The Blog

Real Estate Advice for Coquitlam & the Lower Mainland

Practical guides for buyers and sellers in the Tri-Cities and Fraser Valley, from mortgage pre-approval to choosing the right neighbourhood.

  • Freehold or Strata? What You Actually Own When You Buy in BC,Silvana Azurdia

    Freehold or Strata? What You Actually Own When You Buy in BC

    Two homes can look alike from the street and come with very different kinds of ownership. Whether a home is freehold, strata, bare land strata or leasehold affects what you own, what you pay each month and who makes the decisions. Here is a plain-language guide for BC buyers. The short version   Wit

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  • More Homes per Lot: What BC's New Zoning Rules Mean for Owners and Buyers,Silvana Azurdia

    More Homes per Lot: What BC's New Zoning Rules Mean for Owners and Buyers

    Since 2024, BC law has required most cities to allow three to six homes on many lots once zoned for a single house or duplex, and higher density near SkyTrain. If you own a house, are buying one or are thinking about building, here is what the rules allow, how the Tri-Cities have applied them, and w

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  • Closing Costs in BC: What to Budget Beyond Your Down Payment,Silvana Azurdia

    Closing Costs in BC: What to Budget Beyond Your Down Payment

    Your down payment is the biggest cheque you write when you buy a home, but it is not the only one. Here is what else to budget for when you buy in BC, from property transfer tax to the adjustments on your lawyer's statement, so you can plan for each one well before completion. The short version   Pl

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  • Moving to New Westminster: A Guide to the Royal City,Silvana Azurdia

    Moving to New Westminster: A Guide to the Royal City

    New Westminster fits a lot into a small city: a riverfront, heritage neighbourhoods, five SkyTrain stations and one of BC's busiest hospitals, between Burnaby, Coquitlam and the Fraser River. Here is a guide to the Royal City for home buyers. The short version   New Westminster was incorporated in 1

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