Surrey · Guildford
Guildford
Northeast Surrey's shopping hub, fast becoming a tower town near Highway 1 and the Port Mann.
The Neighbourhood
Why people move to Guildford, and why they stay.
Guildford is the northeast corner of Surrey, and it’s built around two things most neighbourhoods would be happy to have one of: the third-largest shopping centre in BC, and a recreation centre with an Olympic-size competition pool.
Guildford Town Centre sits in the middle, with the recreation centre and library close by. You can swim, work out, pick up a book, do a full shop and grab dinner without moving your car.
North of the town centre, Fraser Heights is the newer residential side, with views over the Fraser River and the Port Mann Bridge along its northern edge. Tynehead and Surrey Bend regional parks are both close, which means real trails alongside the conveniences.
By Anthony Riglietti, Oakwyn Realty
Walkability
89
Transit
63
Cycling
66
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Condos for Sale in Guildford
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Who it suits
Who actually thrives in Guildford
Families who want a big rec centre, strong school options, parks and more square footage than the same budget buys further west. First-time buyers who want an established town centre with everything close. Buyers who want a house with a real yard, and anyone commuting toward Langley, the Fraser Valley or across the Port Mann.
It's a poor fit if you need SkyTrain at your door, or a daily commute to downtown Vancouver.
The short versionGuildford is space, a mall and an Olympic pool, with a highway at the end of the street.
What’s Nearby
Amenities
Dining
- Guildford Town Centre dining
- Cactus Club
- Browns Socialhouse
- Local Indian + Asian eats
Coffee
- Starbucks Guildford
- Tim Hortons
- Local cafes
Groceries
- T&T Supermarket
- Save-On-Foods
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Walmart
Parks + Rec
- Guildford Recreation Centre
- Tynehead Regional Park
- Hawthorne Park
Transit
- R1 King George RapidBus to Surrey Central
- Hwy 1 access
Nearby
- Surrey Central
- Port Mann
- Fleetwood
Where locals go
Where people who live here actually spend their time
01
Guildford Recreation Centre
The standout: an eight-lane, 50-metre Olympic-size pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river, a water slide and diving, plus fitness and gym space.
02
Guildford Town Centre
The third-largest shopping centre in BC, with more than 250 stores, services and restaurants.
03
Tynehead Regional Park
Forest trails and the Serpentine River, close to home.
04
Surrey Bend Regional Park
Floodplain forest and wetland along the Fraser, one of the more unusual natural areas in the region.
05
Guildford Exchange
The transit hub at the mall, with the R1 RapidBus to Surrey Central and routes across Surrey and to Langley.
06
Fraser Heights viewpoints
The northern edge of the neighbourhood looks out over the Fraser River and the Port Mann Bridge.
The short versionSwim, shop and hit the trails, all within a few minutes of home.
Home types
One of the widest housing ranges around
| Type | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Condos and apartments | Concentrated near Guildford Town Centre and the 104 Avenue corridor. |
| Townhomes | Widely available, and one of the strongest family values in the region. |
| Detached homes | The established streets around the town centre, plus newer homes in Fraser Heights. |
| Fraser Heights | The newer residential side, with larger homes and river views along the northern edge. |
Space for the money
A family that needs four bedrooms and a yard has options in Guildford that simply don't exist at a similar price in Burnaby or the North Shore.
The short versionTown centre, established streets and Fraser Heights are three different markets. Sort out which one first.
Key Buildings
Buildings worth knowing.
Guildford spans condos near the town centre, townhomes and detached homes in Fraser Heights. They're three different markets under one name, so tell me what you're after and I'll show you the buildings and streets worth a look.
Getting around
A town centre you can walk, and a highway at the door
Walkability is strong at the town centre, where the mall, rec centre, library and services are packed together, and it eases in the surrounding streets and out in Fraser Heights, where you'll want a car. Highway 1 and the Port Mann are right there, making Guildford one of the better-connected parts of Surrey by car.
| Destination | Typical time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey Central SkyTrain | About 15 min | The R1 RapidBus |
| Downtown Vancouver | About 60 min | R1 to Surrey Central, then the Expo Line |
| Langley | About 20 min | By car |
| Tri-Cities | About 25 min | By car over the Port Mann |
Approximate times.
The short versionWalk to the town centre, drive or bus to everything else.
Schools
IB at a public secondary
| School | Type | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Johnston Heights Secondary | Public, SD36 | An IB World School offering the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma. |
| Guildford Park Secondary | Public, SD36 | Also serves the area. |
Confirm catchments and program admission with Surrey Schools before you write an offer.
The short versionFor families, IB access at a public school is worth organizing a search around.
The trade-offs
Four things worth knowing before you buy here
No SkyTrain at the door
The R1 RapidBus connects to Surrey Central, but downtown Vancouver is about an hour away by transit.
Three markets, one name
Town centre condos, established detached streets and Fraser Heights behave very differently. Compare like with like.
Older homes need a hard look
Detached homes here span several eras. The gap between original condition and a quality renovation is wide.
Mall traffic
The roads around the town centre get busy on weekends and during the holidays.
The short versionNone of these are deal-breakers. They're just cheaper to find out about before you buy than after.
Comparison
Guildford vs Surrey City Centre vs Coquitlam Centre
Buyers weighing space and value often compare these. For the full picture, see our guides to Surrey City Centre and Coquitlam Centre.
| Guildford | Surrey City Centre | Coquitlam Centre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The feel | An established shopping and rec hub | A downtown on the way up | The Tri-Cities' downtown |
| Rapid transit | The R1 RapidBus | Two Expo Line stations | Three Millennium Line stations |
| Family housing | Townhomes and detached | Mostly condos | Condos, townhomes and detached |
| Standout amenity | An Olympic-size pool | A medical school and arena on the way | Lafarge Lake |
If you want space and a big rec centre
Buy in Guildford.
If you want SkyTrain at the door
Look at Surrey City Centre.
If you want a lake and SkyTrain
Look at Coquitlam Centre.
Buying here
Costs and rules worth knowing before you write an offer
- Property Transfer Tax. BC charges 1% on the first $200,000 of the price, 2% up to $2 million, 3% above that, and a further 2% on the residential portion above $3 million. On a $650,000 home that works out to about $11,000, due at completion, on top of your down payment.
- Exemptions can help. Qualifying first-time buyers can get a full or partial Property Transfer Tax exemption below a set price threshold, and newly built homes have their own exemption. The limits are adjusted from time to time, so check the current thresholds with the Province or your lawyer.
- Buying from outside Canada. Federal rules restrict most non-Canadians from buying residential property in Metro Vancouver, with some exemptions, including for certain work permit holders. If that is you, confirm your eligibility with a real estate lawyer before you start writing offers.
- File the Speculation and Vacancy Tax declaration. The provincial tax applies in Surrey. Even if you owe nothing, owners still have to file the annual declaration.
- Renting it out. Since late 2022, BC stratas can no longer ban long-term rentals, though they can still restrict short-term ones. In Surrey, short-term rentals are limited to the home you actually live in.
- Get an insurance quote before subject removal. Strata insurance and home insurance premiums have moved a lot in recent years. Find out what yours will cost while you can still walk away.
- Budget the strata fee like rent. It is the most underestimated number in a condo purchase, and it rarely goes down.
The short versionSet aside roughly 2% of the purchase price for closing costs and you will be close. Property Transfer Tax is most of it.
Explore More
What's changing
Where the neighbourhood is heading
- A plan for the town centre. The City of Surrey has been planning for Guildford Town Centre and the 104 Avenue corridor, with the goal of turning a mall-centred area into a more complete, walkable neighbourhood.
- More homes around the mall. New residential buildings keep bringing more people within walking distance of the mall, rec centre and library.
- Better bus rapid transit. The R1 RapidBus gives Guildford a frequent link to SkyTrain at Surrey Central.
The short versionGuildford is slowly becoming a walkable town centre, with the space and parks that drew people here in the first place.
FAQ
Guildford questions, answered
Is Guildford a good place to live?
For families and buyers who want a big rec centre, a major mall, regional parks and more space for the money than closer in, it's one of the most practical choices in Surrey.
How big is Guildford Town Centre?
It's the third-largest shopping centre in BC, with more than 250 stores, services and restaurants.
What is at the Guildford Recreation Centre?
An eight-lane, 50-metre Olympic-size pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river, a hot tub, water slide and diving, plus fitness and gym space.
What schools serve Guildford?
Johnston Heights Secondary offers the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma, and Guildford Park Secondary also serves the area. Confirm catchments for a specific address with Surrey Schools.
How do you get to SkyTrain from Guildford?
The R1 King George RapidBus runs from Guildford Exchange to Surrey Central Station, where you can catch the Expo Line.
Guildford or Surrey City Centre?
Guildford is more established, with more family housing, the big mall and the Olympic pool. Surrey City Centre has SkyTrain at the door, plus the new medical school and arena on the way.
What is Fraser Heights?
The newer residential side of Guildford, north of the town centre, with larger homes and Fraser River and Port Mann views along its northern edge.
Can I rent out a condo here?
Long-term rentals, generally yes: since late 2022, BC stratas can no longer ban them. Short-term rentals are limited to the home you actually live in, and your strata can restrict them further.
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See everything for sale in Guildford right now.
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