Your Vancouver Island Buying Roadmap
Buying here is a lot like buying anywhere in BC, with a few Island twists. Here's the path most of our buyers follow, with the tool for each step.
1. Choose your community
Surf town, ski hill, small village, hobby farm or city condo? Start by matching your lifestyle to the right part of the Island. → Find Your Vancouver Island Community
2. Know your numbers
Estimate your payment and what you can afford, and learn the down payment and stress test rules. → Mortgage & Affordability Calculator
3. Budget for closing costs
Property transfer tax is usually the biggest closing cost, and first-time buyers and buyers of newly built homes may pay less or none. → BC Property Transfer Tax & Closing Costs
4. Get pre-approved
A pre-approval tells you what a lender will actually lend and shows sellers you're serious. We're REALTORS®, not lenders, but Braden will connect you with a trusted mortgage professional. → Get pre-approved
5. Hear about new listings first
Save a search and get new listings that match by email. → New Listing Alerts
6. View, inspect and make an offer
We'll tour homes with you, flag what to look into and help you write an offer with the right subjects (conditions). On the Island that often means a home inspection, plus well water and septic checks on rural properties, a review of strata documents for condos and townhomes, and questions about things like past oil tanks or land in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
7. Rescission period, subjects and completion
Once your offer is accepted, BC's home buyer rescission period gives you three business days to change your mind, with a fee of 0.25% of the price, for most residential purchases. Then you remove your subjects, your lawyer or notary handles the transfer and the money, and you get the keys on possession day.
A free Vancouver Island Buyers Guide is coming soon.
Explore Homes for Sale by Region
- South Island: Greater Victoria · Victoria Core · Westshore · Saanich Peninsula · South Cowichan
- Central Island: Cowichan Valley · Greater Nanaimo · Oceanside · Port Alberni & The Pacific Rim
- Comox Valley & Campbell River: Comox Valley · Campbell River
- North Island: North Vancouver Island
By property type: Land · Acreage · Cabins
Selling first? Find out what your home is worth with a free home valuation, and see live numbers on our Vancouver Island Market Snapshot.
Meet Your Local REALTOR®
Braden Davies
Co-Founder
Brandon Reader
Co-Founder
Blake Playford
Co-Founder
Island State of Mind Real Estate Group with eXp Realty. Local agents who live where they sell.
- Braden Davies: Campbell River & North Island
- Brandon Reader: Victoria & South Island
- Blake Playford: Comox Valley
Buying on Vancouver Island FAQ
What is the home buyer rescission period in BC?
For most residential purchases in BC, you have three business days after your offer is accepted to back out (rescind), even if you've already removed subjects. Weekends and holidays don't count. To rescind, you must give the seller written notice before the period ends and pay a fee of 0.25% of the purchase price. It can't be waived. It doesn't apply to some sales, such as homes on leased land, leasehold interests, auctions and court-ordered sales.
Does the speculation and vacancy tax apply where I'm buying?
Can I buy a home listed by my own REALTOR®?
Should I get a well and septic inspection on a rural Island property?
What are "subjects" in a BC offer?