Buying or selling real estate is probably the largest financial transaction most people will make. It's important that you do your due diligence so that there are no surprises down the road that could cost you money. With strata properties one of the areas you want to pay close attention to is the strata bylaw, rules and regulations. This is an area that can come back to bite you unless you turn over every stone. Now, when you have me as your Realtor I'm going to do most of that due diligence for you - it's just second nature for me. However not a month goes by where I don't see units that are being sold that are in violation to the strata by-laws. Make sure your agent asks questions. Lot's of questions unless they has intimate knowledge of that building and have sold units in there recently. With detached homes I always make a trip down to city hall before my buyers even make an offer on a house just to see if there are any unusual rights of way or encumbrances on the lot than might effect it's market value.  Not all agents do this which seems crazy to me.