Port Moody | Micro Vancouver
There are good reasons why Vancouver consistently places in the top 20 best cities to live in, in the world. Renowned for its clean air, stunning natural beauty, access to culture and recreation, great beaches and friendly people it attracts people from all over the world as the ideal place to live. But all this attention has made accommodations highly sought-after and affordability is being given the squeeze. So what if you really want this quality of life and the Vancouver lifestyle, but don’t want to break the bank? Can you afford to live in one of the world’s best cities?
Less than 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver by road (only 22 minutes by West Coast Express), Port Moody offers a unique micro-Vancouver experience. With the same backdrop of the coastal mountains and sitting on the Burrard Inlet, it offers the same natural beauty and clean air just you are more immersed in it. If it’s Stanley Park, cycling the seawall and outdoor recreation that appeals to you, then you have to check out Rocky Point, the boardwalk trails, paddle-boarding, or mountain biking on some of the local peaks. From running clubs to dog parks, skate parks to fishing, wildlife spotting to kayaking, Port Moody has fantastic outdoor recreation to suit all tastes and seasons and the ski hills of the North Shore are still just 45 minutes away.
If its Jericho beach and Kits that appeals then there are several local beaches to choose from, all of which are stunning. Whether it’s the on-your-doorstep convenience of Ambleside or a short 10 minute drive up to White Pine Beach or Buntzen Lake, you are spoiled for choice in places to relax, swim, play and feel rejuvenated. Afterwards you can head to Suter Brook or Newport Village in the Inlet Centre where you will find artisan shops, local produce, high fashion as well as a great choice of cafes and eateries where you can sample some of home-grown beers from Port Moody’s own micro-breweries.
For those who pine for easy access to the Vancouver Arts Gallery and the cultural events of downtown Vancouver, did you know that Port Moody is the” City of Arts”? Whether it’s visiting the Arts Centre, attending the Wearable Arts Festival or taking in a show at the Inlet Theatre, this micro-Vancouver offers just as much as it’s big name counterpart; almost like peas in a pod.
There are plenty of comparisons that one can draw between Vancouver and Port Moody (Port Moody even has its own police force too), but what distinguishes Port Moody are the differences. Port Moody retains its feeling of an overgrown village rather than a vast City suburb and really has its own sense of community with year-round events from the Fingerling Festival in the spring to the arrival of the CP Christmas Holiday Train each December. It is also actually closer to the Vancouver Zoo and the Vancouver Golf Club than Vancouver! But of most interest to those looking to find a place which offers the quality of life Vancouver is famous for, is the fact that Port Moody homes are so much more affordable. The 2014-11 Composite Benchmark Price for Vancouver real estate is $795,800 compared to $546,400 for Port Moody real estate, making this micro-Vancouver a giant-sized rival in terms of the value it offers to Port Moody homebuyers. And with the Evergreen Line now due to be operational in 2017, the ease and value of living in Port Moody looks set to continue to excel. Can you afford to live in one of the World’s best cities? You certainly can’t afford to ignore Port Moody.