New Westminster Real Estate & Homes For Sale
New Westminster is located at the geographic centre of Metro Vancouver, with a population of 65,976 (2011 census). It’s a very popular residential neighbourhood for commuters. There has been steady growth, with a 12.7% increase over the previous census in 2006. It’s the fastest growing and most rapidly densifying city in the province.
New West’s median household income is $68,976 (2011), about the same as the rest of Vancouver.
New Westminster Homes For Sale
Geography / Environment / Climate
New Westminster is perched upon a hillside that looks southwest toward the Fraser River Estuary. It’s home to six species of salmon, more than a hundred other fish species, and more than three hundred species of birds, both resident and migratory.
Residents love New West’s mild temperate rainforest climate. Average daily high temperatures peak at 22°C in July and August, and hit 6°C in December and January. The average annual rainfall is 111cm.
Employment Opportunities
Education, health care and social services, and transportation provide most of the jobs, employing more than 7,500 people. The recent move of TransLink’s offices to the Brewery District, and the Royal Columbian Hospital, furnish many of these opportunities.
Educational services, public administration and manufacturing are also prominent sectors, with relatively more jobs in New Westminster than Metro Vancouver overall.
Shopping
New Westminster has several distinct shopping districts. Westminster Quay Public Market is a favourite place to enjoy a coffee, then shop and browse the market, with vendors selling everything from arts and crafts, to clothing and jewelry, fresh produce, seafood and delicatessen. Known as the Festival Market, the quay is known for its seasonal themes, celebrations and special events throughout the year.
You’ll find a delightful mix of new and old in downtown New Westminster. You can stroll the flower-laden esplanade that overlooks the Fraser River, or enjoy the tree-lined streets lit by old fashioned street lamps at night. Enjoy shopping in art boutiques, gift stores and fashion outlets in the new downtown, sprinkled amongst sidewalk cafes and coffee shops.
On 12th Street’s Vintage Row, you’ll discover more than a half dozen antique stores, and Antique Alley and Front Street offer another ten quality antique shops. You can spend the entire day browsing for antiques and strolling down memory lane.
At the west end of downtown, the Columbia Square Plaza neighbourhood shopping centre provides a supermarket, drug store, restaurants and specialty shops. Along Columbia Street you’ll experience a quaint neighourhood feel, reminiscent of a typical main street in the 50’s or 60’s. It’s a wonderful place to browse and unwind.
Dining
New West’s downtown streets are lined with trendy restaurants, friendly cafes and coffee shops. If you enjoy ethnic fare, the city offers Greek, Italian, German, Malaysian Thai, Sushi, Chinese, Indian, and more.
New Westminster has more than a dozen pubs, and many fast food and family restaurants. For a special night out, The Boathouse, Tamarind Hill or Kirin Seafood Restaurant may provide just the right atmosphere.
Transportation / Easy Access
Whether you’re travelling by car, or taking the Skytrain rapid transit link, the downtown Vancouver commute is less than thirty minutes. Local navigation is super simple. New West’s streets are laid out in a grid pattern, and many are numbered.
New Westminster is serviced by the TransLink network, Metro Vancouver’s extensive public transit system. There are several routes operating within the city, as well as five SkyTrain stations. The city is also served by four railways: CN, CP, Burlington Northern and Sante Fe, and SRY Rail Link.
Schools
New Westminster is served by School District No. 40, and offers a wide range of programs and services for Kindergarten through Grade 12. There are 8 public elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 1 secondary school.
For students interested in post-secondary education, New Westminster is ideally situated. Douglas College has a campus in New Westminster. The college has an enrolment of 14,000 students. It offers degrees, associate degrees and two-year career and university transfer programs.
The University of British Columbia is a 37 minute commute, via Hwy 91A. Simon Fraser University is only an 18 minute commute via Gaglardi Way.
The Arts
Massey Theatre, on Eighth Avenue, is BC’s largest theatre. It is host to orchestras like the Vancouver Symphony, productions like Hello Dolly, South Pacific, 42nd Street and The King and I, and stars like singing sensation Jewel. The theatre has been home to community groups, competitions, festivals, student performances and performers of culturally diverse communities since 1949.
The Raymond Burr Performing Arts Centre re-opened its doors November 2011 to a cabaret style live show theatre with two stages. It is now home to Lafflines Comedy Club, as well as live music shows, variety shows, burlesque shows, fundraisers weddings.
New Westminster has three art galleries: The Gallery at Queen’s Park, by the Arts Council of New Westminster, The Community Art Space at Anvil Centre and Van Dop Gallery.
Recreation / Sports
In addition to 48 community parks, New Westminster offers exciting leisure activities, walking trails on which to unwind, and state-of-the-art recreation facilities.
New West provides a full range of fields, pitches and courts. Mercer Stadium has a full range of sporting surfaces. It is home to the Hyacks Football teams and the Vancouver Metro Soccer League.
Investing in New Westminster Real Estate
New Westminster is the fastest growing and most rapidly densifying city in the province. Urban planners are estimating the population will double over the next 20 years. With 25- to 29-year-old homebuyers making up 24% of the city’s population, New West has become the area’s new real estate darling.
In 2011, New Westminster had 30,586 private dwellings, an increase of 13.1% over the 2006 census. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased only 7.1%. For investors, the future looks very bright in New Westminster.
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