After toying with the idea for years and coming pretty close to making the move several years ago, my family and I decided to start seriously looking at homes in Kelowna two years ago. Like so many families, Covid-19 hitting our country hard in 2020 and the uncertainty and changes to our lifestyle was sort of the deciding factor. As much as we loved living in a beautiful city, in a great neighbourhood like Mt. Pleasant with parks, restaurants, schools, shops, entertainment and amenities all within walking distance, Covid had put a damper on many elements of our lifestyle and we were craving more space and a big yard for family gatherings. The convenience of living in an urban townhome with no yard work was great but we felt it was finally time for a change. After months of house hunting—and a couple of failed offers—we bought our home in Glenmore in 2020. It was a hectic time, and like many out-of-town buyers, we made the offer sight unseen. The market was beginning to heat up, and after a WhatsApp video walkthrough with our realtor we got our offer accepted and were on our way to moving to the Okanagan. I travelled to Kelowna from Vancouver a few days later with one of our children to actually view the home in person, do the home inspection, and some other errands.

Up the Coquihalla: Moving to Kelowna from Vancouver

There are some important differences between big city Vancouver and the Okanagan paradise and one of the fastest growing cities in Canada:

Living in Kelowna, you’ll find:

An ideally-sized city with diverse charm - Kelowna has changed a lot in recent years and is being influenced by the Okanagan, Calgary, Vancouver, California, and international cultures.
Great access to nature (Lake Okanagan, beaches, other lakes, mountains, and hiking trails) - Similar to Vancouver / all of Beautiful British Columbia.
Great food and superb wine - Plenty of options in a growing foodie city. The beer scene isn’t as good as Vancouver’s but the wine scene is 1000x better.
Four distinct seasons - Colder winter, hotter summer, and a lot less rain than Vancouver.
A healthy economy - There’s money flowing into the Okanagan as it’s a vibrant and attractive place to live with growing and thriving industries.

Affordability.

Although home prices in Kelowna (and throughout the province, really) have skyrocketed in the past 2 years, real estate in Kelowna is still significantly more affordable that in Vancouver.
The cost of living is about the same in both cities.

Amenities make this city work well.

An international airport - YLW is easier to navigate than YVR; fly direct to Vancouver, Seattle, Toronto or Montreal. Direct flights to Mexico and other international destinations will likely resume going forward.
Excellent hospital and medical services - KGH is one of the largest hospitals in Western Canada.
A safe and modern road network - Everything is close here (compared to Vancouver). If you live centrally in Kelowna, like we do, it truly feels like everything’s a 10 minute drive. And compared to Vancouver, it’s easy to find parking wherever you go. There are some traffic concerns, mainly around Hwy 97 and the bridge, but there are also plans to improve transportation.
Improving transit and infrastructure - Comparing Vancouver and Kelowna’s public transit systems is like comparing apples to oranges, just because of the sheer number of people living in the Lower Mainland; same goes for cycling infrastructure. Kelowna’s infrastructure is improving though. Bike trails, routes and improved density and smart city planning moving forward.
Best shopping in the region - Many of the big national brands are here, and there are some nice retail shopping areas in downtown and throughout the city.
Big White Ski Resort - A great family-friendly ski resort that’s less than an hour away.
Ideal location - Kelowna is the centre of the Okanagan, geographically, making it a short drive to Vernon or Penticton.

It’s only 4 hours from Vancouver.

Proximity was a big factor for our family in making the decision to move, as we’re comfortable knowing Vancouver is close enough that we can make the drive at almost a moment’s notice. We can spontaneously decide to visit one evening, leave the next morning, and be in Vancouver with our friends and family by lunchtime.
There are several flights between YLW and YVR daily.

Kelowna is our home, too.

Before moving to Kelowna, it was truly a second home for our family. We got married here and were visiting 4-5 times a year for over 10 years. Our familiarity with the Lower Mainland/Coast and Okanagan/Interior means we’re the best home inspectors to help with your move.
We understand the importance that climate, construction methods and lifestyle have when inspecting homes in each region, and we employ this experience while inspecting your home.
We love working with out-of-town clients and our strong communication abilities and desire to use technology allow us to consistently exceed our clients’ expectations.

Moving to Kelowna is easy—mostly!

Kelowna’s a welcoming community and we’ve found Kelownians to be friendlier than Vancouverites. Maybe it’s because our old neighbourhood was was a transit crossroads, or because it was sometimes full of tourists, but we’ve found the people in Kelowna to be a bit more welcoming.
One real obstacle to moving can be winter road conditions. The highway can be unpredictable so you could face delays with the moving truck being able to get your belongings over the most treacherous sections of the highway.
We have relationships with several service providers who can make your transition a smooth one. We’ve made the move recently and are happy to share our specific experiences and make referrals or recommendations you might need.