Great deals can be found in Surrey, Maple Ridge

Buying a home for the first time can be a daunting task. Setting aside the need for pre-approvals and hiring a realtor, finding the right neighbourhood in a city as diverse as Vancouver can make your head spin. Here are some tips on hot spots to focus on when buying in Vancouver and the price point you should expect in each.

Like most first-time homebuyers, finding a great deal for your first step on the property ladder is going to be paramount. For you, looking in the suburbs will yield the greatest amount of space for the smallest dollar. Cities such as Surrey and Maple Ridge are becoming popular amongst first-time homebuyers looking to score a deal. Here you can find one bedrooms for under the $200,000 price point.

For those first-time homebuyers with a bit more disposable income, trendy hotspots such as Port Moody and the Brentwood Mall area of Vancouver are the perfect fit. With all the amenities of the city at your doorstep, these neighbourhoods are great for budding families and those who want a downtown feel, without all the hustle and bustle of the city core. You can find new one bedrooms in the mid-$200,000 range and up.

For the young-at-heart who demand a downtown existence without all the downtown costs, such neighbourhoods as Citygate, Soma and Commercial Drive on the east side of Vancouver are what you seek. With all the trendy cafés, galleries and shops, and a short walk or transit ride to the downtown core, you are sure to find all the excitement you desire, at a price that is more reasonable than living downtown. Here you can find great deals on one-bedroom homes from the mid- to upper-$200,000 range.

Finally, for those first-time homebuyers who do not have a budget, or those who just demand the downtown lifestyle, the city centre is where you want to be. Starting in the upper $200,000 range for a one bedroom, here you will be close to all the nightlife and excitement that Vancouver has to offer. Spreading out to the waterfront neighbourhoods of downtown, you can expect prices to soar, but the addition of stunning views help compensate for the price.

– Ryan DeLuca is a realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, and host of The Real Estate Minute on Novus TV; rdeluca@sothebysrealty.ca.