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Dowan Allen

@dowan_allen

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🏠 Licensed Property Management 🏡Joined Cityplex Property Management. 📈Investor

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🚨 Not every condo in Surrey builds wealth.
Some quietly drain it month after month — and buyers don’t realize until it’s too late.
Imagine this ⬇️
• $900–$1,000/month in strata for a 3-bed condo
• $740+/month for a 2-bed
• Even townhomes pushing $750+ in fees
That’s not leverage.
That’s cash-flow erosion — and over time, it can completely erase appreciation.
And the worst part?
These costs are baked into certain buildings.
Here are 7 Surrey condo buildings buyers should approach with caution 👀
🚫 Surrey Condos to Watch Closely
1️⃣ Ultra – Surrey Central (Whalley)
Built under the wrong building code. Structural concerns flagged.
2️⃣ Evolve – Surrey Central
Often grouped with Ultra. Buyer caution due to construction concerns.
3️⃣ Agenda – Surrey Central
Part of the same cluster. Ongoing buyer hesitation in the area.
4️⃣ Element – Surrey Central
Closely tied to the Ultra/Evolve zone. Risk perception impacts resale.
5️⃣ The Stanley – Guildford
Older high-rise with aging systems and historically high strata fees.
6️⃣ Bloomsbury Court – Guildford
Marketed as “resort-style,” but amenities are aging, repairs are costly, and levies are often deferred — which can mean bigger bills later.
7️⃣ Chatsworth Gardens – Guildford
Amenity-heavy complex. High maintenance costs and long-term levy risk.
⚠️ Why this matters:
• Code issues = long-term risk
• Older towers = expensive retrofits
• Amenity overload = rising fees + special levies
👉 Buying in Surrey?
Comment MISTAKES and I’ll DM you my free guide:
“8 Buyer Mistakes That Cost Thousands.”
#SurreyRealEstate #SurreyCondos #CondoWarning #StrataFees #FraserValleyHomes #POV #ListWithRaph

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Your rental property is your first step toward wealth building, so protect it before you hand over the keys 👀

Here are the 5 steps every landlord should follow:

1️⃣ Check CSO
See civil cases, unpaid rent, landlord disputes, and any criminal records.

2️⃣ Run a Credit Check
Look for late payments, collections, high debt, or low scores. Their financial habits matter more than what they promise.

3️⃣ Ask for 2 months of pay stubs
You’re verifying income is real, stable, and consistent. Anyone who avoids this step — walk away.
+ Ask for a job letter (confirms employer, position, and employment status)

4️⃣ Pop by their current home
Their living conditions tell the truth: clean or careless? What you see there is what you’ll get in your unit 💸

5️⃣ Call references directly
Ask: “Would you rent to them again?” You’ll hear the real answer in their voice.

BONUS:
If you don’t want the stress, hire a property manager to handle tenant placement.

If you’re looking to buy your next rental in Surrey, DM RENTAL and I’ll send you my exclusive foreclosure + distressed property list.

Save this post for later.
#SurreyRealEstate #FraserValleyHomes #LandlordTips #InvestmentProperty #BCRealEstate #VancouverRealEstate #ListWithRaph

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Last weekend was a night to remember. 🙌🏾 Being in a room of thriving entrepreneurs and celebrating excellence in business. Congratulations to @blackbusinessbc for 5 years of meaningful impact in the Black community!

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The strata actually denied families from buying a home because their baby was “too much.” 🤯

This happened not once—but twice—to my first-time homebuyer clients.
They had an accepted offer, ✅ financing lined up 💰, ready to start their lives in a concrete building full of other families…
but once we received and reviewed the strata documents, everything changed. 📄

The bylaw stated a maximum of four occupants per unit.
Their family of five (two adults, two kids, and a 2-month-old newborn) technically exceeded that limit — meaning the entire family was approved… except the baby. 👶

The listing agent believed it would be fine, but the strata bylaws said otherwise.
We even applied for an exception under hardship — laid out the full situation, waited weeks…
Denied. 🚫

And it’s not just one building — I’ve now seen multiple stratas across B.C. with the same bylaw.
These rules are outdated, unfair, and straight-up blocking young families from owning homes in Canada. 🇨🇦🏡

👇 If you’re looking to buy but worried your family size might not be approved,
DM me how many people are in your household + where you’re looking.
Let’s check those bylaws before you fall in love with a home. ❤️

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#StrataNightmare #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #HousingCrisis #CanadianRealEstate #SurreyRealEstate #FamilyOfFive #ListWithRaph #BCRealEstate #HomeOwnership

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Ever thought your dog’s weight could cost you your dream home? 🐶

The condo max was 25 lbs, and their dog weighed 32 lbs. 🤯

The strata was strict and unyielding — no exceptions, no appeals. 😬

Many seemingly “pet-friendly” communities have hidden rules — size, number, or breed — that can instantly disqualify your fur baby. 🚫

That’s why I go through every condo document for you — line by line — so you don’t lose your dream home over a few extra pounds. 💼

Don’t risk it.

Save this Reel and Comment “DOG FRIENDLY”
for a list of local properties with no pet restrictions! 🏡

#SurreyRealEstate / #FraserValleyHomes / #GreaterVancouverRealEstate / #BCRealtor / #SurreyBC / #ListWithRaph #petrestrictions #petdeposit #petfriendly #Langleyrealtor

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Warm up session having some fun but people do take random advice without doing research, ultimately managing risk, learning about position sizes and being aware of the risks involved in investing. If you have a proper plan, do your research and be patient to unlock 🔓 the rewards the market or any investment has to offer.

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Kicking off the long weekend with friends, food, and fun. #timewellspent

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Day 1 of the @blackbusinessbc Afro World Expo was a great time. Ready for day 2!

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The Marley legacy lives on through Bob Marley’s children. Stephen & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley were tuff! 😮‍💨🔥

#aboutlastnight #timewellspent #friendslikefamily

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THANK YOU!

The #NeverQuitOnABadDay community has grown into such a supportive space for entrepreneurs and others alike to chase their dreams and remain resilient in hard times. Thank you for all the support, and we are so excited for what’s to come!

Remember, if you haven’t claimed your free chapter, head to the link in my bio! :)

#motivationalwomen #bookreviews #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookishreview #bookseriesreview #bookstagramukreview #bookbloggerreview

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THANK YOU!

The #NeverQuitOnABadDay community has grown into such a supportive space for entrepreneurs and others alike to chase their dreams and remain resilient in hard times. Thank you for all the support, and we are so excited for what’s to come!

Remember, if you haven’t claimed your free chapter, head to the link in my bio! :)

#motivationalwomen #bookreviews #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookishreview #bookseriesreview #bookstagramukreview #bookbloggerreview

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Fun with fam & friends 💕
It’s been forever since I’ve been to a @bclions_official football game. 🏈 While it was rough seeing them suffer an unexpected loss in OT, a great time was had, and the music interludes were just as entertaining as the game!

#timewellspent #familytime #goodtimes #bclions

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