Don't Move to Nanaimo - Vancouver Island Oceanside Towns 

I moved to Nanaimo in 2016 for school. Finding rentals is difficult due to it being a university city and housing crisis. Housing (rent/own) used to be significantly more affordable but changed dramatically during / after the pandemic. In 2017, we bought a condo for 200k... In 2021 we sold the condo and bought a house for $650k. The house a few years prior sold for $450k new and the simular condos in the same building I had are selling for near 400k now. Tent city during the pandemic brought over a lot more of the homeless/unhoused population. Theft, vandalism, homeless/unhoused have become far more prominent now than when I first moved here. Our downtown areas are covered with fences to prevent loitering. The charm Nanaimo once had has dwindled. The government needs to focus more on early intervention for mental health and addictions. Adding more to puff populations will just add to the stresses of cost of living and finding affordable housing. Yes, the island is absolutely beautiful and we have many hidden amazing gems but they are quickly being found out. It is more challenging now for a young individual or couple to step into the housing market. Easier than the lower mainland but not as easy as it once was (I suppose this is the case everywhere). The grass isn't always greener. Just because a RU-vid video highlights all the perks of an area, do your research and check it out before committing. Because you may be in for a bit of a surprise.

People are hands down most friendly in Nanaimo. Born and raised and i miss the friendliness so much.

Moved from Comox valley to Nova Scotia.. reasonably priced housing amazing scenery.. a d people are down to earth

I work for a delivery service and my route is south Nanaimo. And I'll tell ya it has been dubbed little Hastings. Iv been here and Gabriola for 25 years and iv never wanted to move away from Nanaimo more in my life. I'm dumbfounded why we haven't made rehab and treatment centers 100% free like in Europe.

I’ve lived in all these towns but decided to raise my family in Chemainus. By far my favourite place to live❤️

We moved to Nanoose a few months ago and are loving it! There are 2 road options (NW Bay or the highway) to get to Parksville for shopping/restaurants, so it's a way better choice for us than heading to Nanaimo.

Grew up in Nanaimo..moved to Mexico.. I rent my home in Nanaimo and rent in Mexico…life is good when you keep it simple…

Nanaimo is a nice city with great service, all the amenities and great views. I moved to Gabriola a year ago and I’m so glad that Nanaimo is our support city.

I live in Nanaimo. I've lived here (or in Qualicum Beach) for over 40 years. I've lived in 7 different countries and 4 different parts of Canada. I've traveled all over Canada (except Newfoundland) and Nanaimo is far and away the best place to live. I love the "self shovelling snow" particularly!!

Early 2000s it was gorgeous ... Now its a dump downtown

Moved to Nanaimo in summer of 2016. It was a quaint, beautiful city on the water. Over the next 6 years things went downhill fast. The downtown turned into a real scary place with homeless drugged up zombies asking us for money, tents, filth and homeless everywhere. The crime in and around the downtown got bad too. Businesses were leaving the downtown like crazy and I don’t blame them. All the mayor does is blame the provincial government. Really sad because it used to be a nice place. Left in 2022 due to the issues (including affordability) that plague Nanaimo.

FYI, Parksville has a huge homeless and drug addict population just like Nanaimo

For years I've been thinking that I want to retire to Vancouver. Just learned about Nanaimo today and already considering it as an option.

Doctor shortage and housing crisis bring 1Million to buy a place otherwise your living in your vehicle

I grew up in Nanaimo for thirteen years. Worst years of my life I'll never get back. As soon as I had the opportunity, I escaped to Campbell River eleven years ago. I don't regret my decision. I'm happier here.

Yes its a great area and very beautiful. But economical it is not. Housing and rentals are extortionately high. Cost of living up in those clouds as well. If you can affort it, well worth the investment.

I've been in beautiful Nanaimo and central island since 1971. Born in Victoria. Too bad everyone keeps moving here. Overpopulation has ruined this island. Videos like this are doing us no favors.

I once dated a girl from Nanaimo,back in 2009-2011 but actually, she lived in Cedar she showed me Parksville Ladysmith home to (Pam Anderson) lol although her and I broke up back in 2011, went back the mainland (Vancouver) bit I missed the island so, I moved to Victoria since 2014 never looked back 😅

The falls at 3:50 look like the falls at goldstream park at the top of the campground. And an older picture if it is because there is a huge log in the way now.

Life what u make it where u go.the city is improving.no matter where housing short.kind people.

I like it!

I used to live in Victoria. I loved it there.

Good list. I was a bit distracted by the way you hit that 'Ch' at the beginning of Chemainus...😅 But other than that, 👍

Wow. Don't even know where to begin. As a native born Nanaimoite who has lived in all these places, all I can say is you go well beyond rose colored glasses.... all the way to pure sales driven blindness. Anyone watching and relying on this blatant sales pitch should take time to read the comments.

Born, raised, and live in Parksville. QB is more of a retirement/baby boomer city, but does have good schools, that refuse to become a city and insists it is a town. Parksville was more your working class/family with seniors. French Creek, situated in between, is a nice mix but limited services. The primary complaint about traveling north of Lantzville is Nanoose Bay flats. With the highway being the only road North. An accident can shut down the highway for hours. Btw, the "Ch" in Chemainus is pronounced "shh"

i just wish there were affordable housing for retirement cause I would move there in a heartbeat - no buying a house - renting

I have lived in nanimo for my whole life and one thing I can say as a really young person is the problem's with the city is the homless problem has been around for a while but since Covid hit in 2020 everything kinda just started crashing down with homless and rcmp everywhere still love nanimo though ♥

Let's keep those rental and housing prices nice and high on this here island. With double digit growth, we've got enough people already thanks. Have you tried Northern Alberta? I hear it's very nice there plus you make way more $$. Give it a thought.

I love Nanaimo. I moved here in 1981 and would do it all over again.

Please. Give long time Nanaimo resident a break. These commercials are changing our way of life here. Move to somewhere quieter and immediately change it to where you came from

I love Ladysmith! My brother lives there and it's such a beautiful town!

The real estate prices are not that much cheaper anywhere on the island.

Great video. I would love it if u can help with student accommodation in Nanaimo campus, VIU in September 2024.

Holy why are the comments seeming so full of Karen’s and grumpy seeming people? 😮 awesome video as always scott!

Hmmmm once again aimed at home owners. Nothing said about renting. Super scarity all over the Island. In fact even Duncan just as pricy or more to buy then in the Naniamo.

I live in Oak Bay and very much plan to be in Nanaimo in the next few years

Where is that 6:18?

You fail to mention the difficulty finding housing.

Great video, as always.

Parksville is the best. Move to Parksville. Nanaimo is great too.

Bathtub races are the best in Nanaimo BC

Lived here since 95, but have to work out of town to afford it. Setting up nice for retirement and own 2 houses here. Zero complaints.

Nanaimo is Surrey by the sea.

Stay away from ladydmith. Traffic is impossible. Prices are over the hill. Speaking of hills. It's not fun. Again. Traffic . Water supply if low. There is too much building and not enough supplies or parking to keep up

I miss living in Cedar

Campbell River is growing and has all ofvthe above choicest

Great video. 🎉

Nanaimo is a complete shit hole just moved to Victoria and let me tell you, best move ever love it.

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Another great video. But - I like Nanaimo. We arrived here 3 yrs ago TODAY - Dec 1st. Love it and it’s warts.

Nanaimo always gets picked on. It’s amazing what jealousy can make people say and do.

Nanaimo is Surrey by the sea. A cesspool on our otherwise beautiful island. There are nice areas of course, but the main part is scummy.

I guess negativity sells in headline titles.

You forgot to mention that Pamela Anderson lives in Ladysmith. One of the first places I plan to visit when I move back to the island. 😉

Pld dont move to Qualicum Beach. Theres no parking & only one mediocre grocery store.

Nanaimo is so crowded ,I don’t leave the house if the ferry on both side are coming in, coz the 15 mins city turns into 45 mins. I have taken the back rd a few time for relaxing driving experience. More homeless in Victoria🙁. Warning don’t move to Nanaimo unless you have housing & Dr.

Parksville is a beautiful place but I’d rather die than move back there again.

beautiful but unaffordable

In 1980 until 1982 we lived in Nanaimo. I didn’t like it. A lot of Satan Choice were there. I used to call it Butcher’s Hollow. We then moved to Victoria. It was great. Loved Government street and Oak Bay Marina.

I really like the idea of no fast food restaurants. I bet the people are much healthier there as well. All the Timmy's addicts need to do a self check on what they are paying to consume. Other than that great video!

Nanaimo is cheaper. Parksville and Qualicum is an old volks home, with people having lots money left over to spend it on over priced houses.

This guy has no idea?

Lived in here almost 15 years for work. Don't judge the books by covers😅

No comment of the outta control crime in Nanaimo I notice !

Haha ya

Would prefer to actually see the places you're talking about rather than you and aerial views.

Stay away

Calming and relaxing… is that why the locals have so little curiosity about people, places, or things? I'm not commenting on the cities drug problem, just the locals are sleepwalking through life. It's the land of the living dead. No, it's not for everyone, not if you want to engage with life.

It's time to kick all these influencers out of BC ,after all they are ruining our province 😢

Good presentation but please either learn how to say kilometres or say miles. Kilometres rhymes with millimetres not barometers

Nanaimo is strong left fully supportive of socialist values against the middle class.

Lots of bums in Nanaimo

Smart marketing lol, “don’t” lol

It took me a hot minute because we are considering moving there and it was just "The cost of housing" THATS LIKE 50% OF THE REASON WE ARE LOOKING INTO MOVING THERE. We live in Vancouver btw. I realize now that this is not for us who are being chased out of Cancouver.

Nanaimo the town run by hells angel so I mean that's a bonus cause they probably keep that place safe.... however ... the streets and town are flooded by meth heads lol yeah move there if you wanna cook

Gabriola is the best

Shhhh! Lol

Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver all very overrated places

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂