There are certain cities people visit once and never really forget.

Vancouver is one of them.

If you are here for the FIFA World Cup, there is a good chance you came for the soccer. But somewhere between the ocean, the mountains, the seawall, the restaurants, the neighbourhoods and the overall pace of life, you may find yourself asking a bigger question.

Could I actually live here?

It is a question I have heard many times over the years.

People come to Greater Vancouver for work, school, family, a holiday or sometimes just a short visit. Then they start noticing the lifestyle. You can be downtown in the morning, on a mountain trail in the afternoon and at the ocean by evening. There are very few places in the world where that combination feels so natural.

That does not mean Vancouver is perfect. It is expensive. Housing can be competitive. The weather can be grey for long stretches. And if you are coming from outside Canada, buying real estate here is not always straightforward.

But for many people, the appeal is very real.

Why Vancouver Gets Under Your Skin

Greater Vancouver is not just one city. It is a collection of communities, each with its own feel.

Vancouver itself offers the downtown lifestyle, beaches, restaurants, culture and walkability. Burnaby gives you central access with major town centres and SkyTrain connections. Coquitlam and Port Moody offer more space, parks, trails, schools and a strong family feel while still being connected to the city. Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and the Fraser Valley all have their own advantages depending on lifestyle, budget and priorities.

That is one of the things people do not always understand when they first arrive.

You do not have to live right downtown to enjoy Vancouver.

In fact, many people who move here eventually choose the surrounding communities because they want more space, better value, quieter streets, access to schools or a more family-oriented neighbourhood.

Can Visitors Buy Real Estate Here?

This is where things get important.

If you are visiting Canada and you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may not be able to purchase residential real estate right now because of Canada’s foreign buyer rules.

The federal foreign buyer ban has been extended to January 1, 2027. There are exemptions, including some situations involving permanent residents, qualifying work permits and certain other categories, but it is not something you should guess your way through.

In British Columbia, there may also be an additional foreign buyer property transfer tax in areas such as Metro Vancouver.

So, no, most visitors cannot simply arrive for the World Cup, fall in love with Vancouver and buy a home the next day.

But that does not mean the conversation ends there.

The Better Question Is: Are You Planning to Build a Life Here?

If you are seriously thinking about moving to Canada, the right approach is to understand the process early.

That may include immigration planning, employment, schools, financing, timing, neighbourhood selection and understanding what your money buys in different parts of Greater Vancouver.

Real estate should not be looked at in isolation.

A home purchase is connected to where you work, how you commute, whether you need schools, whether you want walkability, whether you need transit, whether you prefer a condo, townhouse or detached home and what kind of lifestyle you are trying to create.

That is where local advice matters.

Online listings can show you prices. They cannot properly explain why one side of a street may be more desirable than another, why two homes with similar square footage may sell for very different prices or why a certain community may be a better fit for your family than another.

What Should You Do If You Are Thinking About Moving Here?

Start with information.

Do not start by falling in love with one property online.

Start by understanding the areas, the rules, the price points and the process. Then determine whether buying is something you can do now, something you should prepare for later or something that only makes sense once your immigration or residency situation is clear.

For some people, renting first may be the right move.

For others, the path may involve becoming a permanent resident or qualifying under one of the available exemptions. Some buyers may be looking months or years ahead. That is completely fine. Good real estate decisions are rarely made in a rush.

Greater Vancouver Is Not One Market

One of the biggest mistakes people make is treating Vancouver real estate as one market.

It is not.

A downtown condo buyer, a Coquitlam family moving for schools, a Port Moody buyer looking for lifestyle, a Burnaby buyer wanting transit and an investor looking at long-term rental demand are all making very different decisions.

The right property depends on the person.

That is why I always start with the bigger picture. Budget matters, but lifestyle matters too. So does timing, financing, commute, future plans and resale value.

Thinking About Staying?

If the World Cup introduced you to Vancouver and you are now wondering whether you could eventually call this place home, you are not alone.

It happens more often than people think.

The key is getting proper advice before you make assumptions. There are rules around foreign ownership, taxes, financing and eligibility that need to be understood before you start looking seriously.

If you are considering a move to Greater Vancouver, I am happy to help you understand the local market, the different communities and what the process may look like depending on your situation.

You may not be ready to buy today.

But if Vancouver is starting to feel like more than just a place you visited, it is worth having the conversation.