What are the negatives of living in kelowna??

[m field]

Hi we have recently been out to kelowna on a fact finding trip and mostly loved the place and have started the process for P.R. Although we know there are downsides toevery where,just wondered if anyone out there has just moved to kelowna and how they are getting on ????????? I have read a few peoples comments about not seeing Kelowna through rose tinted lenses anymore and would love any info at all. Inbox me if you like..

Thanks Maria

[mikecwm]

Originally Posted by m field

Hi we have recently been out to kelowna on a fact finding trip and mostly loved the place and have started the process for P.R. Although we know there are downsides toevery where,just wondered if anyone out there has just moved to kelowna and how they are getting on ????????? I have read a few peoples comments about not seeing Kelowna through rose tinted lenses anymore and would love any info at all. Inbox me if you like..

Thanks Maria

I'll be honest - I don't live in Kelowna, but I do visit there for work several times a year, so I get to compare it to Vancouver area where I live.
First negative thing I found is the traffic. Harvey avenue - which you need to use to get almost anywhere, seems to be perpetually busy.
Not something I expected in a small city (after getting used to Vancouver traffic).
At least the new Okanagan Lake bridge has eased some of the hold-ups getting to/from the Westshore.
Summers can be very hot - high 30s are not uncommon.
Winters can be very cold - minus 20s are common.
It is of course much sunnier than Vancouver, so that must help in winter.
House prices seem to be almost on a par with Vancouver, which would be a negative, unless you're selling and moving to somewhere like 100 Mile House.
Hopefully you'll get others from Kelowna to comment for you.
Most may be out enjoying the city and surrounding country to read Expat Forum though.
Good luck - It has to a vast improvement on almost anywhere in the UK (my original home).

[telcoman]

Real estate prices are the biggest negative. It can also be a a bit bleak in winter especially if you have seen the place in summer.

[denisevines]

Emigrated to Kelowna in feb 2006 from Lancashire, England. We live in West Kelowna across the bridge from kelowna. West Kelowna population around 30,000, Kelowna is 100,000 people. Roads can be busy in summer but by comparison to England, not too bad. Roads are quietier in winter as many of the older folks go south. Seasons are much more distinct than UK. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold but dry and you do get used to it. Choice of shops isn't great but the US is only an hour away. The ocasional weekend trips to Seattle are amazing and you have to pass some great outlet shopping malls! We brought lettersfor insurance from the UK which weren't accepted by ICBC so we had to start from 0 no claims which was expensive. Food shopping is expensive, petrol is much lower than UK and MOT's don't exist.

[m field]

Thanks for that - Would you return to the U.K then?? We live in Hull at the moment hoping to get out there in approx 18 months
Maria

[felicity82]

hi there, we moved to west kelowna also last week actually! Just in time for the tax rise on canada day! So we arrived for the 12% tax to go on everything. In honesty i wouldnt say Kelowna is any cheaper than the UK and although we did some research into prices, until you are here setting up a home it is hard to think what you will need to spend in reality. We got a shock when we realised that on the prices of the things in the stores or any purchases made online dont include tax and there are added taxes on things like TV for recycling on top of the usual 2 taxes. For expats the 12% is making it easier as before it varied between 7% and 14% so at least you can work that out. We also found that once we ordered a bulk of our furniture there is no such thing as free delivery, so that is worth baring in mind and hiring a truck might be a cheaper option. Other than that we love it here so far, the highway 97 is busy busy and busiest between 4-6 but to be honest if you can cope on uk roads this is nothing, they dont speed about acting stupid like alot of drivers on the road in UK. I would say the main thing you would need to do on arriving is hire a car or truck as you need to get about to see the area as its so beautiful.

To be honest if you watch your pennies until you are established, thats the cons out the window as far as i can see.

[m field]

Oh well good luck hope everything goes smoothly for you.. Would appreciate it if you would let me know any problems you come across?? We visited in May and am just in the process of applying for ~P.R.

Thanks Maria

[clint]

Originally Posted by m field

Hi we have recently been out to kelowna on a fact finding trip and mostly loved the place and have started the process for P.R. Although we know there are downsides toevery where,just wondered if anyone out there has just moved to kelowna and how they are getting on ????????? I have read a few peoples comments about not seeing Kelowna through rose tinted lenses anymore and would love any info at all. Inbox me if you like..

Thanks Maria

Hi, as an ex kelowna resident for 23 years,with children and parents in Kelowna, now residing in mexico , I can tell you that Kelowna has changed not the sleepy resort town it used to be but a city on the lake with all the crime problems you can imagine .
Cost of living has gone through the roof as well.,
On the surface all looks status quo but after living and working you will soon discover that all that glitters in not necessarily gold.
jk

[inutley]

Originally Posted by m field

Oh well good luck hope everything goes smoothly for you.. Would appreciate it if you would let me know any problems you come across?? We visited in May and am just in the process of applying for ~P.R.

Thanks Maria

Hi Maria,

We moved out from the UK to kelowna about 6 months ago with our family and are loving it. So far winters have not been bad at all - there was virtually no snow here in the valley (but about 3m up at Big White if you like skiing!), summer has been great - there is very little rain here compared to the Uk - I think we have probably had about 4-5 days of heavy rain since we got here, so you really can make the most of the outdoors. Given the current exchange rate, currently it makes it slightly more expensive to move but at about 1.8 CD to the pound you are on a par - above that i would say you are in profit. We find cost of groceries similar and a little cheaper to the uk overall - a lot of fruit and veg and meat is cheaper, but things like beer, wine and cereals are a little more expensive. Compared to most UK cities the driving and traffic here is not bad at all - I get across town from one end to the other in under half an hour in rush hour - but depends what you are used to. House prices are on the higher end for Canada but still good value compared to the UK - you can get a big 3000sqft house (4-5 beds) in a good part of town for about 300,000 pounds even at current exchange rates. Again, depends what you are used to from the UK (we lived in bristol). Eating out we find very reasonable, and do so with the family every week. I understand peoples comment on the crime situation here - like anywhere there are good and bad parts of town, but where we live we have never seen or heard of any trouble at all, but it does go on elsewhere. The police are always very visible here though, and I dont think it is particularly any worse than a reasonable size city in the UK. You will find vehicle insurance expensive (but that applies in most parts of USA/Canada), but if you can bring agood no claims history from the UK that helps to keep it down -but you just make sure you have records of every year of your insurance - a simple 5 years no claims letter will not do. I work in the construction industry and can send you some contacts for plumbing companies if you like, there are lots here in the valley, and work is pretty reasonable at the moment, so you should have some luck.
Regards
Ian

[m field]

Hi Ian
Oh Great sounds like your enjoying yourself's. We live in Hull so housing will be much cheaper than Bristol i presume. But you know we just feel we have to give it a go in Kelowna we have spoke about emigrating for so long and as long as my hubby can get a decent job we should be fine. Any plumbing/gas contacts would be fantastic. We have filled out the P.R forms but have had a last minute decision to apply for jobs first in hope of getting a job offer and coming on a temp. visa first. We thought this would be quicker, but then from what i have read this is hard to do from the U.K. But we thought we would give it a try for 6-8 weeks and then if we dont have any luck put in the P.R visas.
Which part of Kelowna do you live in?? We liked the Mission area but obviously will have to look at what we can afford.
Thanks for your info.
Maria