The SearchStrata blog
Your guide to navigating strata document analysis, condo due diligence, and the Canadian real estate market. Learn how to spot red flags, understand financials, and make confident buying decisions.
These articles are general information about BC strata and home-buying, current as of each post's publication date — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Verify current rules and consult a qualified professional before acting.
How to Tender and Approve Strata Contracts Defensibly: A Council Member’s Guide
Defensible contract tendering and approval is essential for any BC strata council. Learn practical, risk-aware steps for sourcing bids, evaluating vendors, documenting decisions, and handling owner scrutiny during the contract process.
How to Spot Early Signs of a Special Levy in Your BC Strata Building
Worried your strata may be facing a special levy? Here’s how BC strata owners can spot early warning signs in minutes, budgets, and reports—and what to watch for in your own building.
How to Uncover Strata Risks Before Your BC Offer: A Buyer's Deep Dive Into Pre-Offer Document Review
Before writing an offer on a BC condo, buyers should carefully review strata documents—minutes, financials, Form B, depreciation reports, and bylaws—to spot risks and restrictions. Understanding what to look for can protect you from surprises after subject removal.
Responding to Owner Records Requests: A Council Member’s Defensible Playbook
When BC strata owners request access to records, council and property managers must follow a clear, legal process. Here’s how to handle owner records requests defensibly—from timelines to document redactions, and maintaining trust and compliance.
Where Your Strata Fees Go: A Practical Guide for BC Condo Owners
Wondering what your monthly strata fees actually cover? We break down how BC strata corporations use owner contributions, why fees rise, and where to find details about your building’s spending priorities.
How to Vet a BC Strata’s Meeting Minutes for Red Flags—Before You Offer
Learn how to spot warning signs in BC strata meeting minutes—including upcoming special levies, legal disputes, and maintenance issues—before writing your offer. Make a confident purchase decision by reading between the lines.
Proxies and Voting at BC Strata AGMs: Preventing Confusion and Disputes
Learn how BC strata councils and managers can manage proxies and voting at AGMs to avoid common pitfalls, ensure fair procedure, and reduce the risk of post-meeting disputes.
Reading Your Strata’s Depreciation Report Like an Owner (Not a Buyer)
If you already own a BC strata unit, your building’s depreciation report isn’t just a buyer’s due diligence tool—it’s a map of upcoming repairs, costs, and how council sets priorities. Here’s how to read yours to stay ahead of maintenance and special levies.
What Every BC Home Buyer Needs to Know About Property Transfer Tax and Available Exemptions
Property Transfer Tax (PTT) is a key cost for BC home buyers, but several exemptions may reduce or eliminate it. Here's what buyers and their agents need to know before closing on a condo or house in Vancouver, Victoria, or anywhere in BC.
Defensible Strata Decisions: How to Document Council Resolutions That Stand Up to Scrutiny
BC strata councils are often judged on how decisions are made and recorded. Here’s how to document council resolutions clearly—so you’re ready for owner challenges, audits, or a CRT dispute.
How to Request Records From Your BC Strata (and What to Expect)
BC strata owners have a legal right to access key building records, but the process can be confusing. Learn what you can request, how to make a defensible request, and what to expect in return.
Strata Due Diligence Before You Offer: How BC Buyers Can Vet a Building’s “Story”
Before you write an offer on a BC strata property, understanding the building’s true story—through minutes, financials, bylaws, and more—can make or break your experience as an owner. Here’s how to approach strata document review defensibly, spot hidden risks, and make a confident, informed decision.