Burquitlam Buyer's Guide: Towers, Walk-Ups and the Burnaby Border
Burquitlam Station opened on December 2, 2016, and the towers around it have been arriving ever since. This is the southwest corner of Coquitlam, one stop from Burnaby, with a bus straight up the hill to Simon Fraser University. Here is what a buyer should check before writing an offer.
Michael Lee · 8 min read
Strata Bylaws in BC: What They Can Restrict, and What They Cannot
Since November 24, 2022, no strata corporation in BC can stop you from renting your unit to a long-term tenant. Pet bans, smoking bans and renovation approvals are still enforceable. Read the registered bylaws before you remove your subjects, because the version on the building's website may be out of date.
Michael Lee · 8 min read
New Westminster Buyer's Guide: Five SkyTrain Stations and Six Different Cities
New Westminster has five Expo Line stations inside one 15 square kilometre city, and each one sits in a neighbourhood that prices differently. The concrete condo stock is older than Burnaby's, which is what drives both the lower entry price and the strata fee you need to read carefully.
Michael Lee · 8 min read
Strata Insurance in BC: The Deductible Gap That Can Cost an Owner Six Figures
A strata corporation's policy covers the building. It does not cover the deductible, which can run from $100,000 to $750,000 or higher. If a claim originates in your unit you can be held responsible for it without being negligent.
Michael Lee · 8 min read
West End & Coal Harbour Condo Buyer's Guide: Downtown Waterfront Living
Two waterfront downtown neighbourhoods, two different price tiers. Here's how the West End's walkable rental-heavy streets compare to Coal Harbour's marina-front towers, and what each actually costs right now.
Michael Lee · 8 min read
Lower Lonsdale Condo Buyer's Guide: North Van's Walkable Waterfront
Lower Lonsdale trades a backyard for a 12-minute SeaBus ride to downtown. Here's what condos cost, what the Shipyards and Lonsdale Quay lifestyle actually looks like, and who it suits.
Michael Lee · 6 min read
Strata Fees Explained: What's Actually Included
Strata fees aren't a flat tax on owning a condo, they're your share of the operating budget, sized by unit entitlement and topped up by a mandated reserve fund. Here's what's in that number.
Michael Lee · 7 min read
How to Read a Strata Depreciation Report Before You Buy a Condo
A depreciation report is a planning document. Check its assumptions and the current strata records before relying on it in a purchase decision.
Michael Lee · 10 min read