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Resources

Plain-English guides for BC buyers & sellers

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Whether you're buying your first home on the peninsula or selling a place you've owned for decades — anywhere in the Lower Mainland — these two guides cover what actually matters in BC.

The BC Buyer's Guide

Deposits vs. down payments, property transfer tax, subject clauses, and what it really costs to close.

Key Takeaways   Download PDF

The BC Seller's Guide

Pricing to today's market, preparing your home, offer strategy, and the costs sellers forget.

Key Takeaways   Download PDF

For Buyers

The BC Buyer's Guide — key takeaways

  • Pre-approval first — it holds a rate for 90–120 days and tells you what lenders will actually advance.
  • Budget beyond the price — property transfer tax, legal fees, inspection, title insurance; GST on new builds.
  • Deposit ≠ down payment — typically 5%, due right after subject removal. Have it liquid.
  • Subjects are your safety net — know which protections you can't afford to drop before you compete.
  • Buy the neighbourhood — catchments, commute and future development drive resale value as much as the house.

Download the Buyer's Guide (PDF)

For Sellers

The BC Seller's Guide — key takeaways

  • Price to today's market — overpriced listings go stale and net less than homes priced right on day one.
  • Prepare like a marketer — pro photography, drone, decluttering and small fixes outperform big renos at sale time.
  • Know your costs — commission + GST, conveyance, mortgage discharge; ask about the flipping tax if you've owned under two years.
  • Offers are more than a number — strong financing and clean dates often beat a fragile higher offer.
  • Time the move, not the market — when selling and buying in the same market, the spread matters more than the peak.

Download the Seller's Guide (PDF)   What's My Home Worth?

These guides are general information for British Columbia, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and thresholds change — verify current figures with your lawyer, accountant or lender, or ask Lance for a referral to his trusted team.