and are sold instantly often for way over asking price.

If you work at the airport, you would be going the opposite direction of the main flow of commute traffic as long as you stay in the inner core of greater Victoria. I would not consider the western communities if I were you. That area has its advantages with better striking distance to the top summer salmon fishing plus cheaper real estate but your commute to work would be a nightmare.

 

[MadJigga]

I'm a contractor and chose to buy in the uptown area(Tillicum), I work all over Victoria and the commute is pretty much the same in most directions. 25 min to Sidney, Oak Bay or deep Westshore. This would give the same commute to work and fishing etc. That being said the shorter the commute to work the better! So the Saanich peninsula would be where I would concentrate your efforts. Short commute! I fish Sidney area regularly and have success for both Halibut and Salmon. And I assume you'll want to travel back to Van for friends and family? So you would be close to the ferry.
Cheers

 

[casper5280]

Ryan I live in Brentwood Bay and fish a lot, so if that's your thing Saanich Peninsula is a great place to live. You will be close to work and close to the water. 10 minutes and your into good prawning waters that are well protected waters, same goes to the Gulf islands. 30 minutes and your fishing any were from Oak bay and Victoria waterfront. It's a hour to Sooke, but I fish early so traffic is never a problem going either way. It's 2 hours to Port Renfrew.
Living on the Island is great. I've done the mainland thing and don't miss it at all. Sure you don't get the big concerts and sporting events, but we do have concerts and great sporting events here too. What you do get is way better in my opinion. Safer living, seems all you hear about is shooting, breakin's, cars been stolen, etc, etc in Vancouver. There's everything you need out this way. Airport, Ferries both to the mainland and the US, all the stores you need and what ever else there is, is only a short drive away. Any place in greater Victoria or the whole Island for that matter is better then mainland in my opinion. You will love it over here and I didn't hear any of the others complaining about it either.

 

[Gear'n'beer!]

3rd vote for saanich peninsula......you won't be too close to the airport to hear planes all day and can still find value out that direction. It's the daily commute you have to focus on, if you have to drive a bit for the 30 days of fishing a year so be it. This year is the first year in many I haven't moored in sooke for the season, that drive can be challenging at times so I decided to try mooring in Victoria this year...........I think I liked the challenge better, although 10 minutes to the boat is nice. I live in view royal as it suits my life better than out on the peninsula with work and kids etc but I certainly like it out that way. I went to school for a few years in the lower mainland and although it's a nice place to visit I definitely prefer Vic.

Good luck!
GnB

 

[scott craven]

Even though prices are rising in Victoria,
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to see how much $$$ you will save on a home purchase
over the greater Vancouver area

 

[profisher]

I never thought I would live in Esquimalt but glad I do. It is a community with annual events and everything is close. Downtown -10 minutes..can walk to town along the waterfront, parks, shopping etc. For bigger lots with lots of parking and room for a nice shop (and very close to the best ramp in Victoria) look at the Saxe Point area in Esquimalt. Even an ex Vancouver Canuck built a home a block from the ramp and retired here.

 

[Gear'n'beer!]

Parts of esquimalt are awesome, your area Rollie and rock heights also. Taxes are pretty ridiculous compared to the rest of the municipalities but that can't be helped with such a small tax base and the infrastructure it supports.

If Ryanb was walking downtown everyday or a retired hockey player who wants to be across the street from a great ramp then esquimalt it is! But he's not, and he states a 10 minute commute means a lot to him, he's looking at over an hour of seat time a day from esq to the airport and back

 

[profisher]

Gear, I'm on Rockheights but my first choice was Saxe Point because the lots are really deep (220 feet) and many original owners have nice shops in the back yard...something I wish I had!! BTW a 40's built home on a corner lot right across from the entrance to Saxe Point Park was recently listed at $599.000. No updates, very clean, a very nice big shop in the back and a lot big enough to split. It sold for $852,000.00 and rumour has it to a builder.