It’s Sunday morning and 28-year-old Nikki is on the move. She lives in the heart of downtown Victoria in The Hudson, one of the city’s most historic landmarks and the centerpiece of The Hudson District on Douglas Street between Fisgard and Herald. As of December 2012, The Hudson District includes The Hudson’s 152 suites, 120 in Hudson Mews, and designs are well underway for Hudson Walk and Hudson Place.

“I have a great lifestyle,” she says. This morning I walked to Mo:Lé in the Design District for breakfast, went to 2% Jazz on Fisgard for a meeting, and then went for a workout at Catalyst. ”That’s three productive things in three hours,” she says. “For someone who’s always on the go, it’s really efficient.” She often goes for a walk around town after dinner or meets friends for a drink nearby and then walks home. “Now that I live downtown, I walk everywhere.”

“Living in a condo has actually made me more sociable”

Born and raised in Victoria, Nikki always lived in one of the city’s adjacent neighbourhoods. Her goal was to own her own place before she turned 30 and a condo was the most practical, affordable option. A first time home owner, she knew exactly what she wanted - a one-bedroom, with secure parking included, in a building less than 5 years old, in a central location. “I really wanted the experience of living downtown,” she says.

Nikki is a professional who works full time in the fast-paced high tech sector and packs a lot in to her active west coast lifestyle. To balance the hectic pace at work, she often escapes to Tofino on weekends and loves the fact that she can pack up, lock the door and go. The Hudson is the result of the transformation of the historic Hudson’s Bay building, a Canadian retail landmark. Townline purchased it in 2006 and completed an extensive rehabilitation in 2010 converting the once grand department store into152 ultra modern flats, double-height lofts and magnificent penthouses. (*Note: As of December 2012, The Hudson District includes The Hudson’s 152 suites, 120 in Hudson Mews, and designs are well underway for Hudson Walk and Hudson Place).

Nikki appreciates the distinct features of living in a heritage building. “My unit is beautifully designed, it has 16’ ceilings and looks out to an inner courtyard with landscaping. The patio is large and feels like a second living room. The unit has lots of storage and high quality finishes and appliances. It has a geoexchange heating and cooling system and because it’s concrete it has excellent soundproofing,” she says. The feature she likes most of all is the 14,000-foot rooftop common area with lounge chairs, barbeques and the best views in the city. “Living in a condo has actually made me more sociable,” she says. She gets together with friends in the building for dinner and she’s made friends with the people who work in the shops on the lower level. They all watch each other’s place when they’re out of town. Keep an eye on this hip urban neighbourhood that’s adding value to the downtown core and attracting new and exciting businesses like Hudson Yoga. And, stay tuned for the opening of the Public Market at the Hudson in April, 2013 that features 12 local vendors and 15 rotating ones all dedicated to the eat local, shop local way of living. Nikki's Buying Tips:

• Figure out a budget of what you can spend and look within that price range.
• Don't look in a higher price range with the assumption that you'll be able to get the price down.
• If you can't find ANYTHING in your budget re-evaluate your options.
• As much as you want to feel like you've found the right condo try to keep emotions at bay. That being said if something has a bad energy then trust your instinct.
• Choose your condo layout based on your lifestyle. If you never cook but hoard clothes go for the small kitchen and walk in closet.
• Take into account where the unit is located in relation to the elevators, garbage room, storage and parking as location can either make your life easier or more difficult depending on your daily routine.
• Ask for a set of strata minutes one your offer is accepted – if you know someone in the building even better.
• Regardless if you plan to rent or sell down the road check if the strata has any rental restrictions.
• Does the building have any "super cool" common area amenities? I.E. Pools, gym, waterfalls. In short anything with water means more cost and higher strata fees!