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We live in identical buildings - why are our reserve contributions higher? On the surface, the question seems reasonable. If two buildings look identical and were built at the same time, logic suggests their financial needs should also be similar.   We have a number of strata clients in this exact situation - multiple building developments where each building is more or less identical, yet is a separate strata corporation.    Each building shares the same design and finishing

Each year, BC Assessment notices arrive in our mailboxes and prompt the same question from property owners:   “If my assessment went up, will my property taxes go up too?”   The answer: Yes.  Caveat: Your property taxes are probably also going up even if your assessment went down.  In the post-COVID world property taxes in all jurisdictions have universally gone in one direction.  UP! Why this is the case requires an understanding how assessment values are used and how they

Benchmark prices appear in real estate headlines every month. They are quoted by real estate boards, referenced by media, and often used as shorthand for “what homes are worth.” But for buyers, sellers, lenders, and investors, the more useful question is rarely asked. What does that benchmark price actually look like in real housing terms? This article breaks that down using December MLS Home Price Index benchmark data , combined with a review of recent arm’s-length sales clu

Big catchy headlines still sell… ‘ Greater Vancouver Real Estate sales down 10% from 2024 and 25% below the 10 year average’..   If you only follow provincial headlines, you could be forgiven for thinking B.C. housing weakened everywhere in 2025.   Metro Vancouver did finish 2025 in a softer position. Sales were down, inventory was higher, and benchmark prices eased.   However, our markets on Vancouver Island and Greater Victoria told a different story. Sales were steady, inv

Every January, strata councils make big decisions. Budgets. Reserve funding. Project timing. Insurance renewals. Sometimes a special levy conversation that nobody wants to have. And yet, many of those decisions are made with a hidden handicap. The information is incomplete. Invoices are missing. Project scopes are unclear. Nobody can confirm what was actually replaced, and when. Warranties are buried. Maintenance logs live in someone’s email. The last engineering letter is on

Building on our last post: from hidden infrastructure to insurance... In our last post we looked at the hidden infrastructure under a bare land strata. Water and sewer lines, private roads, drainage systems and other common assets that most owners never see, yet rely on every day. This follow up looks at the same property from a different angle. Insurance. Who is supposed to insure what in a bare land strata, and how does a replacement cost or insurance appraisal help council

Why the Systems You Cannot See Matter Most.. It is a dark, rainy November day in Campbell River. Our team is walking two modern bare land strata developments. At first glance they look straightforward. Clean streets, newer homes, underground services, limited amenities, everything functioning as it should. From the sidewalk, these projects feel low risk. No pool, no elevator, no clubhouse. Just houses, roads and some landscaped common areas. That surface view can be misleadi

Luxury, stability, and quiet momentum in Courtenay’s premier planned community The Crown Isle property in Courtenay, BC was originally acquired in 1988, when 805 acres Crown Zellerbach Forestry was purchased for the purpose of constructing a master-planned community centred around a championship 18-hole golf course.  To date, over 1,200 housing units have been built in the Crown Isle community, with potential for an additional ±1,500 units. Crown Isle continues to define the

Most strata owners don’t realize that their renovations aren’t covered under the strata’s insurance policy. Learn how a professional replacement cost analysis ensures your upgraded finishes and fixtures are properly insured. 1. A Real Story We See Often A client recently purchased a patio home in a Vancouver Island strata community. After moving in, they invested heavily in upgrades -new flooring, cabinetry, quartz counters, lighting, appliances, and even an upgraded heating

Heritage character, trail-life energy, and steady demand. Cumberland continues to stand out as one of the Comox Valley’s most distinctive micro markets, an authentic village where newly built modern houses, renovated heritage houses, outdoor access, and community identity combine to create a unique feel and style.  Cumberland’s population grew 18.5% in 5 years (per the last census in 2021) continuing a trend that began at the turn of this century. Thus far in 2025, the Cumber

Yesterday (despite the heavy rainfall) our team was on site completing progress advance inspections  for a small multi-family development - one of the most practical and important assignments we handle for lenders and builders across Vancouver Island. What Is a Progress Advance Inspection? A progress advance inspection  (also known as a construction draw inspection or progress report) is a site visit completed by a qualified appraiser  to verify that construction is advancing

The Mountain Resort Market Winter is coming. You can feel it in the air. When it comes to Vancouver Island’s alpine real estate, Mount Washington  operates as its own ecosystem. High elevation, infrastructure challenges, and leasehold titles within Strathcona Provincial Park make it a true micro market  and one that is slowly evolving from a winter-only ski destination into a four-season resort community. At Jackson & Associates Ltd., we examine markets not only through tra

Thus far in 2025, the Town of Comox residential real estate market continues to demonstrate the resilience and balance that have long defined its inherent value that comes with being the only south-facing, seaside town on Vancouver Island’s East Coast. While broader economic trends across Canada have been shaped by elevated interest rates and cautious consumer sentiment, Comox’s housing sector (especially within the Central Comox neighbourhood ) has remained quietly robust.

Not all strata properties are created equal. Communities built in mountain and ski-resort areas like Mt. Washington northwest of...

Why this matters: In British Columbia, zoning often gets the spotlight when people talk about property value. But zoning is only one...

On September 17, 2025 , the Bank of Canada reduced its overnight lending rate by 25 basis points  to 2.50%  the lowest level in three...

When the McDougall Creek wildfire destroyed Lake Okanagan Resort in August 2023, a subsequent lawsuit revealed a devastating oversight:...

In the early 2000s, a single-family dwelling (SFD) selling for over $1,000,000  in the Comox Valley was a rare event. Today, it’s become...

Municipal buildings don’t always stay in their original use. Firehalls, post offices, and other civic facilities often outlive their...

When municipalities and public agencies make property-related decisions, they’re often balancing community needs, legal requirements, and...