Vancouver West

This area of Vancouver covers some of the most attractive real estate in the world. With the revitalized downtown core, the multi-million dollar homes in Shaughnessy and Point Grey and the fashionable restaurants and shops of Kitsilano, Vancouver West delivers on the promise of the west coast lifestyle.

Real Estate

In the last year (2005) Vancouver’s property prices have been rising steadily. This has been true of Vancouver West as well as other areas. 2004 and 2005 were both active years in real estate and 2006 is expected to continue this trend.

The regeneration of the downtown core has seen the development of a number of new condo’s and this will continue with the developments scheduled up to the 2010 Olympics.

The development of the RAV line, linking downtown Vancouver, Richmond and the Airport, will be disruptive during it’s construction, but could have a positive impact on property prices once the transport links are in place.

The figures below are a summary of the whole of Vancouver West. The figures come from the MLS®

Vancouver West Summary - 2005
Property Type Listings Sold Average List Price Average Sold Price
Apartment 5,789 $416,775 $409,925
Duplex 139 $749,001 $737,490
House 1,796 $1,088,758 $1,051,420
Townhouse 706 $537,697 $531,522

This table indicates that Vancouver West’s property market is most active for apartments, of which there is now a large stock. Houses, which are priced higher, are the next major component of the housing market.

The section below gives a brief sketch of the main areas and provides statistics on property sales within these areas.

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Coal Harbour back to top

This area adjoins Stanley Park to the West and runs North of Georgia Street. It has views North across the Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver. The area is made up almost exclusively of apartments. The area is expensive and attracts older residents who appreciate it’s relative quiet and proximity to downtown.

The property market in 2005 was active and is shown below in figures from the MLS®. As condo prices are influenced more by square footage than number of bedrooms, the table shows the breakdown by size. Other influences, like view and height, will affect prices too.

Coal Harbour - 2005
Apartment Size Listings Sold Average List Price Average Sold Price
Apt 500-600Sq Ft 45 $283,460 $280,110
Apt 601-700 Sq Ft 63 $327,175 $323,287
Apt 701-1000 Sq Ft 112 $473,944 $466,529
Apt 1000 - 2000 Sq Ft 244 $916,861 $900,123
Apt > 2000 Sq Ft 15 $2,316,567 $2,197,733

If you are curious about what is for sale now, you can use the following MLS® search:

See apartments for sale in Coal Harbour now

Downtownback to top

Vancouver skylineThe Vancouver skyline with Mount Baker in the distanceThis area cover the area north of False Creek, east to Main St and west to Burrard. The downtown population has tripled in the last ten years as the downtown core undergoes a renaissance with the development of new condominiums.

The former garment district, Yaletown, has been transformed into an upscale shopping and residential neighbourhood, featuring converted warehouses with offices, boutiques, lofts and trendy restaurants and bars. The area attracts young urban professionals.

Downtown’s property consists of condos and apartments, varying widely in price according to their location and views.

The table below shows all sales in the area during 2005; figures are from the MLS®.

Downtown - 2005
Apartment size Listings Sold Average List Price Average Sold Price
Apt 500-600Sq Ft 421 $255,065 $252,225
Apt 601-700 Sq Ft 335 $301,890 $297,768
Apt 701-1000 Sq Ft 526 $388,652 $383,112
Apt 1000 - 2000 Sq Ft 313 $581,231 $566,129
Apt > 2000 Sq Ft 12 $1,847,583 $1,819,167

If you are curious about what is for sale now, you can use the following MLS® search:

Find downtown apartments for sale

Kitsilanoback to top

Kits as it is known is the area that extends south of English Bay, west to Alma St, east to Burrard and south to 16th Ave. The beach is a popular spot in the summer. The shopping around 4th Ave and Broadway, and the many restaurants and chic shops suggest that Kits continues to be a fashionable place for young, fashion conscious and upwardly mobile Vancouverites.

The property in the area is a mix of low rise apartments, condos and older homes. There is a large rental market.

The table below shows all sales in the area during 2005; figures are from the MLS®.

Kitsilano - 2005
Property Type Listings Sold Average List Price Average Sold Price
Apartment (1 bed) 340 $271,743 $271,638
Apartment (2 bed) 216 $399,112 $396,251
Townhouse (2 bed) 97 $492,572 $489,641
Townhouse (3 bed) 36 $681,856 $680,525
Duplex (2 bed) 39 $822,505 $812,770
Duplex (3 bed) 32 $775,581 $762,991
House (3 bed) 37 $1,013,535 $986,973
House (4 bed) 41 $822,000 $812,426
House (5 bed) 34 $901,911 $890,497

If you are curious about what is for sale now, you can use the following MLS® search:

See condos for sale in Kitsilano

Point Grey back to top

Point Grey is one of Vancouver’s most affluent neighbourhoods, including multi-million dollar homes with ocean views. The area extends west of Kitsilano, from Alma St to the University Endowment Lands to the west and borders the sands of Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach to the north.

The area is primarily one of detached houses, in quiet, tree-lined streets. It’s proximity to the beaches and UBC means it is appealing to affluent families with children.

The 2005 property market sales, from the MLS®:

Point Grey - 2005
Property Type Listings Sold Average List Price Average Sold Price
House (3 bed) 47 $1,330,334 $1,292,447
House (4 bed) 61 $1,391,103 $1,366,114
House (5 bed) 40 $1,384,323 $1,364,315

If you are curious about what is for sale now, you can use the following MLS® search on :

See houses for sale in Point Grey

Shaughnessyback to top

This area is centered around Granville Street and is bordered on the east by Oak St and on the west by West Boulevard, to the north 16th Ave and 41st Ave to the south.

Shaughnessy’s origins are as an exclusive community for Canadian Pacific Railway executives (in 1909) and the area still retains its exclusivity. The area has large homes on it’s winding tree-lined streets.

The Van Dusen Gardens are a well-known attraction in the community.

While this area is small in terms of numbers of properties sold, it’s popularity and the value of the property makes it significant. The 2005 property market sales, from the MLS® are shown below:

Shaughnessy - 2005
Property Type Listings Sold Average List Price Average Sold Price
House (3 bed) 11 $1,130,809 $1,139,864
House (4 bed) 28 $1,443,742 $1,380,768
House (5 bed) 42 $1,788,643 $1,690,861
House (6 bed) 27 $1,883,000 $1,740,336

If you are curious about what is for sale now, you can use the following MLS® search on :

Search for house for sale in Shaughnessy

West Endback to top

This area is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland. It is located between Stanley Park to the west and English Bay to the south, with Vancouver’s business district making it’s eastern boundary at Burrard Street and Georgia Street to the north.

Robson Street, a popular shopping destination for both visitors and locals, is within the area, as is Denman Street with it’s more relaxed and informal feel. This area is popular with Vancouver’s gay community and is the site for the annual Gay Pride parade each August.

Real estate in this neighbourhood is largely older low and high rise apartments. The popularity of this area, with it’s lively local scene, proximity to the downtown business district and Stanley Park, means that rental vacancy rates are very low.

The 2005 property market sales, from the MLS® are shown below:

West End - 2005
Apartment Size Listings Sold Average List Price Average Sold Price
Apt 500-600Sq Ft 143 $224,269 $220,562
Apt 601-700 Sq Ft 173 $264,682 $261,387
Apt 701-1000 Sq Ft 256 $353,989 $350,169
Apt 1000 - 2000 Sq Ft 130 $618,642 $606,452
Apt > 2000 Sq Ft 26 $2,145,265 $2,118,413

If you are curious about what is for sale now, you can use the following MLS® search on :

Search for apartments for sale in the West End

Schoolsback to top

Vancouver’s public schools are managed by the Vancouver School Board, and are divided into three areas: North, Centre and South. Each school has its own catchment area and belongs to a family of schools so that elementary schools and annexes feed into a particular secondary school.

The board manages:

  • 18 secondary schools
  • 76 elementary schools
  • 15 elementary annexes

The school board’s web site has information on all the schools in the district. Most individual schools also have their own web sites. If you are interested in a particular school, then it is a good idea to contact them to arrange a visit.

If you are interested in independent schools then the Federation of Independent School Associations has a directory of schools. You will need to contact schools directly. In Vancouver West there are a number of independent schools.

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