Have you been exploring areas of your potential new home in Nanaimo and wondered what the major differences are between the North and the South sides of the city? Whether you're planning to move here or just curious about the area this video will break down everything you need to know from Parks and Recreation to crime rates and nightlife, so let's dive in!

Nanaimo is a coastal city with great Waterfront access spanning its length. Parks and beaches were a major factor in our decision to relocate here, so let's explore what each area offers. North Nanaimo is home to several large Parks like Neck Point Park which is one of the best places to watch the sunrise and Piper’s Lagoon offering beautiful ocean views hiking trails and picnic areas these parks are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and families. North Nanaimo is also where you'll find some of the most gorgeous tidal beaches I have been to, starting with Blue Back Beach and down the coast that meets up with Neck Point Park. Along this route you'll come across Invermere Dog Beach- a personal favorite! The access points to these beaches aren't walk-on however, so be prepared to get your steps in up and down these lengthy stairs!

In South Nanaimo you'll find smaller Community Parks like Harewood Centennial Park and the Colliery Dam Park, which offers a quieter experience with playgrounds and swimming spots. For beaches you'll find easy walk-on Waterfront access at spots like Departure Bay Beach, where you can also grab a coffee at Drip, and Jackpoint and Biggs Park which is a lovely hike! And since I mentioned dog access in North Nanaimo, Cable Bay also has a great offleash Trail.

North and South Nanaimo each have their own recreation centers with the South having the larger facilities like the Nanaimo Aquatic Center and Ice Arena which are located directly across the street from one another.

North Nanaimo has Oliver Woods Rec Center which is great for birthday parties, sports and camps and is a beautiful facility. Whether you decide to live in the North or South side of the city, you’ll have easy access to another great recreation complex called Beban Park. It has two ice rinks (where you can catch a Clipper’s game, which is Nanaimo’s Junior ice hockey team!) and a swimming pool and is located right in the center of the city!

When it comes to schools, North Nanaimo generally has newer schools with modern facilities catering to growing families in the area. Schools are well regarded like Dover Bay secondary, (which had a 3 million Improvement to its classrooms and fitness center in 2023, and is the second largest in the city of Nanaimo) as well as McGirr Elementary. South Nanaimo on the other hand, features older schools with a strong sense of community such as John Barsby secondary. Cilaire Elementary recently reopened after being closed for an entire school year due to an $1 million seismic upgrade and more. If school quality is your priority North Nanaimo might be more appealing but both regions offer solid educational options.

Now let's talk about dining! North Nanaimo is known for its variety of chain restaurants and a few high-end dining options making it convenient for families and those looking for diverse Cuisine. You'll find popular spots like Brown’s, Cactus Club Cafe, Montana's and Boston Pizza. A few of my favorite spots are found North as well like Sushi Nori and Wa Ku Ramen which used to only be in the South but due to popularity opened a second North Nanaimo location earlier this year.

South Nanaimo offers a more eclectic dining experience with a focus on local independent eateries. A few that I can name that are so good are Gabriel's Cafe downtown, Astera's Greek Taverna in Old City quarter and also located here is Bistro Tayo- which you'll want to try for its authentic and amazing Japanese food and ramen! I also can't recommend Mahle House restaurant in Cedar enough it's a fine dining restaurant that does not disappoint!

Shopping in North Nanaimo is all about convenience, with major shopping centers like Woodgrove center and Northtown Center. Residents have easy access to everything from groceries to clothing stores. South Nanaimo is more about Boutique shopping and local markets. It doesn't have large malls like North Nanaimo boasts, but if you prefer a more laid-back shopping experience South Nanaimo has plenty to offer!

Because I know this is going to be mentioned, I thought it would be important to talk about crime rates. North Nanaimo is generally considered safer with lower crime rates and newer developments that attract families and retirees. South Nanaimo has seen higher crime rates, particularly in certain neighborhoods which is something to keep in mind if safety is a top concern. This does have an effect on the housing market here as well and if you'd like to know more about the differences in home prices I'd highly recommend watching my blog post on the cost of living in Nanaimo where I feature this topic.

North Nanaimo is quieter with fewer options for late night activities making it better suited for those looking for a peaceful evening at home South Nanaimo offers a more vibrant night life with local pubs bars and live music venues. So, if you're into socializing and enjoying the local scene, South Nanaimo might be more up your alley!

We’re more than halfway through 2024 and since it’s been a minute since we’ve discussed this popular topic, I thought it was time to update you all on the Cost of Living here in Nanaimo BC.

Housing:

The idea of moving to Vancouver Island in search of more affordable housing costs is consistently on the rise and Nanaimo is particularly appealing due to its proximity to Vancouver via ferry and air transportation.

Let’s look at Buying a home and renting and what that might cost you in Nanaimo.

For rental prices, I’ve taken a look at what’s listed for rent online and determined some averages. Prices have been on the rise since last year.

For an apartment-style one-bedroom, you're looking at an average of $1,750 per month. A two-bedroom apartment will be about $2,147 and a three-bedroom will be on average $2,437.

For an entire three-bedroom home you're looking at an average of $3,000 per month to rent and a four-bedroom home, $3,200

Now let's look at the cost of purchasing your own home. Let's start with strata or attached homes and the median sale prices over the last 90 days. For a condo or apartment style home with two bedrooms and about 10 years old and under 2200 sq ft you're looking at a median sale price of $402,500 for a townhouse with three bedrooms and two bathrooms between 1100-1500 sq ft, you're looking at a median sale price of $534,900.

Don't forget to add your monthly strata or maintenance fees to these which can range quite a bit but typically will be between $300 and $500 per month1

Now let's look at single-family detached homes here in Nanaimo. For a three or four bedroom two bed home between 1,200 and 2200 ft in Nanaimo, the median sale price over the last 90 days was $769,900. I do want to point out though that Nanaimo’s real estate market is hyper-local, so to give you a more narrowed idea of home prices a four bedroom two-bed home in North Nanaimo (and I've also added areas such as Uplands and Pleasant Valley to this list) the same size house has a median sale price over the last 90 days of $849,900. With the same criteria of a home in South Nanaimo (with areas like Old City and the University District), you're looking at a 90-day median price of $764,900.

Taxes

Nanaimo’s property tax is based on the assessed value of your home on July 1st of the previous year, conducted by BC assessments. This assessed value can differ significantly from the market value of your property. Your final property tax amount is calculated by multiplying the Nanaimo property tax rate for the year by the BC Assessment value. The Nanaimo Property tax rate for residential homes has increased in 2024 to 6.41543, up from 5.83635 in 2023. So let’s use the median sale price I just mentioned for a North Nanaimo home of $849,900 

$849,900 x 0.641543% = $5,452.47

A home priced the same in 2023 would have cost $4,960

If you’re looking for a neighbouring Nanaimo city with substantially lower property taxes, check out Ladysmith, which you can learn more about in this blog post.

As for provincial personal income tax, BC rates apply to specific tax brackets. According to Ziprecruiter, the average salary in Nanaimo as of July 2024 is $41,926. If you have two people in a household earning this income your tax bracket would land you in the 7.70% rate.

BC also has a GST or Goods and Services Tax of 5%.

Utilities

In BC, home electricity is provided by BC Hydro and can be billed either monthly or bi-monthly. They use a Tiered billing system to promote energy conservation so if you stay within the first tier and use the median amount of 1,350 kWh every two months you’ll be paying around $162.30. This is roughly 11 cents per kWh and a surcharge of around 23 cents per day. If you use more and enter into the Tier 2 category you’ll be charged 14.08 cents per kWh over the Tier 1 threshold.

For the city of Nanaimo's water, sewer and garbage, your household is billed 3 times per year, approximately every 4 months.
For your WATER BASE RATE (per meter 25mm or less) : $1.00613 per day and then charged with a tier system by the number of gallons you use per day.

For SEWER $0.45057 per day (per dwelling unit) and GARBAGE: $0.624658 per day (per dwelling unit)

Gas & Transportation:

The cost of gas in Nanaimo is currently hovering close to $1.80 per liter.

If you’re driving, you’ll also want to budget for vehicle insurance, which can cost you anywhere from $1,200 to $1,600 annually, depending on your driving history and the type of vehicle. I substantially reduced my car insurance premium when I moved to Nanaimo, which I was very pleased about.

Parking your car in downtown Nanaimo has not changed since my last video on this topic, and has remained at a rate of $1.25/hour. When compared to downtown Vancouver which is still $1-$7/hour and not to mention much more of a hassle to even find a parking spot, Nanaimo is winning in this category. Interesting fact, Calgary actually has the most expensive city parking in Canada, and is only second in North America to San Fransico!

For those relying on public transit, a one-way bus ticket is $2.50, while a monthly pass is $65. If you prefer taxis, the starting fare is around $3.90, and about $2.72 per KM. Taxi fares are set by the city of Nanaimo and were last set in September 2023. Comparing this to U-ride, expect similar or slightly lower rates, especially for trips to popular spots like the Nanaimo Airport. Taxi fares from downtown to the airport are approximately $45, while U-ride services might cost you around $35

Food

The rising costs of groceries has definitely put a financial strain on many Canadians. You’ll be paying a bit more of a premium for groceries on Vancouver Island for things that aren’t locally grown so shopping at your local farmer’s market can be greatly beneficial. I won’t break down the cost of food in this post but if you’d like to see me compare major grocery stores here in Nanaimo be sure to let me know!

So, that’s the lowdown on the cost of living in Nanaimo, BC, in 2024. I hope this gives you a clear picture of what to expect if you’re planning to move or just curious about the costs here!

What’s under your home?

We always think about what’s in our potential new home, but what about the land it sits on? What lies underground and could there be anything beneath your next Nanaimo home that you should be aware of? Here are a few things you should know about before you buy!

But first, it’s important to understand land ownership in Canada. When you buy a home, it’s called “fee simple” ownership which is the highest form of home ownership. Meaning, that you own it forever, you can do with as you wish within city laws, and it will forever be passed to your heirs until it’s sold to someone else. There is a catch, and that is that if your home sits on crown land, which 94% of BC properties do, then it’s truly owned by the monarch and governed by the Canadian Government. When you look at your title, you may have certain non-financial charges such as undersurface rights, which give the crown the rights to anything under the surface of the land your home sits on. 

In Nanaimo, one particular non-financial charge pops up often, M76300 called "Exceptions and Reservations" owned by the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Company. Coal Mining was the main resource for Nanaimo from the mid 1800’s to the mid 1900’s and a railroad was built to support the industry in the 1800’s. As compensation, E&N was given a belt of land in Nanaimo along the railway line. This land has since been sold off with this encumbrance remaining on title. It doesn’t carry much significance but can be a little bit of a surprise! It means the E&N has the right to make changes like removing trees on your land, for the purpose of the railroad or stations. The reason it’s not an area of concern is that the land has mostly all be developed and very likely won’t be used for building out this dormant railroad. The charge also claims any minerals in the land, like oil. So, if you were to find some you could owe the railway line compensation. Since I’m not a lawyer though, I would strongly recommend you have these and any charges on title looked by one. 

Mine shafts

As I mentioned, Nanaimo was a mining town for over 100 years with mine shafts throughout the city. Now, many neighbourhoods sit on top of Coal mines. If it’s known, this will usually be something you will see come up on a property disclosure statement, but the best way to find out is to check out the mining map of Nanaimo. If the home in question is in the area of a coal mine and if it is, you can check with the city to be certain. From there you could have a geotechnical engineer assess the risk of subsidence, or the sudden (or slow) lowering of elevation, like a sinkhole. You can also contact the Ministry of Energy and Mines (250-952-0732). In October of 2013 while working on a utility line it was discovered that a coal mine had collapsed under the surface of Pine Street in downtown Nanaimo. This left a huge void underground which could have easily led to a sinkhole, so the road was shut down for extensive repairs.

Buried Oil Tanks

If you’re buying a home in an older part of Nanaimo, then it may be super important to check for something else hidden underground and that’s buried oil tanks. When homes started using natural gas for heating, underground oil storage tanks (UST’s) were filled with sand and or/ capped off. The problem is if an old tank erodes, some of the leftover oil can seep into the surrounding soil and water, causing contamination that can spread a super long distance. If you do a scan of the property and discover a UST it should be removed, and the soil tested. Remediation can cost thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars so make sure you’ve done all you can to check for the presence of a buried oil tank before you buy! Have a scan done if you’re home was built before 1970, just to be safe. 

Archeological Sites

Finally, in Nanaimo and the surrounding areas on Vancouver Island, it’s not unheard of to discover archeological or burial sites. Some examples are in Saanich in October of 2022 when construction workers discovered Thousands of years old Bison bones. Another example is in Craig Bay in Parksville where the excavation uncovered indigenous human remains. Overall, there are over 62,000 archeological sites across BC with more uncovered every year. If you ever encounter a home on an archeological site, proceed with caution as there will be a host of development and usage restrictions under the Heritage Conservation Act. And if you ever discover an artifact or remains, leave them where they are and contact the province right away. I will leave all the information in the video description as well. 

If you’re interested in seeing what an archeological site looks like in Nanaimo, you can pay a visit to Petroglyph Provincial Park in the South end of the city, any time! Here you’ll see ancient stone carvings depicting mythological sea creatures, human figures, and animals that are symbolic of the spiritual and cultural history of the Coast Salish and Snuneymuxw First Nations.[3]

I hope this has helped you understand just some of the things that may be awaiting you under your next Nanaimo home. Your trusted realtor can help guide you through all of the above circumstances that you may come across during your home search here on Vancouver Island. 

Sometimes it’s nice to leave the car at home! But what areas of Nanaimo make that possible and what areas will have you wishing gas prices were cheaper? 

Old City Quarter

Downtown Nanaimo is not surprisingly considered to be the most walkable neighbourhood in Nanaimo. The vibe in the Old City Quarter area is more quaint, and you will be walking to more local shops and smaller cafes but it’s perfect for anyone looking to be steps away from grabbing a bite or a meetup with friends. You can walk further into downtown to the shops along Commercial Street and even enjoy Nanaimo’s seawall and Maffeo Sutton Park! And because you’re downtown, you can walk to some of the transit the city has like seaplanes and ferries. Some may argue that it may be a little more dangerous to walk in a lot of these areas but I have never felt unsafe and I also believe perspective plays a huge part in this.

University District

I recently featured this neighbourhood in this video and am happy to be able to share a little more about what makes this neighbourhood so great, you can walk to just about anything you need!

Perfect for those attending school, the University district has a lot of convenient shops that any student would be happy to have nearby: Grocery stores, Tim Hortons, Subway, Shoppers Drug Mart and more! And for after-hours and weekend fun, Sip Neighbourhood pub is located on the corner of Fifth Street and Bruce Ave. The landscape is pretty flat too, so you won’t break your back hauling your backpack to and from school or bringing your groceries back home.

Dover Bay

Dover Bay in North Nanaimo is an area perfectly situated for walking. While some areas could do with more sidewalks, you’re located in between some of the most diverse shopping in Nanaimo and the most stunning beaches. From Woodgrove center to all of the shopping that surrounds it like Winners, Cabella’s and Michaels’s. And with lots of food choices like Save on Foods and so many restaurants, you’ve really got everything right outside your door! Dover Road is long and flat, spanning from Lantzville Road to McGirr Elementary so you won’t be battling any hills to get to where you need to be. It does get steep as you head towards the water but distance-wise it’s completely doable and worth it once you reach the water! Also located in Dover Bay is an off-leash dog park called May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park, or you can walk to Invermere dog beach at the bottom of Invermere Road. If you’re really feeling like a stroll, it doesn’t take very long from Dover Bay to walk to the Lantzville town core.

Least Walkable

Hammond Bay

Although considered to be one of the most desirable neighbourhoods due to its real estate and views, Hammond Bay is definitely an area to avoid if you plan to walk or don’t own a vehicle. Not only are the roads quite hilly, there’s just not enough nearby. Even if you are planning to walk to the beach or park, you’re still going to be battling those hills and vehicle traffic along Hammond Bay Road. This busy road spans from Departure Bay Road all the way to North Nanaimo, making it a major route to navigate the city and ideal to have nearby if you have a car. And if you are out walking in Hammond Bay, keep in mind that there is very limited cell service in much of the neighbourhood which can be quite dangerous if you’re on foot and something happens.

South Jinglepot

Unless you’re walking to Westwood Lake, which actually can be quite nice to have nearby in the summertime, you’re very limited with where you can get to by foot in the South JinglePot neighbourhood of Nanaimo. It’s just much more suburban, so while it’s a nice neighborhood to take a stroll with your dog you won’t be walking them to get groceries or anything like that. There is a corner in which a Liquor store, Jinglepot Pub and a bowling alley are located, which each can give you a reason to leave your car at home, but that’s about it!

Cinnabar Valley

Located in Chase River, Cinnabar Valley is a residential subdivision made up of tree-lined streets with sidewalks but you’ll be walking a while before you reach anything besides school or a corner store. Additionally, I wouldn’t recommend this area to anyone without a car because being so south it’s just much harder to access the other parts of town you might need to get to without one. There are many other reasons you might love this neighbourhood, some of which I will cover in a future video, but walkability isn’t one of them.

And there you have it, My list of the the most and least walkable neighbourhoods in Nanaimo. If there’s more you’d like to know make sure you get in touch, I’d be happy to help answer any questions about the neighbourhoods in this video or any others in Nanaimo and the surrounding areas!

Have you ever heard of a place called Campbell River and wondered how it compares?

Knowing from experience, location can sometimes be one of the trickier parts of the equation of moving to Vancouver Island. I for one came when the market was hot and finding a house was a matter of timing and luck, and when we were exploring the island and Campbell River came up in our searches I had no idea what it was like. Hopefully, I’ll answer some of those questions for you here!

Campbell River is located on the east coast, mid-way up Vancouver Island, 155km north of Nanaimo. The drive from Nanaimo takes about 1h30m along Highway 19 passing the Comox Valley on your way.

Campbell River was incorporated into a city in 2005, but its history dates way back to 1792 when Vancouver Island was first charted. In 1860, many Europeans began settling in the area to set up logging camps. Between 1952-2010 it also had its own Paper Mill called Elk Falls Pulp and Paper Mill. But Campbell River is most famous for its fishing and hunting and is known as the “Salmon Capital of the World”. In 1924 it became home to the Tyee Club, which is Campbell River’s oldest organization and the world’s most exclusive fishing club due to its strict set of fishing rules to earn a membership.

The population is around 35,000 people with a density of 225.7 per km2, compared to Nanaimo’s estimated 2024 population of 108,000 people. Density-wise, Nanaimo’s is much higher at 1,147 per km2. So, Campbell River's smaller size offers tranquillity, while Nanaimo's urban setting provides a dynamic lifestyle.

Both cities have a median age of between 44-46 but with more and more young families finding their way to Vancouver Island I am expecting this to change in the coming years.

Amenities

After talking about population, it will come as no surprise to hear that if you’re looking for a wider array of shopping options, then Nanaimo is your best bet. It’s got the largest mall on Vancouver Island, Woodgrove Center, and other popular chains and a Costco. Campbell River does have some larger big-box stores such as Canadian Tire, however, you’re better off checking out the stores along Shopper’s Row along the waterfront. 

As for sports and recreation, both cities offer many community and rec centers to enjoy various activities such as swimming, skating and local events. 

I hate to admit that Nanaimo is not known for having amazing health care. The hospital is 60 years old and with only 340 beds, the city has a huge need for a hospital with greater capacity. 

Campbell River’s campus of the North Island Hospital opened in 2017. It has a 95-bed capacity and citizens seem to be quite happy with the addition to the city.

Housing Costs and Taxes

If you’re house hunting in Campbell River, you’ll be pleased to hear that purchasing a home here is more affordable than in Nanaimo. Over the last 90 days, compared to Nanaimo’s current median sale price for a 3-bedroom home of $695k, that price is only $640k in Campbell River. Considering you can find lots of homes with breathtaking ocean views, (at a higher price point mind you) it’s definitely worth checking this city out if it will save you money.

Now let’s talk about property taxes. By now, you know that Nanaimo’s are quite high. In 2023 the final property tax rate for Nanaimo was 0.583635%.

In 2023, Campbell River’s property tax rate was 0.558529 %.

So, for a $650,000 home in Nanaimo, your property taxes will cost you $3,794 and in Campbell River, they aren’t much lower at $3,630.

Considering what your property taxes are being used for which are things like municipal services, community development and public infrastructure it’s important to factor in what you’re getting back from your city and in my opinion, Nanaimo just has more to offer.

Outdoor Rec

If you’re moving to Vancouver Island, I’m sure that outdoor recreation is something you value as much as I do. In Nanaimo, you’re centrally located making it an easy starting point to travel and experience all that the Island has to offer in terms of hiking, fishing, camping and beaches. While Campbell River is a little further up-island from the busier areas around Nanaimo, you can still access so many amazing Vancouver Island outdoor destinations that you may not feel the need to venture far very often. 

Strathcona Provincial Park is located 48km West of Campbell River and is BC’s oldest, and largest, provincial park. From camping at Buttle Lake, visiting one of its many waterfalls and even grizzly bear sightseeing tours, it’s the perfect destination if you love nature. Another must-see is a visit to Elk Falls Provincial Park, which is a mere 3km north of Campbell River.

Travel

Most people get to Campbell River via Nanaimo and take the drive North. There aren’t many other options but if you don’t have a car, you can hop on the Island Link shuttle bus from as far down as Victoria up to your destination. By air, you can arrive from Vancouver or Washington via Pacific Coastal and Central Mountain Air.

Travel was one of the main reasons we decided to plant our roots in Nanaimo as Campbell River just felt too out of reach and inconvenient for our family. If this doesn’t bother you, and you like the idea of a slightly more remote location then Campbell River could be the place for you!

Weather

I won’t spend a ton of time on this topic, as both locations are very similar in terms of weather and if you’re really curious about what this looks like month to month, I did an entire post on this! However, it’s important to note that the higher up-island you go, the slightly colder it is in the winter with more snow, and it’s a couple of degrees warmer in the summer as well. And of course, your chances of rain on Vancouver Island increase as well as you head north and Campbell River gets about the same level and amount of rainy days as Nanaimo.

I hope that has helped answer some of your questions surrounding which area on Vancouver Island might suit your needs most. Thanks again for being here and learning a little more about this beautiful island I call home!

If you've considered moving into a townhouse in Nanaimo but aren't quite sure what you're getting into you've come to the right place. Today I'm sharing the pros and cons of choosing a townhouse over a detached home in Nanaimo.

What’s a Townhouse?

Before we begin if you don't know what a townhouse is, a townhouse is part of a connected complex sharing walls with adjacent units they're often arranged in rows and individual units can be side by side or stacked. For this reason, a townhouse has slightly less privacy than a detached home but a bit more than an apartment or a condo since you most likely will have your own private outdoor space.

Townhouse ownership is typically limited to the interior space, with common areas like parking or parts of the building that are shared, like the roof, being owned by the strata Corporation as tenants in common.

Pros

1. Affordability

   While most of the home resale Market in Nanaimo is with detached homes, Nanaimo offers a wide variety of housing options to meet any budget such, as townhomes. In Nanaimo, over the last 3 months, the median sale price for a townhome was around $613,000 for a 2 to 3-bedroom unit. At this price, you're more likely looking at a newer home compared to a 2 to 3-bedroom detached home in this price range, which most likely will require a little bit more TLC. This makes Townhomes a great entry point into homeownership for first-time homebuyers.

2. Community Living

   townhouses often foster a strong sense of community. This is due to a lot of shared spaces and close proximity to neighbours, creating lots of opportunities for social interactions. If you're a member of your Strata Council, which is the governing body of the strata Corporation, you'll be participating in how the strata is run and forming relationships with other caring townhouse owners in your complex.

3. Low Maintenance

   Contrary to owning a detached home, with a townhouse, the exterior maintenance is typically taken care of by the strata. This allows residents to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle and is perfect for those who want home ownership without the hassle of extensive upkeep. Imagine not having to worry about cleaning your gutters or mowing the lawn.

4. Amenities

   Many townhouse complexes in Nanaimo come with communal amenities such as gyms, parks and even pools and as a resident, you get to enjoy these facilities without the responsibility of personal maintenance.

Cons

1. Limited Privacy

   As I mentioned, just as townhouse living can foster a strong sense of community, the proximity to neighbours might mean you're sacrificing a bit of your privacy. Even with a private outdoor space, you'll still most likely be in very close proximity to the people living next to you, so noise and visual disturbances can be a consideration here.

2. Strata Fees

   Almost any townhouse complex you will encounter will have strata fees, which are to cover shared expenses and maintenance. The amount you pay will be determined by something called your "unit entitlement”, which is the share of the common property that you own. This is usually determined by a formula that takes into account the size of your home. As mentioned, the strata of fees that you'll be paying will go towards the maintenance of your townhouse complex and go towards either an operating fund, which are the more frequent upkeep items such as gardening, insurance and garbage removal; or towards the contingency reserve fund for things that occur less than once a year; generally larger repairs. If you're purchasing a townhouse you must budget for this additional cost.

3. Less Freedom of Design

   If you want to find a home that you can customize you may find townhouse living a bit restrictive. This is because certain bylaws may determine what changes you can make to your Strata lot such as flooring, knocking down a wall or even remodeling your kitchen. You may need to get written permission before personalizing your space.

4. Parking Challenges

   Most people will find that parking and guest parking is much more limited in a townhouse complex. If you're lucky you could score a unit with a garage and a driveway but this isn't always the case. And, referring back to bylaws, you may also be restricted on the type of vehicles you park in your driveway, such as recreational vehicles.

   For all the reasons I just mentioned above make sure to read and understand all of the bylaws and rules that will apply to your future townhouse complex!