Burnaby Housing Types Explained
Detached house, townhouse, condo, duplex, presale – each comes with its own price, lifestyle and set of trade-offs. Here is a clear, local breakdown of the home types you’ll find in Burnaby, plus the ownership structures behind them, so you can match the right kind of home to how you actually want to live.
Burnaby’s housing mix
Burnaby is a city of variety. Unlike suburbs dominated by detached houses, its housing stock leans heavily toward attached homes and apartments – a direct result of concentrating growth around four transit-connected town centres. That mix is exactly why Burnaby offers more entry points into the market than most of Metro Vancouver.
The main home types, explained
Detached house
A standalone home on its own lot – the most space, privacy and land, and increasingly scarce in Burnaby at under a fifth of all homes. Detached houses carry the highest prices and, thanks to the land, often the strongest long-term appreciation, especially in established family areas.
Best for: buyers who want space, a yard, and land value – and have the budget to match.
Townhouse
An attached, multi-level home sharing walls with neighbours, usually with its own entrance and often a small yard or patio. Townhouses are Burnaby’s family sweet spot – more space than a condo, more affordable than a detached house, and low-maintenance thanks to strata management.
Best for: families and down-sizers who want ground-level living without a detached price tag.
Duplex, triplex & multiplex
Two or more homes on a single lot. Long common as duplexes and semi-detached homes, this category is expanding fast: new provincial rules now allow triplexes, fourplexes and multiplexes on many lots that were once single-family. They can offer a detached-style feel at a lower entry point.
Best for: buyers wanting a house-like home for less, and owners exploring a lot’s new density potential.
Condominium (apartment)
A unit within a larger building, concentrated around Burnaby’s town centres. Two broad kinds matter: concrete high-rises (taller, typically newer, higher strata fees, strong durability) and wood-frame low-rises (smaller buildings, often lower fees, more intimate). Condos are the most accessible way into the market and the closest to transit and amenities.
Best for: first-time buyers, professionals and investors who prioritize price, location and low maintenance.
Presale / pre-construction
A brand-new home you buy from plans before it’s built, completing once the building is finished. Presales let you lock in today’s price for a future home and are a huge part of Burnaby’s town-centre pipeline – with their own deposit structure, taxes and timeline.
Best for: buyers who don’t need to move now and want a new home – see our New Construction & Presales guide.
Ownership structures: how you hold the home
Just as important as the building type is how you own it. In Burnaby you’ll mainly encounter three:
- Freehold – you own the home and the land outright. Most detached houses are freehold. Maximum control, maximum responsibility.
- Strata (condo/townhouse) – you own your unit plus a share of the common property, and pay monthly strata fees for shared maintenance. Most townhouses and apartments are strata. Convenient, but you live by the strata’s rules and budget.
- Leasehold – you own the home but lease the land (often for a long term). Burnaby has notable leasehold housing, including parts of the UniverCity community on Burnaby Mountain near SFU. Leaseholds are usually cheaper to buy, but the lease terms affect financing and resale – read them carefully.
Suites and extra units
Many Burnaby homes include – or now allow – additional units, from a mortgage-helper secondary suite to newly permitted infill housing. What’s possible depends on the property’s zoning and the latest bylaws, which have expanded significantly. Our Zoning, Bylaws & Development guide covers what you can add, and why it matters for value.
How to choose the right type for you
- Budget and entry point. Condos and multiplexes open the door; townhouses sit in the middle; detached houses top the range.
- Space and lifestyle. Ground-oriented homes suit families and pets; apartments suit convenience and lock-and-leave living.
- Maintenance appetite. Freehold means full responsibility; strata trades some control for convenience.
- Investment goals. Land drives long-term appreciation; well-located condos drive rental demand near transit and SFU/BCIT.
What this means for you
If you’re buying
Start with how you want to live and what you can carry monthly – then let the home type follow. In Burnaby, the same budget can buy very different lifestyles depending on which type you choose.
If you’re selling
Every home type has its ideal buyer. Presenting and pricing your home to that buyer – the first-time condo buyer, the growing family in a townhouse, the investor near transit – is what turns interest into strong offers.
Not sure which home type fits?
Get a clear, no-pressure read on which Burnaby home type matches your budget, lifestyle and goals – from a local advisor who knows every corner of the market.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common type of home in Burnaby?
Attached homes – townhouses, row houses and semi-detached units – are the largest category at about 51.8% of the housing stock, followed by apartments at 29.4% and single-detached houses at 18.9%. Burnaby’s mix leans toward attached and apartment living more than most suburban cities.
What’s the difference between freehold, strata and leasehold?
Freehold means you own the home and land outright (most detached houses). Strata means you own a unit plus a share of common property and pay strata fees (most condos and townhouses). Leasehold means you own the home but lease the land – usually cheaper to buy, but the lease term affects financing and resale.
Is a townhouse or condo better in Burnaby?
It depends on your needs. Townhouses offer more space and ground-level living, suiting families, while condos are more affordable and closest to transit and amenities, suiting first-time buyers, professionals and investors. Both are strata-owned with monthly fees.
What is leasehold housing in Burnaby?
Leasehold housing means you buy the home but lease the land beneath it, often for a long term. Burnaby has notable leasehold communities, including parts of UniverCity on Burnaby Mountain near SFU. Leaseholds usually cost less upfront, but always review the remaining lease term and its impact on mortgage financing and future resale.
Sources: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population (Burnaby housing stock and tenure); Province of BC housing legislation on small-scale multi-unit housing; general BC strata and leasehold ownership frameworks. Figures are rounded; confirm details for a specific property before relying on them.
