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Condo buying

10 key points to win multiple offers without added risk

Although multiple offers are most common during sellers markets, they can also occur in slower markets for more unique properties. And, yes, sometimes sellers intentionally select a low list price in hopes of attracting competing offers to drive the sales ...

Tags: Client Experience Program Due diligence Multiple offers Offer process Strata documents

Condo buying Condo lifestyle

12+ ongoing costs you need to know in owning a Vancouver condo

A major goal to buying your own condo is defining your preferred lifestyle. Being financially stretched is one of the leading causes of stress so it’s important to be ready for your ongoing costs… and, ideally, have a contingency. ...

Tags: BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax City of Vancouver Property Tax Due diligence Empty Ongoing condo costs

Condo buying

Avoid an unwelcome surprise, know your Vancouver condo purchase costs

Have you ever heard of someone being surprised by a home purchase cost? If so, chances are that it was one of the larger costs. These can migrate from just being an unwelcome surprise to being a problem if you ...

Tags: Condo purchase costs Due diligence Monthly maintenance fees

Condo buying

What you need to know to decide between a Vancouver resale, pre-sale or new home

The quintessential picture of Vancouver shows residential towers rising from the oceanside and backdropped by the North Shore Mountains. Their importance to our city goes well beyond aesthetics as a 2016 survey found 62% of the total of 283,916 privately occupied homes were ...

Tags: 2-5-10 Warranty Due diligence New construction New home Pre-sale Resale

Condo buying Condo lifestyle

8 bylaws crucial for selecting the right Vancouver condo

While Location, Location, Location is often meant in terms of the neighbourhood, it applies equally to the community within buildings. Each building has its own flavour with some considerable differences such as whether you’ll bump into neighbours walking their ...

Tags: Barbecues Bylaws Condo occupants Due diligence Pets Renovations rental restrictions Sections and types Smoking

Comprehensive Realty Service Condo buying

Understand what you’re buying with these tips for reviewing the strata documents

So you think you’ve found the right condo and now is the time to confirm whether it’s the one you can call home. Your overall due diligence is outlined in this previous post (link) while this one delves ...

Tags: 2-5-10 Warranty Building maintenance Contingency Reserve Fund Depreciation report Due diligence Monthly maintenance fees Strata plan

Condo buying Condo lifestyle

Strata bylaws and rules – setting the stage for neighbours living in harmony

I’ve happily lived in apartments for nearly 30 years, almost entirely in the neighbourhoods of downtown Vancouver. I love stepping out my front door and tackling the tough decision of whether to visit Pacific Roasters, Buro or explore another of ...

Tags: Barbecues Bylaws Due diligence Fines Pets Rentals Rules Sections

Condo buying Condo lifestyle

6 plans you need to know when buying a home in downtown Vancouver

Starting from anywhere on Vancouver’s downtown peninsula, it’s only a short stroll or roll to reach the waterfront and the soothing rhythm of the waves lapping at the shore and cleansing sea air. Despite its compactness, the peninsula ...

Tags: City building City of Vancouver Coal Harbour Community Plan Downtown Due diligence False Creek South Plan Future development Granville Loops Northeast False Creek Plan Plaza of Nations Senakw St. Paul's Hospital West End West End Community Plan Yaletown

Condo buying Neighbourhood profile

Buying a home in Vancouver’s West End? You need to know about this plan

Its wonderful diversity of people, leafy green streets, and easy access to beaches, the seawall, and parks has maintained the West End as one of the most sought after Vancouver neighbourhoods. You may be surprised to learn that, at 204 hectares ...

Tags: City of Vancouver Community Plan Due diligence Future development West End

Condo buying

Buying a condo during Covid-19 requires extra due diligence – tips for doing it right

As we progress through Covid-19, we’ll see sectors, including real estate, regain some strength until the issue is resolved (what will happen then is debatable). Everyone’s personal risk tolerance is different and valid so the right time for ...

Tags: Covid-19 Due diligence

Client Experience Program Comprehensive Realty Service Condo selling

Here’s what you need to consider before selling real estate in a Covid-19 world

I hope all of you are well and enjoying some unscheduled time alone. It feels like my home is smaller than I thought but my sister assures me it’s better than being locked-up with 3 kids, a dog, and a ...

Tags: Covid-19 Due diligence Subject removal

Comprehensive Realty Service Condo buying

Critical due diligence and how your realtor should help ensure the condo is right for you

There’s a fair amount of work required in finding the right home but it’s well worth your time given the magnitude of your investment and towards having worry-free ownership. Further cementing the worthiness of the effort is that ...

Tags: Buying steps Bylaws Due diligence Financing Insurance Property inspection Rules Strata documents Subject removal

Condo buying

3 ways to confirm the size of the condo so you know what you’re buying

With concrete condos on the downtown peninsula generally selling for over $1000/sqft and some far above that, knowing the size of the condo you’re buying is important. As the BC real estate system is Buyer Beware, you must complete ...

Tags: condo size Due diligence Strata plan

Condo buying Protect your investment

Depreciation Reports, Part 2: Busting 6 myths against the 30 year plan

I outlined the benefits to a Depreciation Report (30-year plan) in this previous post. Despite all the stellar reasons for having a 30 year maintenance plan, some Strata Corporations are firmly attached to the Ostrich + Sand approach. I used to own ...

Tags: Building maintenance Depreciation report Due diligence

Condo buying Protect your investment

Depreciation Reports, Part 1: The benefits of a 30 year maintenance plan

To best enjoy the freedom and convenience of your condo lifestyle means being comfortable with your building’s current condition as well as the scale, schedule, and financing of upcoming work. Getting hit by a surprise special assessment (read about ...

Tags: Building maintenance Depreciation report Due diligence

Protect your investment

See how your monthly strata maintenance fee compares to other Vancouver condo buildings

A beautiful part of condo living is that we have a Strata Council that looks after common components. When we go on vacation, we simply lock our door and forget about it. While away, we won’t receive an email ...

Tags: Building maintenance Due diligence Monthly maintenance fees Strata plan

Protect your investment

Strata insurance deductibles are changing – make sure you’re protected

Last updated March 9, 2020 Your Strata Corporation, the legal entity for your building, is required to carry insurance on the overall building. Your homeowner insurance must complement that insurance. Strata insurance: common building components; original items installed by the developer in ...

Tags: Due diligence Insurance

Condo buying

2-5-10 New Home Warranty overview

Developers must supply a third party warranty on new buildings, often called a 2-5-10 New Home Warranty in recognition of the minimum required coverage durations. Some developers offer longer coverage periods such as 2-7-10 or 2-10-10. When ...

Tags: 2-5-10 Warranty Building envelope Building structure Due diligence New Home Warranty Subject removal

Condo buying

Guest post: Allocation of parking stalls and storage lockers, Bell Alliance Lawyers

The sale of condos oftentimes include parking stalls and storage lockers. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is important to understand what you are buying in terms of how these features are allocated for your use. Part of your due diligence ...

Tags: Due diligence Form B Guest post Parking Storage lockers Strata plan Subject removal

Condo buying

Will the view from the condo last?

Vancouver is building upwards and, excitingly, a good number of the towers will be architecturally significant on the global stage. To accommodate these new towers, over the 10 years I’ve been a realtor, Developers have gone from mainly replacing old ...

Tags: Community Plan Due diligence Future development Views

Condo buying

How Strata Corporations finance building maintenance

Strata Corporations are responsible for maintenance and repairs to common property, including the overall building. Repairs inside condos (for example, replacing a faucet) are typically the responsibility of the owner of the condo. My previous blog post, What Do You ...

Tags: Contingency Reserve Fund Due diligence Monthly maintenance fees Special assessments Strata Corporations

Condo buying

Don’t be mislead – get the full Strata Corporation financial picture

Just like cars and my mid-forties body, all buildings require maintenance. You want to own in a building where the Strata Corporation and owners have a firm handle on what maintenance and repairs are required, when they are required, and ...

Tags: Depreciation report Due diligence Monthly maintenance fees Subject removal

Blog

10 key points to win multiple offers without added risk

12+ ongoing costs you need to know in owning a Vancouver condo

Avoid an unwelcome surprise, know your Vancouver condo purchase costs

What you need to know to decide between a Vancouver resale, pre-sale or new home

8 bylaws crucial for selecting the right Vancouver condo

Understand what you’re buying with these tips for reviewing the strata documents

Strata bylaws and rules – setting the stage for neighbours living in harmony

6 plans you need to know when buying a home in downtown Vancouver

Buying a home in Vancouver’s West End? You need to know about this plan

Buying a condo during Covid-19 requires extra due diligence – tips for doing it right

Here’s what you need to consider before selling real estate in a Covid-19 world

Critical due diligence and how your realtor should help ensure the condo is right for you

3 ways to confirm the size of the condo so you know what you’re buying

Depreciation Reports, Part 2: Busting 6 myths against the 30 year plan

Depreciation Reports, Part 1: The benefits of a 30 year maintenance plan

See how your monthly strata maintenance fee compares to other Vancouver condo buildings

Strata insurance deductibles are changing – make sure you’re protected

2-5-10 New Home Warranty overview

Guest post: Allocation of parking stalls and storage lockers, Bell Alliance Lawyers

Will the view from the condo last?

How Strata Corporations finance building maintenance

Don’t be mislead – get the full Strata Corporation financial picture