Deposit vs Down Payment in BC: What Home Buyers Need to Know
Posted on Jul 07, 2026
By Julia Beeger, REALTOR® | Oakwyn Realty Ltd. | North Vancouver
One of the most common questions I get from buyers, especially first-time buyers here on the North Shore, is this: "Wait, I need a deposit AND a down payment? Are those not the same thing?"
They are not, and mixing them up can cause real stress at exactly the wrong moment in your purcha...
Aboriginal Title, Private Property, and What It Could Mean for BC Homeowners
Posted on Jun 15, 2026
If you've been following news about Aboriginal title cases in BC, you may have seen recent headlines connecting a New Brunswick court decision to the ongoing Cowichan Tribes case here in BC. Both cases touch on a question that matters to anyone who owns or is buying property in this province: can Aboriginal title and private fee simple ownership co...DRIPA and Property Rights in BC: What Homeowners Need to Know
Posted on Apr 10, 2026
What Is DRIPA?DRIPA stands for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. It is a BC law passed in 2019 with support from all political parties at the time. [1]
The purpose of DRIPA is to bring BC laws into alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). That is an international human rights...
GST on New Homes in BC for First-Time Buyers: What You Need to Know in 2026
Posted on Mar 17, 2026
If you are thinking about buying a brand new home in British Columbia, there has been a major change that could save you thousands of dollars. As of March 2026, new homes in BC are still subject to a 5% Goods and Services Tax. However, a new federal incentive has created a significant opportunity for First-Time buyers to reduce or even eliminate th...
B.C. Overhauls Property Tax Deferment Program to Curb Misuse by Wealthy Homeowners
Posted on Mar 11, 2026
The British Columbia government is making significant changes to its long-standing property tax deferment program, aiming to refocus the benefit on its original intent: helping cash-poor seniors age in place. Announced in the 2026 provincial budget by Finance Minister Brenda Bailey, the reforms will make the program significantly less financially a...The Musqueam Title Agreement: What Metro Vancouver Homeowners Need to Know
Posted on Mar 03, 2026
If you live in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, or on the North Shore, you may have seen the headlines this week about a landmark agreement between the federal government and the Musqueam First Nation. It recognizes Aboriginal title over a vast area covering much of Greater Vancouver .
As a realtor, my phone has been ringing. Clients are asking the sam...
As a realtor, my phone has been ringing. Clients are asking the sam...
