Cranbrook, BC ...Good place to live?

trex300 · 12-01-2011, 06:13 PM

I'm a Journeyman steel fabricator by trade and a job came up in Cranbrook that made me start to think about a move to the Kootenays.

I currently live in the lower mainland and find it to be a little too fast paced and expensive. Having relocated here 6 years ago from a small town in Northern Ontario I find I'm missing the small town way of life.

Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of living in Cranbrook on a year round basis? Not much info on their website and can't getaway for a bike ride til spring.

Cheers,
Rick

shuswap biker · 12-01-2011, 06:24 PM

It is dang cold there compared to the lower mainland!!!

Great outdoor area, hunting, fishing, camping , riding both bike and sled.

Mercenary · 12-01-2011, 06:33 PM

Never lived there but I've been there quite a few times. Sure is a nice area of the province to be in....

Right in the middle of the best BC has to offer as far as riding is concerned IMO...

250senuf · 12-01-2011, 06:34 PM

Here's a link to a weather snapshot:
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/alman...nac_e.html?yxc

On that page is another link that lets you explore their climate some more.

It's a fairly dry region compared to the lower mainland

trex300 · 12-01-2011, 06:37 PM

Coming from Northern Ontario ice fishing and cold are good things

I'm more looking for info on housing costs, crime, & quality of life.

Feel free to sell me on the place.

250senuf · 12-01-2011, 07:14 PM

City population 20,000 with another 6,000 close by. (just happened to hear that on the radio just now)
Policing - RCMP.

You having a job opportunity there would be a big plus.

Google "houses for sale in Cranbrook" for an idea on prices.

Post up on DSBC, there a few members in the Cranbrook area:
http://www.dualsportbc.com/forums/
Someone will chime in.

R.J. · 12-01-2011, 07:35 PM

I grew up in Cranbrook and still have family there. Overall, Cranbrook offers a good quality of life. It is a family oriented town that changes little over time. I expect that compared to the lower mainland, housing prices are very reasonable. Cranbrook is big enough to find a range of housing arrangements from apartments to acreages.
While I was glad to get out of Cranbrook as a teenager, I have always held that it is a great community to raise a family. There are lots of parks and the schools are decent (or at least they were). For the most part, Cranbrook has everything you need; basic shopping, schools, services and a regional hospital. During summer it gets quite busy, especially on the strip, with a lot of transient traffic. The only drawback is that Cranbrook is a ways away from major medical centers, universities and shopping. For major medical emergencies or procedures patients are usually taken to Calgary or Vancouver. On the plus side, there is excellent hiking, biking, skiing, hunting and fishing very close by.
The climate is quite dry with relatively mild winters. I don't recall it ever getting much below -30 on absolute coldest days and being somewhere around -10 to -15 on an average winter day. Snowfall can be minimal or heavy depending upon the year. Summers are often hot and dry with microburst thunder storms. In the dry years forest fires are a concern and a threat to the air quality. Summers have been cooler with more precipitation over the last few years. Motorcycling around the East Kootenay area is exceptional with lots of nice paved roads and some fantastic dirt roads and logging trails.

If it was me, I'd go in a heartbeat. Good luck with your decision.

Bayner · 12-01-2011, 07:50 PM

Coming from Northern Ont you'd find it quite familiar I think. Better scenery of course.

trex300 · 12-01-2011, 07:53 PM

Wow, really didn't expect so many worthwhile replies so quickly, I sincerely appreciate your replys about an area of the province I've never been to.

Would an average house be in the $150,000 - $200,000 range?

A detached 2-3 bdrm bungalow starts at $250,000 & up here and that's not a very nice house IMO. Gets more expensive the closer you get to Vancouver.

OurBC · 12-01-2011, 08:17 PM

From what I remember Cranbrook gets the highest amount of sunshine hours in BC. If you like hunting elk it is good in the Cranbrook area. Skiing and snowboarding are also good and real estate is a lot less than the Lower Mainland. Calgary is fairly close for all your major shopping like Costco etc.

Steve G. · 12-01-2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trex300

I'm a Journeyman steel fabricator by trade and a job came up in Cranbrook that made me start to think about a move to the Kootenays.

I currently live in the lower mainland and find it to be a little too fast paced and expensive. Having relocated here 6 years ago from a small town in Northern Ontario I find I'm missing the small town way of life.

Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of living in Cranbrook on a year round basis? Not much info on their website and can't getaway for a bike ride til spring.

Cheers,
Rick

I live in Surrey, work in Abbotsford, and work alot in Chilliwack. IMO, moving to the Kootenays would be a serious step up,,,,Chilliwack is a serious fucking pit! Honestly, out in the eastern valley, it rains seemingly continuously, friggin' rain, wind,,,,and all the welfare scuzz that can't afford to live in Surrey & Langley have moved there,,,,I feel sorry for the place. Sorry.

Steve

RodSTer · 12-01-2011, 10:36 PM

Lived in Cranbrook for 18 years, we really miss the proximity to great riding and snowmobiling. 20 minutes and you are a world away.

The city itself offers all the basics and the health care is better now than it has ever been. House prices there are going to be high than you hoped, I think the last average I heard was around 225,000.

My folks have retired there and I still go back every couple weeks for work, so if you have some specific questions drop me a PM and I'll be happy to get you info.

Deadly99 · 12-02-2011, 02:25 AM

I'd recommend living in Kimberly and comutting to work in Cranbrock.

ZZR_Ron · 12-02-2011, 05:14 AM

I always liked Kimberly.

edwin · 12-02-2011, 07:48 AM

look up houses on MLS....no, 200k wont get you much more than a trailer....no that there is anything wrong with a trailer. here in the koots alll heck broke loose in 2005 ish when home prices went to the moon, but i suppose there has been "some" slackening of prices since 2008.
cran is alright. certainly good motorcycling opps. nice xc skiing. good hikes (longish drives to get to), natural hot springs not TOO far away, ski hill a short drive (kimberley), nice mtn biking, lakes....
do it....it is a good first (or final) step into the rockies.
rock on

12-01-2011, 06:13 PM	#1
trex300 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada Oddometer: 87	Cranbrook, BC ...Good place to live? I'm a Journeyman steel fabricator by trade and a job came up in Cranbrook that made me start to think about a move to the Kootenays. I currently live in the lower mainland and find it to be a little too fast paced and expensive. Having relocated here 6 years ago from a small town in Northern Ontario I find I'm missing the small town way of life. Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of living in Cranbrook on a year round basis? Not much info on their website and can't getaway for a bike ride til spring. Cheers, Rick __________________ Toys: '08 Honda XL1000V '08 King Quad 450

12-01-2011, 06:33 PM	#3
Mercenary Mindless Savage Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Ft St John, BC Canada Oddometer: 869	Never lived there but I've been there quite a few times. Sure is a nice area of the province to be in.... Right in the middle of the best BC has to offer as far as riding is concerned IMO... __________________ 2008 DR 650 We can handle it....We're Canadian

12-01-2011, 06:34 PM	#4
250senuf Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Kootenai, BC, Canada Oddometer: 1,724	Here's a link to a weather snapshot: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/alman...nac_e.html?yxc On that page is another link that lets you explore their climate some more. It's a fairly dry region compared to the lower mainland __________________ Not all who wonder are confused " I say VW's are like VD.....once you get a good one, it's hard to get rid of." oldmonkeybut

12-01-2011, 06:37 PM	#5
trex300 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada Oddometer: 87	Coming from Northern Ontario ice fishing and cold are good things I'm more looking for info on housing costs, crime, & quality of life. Feel free to sell me on the place. __________________ Toys: '08 Honda XL1000V '08 King Quad 450

12-01-2011, 07:14 PM	#6
250senuf Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Kootenai, BC, Canada Oddometer: 1,724	City population 20,000 with another 6,000 close by. (just happened to hear that on the radio just now) Policing - RCMP. You having a job opportunity there would be a big plus. Google "houses for sale in Cranbrook" for an idea on prices. Post up on DSBC, there a few members in the Cranbrook area: http://www.dualsportbc.com/forums/ Someone will chime in. __________________ Not all who wonder are confused " I say VW's are like VD.....once you get a good one, it's hard to get rid of." oldmonkeybut

12-01-2011, 06:24 PM	#2
shuswap biker Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2011 Oddometer: 158	It is dang cold there compared to the lower mainland!!! Great outdoor area, hunting, fishing, camping , riding both bike and sled.

12-01-2011, 07:35 PM	#7
R.J. split personality Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Refinery Row Oddometer: 1,066	I grew up in Cranbrook and still have family there. Overall, Cranbrook offers a good quality of life. It is a family oriented town that changes little over time. I expect that compared to the lower mainland, housing prices are very reasonable. Cranbrook is big enough to find a range of housing arrangements from apartments to acreages. While I was glad to get out of Cranbrook as a teenager, I have always held that it is a great community to raise a family. There are lots of parks and the schools are decent (or at least they were). For the most part, Cranbrook has everything you need; basic shopping, schools, services and a regional hospital. During summer it gets quite busy, especially on the strip, with a lot of transient traffic. The only drawback is that Cranbrook is a ways away from major medical centers, universities and shopping. For major medical emergencies or procedures patients are usually taken to Calgary or Vancouver. On the plus side, there is excellent hiking, biking, skiing, hunting and fishing very close by. The climate is quite dry with relatively mild winters. I don't recall it ever getting much below -30 on absolute coldest days and being somewhere around -10 to -15 on an average winter day. Snowfall can be minimal or heavy depending upon the year. Summers are often hot and dry with microburst thunder storms. In the dry years forest fires are a concern and a threat to the air quality. Summers have been cooler with more precipitation over the last few years. Motorcycling around the East Kootenay area is exceptional with lots of nice paved roads and some fantastic dirt roads and logging trails. If it was me, I'd go in a heartbeat. Good luck with your decision.

12-01-2011, 07:50 PM	#8
Bayner Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Penticton, BC Oddometer: 1,237	Coming from Northern Ont you'd find it quite familiar I think. Better scenery of course.

12-01-2011, 07:53 PM	#9
trex300 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada Oddometer: 87	Wow, really didn't expect so many worthwhile replies so quickly, I sincerely appreciate your replys about an area of the province I've never been to. Would an average house be in the $150,000 - $200,000 range? A detached 2-3 bdrm bungalow starts at $250,000 & up here and that's not a very nice house IMO. Gets more expensive the closer you get to Vancouver. __________________ Toys: '08 Honda XL1000V '08 King Quad 450

12-01-2011, 08:17 PM	#10
OurBC Live to Travel Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Oddometer: 305	Sunshine From what I remember Cranbrook gets the highest amount of sunshine hours in BC. If you like hunting elk it is good in the Cranbrook area. Skiing and snowboarding are also good and real estate is a lot less than the Lower Mainland. Calgary is fairly close for all your major shopping like Costco etc. __________________ +

12-01-2011, 10:36 PM	#12
RodSTer Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Kamloops, BC Oddometer: 63	Cranbrook Lived in Cranbrook for 18 years, we really miss the proximity to great riding and snowmobiling. 20 minutes and you are a world away. The city itself offers all the basics and the health care is better now than it has ever been. House prices there are going to be high than you hoped, I think the last average I heard was around 225,000. My folks have retired there and I still go back every couple weeks for work, so if you have some specific questions drop me a PM and I'll be happy to get you info. __________________ Rod Schween Kamloops, BC IBA #418

12-02-2011, 02:25 AM	#13
Deadly99 Fast and Far Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Merrickville, Canada Oddometer: 6,829	I'd recommend living in Kimberly and comutting to work in Cranbrock. __________________ *www.GravelTravel.ca Canadas Source For Overland Routes* Tales From The Bivouac Rally Print Publications *TCAT Trans Canadian Adventure Trail 15, 000 km GPS route across Canada*

12-02-2011, 05:14 AM	#14
ZZR_Ron Underground Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada Oddometer: 7,480	I always liked Kimberly. __________________ Great minds think alike;small minds seldom differ...

12-02-2011, 07:48 AM	#15
edwin Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2010 Location: the Valley of the Elk, BC Oddometer: 200	look up houses on MLS....no, 200k wont get you much more than a trailer....no that there is anything wrong with a trailer. here in the koots alll heck broke loose in 2005 ish when home prices went to the moon, but i suppose there has been "some" slackening of prices since 2008. cran is alright. certainly good motorcycling opps. nice xc skiing. good hikes (longish drives to get to), natural hot springs not TOO far away, ski hill a short drive (kimberley), nice mtn biking, lakes.... do it....it is a good first (or final) step into the rockies. rock on __________________ 2002 bmw f 650 dakar (wicked) 1977 honda GL 1000 g-wing (bye Grace, fly) 1983 honda cbx 550 fc (marlin's now) 1974 honda cb 550 (R.i.P. vanessa)

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