Use rentfaster.ca and narrow your search to the downtown area.
Oliver is a nice area, and is a longish walk/short bus ride to downtown. Stay away from McCauley and Boyle Street. You can find some great restaurants in those neighbourhoods, but you don’t want to live in them.
Living downtown can be a pain. There’s only 1 supermarket serving downtown, and while there are a ton of restaurants, they cater more towards the single 20-30 crowd. You will be making a lot of your meals at home, which is a good thing obviously.
Do not download Skip The Dishes. Or Uber Eats. Or Doordash. They’re addicting, and you absolutely pay for the convenience.
Private listings are generally better than the bigger rental places, and some people will try to get you to stay away from them (Boardwalk for example). I’ve never had a single issue renting with them, so your mileage will vary there.
Read your lease agreement carefully. Make sure you know what you’re signing. Have a lawyer help you if you need. Breaking a lease can be extremely costly! You have rights, just as the landlord does, but just be sure of what you’re signing.
When you do the walkthrough of the place you’re renting, record every. single. inch of it, in landscape mode, in 4K, using your phone. Leave no inch, no door, no corner, no nothing not recorded. This will be your proof for when you move out and the landlord attempts to take money away from your damage deposit. Plus you can use it as a defence for when you do your final cleanup.
It’s a renters market right now, so places will be throwing in little bonuses to get you to sign. Some places will be better than others. Some will offer the last month free on a year lease. Some will offer discounted internet and cable. Again, just do your homework. Remember that just because the internet and cable is free, doesn’t mean it’ll be what you need, speed or channel-wise.
Downtown is beautiful in summer and in fall when you move here. You’ll be literal minutes away from our crown, the river valley. Get out and enjoy it.
Winters here used to be cold, but they’re not too bad anymore. Last winter we had maybe 2-3 weeks of sub -20 weather, and the rest was -5 to -20, with a healthy dose of above 0 days. Actually too many above 0 days if you ask me. I’m a guy who likes the snow.
You won’t need winter gear the second you and your family touches down, but you’ll want to add it to your list. I recommend a 600-700 fill down jacket for the late fall and those winter days where the temp is slightly above 0 and doesn’t dip below -10. For the colder days a 800 fill or a proper winter jacket will serve you well. Eddie Bauer is my recommendation for those jackets, and there are three stores in the city, including the mall just north of where you’ll be living. You can also just order them online.