Honest comparisons for Fraser Valley buyers
Every guide here picks a real decision a first-time or move-up buyer has to make — property type, city, mortgage structure, or which tool to use — and walks through it honestly. No fluff, no hard sell.
Property & location
Condo vs. Townhouse
The $280K benchmark gap, strata-fee math, and which property type fits which buyer — April 2026 FVREB figures.
Read the comparison →Abbotsford vs. Chilliwack
East-Valley value vs. commute time. Chilliwack townhouses near $593K (CADREB Mar 2026); the honest trade-off.
Read the comparison →REW.ca vs. Realtor.ca vs. FRIVE
Honest disclosure: REW is a fine browsing tool. Here's exactly when to use it and when working with the FRIVE team is the better call.
Read the comparison →Mortgage decisions
Pre-approval vs. Full Approval
What a pre-approval actually guarantees and where it falls apart on offer day — the distinction that costs buyers their deposit.
Read the comparison →Fixed vs. Variable Mortgage
Bank of Canada holding at 2.25%. The spread, the rate-shock math, and which type fits which buyer in BC in 2026.
Read the comparison →Insured vs. Uninsured Mortgage
The 20% down payment line: CMHC premium math, rate differences, amortization rules, and reserve-fund reality.
Read the comparison →Mortgage Broker vs. Bank
Which channel finds the better rate — and when the bank's relationship pricing beats the brokered market.
Read the comparison →Mortgage Renewal vs. Switching Lenders
Your renewal letter is not the best rate available. The November 2024 OSFI straight-switch exemption and how to use the renewal moment.
Read the comparison →
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