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The Duplex
Intensive.

Sonia Felix, REALTOR® in Vancouver

The Vancouver Duplex Buyer's Guide

By Sonia Felix, REALTOR® | byfelix.

Oakwyn Realty Downtown

Short answer: Buying a duplex in Vancouver is closer to buying a small building than buying a house. You are judging price against adjusted comparables, sharing a roof and a wall with one other owner, and buying into a street that is changing under the city's multiplex zoning. This guide walks through each decision in the order you will face it.

Vancouver is one of the most complex housing markets in the world to buy in. Duplexes add another layer. Two owners share one structure, the paperwork is different from a detached home, and the price gap between the front and back unit rarely means what buyers assume.

I work with duplex buyers and small developers west of Fraser Street, including Kitsilano, Dunbar, Point Grey, Kerrisdale, Arbutus Ridge and the Cambie corridor. These are the questions my clients ask most, answered the way I answer them in person.

Part one

Duplex 101

  1. 01How to Know if You Are Actually Getting a Good Deal on a Duplex
  2. 02No Strata Fees on a Duplex: What It Really Means
  3. 03How Much to Offer on a Duplex, and What It Really Costs to Close
  4. 04How to Handle Multiple Offers in Vancouver
  5. 05The BC Home Buyer Rescission Period, Explained
  6. 06Questions to Ask Before You Write an Offer
  7. 07Who Manages a Duplex When There Is No Strata Manager
  8. 08Galley, Horseshoe or Island: Which Kitchen Suits You
  9. 09Front, Back or Side by Side: Choosing a Duplex Layout
  10. 10How to Test Sound Between Duplex Units Before You Buy

Part two

Duplex 201

  1. 11Why the Back Unit Costs More, and When the Front Unit Is the Better Buy
  2. 12What a New Duplex Listing Sheet Does Not Tell You
  3. 13How to Read a Deficiency List on a New Build
  4. 14Finishes That Hold Value and Finishes You Pay for Twice
  5. 15What Is on Title, and Why It Matters Before You Buy
  6. 16Everything You Can Put in an Offer Besides Price
  7. 17How Offers Actually Get Won in a Competitive Market
  8. 18What Happens After Your Offer Is Accepted in BC
  9. 19How to Find Out What Is Being Built on Your Street
  10. 20The Duplex That Is Hard to Sell in Ten Years

Off market duplexes

Some sellers and builders prefer to sell quietly, without a public MLS® listing. When one matches what a buyer I am working with has asked for, I bring it to them first. If you want to be considered, tell me what you are looking for.

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