Owen Bigland blogs about the 4 key things he has his clients focus on while they look to buy a Vancouver condo. These 4 things save people an enormous amount of time, frustration and money. #1. Neighborhood  #2. Price  #3. Building (some are better than others so make sure your agent has intimate knowledge of the various downtown buildings, including which ones are well maintained and managed and which ones to avoid). And finally #4. The general layout of the unit including which floor it's on and it's location in the building.
 
Most downtown condos are built for the masses. Don't worry about small things like flooring, paint, appliances, kitchen cabinets, lighting. All those things can be easily upgraded or changed to meet your needs. Stay focused on the 4 key elements of the condo. Neighborhood, Price, Building and General Layout and you will find it much easier and faster to zero in on the unit that's best for you.