Why Rent?

Did you know there are many advantages to being a first-time new home buyer?

There are government grants that can award you up to $10,000.

If you, as a couple, make less than $175,000 per year, you could win the whole shebang.

Just a few criteria. 1. This must be your first home. 2. The home must be new, or at least 90% renovated. (Ahem, Evan, ahem.) 3. You are residents of BC.

There are a few more examples they talk about on this website: First Time New Home Buyers' Criteria.

Not only can you get a big chunk of that 5% downpayment taken care of with this new grant, you can also enjoy the fact that you don't need to pay Transfer Tax on a New Home as a First-time Home Buyer.

That can save you an additional $6500 per year in taxes.

With mortgage rates at an incredibly low rate, it is possible to own a one-bedroom apartment at Evan for the same price that you are spending on your downtown crash pad.

Note those two little words: to own.

Now is the time to register for VIP access, simply log on to www.evanliving.com and click 'VIP access'. You could own a new home for as little as $269,900 per year.

A few benefits of owning at Evan:

1. It's a small community that's big on features.
2. It's close to downtown - no SkyTrain curfew.
3. 9' ceilings. Great if you are used to basement suites.
4. Lots of natural light.
5. Close to Main Street and all of the amenities of the hippest place in Vancouver.
6. Shared artist space - so you can meet and collaborate with other artistic minds on projects.
7. It's probably cheaper than your rent if you live somewhere cool.

Here’s What They’re Saying About Main Street

South Main Street (SoMa) has come a long way in the last twenty years to become one of the hippest places in all of Vancouver. It’s been a full-fledged cultural revolution with sleepy antique stores suddenly getting funky indie boutiques as neighbours, and crusty bars like the Biltmore getting a full-on makeover to become the place to be for live indie music.

Kingsgate (Sketchgate) mall was once a place to avoid at all costs. Now it’s surrounded by amazing sushi restaurants, more than four pho joints, and interesting local coffee shops named after philosophers. The once-industrial area lower than Broadway has undergone a radical shift as well. The dealerships and TV repair places have now all been replaced with galleries, vegan eateries, hip bars, and coffee shops.

Just by walking west on Broadway, you’ll find some of the best outdoor outfitters in the world, all nestled in a row, just waiting to rent you snowshoes, or hook you up with kayak gear, or those Vibram five-finger shoes. There’s a print shop, two Indian restaurants, and even a place to work on your tan.

The area has changed a lot since the nineties. And it keeps on evolving.  But don’t just take our word for how cool Main Street has become. This is what the papers are saying.

The Vancouver Sun has praised the cultural gems of Vancouver’s East Side Cultural Crawl, where artists and artisans showcase their wares and offer a rare glimpse into their studios. It’s a step into another world, one where art and ambition intersect.

In another article, Sun talks about the rare finds you can get at the antique shops along Main. In one example, a man bought a Tiffany lamp, and sold it soon after at Sothebys for a $53,000 profit.

News 1130 raved about the Main Street Vinyl Record Fair on East 17^th. Here you can buy, sell, or trade your vinyl records with other DJs and retro enthusiasts.

And finally, just a few months ago, the Vancouver Sun ran an article about how the modern meets vintage feel of Southern Main made it one of the friendliest neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

So, is Evan a great place to live? Don’t ask us. Ask the neighbours.

Vegan Restaurants Near Evan

One of the best things about Main Street is its restaurants 

Main has something to cater to every appetite and lifestyle. In subsequent posts we'll talk about all of the great pho places (there are four on Broadway alone), Chinese food restaurants, sushi joints (Sushi Yama on Broadway is fantastic), and even Singaporean, Indian and Jamaican - all within walking distance of Evan.

But for now, let's talk about one thing that really makes SoMa unique. Its vegan restaurants. Even if you are not a vegan yourself, it's fun to try something different. And if you are vegan, you won't need to worry about haunting the same place every night. There are plenty of delicious options.

One Block Away

Kranky Kafe - is actually more vegetarian, but they have many vegan and gluten-free options, and they are like, one block away.

Two Blocks From Evan

Cafe Nuba - Offers authentic vegan Lebanese cuisine. They are on 146 E. 3rd Ave.

Three Blocks From Evan

Organic Lives - This amazingly healthy restaurant even takes vegan a step further, offering a raw food menu.

Four Blocks From Evan

The Foundation on 2301 Main Street is mere steps from Evan. Licenced and open until 1 am, it is a great meeting place for likeminded folks that prefer the same watering holes.

Budgie Burritos on 44 Kingsway offers delicious vegan burritos. The vibe is cool. And the staff are tapped into the scene.

The Wallflower on 2420 Main Street is a funky place that will take you back to 1969. The music is great, the walls are cool, and the menu is split between vegan and otherwise.

Five Blocks From Evan

Then we get into a few Indian restaurants that have vegan dishes such as Nirvana and the Chutney Villa as well as the Rhizome Cafe a few steps further.

Also, if you want to jump on your bike and go a little farther than a measly five blocks, there are literally dozens of vegan options for you along Main Street and down Broadway.

Affordable Living!

And who said that there is no affordable housing in cool places in Vancouver?

Evan Living offers modern, artistic apartments starting from $264,000. In fact 90 percent of its suites are being sold at less than $325,900. That is fantastic value for one of the most sought-after areas of Vancouver, South Main.

Main is famous for its diversity of restaurants, from pho, to sushi, to Thai and even Jamaican. It has revolutionary vegan haunts, burrito stands, and The Whip has great music, burgers and ambiance.

It is also known for its cafe culture. There are cafes narrow enough for only one or two people, surrounded in a sea of glass windows. Some have fireplaces. Some have blue-haired baristas.

Then there are the indie clothing stores. The thrift shops. And antique stores everywhere to add something unique to your apartment.

The nightlife of Main street is fantastic as well. Cool new hipster spots like the Revel Room, the Cascade Room, and Habit make for a trendy date or night with friends. And then there's the artistic Narrow Bar one block from Evan, which certainly lives up to its name.

And not to mention the patios. Once the sun comes out in the spring, all of East Main is alive with sunny revelers enjoying chilled libations in the sunshine.

To find out more about Evan, register for a sneak peek at info@evanliving.com