There are so many ways to get around in Nanaimo! Don’t have a car? No problem.

Today’s topic is something I get asked a fair bit and that is, Do I need a car in Nanaimo and what is the transit system like? I’ll go beyond this and explain some other methods of transportation you’ll want to know if you’re going to be living in Nanaimo.

Driving

Let’s start with the first question and that is do you need a vehicle here? My answer to this question is always… if you can afford one these days (gas prices) then yes, I highly recommend one. This is due to the fact that it provides you the ability to get to other destinations Vancouver Island has to offer much easily. Once you move here, you’ll want to explore and you can be in beautiful destinations in a matter of hours, like in this video of my trip to Hornby Island. 

If you’re in the city, having a car makes it so you’re no more than 20-25 minutes from most points. Nanaimo is a long city North to South, with two highways that run in this direction so you can get anywhere fairly quickly. Nanaimo is great at providing lots of shopping opportunities in all segments of this city though, so if you’re fine with sticking to your neighbourhood then transit or biking is probably fine.

By car, according to Google Maps, from central Nanaimo you are 1h36mins to Victoria.

2h57 mins to Tofino

1h34 mins to Campbell River

32 mins to Parksville

2 hours to Port Renfrew

1h10 mins to Port Alberni

And 1h14 minutes to the Comox Valley

If you have an electric vehicle, Nanaimo currently has 81 charging stations around the city! If not, gas prices in Nanaimo today hover around 1.58…

As far as ride sharing is concerned, Nanaimo is lucky to have U-ride which started last November! Simply download the app and request a pick-up. It functions just like Uber and Lyft in bigger cities and is an excellent alternative to Taxis. I recently used this service to get from the Departure Bay ferry terminal to the Nanaimo Airport and it was a $45 fare.

Public Parking

Parking in Nanaimo is also very affordable compared to big cities and finding parking is usually pretty easy! There are a number of parking apps to make payment and extending your parking hastle-free.

Public Transit

Now onto Bus Transit. Nanaimo does have a very thorough bus route network throughout the city which covers down to Cassidy where the airport is located and up to Lantzville in the North, as well as the intercity bus route 91 which goes to Parksville and QB. The three large exchanges are located at Woodgrove Center, Country Club Mall and at VIU.

Cycling

On top of the bus transit system in Nanaimo, the city also has a healthy network of bike lanes. Active transportation is something Nanaimo is working on, as the population grows and people need more and more cost-effective ways to get around town. There have been major bike lane improvements along Metral Drive and Bowen road, however there has been some resistance with seeing improvements downtown on Front street with the major argument being congestion issues for cars and according to one article on Nanaimo News Now “ A lengthy project to include bike lanes on Wakesiah Ave. between Bowen Rd. and Colliery Dam Park is awaiting funding and direction from council.”

There’s also a Nanaimo Cycling App, but I didn’t find this very useful other than providing a map of the city with coloured routes. 

Extended Travel

Now besides ways to get around within the city, what about ways to get off the island, to and from Nanaimo?

Most people’s immediate plan of action here is BC Ferries. After this video is done, check this one out where I describe my experience using BC ferries to commute to and from West Vancouver for a year for work. As travel to and from Vancouver Island has increased, particularly during the summer months, it’s recommended you always reserve a sailing if you’re travelling with your car! Otherwise, you will risk having to wait for a sailing or more. Nanaimo has two large BC ferry terminals, one in Departure Bay which connects you to West Vancouver and one in Duke Point which brings you into Twawassen. There’s also a 20-minute sailing from the Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola island. These smaller ferry services will take you to all the smaller islands off the coast of Vancouver Island called the Gulf Islands, like Salt Spring, Denman and Hornby. They’re well worth exploring

Of course, if you’re looking for a direct and easy way to get from downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver, Nanaimo’s new high-speed passenger ferry called Hullo began service this summer. I’ve taken it twice so far and it’s been super easy, albeit a little pricier than walking on with BC ferries. A base fare for Hullo is $39, compared to $19 with BC ferries.

If you’re not into travelling by boat, then one of the smaller seaplanes from Nanaimo Harbour could be the answer. Seair offers service from downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver for around $116(when booked online**) and Harbour Air, which I found fares this week for as low as $79.

Located in the same area as Hullo Ferries, Helijet offers flights to downtown Vancouver on their twin-engine 12-seater helicopter and will get you there in just 18 minutes! Flights this week were as low as $129.

Then if you really have places to go, Nanaimo’s Airport offers service to connect you to international airports through airlines such as Air Canada, West Jet and Pacific Coastal. 

I hope this has answered your questions about how to get around the city of Nanaimo! If there’s something you’d like to know that I did not cover, get in touch! ritafraserrealty@gmail.com

Today’s neighbourhood feature is Pleasant Valley. I’ll let you know why I think this is a great location for families relocating to Nanaimo and all the other features that make this community great.

Pleasant Valley is a neighbourhood located in the north end of Nanaimo, mostly on the West Side of the Nanaimo Parkway which is the new highway. It surrounds Brannen Lake and the area is known for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities. 

As I’ve mentioned in past videos, one of the first things you will want to consider when moving to a new city is the location. What is your lifestyle and what matters most in terms of where you will be living? Pleasant Valley is ranked highest for a quiet place to live, as well as schools and daycares, which makes it an ideal spot for families. Walkability is ranked a little lower, however, this is due to the fact that most amenities nearby are across the highway in North Nanaimo, such as Woodgrove Mall and all the other shops and restaurants I mentioned in this video. This also isn’t entirely true, however, as along Metral Drive there are excellent bike paths and sidewalks which will take you along the shops and grocery store in that area. In my opinion, the balance of having everything situated so close by but that you are tucked away from the busier side of town is a huge bonus.

Circling back to schools, Pleasant Valley Elementary is the school here located at 6201 Dunbar Road. The families I know who have kids attend school here report that they’re very happy and the school is very safe with a lovely community feel.

Another great part of this community is the Pleasant Valley Hall, which is a social center where you can rent space for different events. Looking at the calendar for the month, they offer a range of activities from Martial arts, Yoga and different dance classes! 

If you’re looking for a local escape not far from home, the Black Bear Pub serves homemade Canadian cuisine with a relaxed atmosphere.

I mentioned earlier that in Pleasant Valley you will find Brennan Lake, which is a recreational lake known for its RV park and campsite. It also has a boat launch and fishing dock. So if you’re looking for a fun stay-cation with the family this is a really great option! There’s lots of wildlife to check out while you’re here as well including deer and birds of prey like owls and hawks. 

Besides Brennan Lake, you are very close to the Dumont Mountain biking trails with border Pleasant Valley and North Jingle Pot. You can also hike through these trails but be mindful of the bike paths! If you want a hike with an amazing waterfall at the end, check out nearby Ammonite Falls which you can see for yourself in this video.

Pleasant Valley is a fairly new community with most builds here occurring in the 1980’s. The median sale price here for a single-family detached home over the last 90 days is $880,250 but there is also a good amount of condo buildings and townhome complexes. These sold for a median price of $530k over the last 90 days. If you’re looking at a move to Nanaimo in the near future I wouldn’t hesitate to check out the neighbourhood of Pleasent Valley and I’m always here to answer any questions you may have about this community and others!

Today I will be exploring the differences between living in The Comox Valley and living in Nanaimo. I want to start off by saying that in no way is this intended to say one is better than the other but is to simply highlight aspects that might make one location more desirable if you’re considering a move to Vancouver Island.

The Comox Valley is a picturesque region encompassing Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland, about an hour's drive north of Nanaimo. It boasts a warm community vibe with a population of around 75,000 and a population density of 44.40/km².

In comparison, As of 2022, the City of Nanaimo has a population density of 1,147/km² and a population of just under 105,000 people. Keeping in mind that this is for the city of Nanaimo proper and The Comox Valley includes 3 regions, the Comox valley offers a more intimate setting compared to the hustle of the larger city of Nanaimo. If you're after that tight-knit feel, the Comox Valley might be calling your name.

Now, let's talk amenities! 

While the Comox Valley provides all the essentials, the larger population in Nanaimo means a broader array of shopping, dining, and cultural experiences. However, don't count the Comox Valley out! It's got everything you truly need, including a Costco for shopping, often with shorter travel times. And while Nanaimo might have more activities for you to do on a night out, Comox also has plenty of festivals and music events throughout the year, especially in the warm summer months such as the BC Seafood festival and Vancouver Island Musicfest.

Housing Costs and Taxes

Ah, the big question: housing costs. In the Comox Valley, the median price for a 3-bedroom home hovers around $630,000. It's an attractive option for those seeking affordability without sacrificing quality. Property taxes in 2023 in Comox is 0.409651%. Now, compare that to Nanaimo's median home price of $749,950, and a property tax rate of 0.600870%. If you meet in the middle and consider a $700,000 property, that home in the Comox will cost you $2868 in property taxes whereas in Nanaimo that same home will cost you $4,206 in property taxes and remember -Nanaimo is also ranked number 3 in third highest property taxes in BC.

If you’re in the rental market, The Comox Valley offers a variety of options, with a vacancy rate of around 3%. The average cost for a 1-bedroom apartment is approximately $1,300. In Nanaimo, the vacancy rate is slightly lower at 2.2%, with an average rental cost of $1,450 for a 1-bedroom unit.

Outdoor Paradise

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast like myself, you’ll love both the Comox Valley and Nanaimo which grant easy access to stunning outdoor activities. 

The Comox Valley has become a meca for mountain bikers, particularly in Cumberland which has become what they call the “Squamish” of Vancouver Island with many young active families are relocating to take advantage of the outdoor living. Cumberland was ranked number 1 in the country for mountain biking, according to Osprey.com. Many of these trails surround Puntledge River. It also has proximity to Mount Washington for skiing. Also check out breathtaking Brown’s River Falls which we had the privilege to visit a couple of times this summer, my dogs, especially Tika, and Simon had a blast!

Nanaimo offers majestic Mount Benson and there are no shortage of Mountain Biking Trails. It’s central location makes it a great starting point for exploring all of Vancouver Island’s beauty so you can take advantage of what other areas have to offer a little easier. Which leads me to my next point…

Travel

For jet-setters, the Comox Valley Airport offers convenient regional connections. Nanaimo Airport provides similar options, and both cities have BC Ferries terminals, however the Comox terminal in Little River only provides service to Powell River on the sunshine coast. Nanaimo has two terminals in Departure Bay and Duke point which connect you to either West Vancouver or Tswassen and with Nanaimo’s new Hullo Ferries service, you can be in downtown Vancouver in only 70 minutes. I think when you compare the Comox Valley to Nanaimo, Nanaimo is simply a more convenient place to live for travel due to it’s central location and transportation options.

Weather

When it comes to Vancouver Island cities, Nanaimo and Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland are very similar. Both are located on the east coast of the island and experience moderate winters and summers. The coldest month is December, with average temperatures of between 2-6 degrees C. During this month In terms of snow, Comox wins with a slightly higher snowfall than Nanaimo in terms of quantity. Comox Valley will accumulate on average 45 millimetres of snow on average compared to Nanaimo’s 31 millimetres of snow. Both areas are also similar for “wet days” or days with precipitation with at least 1 millimetre of rain. Both regions experience an over 55% chance of rain during the month of November. So if you’re trying to pick based on weather, it’s safe to say you’ll be getting about the same in both areas. 

So, which one's your dream destination? The Comox Valley invites you to its warm, tight-knit community, while Nanaimo dazzles with a broader array of amenities. No matter your choice, you'll be embraced by breathtaking landscapes and the charm of Vancouver Island.

The island life is calling your name! You’re excited about the prospect of moving to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and before you know it, you’re browsing the Nanaimo MLS and bookmarking all your dream properties. Before you start redecorating and daydreaming of the good life here, there are a few things I want you to know!

Today I’m tackling the crucial topics that can make or break your home search journey. What are the vital steps to take before you go searching the MLS for your dream Nanaimo home?

Firstly, know the difference between a mortgage pre-qualification and a mortgage pre-approval. And if you’re serious, don’t delay in getting in touch with a mortgage specialist to get the process started. You may have plugged in some numbers online to see what you pre-qualify for, but without an expert weighing things like your gross-debt service ratio (a measure of housing costs versus a borrower's gross income.) you won’t truly know how much house you can afford. Most importantly it will put you in a stronger position when making an offer. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! Once you’re pre-approved don’t make any big financial decisions that can affect your financing like applying for extra credit or making a big purchase like a car. 

Second, I strongly encourage you to find a realtor in Nanaimo whom you trust and who knows the area well. I might be biased because I am a realtor but having been through the process before I was licenced I can’t imagine having gone through it without one. We were living on the mainland and although we had the ability to come to the Island to view homes, sometimes we needed to act quickly and having an agent who represented us gave us peace of mind that we wouldn’t miss out on anything that came on the market. There are lots of other reasons choosing the right realtor is important and I’ve covered this in some of my other blog posts.

Next, DO NOT start seriously looking until you’ve established the type of home you’re looking for. I’m not talking about a list of criteria, I’ll cover that a little later. I’m talking about whether is this a starter home, or your forever home? It’s okay to buy a home with the notion that you won’t live there forever and that you can gradually make your way to your dream property. 

This is important because it will streamline the process of weeding out homes you don’t want so much more by setting realistic expectations during your search. 

Do you think you will be in this home 0-6 years? That’s your starter home and you may have to overlook the fact that your yard is smaller or maybe it’s not in your most desirable location.

Nanaimo is always coming up with new listings in the 500-700k price range that could use some TLC but would make for a great entry to the market. If you’re truly worried about location, you can check out this blog post next!

If you’re thinking longer term, over 10 years… start considering what that means for you. 10 years might mean you're raising your kids there for a good chunk of time so location becomes even more important. I also covered this topic about my top picks for family-friendly neighbourhoods to help!

If you’re thinking you’ll be in your home 20+ years then you really will considering dream home/forever home status and what are my must-haves? Which brings me to my next topic…

Making a clear list of must-haves and wants is going to streamline your home search and help you make informed decisions. Your must-haves are things that you know you can’t live without, usually size and number of bedrooms for example. If you say you MUST HAVE 3 bedrooms but would like 4… put that on your “want” list. Better yet, make a list of absolute deal-breakers too! If you know you need to be close to transit and there isn’t a bus stop in sight of the home you’re looking at… make it easy and click NEXT!

Now, lastly... Establish your timeline. It’s okay to be in the Nanaimo MLS once you’ve done the above and you begin to narrow down on homes that you like but this won’t do you any good if you have no clue when you can buy!

Some things to consider are: Are you renting? If so are you month-to-month or in a lease that you may have to break if you buy before it’s finished?

Do you have a home you have to sell first? Have you even started that process? Be realistic here… you may think your home is worth a certain amount of money and will sell quickly but the real estate market is super volatile. Nothing is for sure and if you’re relying on that home sale to buy your next it’s better to have the process well underway so that you can make a solid offer once the time comes. It’s possible to write offers with the condition that your first home needs to be sold, but wouldn’t you rather go into it with all your ducks in a row? How heartbreaking would it be to be so close to owning the home you want in Nanaimo only to lose it because your house didn’t sell as fast or for as much as you wanted?

Besides this, the home-buying process itself isn’t always a fast one. With a pre-approval process that can take up to 2 weeks, a home search that can take on average up to 2 months and then being under contract before closing between 30 and 60 days… your home purchase can realistically be months away and you will need to exercise patience. 

Lucky for you, I’ve helped people through this before and come from my own relocation experience, so get in touch if you want to chat about moving to Nanaimo and the surrounding areas! 

So you’ve decided to live the good life on Canada’s West Coast and move to Beautiful British Columbia. If you’re moving from out of province you’ll want to stay tuned as I’m going to cover some of the things you’ll encounter that you might not expect!

The first thing on everyone’s mind of course is home prices. When looking at big cities, Toronto’s home prices are actually higher than Vancouver and Vancouver Island. BC does still have some of the most expensive real estate in the country which you will feel the most coming from a province like Alberta with much more affordable housing costs. So, before you get swept away by the idea of moving to the west coast be prepared so you don’t have sticker shock. 

Another thing someone moving from Alberta might find alarming is what we in BC call Property Transfer Tax. In Ontario, this is called Land Transfer Tax and is broken down as follows:

0.5% on amounts up to and including $55,000. 

1.0% on amounts exceeding $55,000, up to and including $250,000. 

1.5% on amounts exceeding $250,000, up to and including $400,000. 

2.0% on amounts exceeding $400,000. 

If you’re purchasing in the city of Toronto, that will be charged again at 

0.5% of total property value up to and including $55,000.00

1% of total property value over $55,000.01 to $400,000.00  

2% of total property value over $400,000.00 

In BC, this is called property transfer tax and like in Ontario is the responsibility of the buyer to pay, charged at completion when the title is transfered. The property transfer tax rate in BC is as follows:

1% of the fair market value up to and including $200,000

2% of the fair market value greater than $200,000 and up to and including $2,000,000

3% of the fair market value greater than $2,000,000

If you are a first-time home buyer in BC and purchasing a home as your primary residence for under $500K you could qualify to be exempt or partially exempt from paying this amount but make sure to check with your mortgage broker and realtor.

So as mentioned before, if you’re moving from Alberta you will have to factor this into your closing costs as Alberta only has The Land Transfer Registration Fee paid which costs: 

a base of $50 and an additional $2 for every $5000 of property value and the Mortgage Registration Fee also costs a base of $50 and an additional $1.5 but for the mortgage amount.

So let’s break that down for a moment.

On the purchase of a $600,000 home in Ontario, your land transfer tax will be $8475, and an additional $8475 if buying in the city of Toronto. So you could be paying as much as $16,950

In BC on a $600,000 purchase you’re looking at $10K in Property Transfer Tax.

And in Alberta your Land Transfer tax on a $600,000 home with a $30K mortgage down payment is only $511.

Dual Agency

Dual agency is when a real estate agent can act both as the buying and selling agent for the same property. As of June 2018, BC no longer allows for dual agency unless under very narrow and strict exceptions. The reasoning is the difficulty of acting in both parties' best interests when acting for both sides. In a real estate transaction, the client (you) enters into Agency with the Realtor's brokerage and the brokerage assigns the realtor as the designated agent. So you can still have two agents in the same office take part in the same transaction.

BC is the only province to have banned dual agency and all other provinces allow it although most require written consent.

Recission Period

Something that came into effect on January 1st, 2023 was the BC rescission or “cooling-off” period, where home buyers have up to 3 business days not including weekends and holidays to rescind their offer for any reason but must pay 0.25% of the purchase price. and cannot be waved. This came in at a time when the market was crazy and people were making subject-free offers so the government added this layer of consumer protection. Make sure you ask your realtor everything you need to know when writing up an offer on a home and how this works!

Everyone deserves a place to call home, and it's essential to find an option that aligns perfectly with your lifestyle and financial goals. So, let's dive right in and explore the benefits and considerations of each choice: to rent or to own!

Renting has some fantastic perks, especially when you're starting on your homeownership journey. It requires lower upfront costs, making it an ideal option for those looking to save and plan for the future. 

Currently, rental prices in Nanaimo are as follows: 1 bed - $1622, 2 bed- $1980, 3-bed apartment $2450. 

Home rentals aren’t very abundant in Nanaimo right now and for a 2-3 bed home around you’re looking at $2500-$3000/month.

Plus side to renting- no maintenance costs! You can leave those worries to the landlord while you focus on creating memories in your cozy space.

You also have more flexibility when renting as you can choose from various locations and easily relocate if you decide to explore different neighbourhoods. 

With a fixed rent amount, you know precisely what you'll be paying each month. Besides that, you will only be paying your utilities. (city + gas and electric). That is of course unless there is an unpredictable rent increase. You might also face the possibility of moving if the owner decides to sell or renovate the property.

Another couple of downsides: Renting may mean limited customization options, as most landlords prefer to maintain their home's design. Additionally, if you’re a pet owner it can sometimes feel impossible to find a rental that will allow pets, especially large dogs.

Now, let's talk about the pride and joy of homeownership!

Owning your own home comes with that fantastic feeling of truly making it yours. Design, renovate, and create the perfect sanctuary that matches your unique style and preferences.

Not to mention - building equity - it's like planting seeds for your future! With the annual real estate appreciation rate in Canada for the last 15 years being around 6.11%, each monthly payment becomes an investment in your home, increasing your wealth over time. 

But homeownership does come with some considerations. Owning a home requires a more substantial upfront investment for the down payment. Your down payment will be a minimum of 5% and even 20% if you’re purchasing a home over $1million. Besides your monthly mortgage payment, other costs include utilities, property taxes and Insurance. You should also factor in a home maintenance budget which should be 1% of your home's total value every year. And yes, maintenance - it's now on your to-do list. You'll be the one handling those DIY projects and repairs or calling in the experts.

Also, owning means less flexibility in moving. That’s why choosing your location is so important and my entire reason for building this channel. Think of it as putting down roots and building memories in one place. If and when you decide to move, keep in mind that the housing market can fluctuate, and home values may be affected during downturns. There’s also a larger cost to moving when you own vs when you rent, as you’ll need to factor in the home selling process and costs like preparing to list, realtor fees, lawyers, and bank penalties if you pay out your mortgage early.

In the end, it's about finding the best fit for your current situation and where you see yourself in the next decade. And I’m always happy to help you see the bigger picture and make a choice that aligns with your dreams and aspirations of moving to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.