A: Get out of the weeds.

I get why you're asking. Everyone wants to find the neighbourhood that's about to pop, the hidden gem, the up-and-comer. But here's the thing: in Greater Vancouver, that search often leads people too far in the weeds. 

The best and most challenging thing about this market is demand. Yes, the last two years have been quieter. But zoom out and compare Vancouver to the rest of Canada and it's still one of the most desirable places to live; often ranking in the Top 10 globally. That persistent demand is what makes Greater Vancouver resilient through booms and busts.

There are always pockets growing faster than others. But for the most part, anything within commutable distance to Vancouver will see similar long-term appreciation. The difference between postal codes matters a lot less than people assume. So instead of obsessing over growth projections by neighbourhood, ask yourself: what does this location do for my quality of life?

It sounds simple, but the longer you can stay in one home, the more long-term wealth you build. Yes, you may want to upsize eventually, but you want that to be a choice, not a forced move because you can no longer stand where you're living. Selling under duress, in a market that isn't favouring sellers, can set your homeownership journey back significantly.

The biggest winners in Vancouver real estate are people who bought before 2010 and stayed. Look at their property histories and they look like lottery winners. But the winning move wasn't picking the right postal code. It was buying somewhere they wanted to live and holding on.

The best place to buy is the place you can afford and can see yourself living in the longest. Whether you go further out for more space or opt to stay close sacrificing sqft for walkability, community or a shorter commute. Ultimately it’s your priorities you need to nail down. Fortunately, that looks different for everyone, which means we're not all competing for the exact same thing.

Ten years from now, you could be the person whose property history looks like a lottery ticket. Not because you timed the market perfectly or picked the hottest postal code, but because you bought somewhere you loved and stayed.

That story starts with one conversation. Let's have it.

Kade Lacasse
604-401-9199
Book a 15 min call

Hot take incoming. And I know a lot of Realtors won't say this because it's counterproductive for business, but here it is: if your number one priority is a lower monthly cost, you should not buy a home right now. You should keep renting.

And I'm not saying that because it's going to get cheaper. Honestly, for the foreseeable future, it will be cheaper to rent than to own in Vancouver unless you're coming in with a massive down payment. If that's you; please disregard this entire post, give me a call, and let's get to work.

But for a lot of people? The math just doesn't work yet.

I work with buyers regularly who qualify on paper, make good money, and feel this pressure. This sense that it's just time to buy. That it's the next thing they're supposed to do. They sit down, we look at the budget together, and the monthly carrying costs are so much higher than what they're paying in rent that they can't wrap their head around it. And they shouldn't have to force themselves to.

If homeownership isn't your main priority right now, keep renting. Save money, travel, do whatever the %&^! you want to. There's a lot of noise out there, spring market talk, buyer's market talk AND IT IS AN AMAZING TIME TO BUY but none of that changes your personal priorities.

There a surprising amount of shame that people carry about still renting. Don't. Vancouver is one of the most expensive housing markets in the world. Renting here while you build savings, live your life, and wait until it actually makes sense for you is a perfectly reasonable choice. I'm not here to change your mind about that.

Personally, for us (my partner, two dogs and myself), we decided the pros outweigh the cons…
We have secure housing. We don't have a strata, so we have complete freedom over what we do inside and outside of our home. And most importantly, we're building long-term wealth, which is a priority for us.
If that's not your priority right now, keep renting. No embarrassment required.

If your priorities do shift and you’re looking for an agent that’s just as likely to talk you out of a deal as he is to advise you to proceed; reach out as I’d love to be a resource.

Kade Lacasse
604-401-9199
kadelacasse@gmail.com

Book a 15 minute call

A: Get out of the weeds.

I get why you're asking. Everyone wants to find the neighbourhood that's about to pop, the hidden gem, the up-and-comer. But here's the thing: in Greater Vancouver, that search often leads people too far in the weeds. 

The best and most challenging thing about this market is demand. Yes, the last two years have been quieter. But zoom out and compare Vancouver to the rest of Canada and it's still one of the most desirable places to live; often ranking in the Top 10 globally. That persistent demand is what makes Greater Vancouver resilient through booms and busts.

There are always pockets growing faster than others. But for the most part, anything within commutable distance to Vancouver will see similar long-term appreciation. The difference between postal codes matters a lot less than people assume. So instead of obsessing over growth projections by neighbourhood, ask yourself: what does this location do for my quality of life?

It sounds simple, but the longer you can stay in one home, the more long-term wealth you build. Yes, you may want to upsize eventually, but you want that to be a choice, not a forced move because you can no longer stand where you're living. Selling under duress, in a market that isn't favouring sellers, can set your homeownership journey back significantly.

The biggest winners in Vancouver real estate are people who bought before 2010 and stayed. Look at their property histories and they look like lottery winners. But the winning move wasn't picking the right postal code. It was buying somewhere they wanted to live and holding on.

The best place to buy is the place you can afford and can see yourself living in the longest. Whether you go further out for more space or opt to stay close sacrificing sqft for walkability, community or a shorter commute. Ultimately it’s your priorities you need to nail down. Fortunately, that looks different for everyone, which means we're not all competing for the exact same thing.

Ten years from now, you could be the person whose property history looks like a lottery ticket. Not because you timed the market perfectly or picked the hottest postal code, but because you bought somewhere you loved and stayed.

That story starts with one conversation. Let's have it.

Kade Lacasse
604-401-9199
Book a 15 min call

Hot take incoming. And I know a lot of Realtors won't say this because it's counterproductive for business, but here it is: if your number one priority is a lower monthly cost, you should not buy a home right now. You should keep renting.

And I'm not saying that because it's going to get cheaper. Honestly, for the foreseeable future, it will be cheaper to rent than to own in Vancouver unless you're coming in with a massive down payment. If that's you; please disregard this entire post, give me a call, and let's get to work.

But for a lot of people? The math just doesn't work yet.

I work with buyers regularly who qualify on paper, make good money, and feel this pressure. This sense that it's just time to buy. That it's the next thing they're supposed to do. They sit down, we look at the budget together, and the monthly carrying costs are so much higher than what they're paying in rent that they can't wrap their head around it. And they shouldn't have to force themselves to.

If homeownership isn't your main priority right now, keep renting. Save money, travel, do whatever the %&^! you want to. There's a lot of noise out there, spring market talk, buyer's market talk AND IT IS AN AMAZING TIME TO BUY but none of that changes your personal priorities.

There a surprising amount of shame that people carry about still renting. Don't. Vancouver is one of the most expensive housing markets in the world. Renting here while you build savings, live your life, and wait until it actually makes sense for you is a perfectly reasonable choice. I'm not here to change your mind about that.

Personally, for us (my partner, two dogs and myself), we decided the pros outweigh the cons…
We have secure housing. We don't have a strata, so we have complete freedom over what we do inside and outside of our home. And most importantly, we're building long-term wealth, which is a priority for us.
If that's not your priority right now, keep renting. No embarrassment required.

If your priorities do shift and you’re looking for an agent that’s just as likely to talk you out of a deal as he is to advise you to proceed; reach out as I’d love to be a resource.

Kade Lacasse
604-401-9199
kadelacasse@gmail.com

Book a 15 minute call