I’ve written on something similar in the past, but it is a fairly prominent issue in my life (and in the lives of many 20-somethings in the Greater Vancouver area). Real estate prices are just too high for the average Joe (or Michael, as the case may be) to make their first foray. After all, a decent one-bedroom condo is going to run well over $200,000 if you want to stay in Vancouver / Richmond / Burnaby area.

Of course, that’s not where the expenses end. Above and beyond mortgage payments, home insurance, and all that other jazz, you’ve still got to furnish the bloody place. Sure, they may provide you with appliances, but you need a bed, don’t you? And I wonder how much customization is available. Can you opt to not take their default drapes and get the blinds on your own? What about carpeting? Hardwood floors? Interior design can get pretty pricey.

I really don’t want to wait until after the 2010 Olympics to get into the real estate market, but I want to stay in the Vancouver area. Maple Ridge and Mission aren’t exactly the most appealing options (to me). Then, where is my window of opportunity? If I wait too long — to take a poker analogy — I may be blinded out, so to speak.

Sigh, the housing market is fierce. Maybe I need to move to Edmonton or something. After all, I work from home anyways, so the cheaper the living expenses, the better. Maybe Prince George.