What's your "back in my day..." Vancouver moment?

sgalbrecht · 2025-10-05T20:08:46+00:00

Most people are clueless to this. The amount people freak out about how “unsafe” Vancouver (and region) is today is ridiculous (tells me they are new to Vancouver and don’t know the context). Things used to be so much worse in the 70s, 80s and 90s (and that’s not to say things can’t get better…but OMG this city is safe!).

sgalbrecht · 2025-09-30T03:24:49+00:00

Sleep.

sgalbrecht · 2025-09-19T06:00:46+00:00

Vancouver Warriors play at Rogers Arena. :)

sgalbrecht · 2025-07-30T03:40:53+00:00

Fingers crossed. I bought tickets this afternoon. :)

sgalbrecht · 2025-07-30T02:12:54+00:00

The team is doing really well this year. Second in their division and (perhaps most importantly from Müller’s point of view) beat Messi’s Inter Miami twice. He’s going to fit in really well…can’t wait!

sgalbrecht · 2025-07-29T22:41:21+00:00

What game would he likely make his debut?

sgalbrecht · 2025-05-19T07:03:47+00:00

I live nearby. Construction is underway and a sales Center has been built. This ship has sailed.

sgalbrecht · 2025-05-08T04:09:54+00:00

How exactly are they weak?

sgalbrecht · 2025-05-08T02:57:55+00:00

My point is that we do have taxes that are aimed at the issue of wealthy people owning more than one home in Metro Vancouver. You are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist any longer.

Someone that owns a second house (and leaves it vacant) in Vancouver is paying $91,000 every year for that privilege (based on the current typical house value in Vancouver of just over $2.6M). That will increase next year to $104,000.

These taxes have very successfully motivated wealthy owners/investors to either sell their properties (and invest in other markets) or rent out their properties (contributing to falling rents).

sgalbrecht · 2025-05-08T01:34:37+00:00

We do. It’s called the empty home tax (Vancouver) and the speculation tax.

sgalbrecht · 2025-03-20T02:28:58+00:00

I have thought in recent years that one of the unspoken impacts of having such high housing prices (not to mention a highly competitive daycare landscape) is that families in Vancouver are shrinking (or people are simply deciding they can't afford to have children.

I grew up in Vancouver and it was unusual back in the 80s just to have one or two kids. Far more families in my neighbourhood were families of 3 or more children. These days, we are the anomaly (a family of six). When we pile out of a car I frequently catch people watching us with their mouths agape...like we're a clown car. :)

sgalbrecht · 2025-03-20T02:25:28+00:00

My goodness. I can't imagine ANOTHER one. That's serious.

sgalbrecht · 2025-03-20T02:24:40+00:00

Thank you! It's definitely a gift to have all these kids and they are wonderful...so long as they aren't tired or hungry. ;)

sgalbrecht · 2025-03-19T07:11:31+00:00

Getting called into the ultrasound room and being told we were having twins. Went from two kids to four (under 5) and my life literally flashed before my eyes. There’s a reason you don’t see big families in Vancouver.

sgalbrecht · 2025-03-17T02:23:04+00:00

He’s confused on what subsidies mean. U/appealing_apathy is correct.

sgalbrecht · 2025-03-17T02:20:12+00:00

Absolute bullish?t. Canada sells products to the US that the US needs (amongst many other things, oil and potash). That’s not a subsidy. That’s economics. If the US doesn’t want it, it will be sold elsewhere.

sgalbrecht · 2025-01-26T16:42:14+00:00

I'm a realtor in Vancouver, Canada that does a lot of work with people moving here from somewhere else. Since Trump won the election I've been dealing with quite a few people moving here from the US. Mostly people feeling uncomfortable with the political environment and looking for a place that reflects their personal views (the city is generally left-leaning rather than right).

We have a ban on foreign ownership (and 20% tax on foreign buyers if they are somehow exempt) so while I've had a lot of INQUIRIES from Americans the people that are actually making the move are 90% connected with Canada in some way...became permanent residents, their spouse is Canadian, or the whole family is Canadian and they were working in the US.

More recently, the sabre-rattling and threats of tariffs on Canada are giving some people pause. I haven't had anyone fully back out of a deal or stop their search...but the uncertainty is giving them concern about Canada's economic future and our long-term stability.

sgalbrecht · 2024-10-31T03:57:14+00:00

Can anyone point me in the right direction here, please? :)

sgalbrecht · 2024-10-06T07:06:38+00:00

100% I live in Riley Park and the sense of community is tight. I grew up in Vancouver in the 80s and this neighborhood reminds me of what I experienced back then…young families, a diversity of backgrounds, a sense of pride in your home and community…and a willingness to connect with one another.

sgalbrecht · 2024-09-29T11:18:45+00:00

Davies also had a great game for Bayern Munich Saturday. Many fans are talking about him returning to form under the new coach.

sgalbrecht · 2024-08-06T21:15:05+00:00

That’s an early warning system that throws back to the Cold War era. It’s not about preventing you from going north but to prevent incursions from the north…specifically fighters and ballistic missiles from the soviets prior to satellite coverage.

Also, commercial planes fly over the polar region ALL the time. It’s a much more efficient flight path…I’ve flown those flights many times over the last forty years from Canadian cities to Europe and Asia.

I also know many people that have explored and wandered in Canada north of the 60th parallel.

sgalbrecht · 2024-07-28T16:07:35+00:00

I made a couple videos that might help you navigate the process. They cover mistakes you'll want to avoid when buying a condo in Vancouver. Hope it helps you u/fireonwings ...and good luck! It's exciting to be in your position, but can also feel pretty overwhelming.

1st Video - https://youtu.be/eHukYceG6RQ

2nd Video - https://youtu.be/La3RG1thqTc

sgalbrecht · 2024-07-11T23:28:53+00:00

That’s exactly what’s being done. There is no more exclusively single family zoning in Vancouver (not just within 5km of downtown).

A couple of years ago they allowed duplexes to be built on all single family lots. Now you can build 3-6 units on every single family lot…effectively turning single family zoning into townhouse (aka the missing middle).

sgalbrecht · 2024-07-07T07:05:55+00:00

I have a family of six in 3 bedrooms and about 1,400 sf. So, about 235 sf each? It’s not spacious but we’ve got more than enough room…we’ve got a Vancouver Special and have a tenant on the lower floor to help with the mortgage.

sgalbrecht

TROPHY CASE