Have you been dreaming about relocating to a fast-paced, bustling city which is continuously evolving? If so, we think that Surrey, BC might be calling your name! With an vigorous growth mentality, economic stability and plenty of new residents coming into the city, it’s actually quite impressive that the Surrey real estate market can keep up with the pace. But before you start packing, there are a few key characteristics of the city that you should be aware of. Here are 5 things you need to know when considering moving to the place they sometimes call The City of Parks:
The Next Metropolitan Centre
With approximately 1,000 new inhabitants each month calling it home, it’s safe to say that Surrey is growing fairly rapidly. Official estimates calculate that the city will surpass neighbouring Vancouver’s population, becoming the largest city in British Columbia by the year 2030.
A thorough economic strategy has already been in motion in preparation for building the next Metropolitan Centre. It aims at transforming the city from one having a largely suburban feel into one with a large and active urban centre, by attracting investors, growing a distinct business community, developing the local work force and building partnerships for the benefit of the city. Surrey is growing rapidly, but it’s handling this remarkably well and doesn’t plan on stopping.
Pricy Housing Market
Compared to last year’s real estate options, prices in Surrey have increased significantly. The average price of detached homes in the city has increased by 15% and is currently set at $1,172,368. Townhomes cost 23.2% more than in 2017, with an average price of $638,462. However, the biggest increase can be seen in the price of apartments, which have gone up by an astonishing 34%, and now have an average price of $408,605.
Seeing as how the prices have pretty much been continuously increasing, it’s safe to say that the value of real estate will probably keep on growing in the foreseeable future. The Real Estate Investment Network ranked Surrey the number one city in B.C. in which to invest in real estate, and there may be no better time than the present to do so. When purchasing a property, we are told that you should avoid the Newton and Whalley neighborhoods. On the other hand, the Guildford and the South Surrey—White Rock areas are a couple of the most popular places in which to settle down here.
Ideal for Growing Families
As one of the largest public school districts in the province, Surrey offers top quality education in 104 elementary schools and 19 secondary schools. The city also has the fastest-growing school district in British Columbia, which is continuously expanding its network of classes and employing teachers to meet the growing demand.
Besides the high level of education, Surrey offers a family-friendly environment which can be seen in all aspects of daily life. It boasts a plethora of playhouses, playgrounds and various youth centres for children of all ages. It also stages quite a few family-oriented activities and festivals year-round, from family nights to summer camps.
The City of Parks
With over 600 parks scattered around an area of 5,400 acres, Surrey is known to be the park capital of Canada. Whether you’re interested in bird-watching, running, wildlife-viewing or you just need a nice place to have a picnic, The City of Parks will surely not disappoint.
These lush, green public gardens are also home to over 100 kilometers of hiking trails, so you don’t need to go far to find yourself in nature. Cycling enthusiasts will be happy to discover that Surrey has quite an extensive system of bike routes in all corners of the city.
Smart Surrey
Keeping up with such rapid growth is no easy feat, but Surrey appears to be stepping up to the plate. It has joined the Smart City Challenge, with the purpose of making the best use of its resources while implementing new strategies in order to offer better living conditions to residents in an environmentally-friendly and efficient manner. Some of the key components of the strategy include a prosperous economy, an engaged community, a cost-effective and customer-friendly service delivery and a great, easy-to-navigate infrastructure.
In recognition of the city’s efforts, in past years Surrey has twice in a row been named among the World’s Top 7 Intelligent Communities. The survey, conducted by the Intelligent Community Forum, takes into consideration factors such as adaptability to rapid growth, innovation strategies and utilizing various opportunities in further advancing the city.
To quickly summarize, even though Surrey has become a bit pricier in recent years, it’s still an excellent place to settle down in. The city’s exceptional evolution ensures a continuously diverse and exciting scene, with plenty of opportunities lying ahead. Whether you’re interested in varied employment opportunities, colorful leisure activities or high quality schooling for your children, this city is versatile enough to have something for everybody. And if you do your research beforehand and you plan your move here well, we believe you can be sure that Surrey will reward you in many ways.
