A windowless shed in Vancouver was listed on Craigslist for over a thousand dollars and the listing highlights a major reason people are moving to Kelowna.
A windowless shed measuring 474 sq. ft was briefly listed on Craigslist for $1225 a month.
Although the posting has since been taken down from the site, a number of people were able to screenshot the listing and upload images to social media.
$1225/mo for a 475sq ft windowless shed turned "coach house" (w/o full kitchen). This is why so many are leaving Vancouver. #VanRE #obscene pic.twitter.com/dsSAXx1hnc
— Devon Greyson (@DevonGreyson) June 9, 2017
That seems pretty reasonable for Vancouver. “This windowless Vancouver shed was being leased for $1,225 a month”https://t.co/pppohmJgqq
— Elizabeth (@5todexterity) June 14, 2017
The posting provoked an array of reactions from people on social media…
WHAT EVEN.
— Kayden 🏳️🌈 (@transpoticket16) June 13, 2017
Vancouver is so expensive. https://t.co/tiDkp9y5hG
I can't even afford to live in a shed....
— angela elizabeth (@moodyangela) June 13, 2017
It doesn't have a stove!!
— sarahg (@sarahmareena) June 9, 2017
However, some people actually saw some benefits to living in the shed…
hey! windowless means less drafts! it's a bargain!
— Dawnya🏳️🌈aka Lins (@hey_lins) June 13, 2017
AND!!! more privacy, it's a win-win really
— 🌿🌸eden🌸🌿 (@edentimm) June 13, 2017
Ultimately, the listing highlights the lack of affordable and available housing in and around the Vancouver area.
Expensive and scarce housing has subsequently resulted in many people packing up their bags and moving to cities where housing is more affordable, like Kelowna, Victoria and the Fraser Valley.
A major indicator of people moving from Vancouver to Kelowna was revealed in the number of housing starts recorded in the Central Okanagan during the first five months of 2017.
Since the start of 2017, 1,644 housing projects have begun in Kelowna, compared to just 876 in the same time frame last year.
According to Jason Siebenga, President of BigSteelBox, the rise of housing starts in Kelowna is largely due to expensive housing prices in Vancouver.
“We see a lot of spill off from the Vancouver market,” said Siebenga. “A lot of people [are] moving due to high housing prices there and looking for a lifestyle change.”
Another indicator that people are moving away from Vancouver is that the Central Okanagan is now the fastest growing region in B.C. as well as one of the fastest in Canada.
Of course, there are a number of factors that have contributed to increased housing starts and population growth in Kelowna that aren’t directly related to the Vancouver housing market. Such factors could include desires for lifestyle changes and greater employment opportunities.
However, what is clear is that scarce and expensive housing in Vancouver, as exemplified in the small windowless shed listed for $1225/mo, has and continues to play a significant role in motivating homeowners to consider more affordable options available in the Central Okanagan.
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