Want to buy a condo in Yaletown?
By admin | January 23, 2008
Choosing which Yaletown Condo in Vancouver to buy can be a difficult choice given that there are so many Vancouver Condo Apartments for sale.
Here are some tips on how to choose the best Yaletown Condo to buy.
Yaletown Condo Location
There are many factors that affect the price of condos in Yaletown, but besides the liveable space and liveable size inside the condo, the most important factor affecting the condo price is location in Yaletown. Here are some questions to ask about the condo location within Yaletown when trying to decide which condo to buy.
- Does the Yaletown Condo have an ocean view?
- Is the ocean view condo obstructed by other condos?
- Is the condo view facing a noisy street?
- Is the condo facing a noisy street leading to a bridge?
- What floor is the Yaletown condo located in its building?
- How many floors are in the Yaletown condo?
- Is the condo located on a quiet street or a dead-end or a cul-de-sac?
- Is parking for the condo allowed on the street?
- Is the street parking pay parking (metered) or free?
- Is there a public pay parking garage in the condo?
- Are there guest parking spots in the condo?
- What grocery stores are close to the Yaletown condo?
- What pharmacies, doctor offices or postoffices are close to the Yaletown condo?
Why is an ocean view condo important? Because people pay money for a water view, regardless of whether it’s useful or not. An ocean view for your Yaletown condo can be a good investment if you are looking to invest in your condo as well as live in it. Although the purchase price of an ocean view condominium will be higher at the outset, so will be the sale price when you decide to sell your Yaletown condo. Think of it as a multiplier. If you buy a $100 investment and get a 10 fold return on your investment you get $1000 when you sell that investment. If you had purchased $1000 investment at the start and gained the same 10 fold return, you would sell that investment for $10,000. In the first example you gained nine hundred dollars ($900). In the second example, you gained nine thousand dollars ($9000). In other words, you get back what you put into it, whether it’s an investment or a college education. An ocean view condo is worth it if you can afford it. It’s about making your condo an investment as well as an apartment to live in.
If the ocean view of the condo is obstructed by other buildings, don’t worry, this is not a deal breaker and can often be a good deal. The reason is that the price of an obstructed ocean view condo is much less than an unobstructed or full clear ocean view condo, yet you still get to say that your apartment is an “ocean view condo”. Saying that you have an ocean view condo when it’s time to sell our condo in condo ads draws much more attention than an ad selling a condo that has a “brick wall view”.
Is the condo facing a noisy street? This is a question about a Vancouver condo that should be asked all the time, but it hardly enters the conversation when buying a Yaletown condo. A noisy street can turn beautiful condo living in Vancouver, into a stressful “when can I move out” condo nightmare. Vancouver downtown does not have calm traffic, although it is difficult to know this before living in Yaletown. It’s not general traffic that causes the most noise pollution problems in Vancouver downtown, it’s the ambulances, fire trucks, Harley motorcycles, modified muffler muscle cars that produce the majority of the problem noise. The fact that most Yaletown condos have windows that open out from the bottom, thus reflecting street noise up into your apartment, makes the noise problem much much worse. Keep this in mind when inspecting a condo for the first time. Condo windows that open to the side reflect much less traffic and street noise into the apartment than windows that open down onto the street. At times, even during the day, you will want to close your windows to escape the street noise. In the summer, this can be a uncomfortable combination as most Yaletown condos do not come with air conditioning since Vancouver weather doesn’t normally require active cooling.
Topics: Yaletown Real Estate | No Comments »
Rodney’s Oyster House
By admin | December 21, 2007
Rodney’s Oyster House
1228 Hamilton St
Vancouver, BC V6B 2S8
Tel: +1 604 609 0080
Simple, fresh food in a casual setting. Situated in a revamped turn-of-the-century warehouse, this place has concrete floors, stainless steel oyster bars and counters, and a very nautical feel. It is usually filled with casual young professionals slurping down oysters after finishing slaving away at their jobs in the area. There are oysters aplenty, from $1 for local varieties to $3 for Cape Cod imports. Malpeques and Cotuits are the house favourites. Be sure and try the cream and booze-laden clam chowder.
Topics: Yaletown Bars and Clubs | No Comments »
Bar None
By admin | December 21, 2007
Bar None
1222 Hamilton St
(near Davie)
Vancouver, BC V6B 2S8
Tel: +1 604 689 7000
This establishment is part of the city’s fluid club scene. Located in Yaletown, it is an oasis for chic, fashion-forward Vancouverites. And you can tell by the fusion décor, cigar humidor and martini bar that this is the hangout of the city’s young, urban professionals: it is sleek, ultra hip and funky. Nightly entertainment ranges from live bands to DJs. There is a dress code in effect, so avoid wearing sneakers or denim. Considered one of the places to be, get there early to avoid waiting in line.
Topics: Yaletown Bars and Clubs | No Comments »
Lennox Pub
By admin | December 21, 2007
Lennox Pub
800 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K3
Tel: +1 604 408 0881
This Irish-West Coast watering hole is adding another feather to the entertainment cap of downtown’s Granville Street. Its clientele ranges from business executives at lunch to young urbanite pub-crawlers at night. The wood-paneled bar is styled after modern European taverns, with chandeliered ceilings, booth seating and a sit-down bar and island counter. The kitchen prepares the usual pub grub of sandwiches and burgers, but real meals like New York steak, fish and chips and chicken are available, too. There are a variety of international brews on tap.
Topics: Yaletown Bars and Clubs | No Comments »
El Furniture Warehouse
By admin | December 21, 2007
El Furniture Warehouse
989 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1G3
Tel: +1 604 677 8080
You might be wary of a restaurant and bar whose motto is “piece of crap”, but fear not. The twisted humor does not interfere with the delightful Mexican dishes served by enthusiastic staff. Whet your appetite on Madman’s Perogies with fried bacon and onions before settling into the mouth-watering Ranchero Steak Fajitas. The liquor pleases as well: choose from an array of martinis, shots, beers and the like. No doubt the best house that crap built.
Topics: Yaletown Bars and Clubs | No Comments »
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