Buying a Vancouver Condo? Three Reasons Why You Absolutely Need a Great Home Inspector

Marci • August 16, 2014

Are you in the process of buying a condo in Vancouver? If you find the perfect property, would you hand over a great deal of money without knowing the unit’s condition? Any offer you make on a condo should contain an inspection clause. If you submit a competitive offer to buy the perfect condo with the perfect layout but you do not have an inspection clause, you’re walking in blind to an unknown situation. By requiring that the property and the common areas pass a pre-purchase inspection, you can protect your interests as a buyer. Before you skip the inspection process, here are 3 reasons to hire a respected and qualified inspector to examine the home:
Buying a Home

A Home Inspector Will Find Things You Wouldn’t Find

Unless you are buying from the most honest and trustworthy seller in Vancouver, your seller isn’t likely to blurt out the fact that they haven’t upgraded HVAC units or other elements that you will own once the deal is closed. You may have a broker that asks all of the right questions, but it is impossible to examine the condition of a Vancouver condo based on the listing information and answers that the seller’s representative has given to your questions. Even if you walk through the space yourself, it’s likely that you won’t spot every single problem the unit might have. A professional home inspector is trained to find a vast number of issues that laypeople would miss.

Save Money on Future Repairs

As soon as the keys are in your hands, it is your responsibility to maintain your unit and to repair any systems that break down. Many times, there are signs that a system will break down well before it actually does. An inspector is licensed to test electrical services, heating equipment, plumbing, hot water supplies, fireplaces and custom installations to determine if they are in working order. If they notice that a system is on the verge of breakdown or if the system needs to be updated, they will include this information in their report to you. You can then make a contingent offer to the seller – an offer that you will make the purchase if the seller completes the requested repairs. This saves you the time, money and trouble of fixing issues after the fact, so you can simply enjoy your new condo.

An Inspector Won’t Overlook the Common Areas and Maintenance Schedules

If this is your first time buying a condo, you may not be familiar with all of the building’s various policies. For instance, you may be responsible for the cost to repair a percentage of common areas when they are damaged. To ensure that there are not existing problem areas that can cost you a pretty penny out of pocket. You should review the council minutes to identify whether or not there are maintenance schedules and identify problem areas and ask the inspector for an opinion about these areas. The inspector will also travel through the accessible common areas to look for potential problems. This can save you a long and expensive legal fight later on.

A home inspection can save you money and prevent you from making an ill-informed purchase. There are lots of unscrupulous sellers who would love to unload a problem property on unsuspecting buyers, but with a professional inspector on your side, you won’t be walking into a disaster zone. For more information about buying Vancouver condos, hiring a great inspector or to examine your mortgage options, contact me by email today.

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RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan Explained: A Smart Way to Buy Your First Home

By Marci Deane • July 22, 2026
Saving for a down payment is one of the biggest challenges first-time buyers face. What many don’t realize is that the Canadian government offers a program designed to make it easier—the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) . This program allows you to withdraw money from your RRSP to help purchase your first home, without immediate tax consequences. Here’s how it works: Who Qualifies? To be eligible, you generally need to be a first-time home buyer. In practical terms, this means you must not have owned a home in the past four years, nor lived in a property owned by your spouse or partner during that time. There are also special allowances if you’re living with a disability or helping a relative with a disability. In these cases, you can use the HBP even if you’ve owned a home more recently. How Much Can You Withdraw? Under the program, you can access up to $35,000 from your RRSP as an individual. Couples can combine their withdrawals for a total of $70,000 . These funds must have been in your RRSP for at least 90 days before you take them out. Paying It Back The HBP isn’t “free money”—it’s an interest-free loan from your own retirement savings. You’ll have 15 years to repay the full amount back into your RRSP, starting in the second year after withdrawal. Each year, the CRA will send you an HBP Statement of Account outlining how much needs to be repaid. If you don’t make your repayment in a given year, that amount will be added to your taxable income. Why It’s a Smart Strategy The HBP can give first-time buyers a powerful boost toward homeownership. It helps you put together a larger down payment, which can reduce your mortgage amount and monthly payments. Just remember: it’s important to balance the short-term benefit of homeownership with the long-term impact on your retirement savings. Next Steps Thinking about using the Home Buyers’ Plan? Let’s sit down and review whether it’s the right move for you. Together, we can create a strategy that gets you into your first home while keeping your future financial goals on track. 📞 Reach out anytime—it would be a pleasure to guide you through the process.

Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — July 15, 2026

By Marci Deane • July 15, 2026
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. The tone of today's announcement is notably more optimistic than previous months. Here's what's changed and what it means for you.

Let’s Talk About Getting Top Dollar for Your Property

By Marci Deane • July 8, 2026
When it comes to selling your home, most people think the first call should be to a real estate agent. But the smartest first step often isn’t with your agent—it’s with an independent mortgage professional. Why? Because your mortgage plays a bigger role in your bottom line than most people realize. Planning to Buy After You Sell If selling means you’ll also be purchasing another property, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand financially before listing. Mortgage rules change regularly, and qualifying once doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify again. Getting a pre-approval in place ensures you know what you can afford and eliminates surprises later. On top of that, reviewing the terms of your existing mortgage could uncover options you may not have considered. For example, porting your mortgage instead of arranging a brand-new one could save you thousands. Selling Without Buying Even if you aren’t planning to buy right away, there’s still an important step: understanding the cost of breaking your mortgage. Unless your mortgage is open, penalties apply—and they can be significant. By reviewing the numbers with a mortgage professional, you might find that simply adjusting your timeline could reduce or even avoid costly fees. Navigating Life Changes In situations like a marital breakdown, it can feel like selling the family home is the only path forward. But that’s not always the case. With the right guidance and a legal separation agreement, one spouse may be able to buy out the other, keeping the home and providing stability for everyone involved. The Bottom Line Selling your property is more than just putting a sign on the lawn—it’s about creating a financial plan that protects your equity and positions you for the best possible outcome. Before you take the leap, let’s sit down and review your options. 📞 If you’re ready to talk strategy and make sure you get top dollar for your property, I’d be happy to connect anytime.