False Creek Flats
A former industrial area, False Creek Flats has undergone massive changes in recent years. For starters, thousands of new jobs in tech, digital media and healthcare have moved into the area.
“This is a major area that the city is focusing on in terms of job growth,” Dragasanu explains. “There's about 600 businesses and about 8,000 jobs in the region. The City is looking to increase that from 8,000 jobs to over 30,000 jobs in the next 20 years."
This dramatic job growth means property owners in Mount Pleasant are set to see home values rise as demand to live here increases. Good news if you already own here, but what about for people who are looking to buy in the near future?
Dragasanu says the time to act is now. "When we're looking at buying real estate, especially as someone who's a first-time buyer or trying to build their wealth through real estate, you want to look at an area where you have a lot of infrastructure growth. That's certainly what Mount Pleasant has more than any other area in Vancouver."
Entry-level condos are becoming increasingly popular around the False Creek Flats area, including junior one-bedrooms - smaller units that start around 450 to 500 square feet.
Main Street
The area around Main and Broadway is arguably Mount Pleasant’s most vibrant. Boutique stores sit next to Michelin-starred restaurants and award-winning microbreweries. Newer condo buildings line the street, creating options for first-time buyers and investors.
“A lot of young professionals who are just wanting to be in an up and coming neighbourhood move here,” says Dragasanu. “We see a lot of people who live around here really value that lifestyle aspect - they want to stay central to where their community is and be able to walk and bike everywhere."
The Main Street corridor is surrounded by residential areas. As you head south, you start seeing more variety in the housing stock - a mix of older condos, townhomes, older homes that have been stratified and detached properties.
Mt. Pleasant Park
On the southern edge of the neighbourhood, you’ll find Mount Pleasant Park, a grassy community hangout with a playground, picnic tables, a community garden and a skate park. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking this area is primarily made up of single-family homes. But many of these beautiful older properties have been stratified and now contain between two and five units.
“What you've been able to do is preserve the character and the residential feel of this neighbourhood while adding more density in a very sensible way,” says Dragasanu. “I actually think it's one of the most interesting neighbourhoods in Vancouver because of that."
This push for densification also has an impact on prices. Detached homes around here could go for up to $5 million, whereas a two-bedroom stratified unit might be closer to $1.5 million.
“I think this is a stepping stone for young buyers with families,” Dragasanu explains. “It's also a stepping stone for downsizers who want to be able to stay in the neighbourhood but don't want the maintenance of a big house."
Our Guide
Adina Dragasanu
Oakwyn Realty Ltd.
Bio
If you’ve been following the RealTours journey, you should already recognize Adina Dragasanu. She took part in a pilot episode of the series last summer, exploring the Cambie neighbourhood. She did such an incredible job that bringing her back for Season One was an easy decision.
With over 14 years of experience, Dragasanu is someone you want at your side wherever you are in your homeseeking journey. The former Mount Pleasant resident got into real estate fresh out of university, despite some reservations from her parents.
“My parents put a lot of effort into getting me to university,” she remembers. “I had some big internships working in marketing roles, but what I found when I was working in marketing was that I wasn't as connected to the people I was working with as I wanted to be.”
That connection to her clients is a huge part of Dragasanu’s success. She doesn’t believe a client relationship ends when a home is purchased. Instead, it’s about building a plan for the future.
“A great realtor will help you assess your options, understand the trade offs and really understand which of those options are going to best help you get to where you want to be, not just now but in three, five, ten years from now."
More about Adina Dragasanu
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If you're looking to get into the market and work your way up, I think Mount Pleasant is one of the best places to start.
Adina Dragasanu
Oakwyn Realty Ltd.
Living Here
Agent’s Pick: Duplex on E10th Avenue
McLaren Drive in Webster
For a taste of life in Mount Pleasant, we stop at this newly-built duplex on 10th Avenue. Located on the former site of a detached home, this new property features front and back units and is one of the larger homes of its kind nearby with around 1,800 square feet.
Newer duplexes, especially ones with four bedrooms like this one, do come at a premium, often costing as much as older detached homes in the same neighborhood.
Each episode, RealTours host Stephen Tadgh shares his personal take on the communities he visits and the people who guide him along the way.
In 2022, Adina was the first realtor who ever took part in an episode of RealTours. Back then, it was one camera and one photographer to capture the content of the day. We were a rag tag bunch of misfits and Adina was our leader, educating and entertaining like she was born to be on camera.
It feels special to be able to wrap up Season One of RealTours back with Adina. Sure we had some more cameras and better audio this time around, but Adina was as amazing as she was in our pilot. This time she took on the established community of Mt Pleasant, a neighbourhood full of culture and life.
This episode is a lesson in what makes the heart of this city tick, and an example of how a millennial like me can actually afford to buy a house in this day and age. Adina oozes confidence and trust, and I for one am excited to continue the adventure with her when my time finally does come to buy in Canada.
