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From “Just Looking” to “Let’s Buy”: East Van Edition 🏡✨

  • erin0582
  • 4 days ago
  • 3 min read


In this vlog, I’m out house hunting in East Vancouver with first time home buyers who are making that shift from casually watching the market to actually preparing to buy. The focus is simple: find a home that fits real life now, and still makes sense a few years from today. 🗝️



The “casual looking” phase is not wasted time


One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that if you have been looking for a while, you are behind. You are not. Touring, comparing, and learning neighbourhoods is how buyers get clear. It is how you stop being swayed by staging and start making decisions that protect your future.



Why a five to ten year home is a smart first step


This search is a great example of the five to ten year plan. Not a forever home, but a long term home. The kind of place that gives you stability, room to breathe, and flexibility as life shifts. Jobs change. Needs change. Families grow. A smart purchase is one that can stretch with you, not one that boxes you in.



Lifestyle is not a bonus. It is the whole point.


What came through loud and clear in this tour is that lifestyle requirements are not “nice to haves.” They are the whole point. A yard is not a bonus when you have a dog. A proper office is not a luxury when you work from home. Extra bedrooms are not just for future kids, they are for options. Hosting friends, storage, a guest room that actually feels comfortable. Homes need to support how you live, not just how you want the listing photos to look.



Layout beats finishes, every time


This is where buyers win or lose the game. Finishes can be changed. Cabinets, lighting, even flooring, those are usually solvable over time. But layout, community, and how the home flows day to day are harder to fix. You cannot renovate your way out of a choppy floorplan. You cannot move a home into a better pocket of a neighbourhood. You cannot buy sunlight later if the orientation does not deliver it. ☀️


So when I’m touring with buyers, we start with the bones. How does it live on a busy weekday, not just on a sunny weekend?



Buying as a couple means finding the overlap


Buying as a couple adds another layer, because it is not just about finding a great home, it is about finding the overlap. One person will care more about kitchen flow. The other will care more about outdoor space. Someone will want character. Someone will want clean and modern. That’s normal. The goal is not perfection, it is balance. A home that supports both people without either one feeling like they compromised on what matters most.



What this means for you


If you take one thing from this vlog, let it be this: the smartest first time buyers are not the ones who move the fastest. They are the ones who get clear early.


You can change paint, fixtures, finishes. You cannot easily change layout, location, community, orientation, or outdoor space. My job is to protect your best interests. That means helping you spot the differences before you fall in love with the shiny stuff.


If you want help building a smart plan for East Van or duplex style homes, reach out anytime. I’m here to guide you through the process with confidence. 😊



Erin Price Emery

Call or text: 604-767-7725

Explore homes for sale in Vancouver and other areas at listitvancouver.com



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