A Coquitlam townhouse sits between a condo and a house, and so do its obligations. You usually get more space, a garage and a bit of ground, and you take on a share of roofs, fences and grounds that an apartment owner does not think about in the same way.
The documents are the same as any strata — Form B, minutes, depreciation report, bylaws — but what they tell you is different, because the shared costs are concentrated across far fewer owners.
Townhouse Considerations
What the strata maintains
The line between common property, limited common property and your responsibility is the single most useful thing to understand before buying a townhouse.
Roofs, decks and fences
Big-ticket shared items on a smaller strata. Fewer units means each owner carries more of the cost when they come due.
Strata size and management
Small townhouse stratas are sometimes self-managed. That can work well, but it changes how records are kept and how decisions get made.
Bylaws
Pets, rentals and age restrictions, plus rules on parking, storage and what you may change outside your own walls.
Garage and parking
Whether the garage and driveway are yours, limited common property, or assigned — and whether that is written down.
Age and envelope
The same rainscreen and building-envelope questions that apply to apartments apply here, and the answers are in the minutes and the depreciation report.
Grounds and landscaping
Who maintains what, what it costs, and whether the fee reflects the actual standard of the complex.
Browse Coquitlam Townhouses
Client Testimonials
Our experience with Kristy was absolutely amazing! When we first contacted Kristy, we hadn’t started preparing to move yet, but had determined that we needed to sell our townhouse and…
Read more SELLER – A MazonSELLER – A Mazon
We were most fortunate to have had Kristy Mattiazzo list our property for sale. We needed some minor repairs, painting and staging. She handled everything. We were most pleased with…
Read more SELLER – Mark WebberSELLER – Mark Webber
We are incredibly pleased with the service we received from Kristy for our home purchase. The buying process can be daunting, but Kristy made this look like a walk in…
Read more BUYER – CgBMaXBUYER – CgBMaX
We had a great experience with Kristy. She knew exactly what we wanted, so we didn't waste our time viewing houses that wouldn't have worked for our family. Once she…
Read more BUYER – Amanda ArmerBUYER – Amanda Armer
I first used Kristy's service in 2016 for purchasing a side by side duplex. She was a pleasure to work with. This time around I was in the market to…
Read more BUYER – GoranBUYER – Goran
We had an opportunity to put together a deal with Kristy. She represented the buyer and we were impressed with her communication, negotiation, & professionalism skills. In a changing market…
Read more REALTOR ASSOCIATE – Sayed Najibi GroupREALTOR ASSOCIATE – Sayed Najibi Group
Frequently Asked Questions
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They change what you are buying, and sometimes what it is worth. The Form B states the strata fee, the contingency reserve balance, any special levies, and what parking and storage actually come with the unit — which is not always what the listing says. The depreciation report projects what the building will need over the next 30 years and how it is expected to be funded; a thin reserve beside a long list of upcoming work is a future cost to you, not to the seller.
Council minutes are where problems appear first, usually months before they become a levy. Bylaws decide whether you can rent, keep a pet or renovate. This is why an offer on a strata property normally carries a subject clause for reviewing the documents: it gives you a defined window to read them and to walk away if what they show is not what you expected.
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It depends on the kind of home you want, your commute and your budget — Coquitlam changes a lot over a short distance. Burke Mountain is the newest part of the city, mostly detached homes and townhouses built in the last two decades. Westwood Plateau sits higher up the hillside and tends toward larger homes on bigger lots. Central Coquitlam is older and established, with mature trees and a mix of original houses and rebuilds. Coquitlam West borders Burnaby and is closest to the Lougheed SkyTrain and Highway 1, while Coquitlam Centre puts you beside the mall, the Evergreen Extension and most of the city’s amenities.
The questions that narrow it fastest are not about price: which schools matter to you, what your commute actually looks like at 8am, and how long you expect to stay. A house that suits a five-year plan is often not the one that suits a fifteen-year plan.
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Ask three things, and ask them of everyone you interview. First, how long they have actually been licensed and what they have closed recently — Kristy has been licensed since 2004. Second, what training they hold beyond the basic licence: hers is ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist), RENE® (Real Estate Negotiation Expert) and negotiation training through BCIT. Third, ask to see the actual marketing plan for your property in writing, not a description of one.
Then check whether the claims are verifiable. Kristy was a 2017 Medallion Club Qualifier, which represents the top 10 per cent of REALTORS® in Greater Vancouver, and she spent nearly ten years as an internationally award-winning home stager before that. Anything a Realtor tells you should be checkable somewhere other than their own website.