Posted by Jack ToplissHalf the conversations I have about larger homes in this valley end up at the same place: the suite."There's a legal one-bedroom downstairs, so that's a few hundred a month against the mortgage." Or the carriage house. Or the plan to put a small second dwelling on the property later. The suite is what makes the number work, an...

Posted by Jack ToplissMost people assume the home inspection is the hurdle. Get through that, and you're clear.Then the insurance quote comes back, and the deal is suddenly in trouble.I've watched this happen enough times that I now bring it up early with buyers. Insurers have tightened up considerably over the last few years, and there are a handf...

Posted by Jack ToplissHere's where the Cowichan Valley market sat at the end of July, and more importantly, what it means if you're thinking about buying or selling this fall.I'm going to start doing these every month. Numbers come from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB), and I'll give you the honest read rather than the spin.

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