British Columbia- Are there any areas with affordable housing?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jan 27, 2011

None of those areas are going to have "reasonable" housing costs; Kelowna is the most reasonable of the lot, with 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom single detached houses starting around $200,000. If you're okay with an apartment then the prices are actually not bad. The only problem is that the majority of postings for nurses in the Kelowna/Penticton/Vernon area are critical care or management positions requiring specialty certification and/or a minimum of 2 years' pertinent experience.

Fiona59 · Jan 28, 2011

Victoria and Whistler. Not going to happen on a nurses salary unless you have family money.

Mrs_Mack · Jan 28, 2011

Are you willing to work in a smaller community within 30-1h outside those major cities? If so, there are slightly more affordable housing options in places like Duncan, Squamish, Vernon, etc.

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Jan 29, 2011

None of those areas are going to have "reasonable" housing costs; Kelowna is the most reasonable of the lot, with 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom single detached houses starting around $200,000. If you're okay with an apartment then the prices are actually not bad. The only problem is that the majority of postings for nurses in the Kelowna/Penticton/Vernon area are critical care or management positions requiring specialty certification and/or a minimum of 2 years' pertinent experience.

I live in Kelowna and there aren't any 2bed, 2bath detached for 200,000. You couldn't even get that in a condo for 200,000. I think a recent survery actually just listed the most expensive cities in Canada as Vancouver, Toronto and then Kelowna. I know Whistler is rediculously expensive as well, but I don't think it's included in the data as it's too small to be considered a city.

Anyways OP, I do know of new grad RNs who get hired at KGH and do get work, but it's not like it was a few years ago that a casual could get as many hours as they want and then get a permanent FT in a matter of months. I don't know if they get hired because they have networked at the hospital while doing practicums/ESN work etc. I do know of a manager who did say she prefers to hire locals first-support her community and employ the students who paid their university fees and expenses locally. But it could never hurt to try applying to IHA. And Kelowna is very, very expensive to live. A 1 bedroom apartment would rent from $600-$1200, depending on area and how nice you wanted it. To buy anything, even a basic condo, you would be looking at MINIMUM $180,000---and that would be a 1 bedroom in Rutland. Anything decent and 2 bedroom would be WELL OVER 200,000.

Teebee5 · Jan 29, 2011

As a local sub-burnite... of Vancouver, there are "coughing" somewhat affordable housing out in New West, PoCo, Maple Ridge and Surrey... the downside is traffic...

New West is centeral to most of the lower mainland hospitals... how do I know well I live here and when I would go to VGH ( a major vancouver hospital) I would take the skytrain ( about 80bucks a month) and now that I am a BSN nursing student, having to drive to my clinicals out in Maple Ridge ( 30-40minute drive) Surrey Memorial ( 15 minute drive)...

Burnaby is just as expensive as Vancouver... however... if one was to do re-search on MLS there have been a few apartments available in the Cambie area for under 500,000... which is pricy, considering that for 1 more bedroom you can get a 3B, 2bath for under 350,000 here in new west, and still have enough for your monthly commute of gas or transit...

As for the interior, yes, it is a little bit cheaper, however there may not be as many oppurtunties for work, as there are not as many health facilities that may be in the area that you are working for...

As for a HOUSE in BC... again, unless you have family money, or are willing to co-buy with a friend or other family, its a dream my friend and not one that is going to happen in my life time.

The only other *cheapish* idea out there, is to buy in Mission and work in a hospital out there, or take the WestCoast Express daily to work if it happens to be on the way in... however, its a long drive to anywhere else, and I would really look at how far away you want to live vs. the commute to work factor... driving can be frusterating, and although transit is cheaper, in the further burbs it is not as realiable and can still take upwards of an hour depending where you live and where you work... and thats if there even a transit option... Anyone who has tried to get to Poco via transit at 6am in the morning knows what I am talking about!

Or if you are willing to work in remote BC city and then commute... maybe... but its not as easy as one would hope for... not at least in the lower mainland...

That's the reality and yeah it sucks, but hey you'll pay less in housing tax each year and hydro.

lilaclover · Jan 29, 2011

Have you looked into Kamloops? Its probably one of the most affordable places in BC. I lived there (renting) 2 years ago and had no trouble finding a job either.

canadanewgrad · Jan 31, 2011

Thanks for all the info everyone! It has been really helpful ... I am liking the sounds of Kewlona and Kamloops, they seem like very cool cities. Does anyone know if either of the hospitals there are teaching hospitals?