You’ve mastered the condo life. For 5-10 years, your unit has been your home base in the Lower Mainland. But now, the dream is shifting: more space, a private yard, and perhaps fewer shared walls.

The great news is that your condo has likely been hard at work for you. The significant equity you’ve built—from paying down your mortgage and from market appreciation—is your powerful down payment engine. This “move-up” strategy is the smart way to graduate from condo living to a more spacious townhome or a self-managed duplex right here in Greater Vancouver or the Fraser Valley.

The Equity Advantage: Your $300,000 Launchpad

Let's model the next step using a common scenario in our local market: selling your appreciated condo provides a substantial down payment on your next, larger property.

For this breakdown, we'll assume a $1,000,000 target purchase price for your new home and a $300,000 down payment sourced from your condo's sale.

To give you the clearest picture, we'll use a competitive rate of 3.99% (on approved credit) amortized over 25 years.

Option 1: The Townhouse Dream (Strata Living) 🏡

Townhouses are part of a Strata Corporation in British Columbia, meaning you pay monthly Strata Fees to maintain common property.

✨ The Upgrade: What You Get with a Townhouse

Moving from a condo tower to a stacked townhome isn't just a financial transaction—it’s a massive lifestyle upgrade, especially for families or anyone craving more elbow room.

• Serious Space: Most townhouses offer between 2 to 4 full bedrooms, often spread over two or three levels. This vertical living eliminates the condo feeling and gives every family member their own private retreat.

• Ensuites and bathrooms: Say goodbye to shared bathrooms! It’s common to find multi-level townhomes with two or three full bathrooms, often featuring private ensuites for the primary and secondary bedrooms.

• Private Parking & Storage: Forget the high-rise parking elevator. A townhouse often includes a single or double garage (or a dedicated carport), providing secure parking and critical space for bikes, tools, and sports gear.

• Your Own Grass: You finally get a small slice of the outdoors—a fenced patio or modest lawn area. Perfect for summer barbecues, letting the dog out, or watching the kids play, all without leaving your property.

• No Elevators, Ever: You'll use your own stairs instead of waiting for a high-rise lift. This gives you a true sense of coming home without having to share hallways with hundreds of other residents.

💡 The Local Strata Reality Check:

While Strata Fees increase your monthly carrying cost, they provide predictability. You pay into a Contingency Reserve Fund (CRF), so you aren't hit with a massive, unexpected bill for a new roof or siding repair—the Strata manages the budgeting and repairs for you.

Option 2: The Duplex Delight (No Strata Fee) ✌️

A duplex (or half-duplex) is increasingly popular across Metro Vancouver as it offers a more house-like experience with greater autonomy. Many are built with a simple legal agreement that avoids forming a formal Strata, meaning there is no monthly Strata Fee.

Using the exact same purchase and mortgage numbers:

💡 The Duplex Ownership Reality Check:

You save the $300–$550+ per month in Strata Fees, but you must personally budget for all big repairs. When the roof needs replacing or the furnace goes, you are solely or jointly (with your duplex neighbour) responsible for the full cost. You trade a monthly fee for full control and the need for rigorous personal savings.

Ready to find out exactly how much equity you can unlock from your condo? Let's chart your move-up plan!

Introduction: The Headline Trap

Every morning, the real estate headlines scream. Prices down! Inventory up! Buyer's Market is here!

These national or Metro-wide statistics create a generalized fear that often paralyzes buyers and sellers alike. They encourage a "wait-and-see" approach, or conversely, a panicked rush. But if you’re making a move in Vancouver, I have a fundamental truth for you: The singular "Vancouver Real Estate Market" does not exist.

What we have is a collection of hyper-localized micro-markets, and understanding this distinction is the single most important factor for making a successful move right now.

Section 1: The Tale of Three Ratios

When an analyst talks about the health of the market, they look at the Sales-to-Active Listings Ratio (S/A). This ratio is the clearest indicator of leverage:

• Below 12%: Strong Buyer's Market (Downward pressure on prices)

• 12% - 20%: Balanced Market (Stable prices)

• Above 20%: Seller's Market (Upward pressure on prices)

The recent Metro Vancouver composite average ratio sits at a seemingly Balanced 12.4% (August 2025 data).

Now, let’s look at the breakdown by property type—the first layer of the micro-market reality:

Export to Sheets

The Takeaway: The "average" 12.4% is a distraction. If you’re selling a house, you are in a different, more challenging market than your neighbour selling a townhouse. The headlines about a "rebound" simply aren't applicable if you're holding a detached property.

Section 2: The Geography of Demand and Finding Your Data

The micro-market reality goes even deeper than property type. High interest rates have dramatically changed what people can afford, leading to a flight to value in specific corridors.

• West Side vs. Fraser Valley: While detached properties are down across the board (Benchmark price down 4.8% YoY), a well-priced, family-friendly house in a high-demand school catchment in East Van or certain Burnaby pockets may still sell quickly. Meanwhile, a luxury detached home on the West Side with stagnant pricing since 2018 may sit far longer.

• Condo Oversupply vs. Transit Proximity: The overall condo market is "Balanced," but this masks critical differences. A one-bedroom condo that is walking distance to a SkyTrain station will behave entirely differently than a car-dependent project. Location, not the asset type, is the driver.

The question you need to ask is not, "What is the Vancouver market doing?" but "What is the specific market for a 2-bed Townhouse in Kitsilano doing?"

To help you cut through the generalized noise and find the specific data points that matter to your move, I publish a detailed monthly infographic breaking down market conditions by city and property type for the two major regions:

• For Greater Vancouver (REBGV) areas: View the latest REBGV Infographic

• For the Fraser Valley (FVREB) areas: View the latest FVREB Infographic

Use these resources to track your specific micro-market and replace fear with data.

Section 3: The Biggest Regret in a Shifting Market

In real estate, people rarely regret buying a home; they regret when they did it. In today's market, the two most common regrets I hear are:

1. The Regret of Waiting: "We should have acted six months ago." Many buyers delayed, expecting prices to crash. Instead, interest rates rose, and the increase in monthly carrying costs effectively shrank their purchasing budget by tens of thousands of dollars, making the home they originally wanted now completely out of reach.

2. The Regret of Rushing: "We got caught up in the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)." Buyers rushed in, fearing a rebound, and ended up with a home that didn't fit their long-term lifestyle (e.g., downsizers trading space for a central, but ultimately isolating, condo).

The common thread? Decisions driven by fear and guesswork based on generic headlines, not a localized, data-driven strategy.

Conclusion: Your Strategy is Your Shield

With overall inventory levels reaching their highest point in three years and the market tilting in favour of the buyer, the time for an informed, deliberate move is here.

The opportunity today is not to wait for a perfect market. It is to leverage the increased supply and buyer-friendly environment that the headlines have created.

Don't let national news write your personal story.

If you are a move-up buyer, a downsizer, or a first-time buyer, the only number that matters is the one relevant to your goals, your neighbourhood, and your property type. Start by reviewing the market data relevant to your city using the infographics above, then let's build a plan from there.

It’s an exciting time for first-time buyers! With recent shifts in the market, appealing prices for townhouses and condos, and helpful government incentives, your dream of homeownership in beautiful British Columbia is more achievable than ever.

You’ve saved your down payment, you’ve found the perfect place, and your offer has been accepted. Congratulations! But before you get the keys, there's one final financial hurdle to clear: closing costs. These are the extra, one-time fees paid on your closing day that are in addition to your down payment and mortgage.

To ensure a smooth journey to ownership, here is a breakdown of what you need to budget for. A general rule of thumb in B.C. is to budget 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price for these costs.

Key Closing Costs to Budget For in Coquitlam

1. The Big One: Property Transfer Tax (PTT)

The PTT is a provincial tax charged on all property transfers in B.C. For most buyers, this is one of the most significant costs.

• Standard Rate:

  • 1% on the first $200,000 of the purchase price.

  • 2% on the portion from $200,000 up to $2,000,000.

  • 3% on the portion over $2,000,000.

• The Good News: First-Time Home Buyer Exemption You may qualify for a full or partial exemption from the PTT! This can save you thousands.

  • Full Exemption: For homes valued at $835,000 or less (as of April 1, 2024, subject to change).

  • Partial Exemption: Available for homes between $835,000 and $860,000.

  • To Qualify: You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have lived in B.C. for a minimum period, and have never owned a principal residence anywhere in the world.

2. Legal Fees & Disbursements

You'll need a notary public or a lawyer to handle the legal transfer of the property, register the mortgage, and prepare documents.

• Cost: Typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,500 plus GST.

• Disbursements: These are additional out-of-pocket expenses your lawyer/notary pays on your behalf, such as land title registration fees, title searches, and for condos/townhouses, fees for getting the necessary strata documents (e.g., Form B).

3. Mortgage-Related Costs (If Applicable)

• CMHC/Mortgage Default Insurance: If your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price, you must pay for mortgage insurance. This premium can be substantial but is typically rolled into your mortgage balance, meaning you don't pay it as an upfront closing cost. Note: You must pay the provincial sales tax (PST) on the premium upfront.

• Appraisal Fee: Your lender will often require an appraisal to confirm the property's market value. ($300 - $500).

4. Pre-Paid Adjustments

On closing day, you may need to reimburse the seller for expenses they have pre-paid for the year, such as property taxes and strata fees. This amount will be prorated (adjusted) to cover the period you will own the home.

5. Inspection & Insurance

• Home Inspection: Highly recommended, even for newer condos/townhouses. An inspector checks the condition of the home and common property (if accessible). ($400 - $800).

• Property/Fire Insurance: Your lender will require you to have home insurance (sometimes called fire insurance) in place on closing day. For a condo, this covers the contents of your unit, and for a townhouse, it generally covers the building and contents. The strata corporation covers the main building structure insurance.

Leveraging Government Incentives & Savings Plans

The current market environment offers additional relief for first-timers:

• First Home Savings Account (FHSA): A fantastic, new tool that combines the tax-deductible contributions of an RRSP with the tax-free withdrawals of a TFSA—perfect for saving your down payment!

• Home Buyers' Plan (HBP): Allows you to withdraw up to $60,000 tax-free from your RRSP to put toward your home purchase. This must be repaid over a 15-year period.

• GST/HST New Housing Rebate: If you are buying a newly built condo or townhouse, you may be eligible for a rebate of part of the GST/HST paid.

Final Word of Caution

While the market offers fantastic opportunities, the closing process can be complex. The key to a stress-free closing is to be prepared and understand your budget for all of these costs.

Ready to take the next step or have specific questions about how these costs and incentives apply to your situation? Please contact me—I’m here to help you navigate the fine print!

There's a myth about buying your first home: that it's this incredibly complex, impossibly difficult feat reserved for the wealthy. I'm here to tell you that it's not that hard. The process itself—the paperwork, the inspections, the closing—is straightforward. The real hurdle? It's exactly what you think it is: saving the down payment.

But even that is a goal that can be broken down into an achievable, disciplined plan.

The Down Payment: Your Launchpad

Let's look at the numbers. They aren't meant to be discouraging; they're meant to be motivating.

1. If you're living at home and can eliminate rent entirely: Saving $1,600 a month is tough, but it's your fastest track.

   $1,600 per month×12 months×5 years=$96,000

   In five years, you have nearly $100,000 saved.

2. If you have a partner who does the same: You're looking at close to $200,000 saved in the same timeframe.

3. If you're currently renting: This is where discipline truly comes in. Don't rent for convenience or luxury. Rent the cheapest basement suite you can possibly find. Every dollar you save on rent is a dollar that gets you closer to owning. It’s a temporary sacrifice for a massive long-term gain.

Your Starter Home Is Within Reach

Why is $100,000 such a magic number? Because with that down payment, your homeownership dreams become a reality.

• A buyer with a $100,000 down payment and a gross annual income of $63,000 could typically qualify for a home around $450,000 (and sometimes more, depending on rates and lender products).

That $450,000 might not buy you a detached house, but it will get you a one-bedroom condo in a desirable area like Coquitlam. This isn't your forever home—it's your starter home.

The Real Secret: Building Equity

The true genius of this plan is what happens next. You aren't just paying a mortgage; you are using the property as a wealth-building machine.

Over the next 5 to 10 years, you will build equity in that starter condo. This is money that you are essentially forcing yourself to save and invest. When you decide to move up, you use that built-up equity—plus any additional savings—as the down payment for your next place, perhaps a townhouse.

Then, you repeat the process, using the townhouse's equity to purchase the eventual detached house.

This path isn't easy, but it is simple. It takes discipline to live frugally and save aggressively, but that discipline is the absolute easiest path to becoming a homeowner and building generational wealth.

Stop seeing homeownership as a faraway fantasy. See it as a simple, powerful equation: Sacrifice + Discipline = Down Payment + Equity = Your Dream Home.