01Should I buy a duplex or a townhouse?
If your budget allows either, I’d say the duplex is the much smarter route. The price often isn’t vastly different, but with a duplex you own a much larger share of the land, and land is king, both for resale and if a developer ever wants the lot. You also share with just one other owner, with no strata council and no monthly strata fees.
Go deeperBuying a Vancouver duplex
02Is a duplex a strata?
Yes. Any building with two or more units is a strata, but a two-unit duplex usually has no property manager, no real bylaws and no big reserve fund behind it. It’s you and the other owner sharing one building, so the protections aren’t automatic. I always advise having a lawyer draft an agreement on who handles what, and putting money aside each month for repairs even though there’s no fee.
03Side by side, front and back, or up and down: which duplex is best?
Most buyers want the side by side. You share one wall, have your own front door and often an open main floor that flows straight into the yard, so it lives like a detached home. A back unit can feel clunky with a longer walk-in, less light and a broken-up yard, and an up and down split can mean long runs of stairs, so make sure the price matches the layout you’re getting.
04Should I buy a brand new duplex?
Price in the GST first. A brand new home carries 5% GST and a resale home doesn’t, and when I covered this in June 2026, the federal first-time buyer rebate phased out between $1 million and $1.5 million, so a new duplex over $2 million got no rebate. Five percent of $2 million is $100,000, usually rolled into the mortgage, which is why I tell clients to look hard at duplexes that are one or two years old.
05What insurance does a duplex need?
Two policies: your own contents, plus a shared policy on the structure with your neighbour. Not every duplex has that separate strata policy, especially newer ones. When I bought mine I made sure it existed, and when water started pooling along my sidewalks it went back to the builder and got fixed without coming out of my pocket. So ask who insures the structure and what it covers, and don’t remove subjects until it’s clear.
06How do I check the builder of a newer duplex?
Search the address on the BC Housing New Homes Registry to see the builder of record, whether they’re licensed, and whether the home carries 2, 5 and 10 year warranty insurance. Then look at their track record, reviews and past projects, because you’ll be dealing with them on deficiencies. We fought our own builder for almost three years before the last deficiency got finished.
Buying?The Buyer BlueprintEvery step of buying in Vancouver and Burnaby, from financing to subject removal.Read the Buyer Blueprint →07Do I need an inspection on a brand new duplex?
Yes. Even on a brand new unit, I plead with you to get an independent inspection, not your dad or your uncle. On the brand new duplex I live in, the inspection found several items that helped us get $30,000 back from the developer to fix them.
08Why does the lot size matter on a duplex?
Because it decides whether you can have a legal suite. On a larger lot, a duplex can have a legal lock-off suite that brings in income, helps you carry the place and helps you qualify for the mortgage. We have one in our duplex and it helps with our mortgage, so a duplex with a legal suite can be a strong buy even at a higher price.
09What if both sides of the duplex have suites?
Then you could be living with three or more households on one lot. That means more noise through wood frame walls, more pressure on parking and possibly a shared yard with no clear boundaries. If you’re counting on your own suite as a mortgage helper, remember tenants care about private entries, parking and privacy too.
10What should I look for in a duplex yard?
Usable space and privacy, not just square footage. Some front and back duplexes have nothing but a small concrete patio, and some side by sides have one big open yard shared with the neighbours. Also check where the utilities are, because one side usually gets the gas meters, grates and power pole, and buyers see that as an eyesore.
11How many bedrooms should a duplex have upstairs?
Enough for a family on the bedroom level. A lot of new duplexes put the living space on the main and only two bedrooms on top, and a two-bedroom home has a real ceiling on its buyer pool. Watch for a primary that takes the whole top floor too: it’s lovely for a downsizer, but with a baby you’re going down a flight of stairs in the night.
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12What should I think about on an older duplex?
How you and your neighbour will agree on the big repairs. On a stacked duplex, a roof might only protect one unit, and windows, a sump pump or fencing can all turn into a disagreement. On a newer duplex you shouldn’t have many issues for 20 to 30 years, but on an older one, have that conversation before you buy.
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