Are you interested in moving to the famous Gateway to the West but don’t know exactly where to start? Let us help you out! If you’re set on relocating and are ready to browse through the housing options of the Winnipeg real estate market, there are some key issues you might like to know about first. Here are 5 things to consider before moving to the Peg:
Plentiful Budget Housing Options
With a strong and stable housing market, real estate in Winnipeg is abundant, varied and, most importantly, well-priced. The residential average price is currently set at around $275,000, which is way below the national average. Winnipeg currently boasts a myriad of condominiums and detached homes for sale, whilst duplexes and single attached homes are a bit harder to find thanks to the strong demand.
Rental vacancies are similarly stable, at a rate of 2.8%. Bachelor units are the most sought-after housing options, boasting the lowest vacancy rates in the city, whilst one-bedroom rentals are the most abundant. If you’re looking to build the house of your dreams yourself, note that as of this year you’re required to pay an additional impact fee for new residential developments.
Weather Extremes
Due to its location in the Canadian Prairies, the Gateway to the West boasts a humid continental climate. Summers are warm and pleasant, with temperatures hovering in the mid- to high-twenties Celsius. However, winters are cold, long and dry with an average low of -20.2OC.
Despite the prejudice about dire weather conditions, The Peg is actually second among the large Canadian cities with the most hours of sunshine annually (2,353). It is also second to Calgary with 51% of its daylight hours being sunny.
Varied Employment Opportunities
With one of the most diverse economies in all of Canada, Winnipeg offers a wide array of employment opportunities in various fields of work. Aerospace, manufacturing, agribusiness, health care and public administration are among the largest employment sectors in the city.
The unemployment rate here has been consistently below the national average, which is also partly due to the diversified economic base of the city. Although the median household income is also below national average, it’s consistently growing and is in accordance with the lower cost of living in the Peg.
Cultural Capital
As a city with such an impressive and long history, it’s no wonder that Winnipeg is the main cultural centre in Manitoba. It was actually declared the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2010 by Canadian Heritage, officially recognizing its achievements.
The city is home to the oldest public art gallery in Western Canada, along with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the oldest ballet company in the entire country. Numerous artist-run cultural centres can also be found in the city, concentrating not only on performing arts, but on photographic and digital arts as well. The Peg is also home to a large number of general and thematic museums with some aimed at adults, whilst others offer educational exhibitions and shows for children as well.
Sport Events Galore
The Peg boasts a prominent ice hockey culture, providing a home to several professional teams, most recently the Winnipeg Jets. If you’re not into hockey, then you might go to the local football games and root for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers or enjoy a good old baseball game and cheer for the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
If you’d like to practice sports yourself, the city has plenty of places which encourage a wide variety of outdoors activities. Winnipeg’s many parks offer excellent hiking, running and biking trails and often also have nearby playgrounds which your children will definitely appreciate. A handful of golf courses and fitness centres along with specialized sports clubs (like kite boarding, soccer, basketball and even archery) offer diverse recreational opportunities. In the winter make sure you take advantage of the free outdoor skating rinks on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.
To quickly summarize, moving to Winnipeg has its fair share of pros and cons, just like any other city. But if you’re in search of a place offering a laid back lifestyle, stable employment and affordable housing, then the Peg might just be the perfect place for you. If you decide to brave the cold in the winter months and do some thorough research, we think that Winnipeg will reward you in more ways than you might at first have considered!
