I watch these neighbourhoods every week. That is how I can tell you what a listing is actually worth before you fall for it.
Where you start matters more than where you look. A pre-approval sets your real ceiling and tells a seller you are serious. Your deposit — commonly 5% of the price — is due on subject removal and has to be liquid, not locked in an RRSP you have not released yet. Sort both before you tour anything.
From there it is the details that cost money later: the strata's depreciation report and contingency balance, the age of the roof and whether the plumbing is poly-B, whether a basement suite is actually legal, and what Property Transfer Tax will add on closing. First-time buyer and new-build exemptions can change that number materially, and the thresholds move — we confirm where they sit before you write, not after.
