Raj Sangha, PREC*eXp Realty
Raj Sangha, PREC*The honest guide to where to live, what it really costs, and what nobody tells you before you move. From a Vancouver agent, not a listings site.
Most people moving to Vancouver pick a community off a map and a few listing photos. Then they find out, after they’ve already moved, that the commute they didn’t think twice about eats an extra hour a day, or that the duplex that looked fine in pictures was a rushed flip, not a real build.
Getting this decision wrong doesn’t just cost money. It means starting your new life in the wrong place, with no easy way to undo it. And you’re making the call with the least local knowledge you’ll ever have, at the moment it matters most.
There’s a better way to walk in: knowing what the locals already know before you make the call. That’s what this guide is.
What actually changes moving from Ontario, Alberta, or Quebec, with real, sourced price comparisons so you know your numbers before you start looking
The 6 communities worth shortlisting (Mount Pleasant, Kitsilano, Fairview, Renfrew-Collingwood, Cambie, and Knight/Fraser) with the honest trade-off of each, not just the highlight reel
The one thing almost nobody tells newcomers about actually living here (locals call it the “Vancouver Freeze”), so it doesn’t catch you off guard
The 5 mistakes relocating buyers make most often, and how to avoid every one of them
A real month by month plan: what to do 6 to 12 months out, 3 to 6 months out, 1 to 3 months out, and in your moving month
A real story of a couple who relocated to Vancouver, and what actually made the difference for them
This isn’t a generic “moving to Canada” checklist pulled off a blog. It’s built specifically around what actually happens when someone moves to Vancouver, community by community.
Walking someone through exactly this decision, from exactly this distance, is what he does day to day, not a side specialty.
Why he’s qualified: 9 years in real estate, a track record built specifically around relocating families, and a 4.9★ record across 13 Google reviews.
We talk about what actually matters to you, not just what’s on a generic checklist.
Raj shortlists the communities that genuinely fit your situation.
You get a real plan built around your timeline, not a rushed one.
Land in the right neighbourhood for how you actually live.
If this is also your first purchase.
Help navigating contracts if that’s the direction you’re leaning.
So you understand your real numbers before you commit to anything, not after.
Instead of sending you to five different specialists (a mortgage broker, someone who knows the neighbourhoods, someone to check construction quality), Raj already has the answer. You won’t need five different people for this.
From feeling like you’re making the biggest purchase of your life with the least information you’ve ever had, to walking in with a real plan and someone local in your corner.
No outcome, price, or savings is ever guaranteed. Every situation is different.
Six neighbourhoods, compared honestly: housing type, feel, and the trade-off each one asks of you.
Dense, walkable, East Vancouver’s café-and-brewery hub. Mostly older houses converted to multi-unit and low-rise apartments, plus new mid-rise infill. Genuinely lock-and-leave living, busy and urban rather than quiet-street.
Beach-adjacent, west side, active and outdoorsy. A mix of older houses (many now duplexes/multiplexes) and low-rise apartments. That beach-town appeal comes with west-side pricing.
Centred on South Granville and the Broadway corridor near VGH, walkable to Granville Island. Mostly low-rise apartments and townhomes. It’s an established area, so mostly resale rather than new construction.
One of East Vancouver’s largest, most diverse neighbourhoods with strong SkyTrain access. A genuine mix of older detached/duplex homes and new mid-rise development, with active construction as it continues to build out.
The new construction corridor next to Fairview, built around the Canada Line. Mostly new-build condos and townhomes. Transit-oriented, with a premium price tag for “new.”
A working East Vancouver corridor with genuine day-to-day relocation activity, not just a destination neighbourhood. Less polished than Mount Pleasant or Kits, but often more reachable on price.
Why this matters to you: knowing which of these actually fits your budget, commute, and housing type preference before you fly out for a weekend of showings is exactly what keeps you from overpaying or picking the wrong one.
“Knowledgeable, honest, and always one step ahead. Would work with Raj again in a heartbeat.”
“Great experience working with Raj! Professional, responsive, and made the entire process smooth from start to finish. 10/10 recommend!”
“Raj went above and beyond what I think most Realtors would do and I could not be more grateful and happy with his service. Would highly recommend!”
Raj posts neighbourhood spotlights, buyer/seller Q&A, and relocation guidance for families every week on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok at @soldbyrajsangha, and at soldbyrajsangha.ca. This guide is a sample of the value he shares regularly.
Grab the free guide.