Upsizing does not need to feel chaotic. When families know the sequence, the timing, and the numbers, the move becomes clearer and a lot less stressful.
This page is designed to help Coquitlam families build a smarter move-up plan around home value, equity, neighbourhood fit, selling order, and next-step buying power.
Most families do not get stuck because there are no homes available. They get stuck because they are not sure what order to do things in, how much flexibility they have, or whether the move will feel financially safe.
A stronger upsizing plan creates clarity before pressure shows up. That means understanding the goal, the likely value of your current home, what your equity can support, and what kind of next home truly fits your family better.
For some families, that means more bedrooms. For others, it means a better school path, a larger yard, better layout, improved privacy, or a neighbourhood that supports the next stage of family life better.
A strong plan protects your equity, gives you a clearer move order, and helps you avoid making rushed decisions under pressure.
Meet Craig JohnstonEach step strengthens the next one. The more clarity you create early, the easier it is to make good decisions later.
Are you after more bedrooms, a better school path, a larger yard, or a better long-term neighbourhood fit? The goal shapes the whole strategy.
You need a realistic estimate of what your current home could sell for in the current Coquitlam market.
This tells you how much flexibility you may have for the next purchase and helps determine your move-up range.
Should you sell first, buy first, or pursue a subject-to-sale strategy? That depends on your risk tolerance, market conditions, and inventory.
Compare areas like Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, or other Coquitlam options based on the life you want next.
This is where strategy protects your equity, reduces stress, and helps you move from one property to the next with more confidence.
That is what a good upsizing plan should feel like. Craig helps families structure the move in a way that protects timing, equity, and peace of mind.
That usually shows up as uncertainty around budget, timing, move order, and whether the next home is actually within reach.
A better plan reduces those unknowns before you commit to the next step.
Once families understand value, likely proceeds, and next-home targets, decisions become easier and much less emotional.
That is when upsizing starts to feel strategic instead of overwhelming.
These pages build more clarity around equity, move order, home value, neighbourhood fit, and what the next purchase may look like.
Start by clarifying your goal, understanding your current home value, and reviewing your likely equity position. That creates the foundation for every other decision.
That depends on your risk tolerance, the strength of your current home in the market, your financial flexibility, and the type of inventory you are targeting next.
The amount varies depending on your mortgage balance, the type of home you want next, down payment requirements, and closing costs. That is why the value and equity review is so important.
Yes. Craig Johnston helps families structure the move around value, timing, neighbourhood goals, selling order, and next-home fit so they can move forward with more confidence.
The smartest move-up decisions usually begin with one simple question: what does your current home make possible? From there, the next steps become much easier to structure.
Keep moving through the ecosystem. These pages connect directly to the decision you are working on.
I have spent the last 5+ years helping Coquitlam move-up buyers and sellers get from where they are to where they want to be — without the panic of owning two homes at once or selling under value. I work the Tri-Cities every day: Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, and the rest of Coquitlam’s move-up neighbourhoods.
If you want a straight read on your timing, pricing, or move-up strategy, the fastest next step is a short call.
The short, honest version. Every answer here is what I'd tell you on a call — no fluff, no generic listing-agent talk.
Most people lose money because they read generic advice and act on it. The pages below are the opposite — Coquitlam-specific, opinionated, and built from real transactions. Pick the lane that fits the move you're actually making.
No hedging. No "it depends." If a page above contradicts what another agent told you, ask them to cite their source — every number on this site is checkable.
The resources below go deeper on the same topic. If you’re piecing together a full picture, these are the next logical reads.
Pricing, regulatory disclosures, and tax implications when selling in Coquitlam — every one of these has an authority behind it. Cross-reference before you list.
External links open in a new tab. The Macnabs is not affiliated with these organizations — they are cited as independent authorities. Any time a number on this page differs from the authority, the authority wins.
The $40,000 most Tri-Cities move-up families leave on the table — capital gains, principal residence exemption, and PTT timing. No sales pitch. Just the math, the dates, and the traps I see Monday-to-Friday.
Real reviews pulled from Google. No paid placements. No curated-only-positives. Every client below closed with Craig — most sold over asking, several within a week.
“Craig sold my property in just 6 days. After receiving one offer, he quickly reconnected with all the other realtors who had viewed the property, and before I knew it, we had multiple offers — all over asking price. Craig didn’t stop there; he negotiated even better terms for me.”
“We worked with Craig on three real estate transactions. In all cases he was extremely professional and efficient. In the case of the two sales, both houses were sold for over asking and within the one week of going on market. Craig analyzed the market accurately and advised on a selling price that was fair and saleable.”
“Craig recently sold my townhouse in West Vancouver in less than 6 days for over asking price. Craig is one of the most prolific and highly motivated realtors I have seen in the Realty business, and I have extensive experience buying and selling properties of all sorts.”
“We consider ourselves lucky to be able to work with Craig over the last 5 years, over multiple transactions. He is a professional who is guided by integrity, honesty, and punctuality. Craig is a seasoned and well-informed realtor who will be a great asset on any real estate journey.”
“As first-time home buyers, we had a myriad of concerns. Craig immediately put us at ease by taking the time to address each of our questions thoroughly and patiently. At no point did I feel pressured or rushed into making a decision. Instead, Craig empowered us with all the facts and options.”
“One of the most dedicated and professional realtors I’ve encountered. No matter the value of the property, Craig puts great care into preparing high-quality marketing content. With his in-depth knowledge of the Coquitlam area, I highly recommend Craig to anyone looking to buy or sell.”
“His creativity, top-notch communication skills, and a solid plan were instrumental in selling high and buying low. His foresight in negotiation skills, predicting outcomes before they happened, truly set him apart. A remarkable professional who exceeded expectations.”
“Craig absolutely delivered on his promise of selling my condo, exceeding my expectations. A++ communications and he kept me informed and educated every single step of the way. Rock solid performance and a very quick above asking sale, I am beyond grateful.”
“We were referred to Craig by a friend and knew from day one we were in great hands. The marketing was outstanding — we received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities. When we re-listed in January, it sold in three days at the price we wanted, and he went on to find us an off-market buy in Vernon.”
More on The Move-Up Play
Craig writes the Tri-Cities coverage most realtors won't. Every page below is built on the same ground-truth data and the same negotiation playbook Craig uses for every client.
You've earned the move, but the numbers are complicated — capital gains, bridge financing, timing, school catchment, resale position of the current home. Craig's protocol keeps all of it synced.
3-bed to 4-bed, townhouse to detached, flatter lot, better school. Each upgrade has a price tag Craig knows by heart.
You've never done this before. The move-up tax trap, the bridge loan, the overlap period — Craig runs all three so you don't trip.
"Most Coquitlam move-up buyers get the tax math wrong and the sequencing right, or vice versa. Both have to be right for the same move. That's the job."
Whether you're a first-time buyer at $850K or a luxury seller at $4.2M, the sequence is identical. The scale changes. The discipline doesn't.
Your numbers, your timeline, your non-negotiables, your trade-offs — written down before we pick any houses or pick any comps.
Current supply, current absorption, current days-on-market, current buyer pool — per neighbourhood, per property type, not 'Metro Vancouver' averages.
Target neighbourhoods, target price band, target timeline, target offer structure. Written. Agreed.
Whether buying or selling, the offer / listing is engineered — structure, contingencies, comps, pricing logic — not improvised.
Conditions, completion, possession, and the six-month check-in. Most agents stop at keys. Craig doesn't.
No pitch, no pressure. Just your numbers, your options, and the next move that's actually right for you.
In Coquitlam's current market, most move-up buyers should sell first with a long completion, subject-to-completion when writing on the new property. But the right answer depends on your equity, your financing, and your timing tolerance. Craig solves it case by case.
It's the specific combination of capital-gains timing, bridge financing cost, and overlap-period double-carry that catches unprepared move-up buyers. Craig's move-up protocol prevents all three.
Functional minimum in Coquitlam is typically 20-25% down on the new property plus moving costs, commissions, and 2-3 months of overlap reserve. Craig runs your specific number before any showing.
Born in the Tri-Cities. Lived on Burke Mountain for 9+ years. Top 2% Nationwide Team. Craig runs every file — move-up, first-time, seller, investor — through the same repeatable playbook so nothing gets improvised at your expense. Start with the 20-minute fit call or the equity map. No pitch, no pressure, just your numbers and your options.