Page 6 - Real Estate Now_Jan-Feb 2021

As city office towers remain quiet, Dinani explains many buyers who previously needed to live closer to urban centres image via Pexels
for work-related reasons have geographically altered their home search. So long as the home meets their requirements,
Vancouver buyers in particular have been setting their sights east of the city.

“We’ve had calls saying, ‘Now we can go from East Vancouver to Burnaby,’ because the requirement to come into the
office is likely once a week or once a month even,” explained Dinani.

Highrise condo towers with shared elevators and closed amenities have prompted buyers to seek out detached homes
offering additional privacy and personal utilities. The backyard, Dinani says, has become a highly-coveted feature. In
most home searches, even if a backyard is not available, some form of outdoor space is critical.

Buyer preferences also play a role in what home features are the most attractive.
“If it’s a couple and they’re both working professionals, the office is pertinent for them to get utility from the space
because if they’re working from home, they need a space to do that,” said Dinani. “If it’s a couple with a child, an
outdoor space or a backyard becomes super important.”

Buyers might be fixated on single-family homes for now,
but interest in condominiums hasn’t vanished completely
and won’t anytime soon. Dinani explains boutique
condominiums have become more desirable recently—
fewer units in the building makes it easier to physically
distance, while fewer amenities represents a trade-off
for more personal space and lower maintenance costs.

As conversations with clients have increasingly revolved around having a private front door versus an elevator as of
late, there’s still a large percentage of buyers who want the convenience downtown city living, Dinani says.

6 | REAL ESTATE NOW | denise@BCislandhomes.ca