Insights

Answer-first notes on buying, investing, and how to read a property.

• Do I really need a REALTOR® to buy a home in Vancouver?

  Not every buyer needs the same thing from a REALTOR®.

• Is cap rate enough to evaluate an investment property?

  Cap rate is one measure of a property’s income relative to its price. On its own, it does not describe financing, strata costs, taxes, vacancy, or what the property means for a particular person. It is a starting point for comparison, not a decision.

• What does price per square foot actually tell you?

  Price per square foot is the price divided by an interior area. It is one way to notice size. It does not describe condition, layout, view, floor, outdoor space, parking, storage, strata fees, or what the area measurement includes.

• How should buyers think about comparable sales?

  Comparable sales help establish context for what buyers have recently paid for similar properties. They can be useful evidence of value, but they aren’t a price you have to pay, and they don’t tell you whether a property makes sense for you.

• What should you look at before buying a Vancouver condo?

  When you’re buying a condo, you’re evaluating more than the unit.