So you’re ready to buy a new home and it needs to be perfect for you and your family. You want a place that has everything you need now as well as something you can grow into long term. You’ve made a list outlining your criteria but with so many options, which area should you choose?!

We’re going to look at 4 great areas of the Fraser Valley that we think you should definitely consider when making your decision!

Surrey

Let’s start with Surrey! Surrey’s thriving, but why?

Housing here is more affordable than Vancouver – yet you can still find all of the amenities you’d find in the city. You definitely get more value for your dollar here and Surrey offers tons of homes that are situated close to everything your family needs – shopping, restaurants, recreation, parks and great schools.

And if you WORK in Vancouver?  Or maybe you just want to visit the city for the night, catch a concert downtown or walk the seawall, the HUGE perk of Surrey is that they have the Skytrain system. It’s the fastest and easiest way to get right downtown in the mix!

Langley

Langley is the fastest growing city in the Lower Mainland with a population of around 120,000!

With the low crime rate and just a 30 minute drive from Vancouver, Langley has all of the amenities you and your family will need! It has great shopping with Willowbrook Mall undergoing a large recent expansion, to the Langley Events Centre, host of some of the Fraser Valley’s best sports teams like the Vancouver Giants, to the famous historical site of Fort Langley.

Langley is also home to some of the Fraser Valley’s most impressive outdoor spaces such as Campbell Valley Park which has a sprawling network of trails and the Campbell Valley Equestrian Society for all you horse enthusiasts.

Maple Ridge

Let’s go across the bridge now and talk about Maple Ridge!

Just a 30 minute drive from Vancouver and located between the Fraser River and beautiful mountains, it’s a great mix of urban amenities and a nature lover’s paradise!

For the outdoor enthusiasts, Maple Ridge is home to lots of hiking trails and beautiful lakes and rivers such Pitt Lake, Pitt River and Alouette Lake!  For those who prefer to spend time on the golf course, there’s also the World Class Golft Course, Swan-E-Set Bay Resort and Country Club!

Lastly, Maple Ridge has one of the best transit options in the Lower Mainland with their West Coast Express train that goes directly to downtown Vancouver!

If you haven’t already visited Maple Ridge, then it’s definitely worth checking out.

Abbotsford

Known as the “City in the Country”, Abbotsford is exactly that!

You can enjoy all the offerings of a large city including tons of restaurants and shopping such as the High Street Mall with its VIP Theatre!  They also have a world class concert arena, the Abbotsford Centre as well as the Abbotsford International Airport!

But there’s still that country feel with farm tours, country markets and artisan shops.

And the outdoor enthusiast can enjoy the many trails for hiking and mountain biking, such as the famous Discovery Trail.

Homes are even MORE affordable and the community is very family friendly with tons of great schools and lots of extracurricular activities for the kids of all ages.

And after high school they could go to the fantastic University of the Fraser Valley, the Vancouver Career College, and much more.

Hope you guys found this information helpful and if you have any other questions about any of the cities I just mentioned, please feel free to give me a call!

Looking forward to helping you find your next home!