How much home can you afford?
Separate your monthly housing budget from the cash you need to buy.
THE STONE GROUP RESOURCE LIBRARY
Clear answers for your next move.
Choose what you’re planning, or find a specific guide below.
Quick answers
Questions about buying or selling in BC?
Plain-language answers on subjects, strata, taxes, suites and more.
Mortgage pre-approval: what to prepare
Find out what the lender has checked and what still needs approval.
What to ask before choosing a mortgage
Compare the payment, fees and restrictions as well as the interest rate.
Making an offer on a home
Check the price, conditions, deposit and dates before you sign.
How to prepare your purchase deposit
Confirm who receives the money, how to pay and when it is due.
Home inspections: what to check
Understand the inspection limits, report and follow-up work.
Appraisals and final mortgage approval
Find out what happens when the lender assesses the home you want to buy.
Your home purchase timeline
Track the steps from an accepted offer to getting the keys.
Getting the keys: your possession-day checklist
Confirm access, moving arrangements and what to do if something is wrong.
How to compare neighbourhoods
Test your commute, daily errands and the services you need.
Condo viewing checklist
Check the unit, parking, storage and building records.
Townhouse viewing checklist
Check stairs, garage space, outdoor areas and shared repair responsibilities.
Detached-home viewing checklist
Look at the site and major systems as well as the rooms.
Strata documents: what to look for
Check costs, repairs, insurance and rules before buying a strata home.
Strata fees and budgets explained
Find out what the fee covers and which costs you pay separately.
Insurance questions for condo and townhouse buyers
Ask your insurer how the strata policy and your own coverage work together.
How to read a strata depreciation report
Use the report to ask about future repairs and funding.
Check strata rules for pets, parking and renovations
Verify the rules and spaces your household depends on.
Preparing your home for sale
Prioritize repairs, decluttering and photography before listing.
How to price your home for sale
Use comparable sales and current competition to discuss your asking price.
Home staging: where to start
Make rooms easy to understand without hiding the home’s condition.
How to compare offers on your home
Review the price, conditions, deposit and dates together.
Should you buy or sell first?
Compare funding, timing and the cost of a gap between homes.
Downsizing: what to plan before moving
Check access, storage, furniture and costs before choosing a smaller home.
How to read a presale floor plan
Check dimensions, door swings, storage and the actual unit’s orientation.
Your new-home walkthrough checklist
Record room-by-room observations and confirm the follow-up process.
Presale assignments: questions to ask
Review the original purchase, assignment terms and remaining obligations.
How to assess a rental property
Check permitted use, operating costs and evidence behind rental income.
Buying a home to renovate
Check feasibility, approvals and total costs before relying on a renovation.
Moving checklist: bookings, access and essentials
Organize the move around your confirmed possession arrangements.
How much does it cost to sell a home in BC?
Build a seller’s net-proceeds plan before choosing your next home.
What does it cost to break a mortgage in Canada?
Understand the penalty conversation before selling or refinancing.
FHSA vs. RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan: what is the difference?
Compare the savings route, withdrawal rules and repayment commitment.
Mortgage default insurance in BC: what buyers pay for
Separate the down payment, insurance premium and amount borrowed.
Property tax vs. property transfer tax in BC
Two different costs that belong in different parts of your budget.
BC newly built home exemption: what to check
Understand transfer-tax relief before treating a new-home price as your final cost.
Strata fees vs. special levies in BC
A low monthly fee does not tell you the whole ownership cost.
BC 2-5-10 home warranty: what is covered?
Understand the coverage periods, limits and documents to request.
BC home buyer cooling-off period: days, fee and limits
Know the difference between rescission rights and your offer conditions.
Freehold vs. leasehold strata in BC: what to compare
Look beyond the price to the ownership interest and lease terms.
Surrey vs. Langley: how to compare homes and locations
Compare the actual address, municipality and journey before choosing a city.
Richmond vs. Coquitlam: a home buyer’s comparison
Start with your destinations, then compare neighbourhoods and homes.
BC & federal buyer programs
Explore the programs worth discussing with your financial and legal advisors.
Your closing-cost guide
Account for costs at signing, completion and after the move.
Down payment & mortgage basics
Prepare for a useful conversation about borrowing and cash requirements.
Presale deposits & disclosure
Give the documents as much attention as the design.
GST on a new home
Clarify price inclusions, possible rebates and payment timing.
Presale versus resale
Compare two ways to buy against your budget, timing and priorities.
Your buyer checklist
An interactive checklist from preparation to getting the keys.
Advice for where you want to live.
Compare neighbourhoods and the details that matter for your kind of home.
