apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i feel like i am entering a story when i look through these photos. in particular i love the pendant lamps, a perfect mix of modern and traditional detail. your home is beautiful and inviting.

OMG.
So beautiful.

These series make me want to move to Montreal....I love snow, maybe I shall.

We'll take all comers! And has anyone mentioned the relatively cheap rent/real estate around here?

Montreal rentals are cheap? How much and where should I look for ads? Do you need to be fluent to live and work in Quebec?

It's so nice seeing that the amazing AT team started posting about Montreal apartments. It truly is a magnificent city; if I had a slightly better looking one, I'd send pictures!

And DO move in Montreal. You won't regret it!

timeless, check out our craigslist page, it'll give you an idea for rent.

http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/

Real estate is also pretty affordable and there are a few financial aid programs to helps first time buyers take the plunge. I took advantage of the Acces Condo program last year and managed to buy a loft I love in a revamped cookie factory.

It helps if you speak French (I'm francophone), but is by no means essential. I have tons of anglo friends who speak little to no French and they manage fine.

btw: the place where I work (Sid Lee) is looking for English copywriters and Web people, so if any of you guys do that and are looking to move, let me know and I may get you a job. :)

Montreal is rent-controlled, and compared to NYC or SF, it's dirt cheap. You can get a two-bedroom apartment (similar to the one pictured above) in a safe neighborhood for $500 - $600 a month. And for what a New York studio costs, you can live in a loft with a view.

factor in taxes (higher), average salary (lower), lack of mortgage deduction (all of canada), longer depreciation on capital improvements and pass throughs, higher food and utility costs, and the state of many rentals after decades of strict rent control, and montreal still looks good, but it's no fairytale.

most units are one bathroom, which makes me wonder why americans need more. rooms tend to be smaller. alot of units are without appliances (which has both pluses and minuses). i'm amazed that the outside stairs don't result in more lawsuits (yet they don't).

ratio of average rent price to average mortgage payment makes investment difficult. montreal has one of the lowest ownership rates of any north american city.

it's a great place: amazing people, parks, sports facilities, festivals, restaurants, museums, and shops. cars are unnecessary (and a real hindrance if you don't have parking once snow starts); bikes are everywhere. nightlife is later and more european in feel then similarly sized san francisco. summer is short, so it's lived fully. i plan on retiring there.

we renovated a triplex unit 18 months ago- on the plateau - and renters were literally offering to pay a year of rent upfront to get the lease. i don't know where one finds a livable two bedroom for less then $750 - 1000, anymore, but that is still only a third of san francisco.

oh and don't forget "moving day". over 90% of leases expire on june 30th...so july 1st is like new orleans two hours before katrina, moving vans booked weeks in advance, traffic jams, hot tempers....a real photo op.

Those wood floors are beautiful.

Oh, this home is so beautiful.

It's so great to see posts about Montreal! And believe the hype, renting is "relatively" cheap, compared to what I've heard from other cities. If you love snow, you are more than welcome!

Funny how we take all those appartments and swirling staircases for granted. Makes me want to bring my camera next time I'll take a stroll in the Plateau neighbourhood.

Thanx for the Mtl posts! Keep 'em coming

The 3rd floor apartment I lived in for 8 years before moving to my home had 3 bedrooms, wood floors, the original mouldings and doors (with antique keys!), lots of sun and was only $750 a month, including hot water AND heat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allabouteve/358961955/

This is typical of my neighbourhood, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. It's getting gentrified a little bit, but they are being careful of mixing coops, condos and rentals to keep a good mix of people. The rent prices are staying put. Also, it's right next to the Olympic stadium facilities, the Maisonneuve market, the botanical garden and a bunch of parks. Not bad!