Community Overview – Moving to Abbotsford
If you’re considering a move to Abbotsford, here are some great resources to help you get started, whether you are buying a home, or not quite ready to get into the real estate market, these resources can familiarize you with the city and its services.
Community Services
Abbotsford is already a diverse community, with residents from 58 countries. The city makes efforts to serve residents in their first language wherever possible. It has also launched many initiatives to ensure newcomers are treated fairly and equitably.
Abbotsford Community Services offers many settlement and community services.
Language Training
These organizations offer English language training
Abbotsford Community Services
Offers morning and evening classes for all adults, plus special programs for Punjabi-speaking mothers and grandmothers.
University of the Fraser Valley
Offers an advanced ESL program for career and professional integration.
Settlement Help
These organizations provide all kinds of support to immigrants:
Abbotsford Community Services
Language and translation, settlement services, legal advice and advocacy, job search assistance and education services.
Newcomers Guide (published the by British Columbia government)
Citizen and Immigration Canada
Provides information on coming to Canada to immigrate, study, work and live. On this website you will find forms, policies and regulations, research, services, publications and visa offices.
Housing Information
Most Abbotsford residents own their own homes. However, the area also offers a mix of townhomes, condominiums and apartments — with prices much lower than nearby Vancouver.
Average rents
The average monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment in April 2013 was $669 and a two bedroom apartment was $823. The average monthly rent for a three bedroom apartment was $920.
Vacancy rate and availability
In Abbotsford – Mission, the vacancy rate for one bedroom rental apartments was 5.5 per cent and for two bedroom apartments was 4.1 per cent. The vacancy rate of three bedroom rental apartments was 3.2 per cent. This was the proportion of rental apartments that are vacant and ready for move-in in April 2013.
The proportion, in April 2013, of apartments that are vacant or for which the present occupant has given notice to move-out was 5.9 per cent for one bedroom apartments, 4.5 per cent for two bedroom apartments, and 3.2 per cent for three bedroom apartments.
Home purchase prices
In Abbotsford – Mission, the average house price, in 2012, was $483,730.
For more up-to-date information, see CMHC’s Housing Market Information website, and the Canadian Housing Observer.
Housing Help
Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation — Housing information for Newcomers
These agencies can help you find housing:
Ministry of Social Development
www.gov.bc.ca/hsd/
BC Housing
604-433-2218 (1-800-257-7756 toll free)
www.bchousing.org/
For government-subsidized housing
Abbotsford Community Services
2420 Montrose Street
Abbotsford, BC V2S 3S9
604-859-7681
www.abbotsfordcommunityservices.com/
The Salvation Army — A Centre of Hope
34081 Gladys Avenue
Abbotsford, BC V2S 2E8
604-852-9305
www.careandshare.ca/
Mennonite Central Committee of BC
31414 Marshall Road
Abbotsford, BC V2T 6L9
604-580-6639 (604-857-0011 toll free from Vancouver; 1-888-622-6337 from outside the Lower Mainland)
http://bc.mcc.org/
If you’re ready to buy a house, please contact Dave Combs for more information on listings, getting your first, or next, mortgage, and touring the beautiful city of Abbotsford.
