Darius Dominczak - Realtor

09/10/2026

Everyone's got an opinion on renting versus buying in Vancouver. Almost none of them have run your actual numbers.

This calculator does. BC Property Transfer Tax, CMHC insurance, rental income if you're renting out part of the place, and the mortgage math that's specific to Canada - not a US tool wearing a maple leaf.

Plug in your numbers and see which one actually wins for you.

https://yvr-realestate.com/bc-rent-vs-buy-calculator/

08/21/2026

We updated our home buyer's guide for 2026, and a few things changed enough that we didn't just tweak last year's version; we rebuilt it.

A new federal GST rebate became law in March. The insured mortgage cap jumped to $1.5 million. And the market itself looks different than it did a year ago.

The guide walks through it all: which PTT exemption applies to you, how the stress test works, what trips up most first-time buyers, and where in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley demand is holding up best right now. It includes 6 built-in calculators, so you're not just reading numbers; you're running your own.

https://yvr-realestate.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-bc-the-complete-2026-guide/

08/17/2026

Nobody budgets for this part.

Most buyers plan for the down payment and stop there. Then closing day shows up with a bill for Property Transfer Tax, legal fees, title insurance, and adjustments for whatever the seller already prepaid on property tax or strata fees.

Typical range is 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price, but "typical range" doesn't help you write a cheque. So we built a calculator that gives you your actual number, not a guess.

If you're buying presale, heads up: GST usually applies, and PTT gets calculated on the completion price, which may be higher than what you agreed to when you signed. The calculator accounts for that too.

https://yvr-realestate.com/closing-costs-calculator-bc/

08/04/2026

That floating staircase you've been eyeing? The doorless shower? The wall-hung toilet that looks like it's from the future?

I've toured thousands of homes in my career, and here's the pattern I keep seeing: the features that make buyers say "wow" during a showing are almost always the same ones they're complaining about five years later.

Wrote up 10 of the worst offenders, what they look like on tour day versus what they actually cost you in cleaning, repairs, and headaches once you own them.

That floating staircase, doorless shower, or wall-hung toilet you love? Here's why homeowners regret them. A Vancouver Realtor's honest take.

07/28/2026

"When will this end?" is the wrong question. Corrections don't announce their bottom; they just quietly stop getting worse.

Here's what's actually happening in Vancouver right now: benchmark prices have flattened out after two years of declines, inventory hasn't broken last year's peak, and June home sales were up 9.6% from a year ago, with detached, attached, and condo sales all posting gains at the same time. That last part hasn't happened much lately.

None of that proves the bottom is in. But it's the first time in a while several of the signs we'd expect to see before a correction ends have actually shown up together.

Prices have stopped falling as fast, inventory's easing, and sales are ticking up. Here's what usually happens right before a housing market crash ends, and what it means.

07/17/2026

Presale deposits in Metro Vancouver run 5% to 20% of the purchase price. On a $700K unit, that's up to $140,000 handed over before a single wall goes up.

Most of the time, it works out fine. But the buyers who run into trouble are usually the ones who didn't ask the right questions upfront, especially about financing at closing.

I put together the questions I actually walk my presale clients through: deposit structure, the GST rebate, assignment fees, the size variance clause, and what happens if your pre-approval doesn't hold up two years from now.

Worth a read before you sign anything.

Thinking about buying a presale condo in BC? Here are the questions about deposits, financing, and contract fine print you need answered before you sign.

07/16/2026

Presale math, plain and simple.

Yorkson Meadows, Willoughby: $1,649,900 for a 5-bedroom detached home with a legal suite already finished. That suite alone can offset a serious chunk of your monthly payment before you've moved a single box in.

56 homes total by Foxridge Homes (a Qualico company, building for 70+ years). Triple-glazed windows, heat pump AC, quartz counters, and an LG appliance package are standard. Completion from December 2026.

Full pricing sheet and floor plans on request.
https://yvr-realestate.com/presale-condos/yorkson-meadows-langley/

06/09/2026

If your BC home isn't getting showings, here's something worth reading.

Most sellers assume the market is to blame. Sometimes it is. More often, it's one of these 10 mistakes - and the frustrating part is that most of them are fixable before you ever list.

We wrote the full breakdown on the blog: pricing strategy, staging, timing, tenanted listings, disclosure obligations, negotiation, and the real cost of waiting too long to act.

It's a long one, but if you're thinking about selling in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley this year, it's worth the 10 minutes.

👉 yvr-realestate.com/blog/why-is-my-house-not-selling-in-bc/
Tag someone who's been thinking about selling - this might save them a lot of money.

The market isn't always to blame. Discover the 10 biggest seller mistakes and how to correct them before they cost you more time and money.

06/08/2026

🌲 Looking for more space without leaving the city behind?

Rocklin by StreetSide Developments is bringing 133 Scandinavian-inspired townhomes to Burke Mountain, one of Coquitlam's most family-friendly communities.

These thoughtfully designed 3 and 4-bedroom homes offer open-concept living, heat pump heating and cooling, SMEG appliances, private outdoor spaces, and access to trails, parks, schools, and future village amenities.

Current launch incentives include:
💰 Up to $30,000 developer credit
💰 10% deposit structure
💰 Homes starting from $949,900

If you've been considering a move to Burke Mountain, this project is worth seeing.

Discover Rocklin Coquitlam townhomes in Burke Mountain by StreetSide. Explore Scandinavian-inspired 3 & 4-bedroom family homes.

06/05/2026

🌊 Waterfront living is coming to Fraser Mills.

Encore Coquitlam by Beedie Living is the second residential tower planned within the 96-acre Fraser Mills master-planned community at 2 King Edward Street.

This new collection of condos and townhomes features:
✔️ Fisher & Paykel appliances
✔️ Large balconies and river views
✔️ Nearly 27,000 sq. ft. of amenities
✔️ Fitness centre and co-working lounge
✔️ Guest suite and entertainment spaces
✔️ Access to future parks, trails, retail, and dining

Fraser Mills is set to become one of Metro Vancouver's most exciting waterfront communities, bringing together homes, recreation, shopping, and public spaces along the Fraser River.

Interested in pricing, floor plans, and available opportunities at Encore Coquitlam? Send us a message or visit our website to learn more.

Discover Encore Coquitlam at Fraser Mills. New condos and townhomes by Beedie Living with riverfront amenities, parks, and transit connections.