.4% Vacancy Rate - The apartment hunt

You decide to move.

You pick the moving date.

You pack your things.

You have farewell parties.

You plan for the trip.

You plan for your new life.

You dream about the new place where you will life.

You move to your new city.

You discover that there is .4% vacancy rate.

.4%...

at least it is not 0% right?

So apartment hunting you go. Originally this was supposed to be the one piece that just fell into place. But at .4% vacancy rate of apartments. It is not just piece that will fall into place.

So the networking begins - I send out a email to the list serve connected with my work. No one has any leads. No one. I am glued to craigslist every day. I wake up to craigslist. My lunch break is craigslist. My evening is craiglist. Everything that isn't work is looking for a place to live.

I try everything. I post in the housing wanted space (it worked in San Fran!). I talk to everyone I meet. I check every other apartment rental site. I check craigslist again.

I had my heart set on a one bedroom so I could have guests come visit with no problem. I looked everywhere from Point Grey to Nanaimo, Downtown and the Drive, Main Street to Granville. My asks weren't over the top - a one bedroom between $800-1200, south facing windows (to get any sun that might be available), a balcony, near a cool neighborhood with easy access to public transportation and pet friendly, just in case I decided to get a cat. Just in case. I soon learned that I was going to have to give up most of my hopes if not all of them.

Don't get me wrong - there were apartments available, but the competition was over the top. Housing is in its highest demand in Vancouver in July and August as students are returning back and looking for apartments. They come with their parents who can beat the single lady moving from California credit score any day. There are basement apartments that are dark, low ceilings (like I had to duck low or should have just worn my helmet low), right under a happy family with toddlers running around, and often times the smell of mold sneaking through the stringent cleaners that were just used. Or there were the one bedroom lofts available for some $2000 plus. Outrageous!

Thank goodness for my scooter. I would schedule 3 -4 apartment visits in an evening. I met so many people. I saw so much of the city. I learned the streets, the neighborhoods, discovered hidden hole in the wall restaurants (and as most of you know, that is like gold in the making Heidi happy category), met random strangers, had drinks with them, made alliances in trying to help each other find a place to live.

Three weeks I searched and searched. I did have a vision of the apartment that would find me. And I had faith that the moment I walked into the apartment that would be mine, I would know. And I convinced myself, no matter how desperate I was to hold out for that feeling. My home is going to be the core of my comfort and foundation in this new city. I must love coming home.

I gave up on the one bedroom idea and started to looked at shared space. I found this awesome apartment in the West End that looked over the water and you could watch the sun set over the ocean. Amazing! The girl and I connected in great ways. The challenges were that the apartment was small and my room was tiny. There was no way I could fit all my stuff plus two bikes. I left there feeling good. I then went to Kitsilano to meet another woman offering a room in a two bedroom. It was cozy with a back yard and oh so green. The kitchen was open and inviting and she had a funny cat that made me laugh. She was a musician and we got along splendidly. The challenges were that it was in Kits (think a weird mix of Marina and Haight - hippies that are into their labels and shopping!?), but cute hood, the room was a little dark and it all came furnished so I would have to store all my stuff. Then I went to check out a huge flat on Commercial Drive at 11th. The apartment was huge and the rent dirt cheap. There was even a spare bedroom for guests. I was there for 3 hours chatting with the lady drinking beers with a splash of Klamato juice (yum!). The lady was cool, she had some issues, but cool. And there was the hugest of huge patios! The challenge was that I could tell she had some funny issues and didn't want a bunch of stuff. I would have to keep all my stuff in my room, though there was no furniture in the living room. To get compromise would be a challenge.

I walked away from that day of shared apartments with my head spinning. They were all great potentials, but still had their challenges. I was desperate to find a place and needed to decide. I told them all I was interested, but they could keep interviewing. I went away to the wedding in Houston. The Downtown girl emailed saying - 'You are awesome. I have never connected with such an honest, candid, fun, positive person. I would love it if you moved in here.' Kits woman emailed - 'Great to meet you. Our values totally align and would love to have you as a roommate.' But I for some reason had decided on the Commercial lady's place, so I emailed and put the others on hold. No word. Called. No word. Emailed. No word. My first time in Canada really feeling the nicety they can put on, but the follow-thru is not so great.

Meanwhile I heard back from the other two saying they had filled their rooms. So once again, still looking for a place to live. I finally counted... 45 apartments in 3 weeks. I visited 45 apartments in 3 weeks and no promising leads. I was tired. I was feeling beat up. I was frustrated. But I continued.

I decided I would focus on the one neighborhood that I was the most excited about - Main Street. I searched and searched. There were few leads on craigslist. I spent my weekends scooting up down the streets in the neighborhood looking for vacancies. I would stop and call right away. Usually never hearing back. There was one place I saw with a vacancy that was great. I called. They called back to say that someone was playing a prank on them and that there weren't any units available. The next day I found a post for a unit near Main Street. I emailed. They emailed back. It sounded great. It ended up being right across the street from the apartment I liked the other day.

August 13, 2008: There was a couple leaving who had just toured the units (if it wasn't college students it was couples. And two incomes is always better than one in a landlord's eyes). So I become doubtful again. But as I chat with the Property Manager, Jason, I learn that he has been more discerning with who he is showing the apartment to than any other place I have seen and it turns out that there are two units available, not just one. One on the top floor (third floor) and one on the second floor with south facing windows. We go to the top floor one first. It was nice, interesting shape. Solid one bedroom. Best I had seen. Then we go to the second floor apartment... it has big south facing windows, great wood flooring and open kitchen that connects to the living room, a decent size bedroom, 3 closets and a storage locker downstairs for bikes and what not. This was it. My apartment. I knew it. I got chills. The windows were what I had envisioned. It was home. I told Jason I was very interested, gave him my references and to please keep me posted. He called my boss. He called my old roommate Colin. He called Bree. (there were 6 people and he chose those three). He called me. 'You having glowing reviews and get first pick. Which apartment?' The second floor one I say. I am shaking. I am so excited. I almost tear up. Turns out it was perfect. The other person they picked wanted the top floor. Later that night (8/14), I go back to the apartment, give my cash deposit and sign on the line. It was one of those days, better than a birthday. You know those days when you work so hard for something and you almost give up hope and then the dream comes true. It was one of those days. It felt amazing. Amazing! I had an apartment to live in come September 1st. phew. what a relief. All of a sudden I was lighter. much lighter. Happy. Relieved. At peace with my decision. All was right. All was good.

I found an apartment. I beat the .4% odds. 45 apartments in 3 weeks. I played the number game and won! I can't wait for September 1st!