# Best Coquitlam Realtor — Craig Johnston, Move-Up Specialist > Best Coquitlam realtor — how to choose a Coquitlam real estate agent, what credentials matter... **Source:** https://soldbycraig.ca/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/ **Author:** Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BC Licence V99960) · The MACNABS · Royal LePage Elite West **Site:** https://soldbycraig.ca --- Coquitlam REALTOR® Selection Guide ## Best Coquitlam Realtor — a move-up specialist for families upsizing in the Tri-Cities. Looking for the best Coquitlam realtor when you're moving up? A great REALTOR® in Coquitlam — realtor Coquitlam families actually trust — isn't the same person as the highest-volume listing agent. Most sellers assume "best" means the Coquitlam real estate agent with the most sold signs on Austin Road. But if you're selling your home and moving up to your forever home in the same season, you don't need the highest-volume listing agent — you need the one with a repeatable process for running both transactions in parallel, one who treats your move as a single orchestrated event, not two sequential commission cheques. Written for Coquitlam, Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra move-up sellers and upsizing families — the people running a sell-and-buy in the same season. Updated June 16, 2026 · Written by [Craig Johnston, REALTOR®](/coquitlam-realtor-craig-johnston/) · Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® · Burke Mountain resident [Book a 20-Min Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Start with an Equity Map](/home-evaluation/) Or call direct: [604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) **5.0** across 34+ Google reviews **Top 1% Team** — GVR 47+ years in the Tri-Cities Top 1%Greater Vancouver Team Ranking Medallion Club Team MemberTeam Member Since 2021 5.0 · 34+Verified Google Reviews Top 2%Royal LePage Nationally Source: Royal LePage internal rankings & Craig's verified Google Business Profile. Updated July 2026. Quick answer ### Who is the best realtor in Coquitlam? Coquitlam has no single “best” realtor — top agents win on different dimensions. For move-up families selling a townhouse or starter home to buy on Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, or Heritage Mountain, the realtors most cited locally for this work are Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® agents with a documented move-up process, neighbourhood-specific track record, and verifiable client reviews. **Craig Johnston** (BCFSA #V99960, Royal LePage Elite West) is the Burke Mountain–resident specialist behind the Move-Up Protocol — Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, Medallion Club Team Member member, 34+ verified Google reviews. What clients say ## 5.0 stars across 34+ verified Google reviews. Three reviews specifically about pricing strategy, communication discipline, and move-up coordination — the things that separate listing agents from move-up specialists. ★★★★★ > "We received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities: no subject to sale and achieving our price. We took the home off the market over Christmas, but behind the scenes Craig continued working. When we re-listed in January, it sold in just three days to buyers he had been nurturing — at the price we wanted." Jim Turnbull Sold + Bought · June 2026 · Google Review ★★★★★ > "Craig was there with us everyday. Guiding us to our next step we were kept informed daily sometimes multiple times a day as to what was happening… Our home sold in only 6 days with multiple offers." Gerry & Aline Howitson Sellers · November 2025 · Google Review ★★★★★ > "Craig is a true professional and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell their home. His approach is clear, data-driven and resulted in multiple offers for our sale." Robert Shin Seller · July 2025 · Google Review ★★★★★ > "We had a fantastic experience working with Craig on the purchase of our first home in Coquitlam. He was incredibly friendly and responsive, always quick to answer our messages and questions. Throughout the process, he took the time to walk us through each step so my partner and I always knew exactly what was going on and what to expect next. Craig also gave us honest, helpful opinions on properties we were considering, which really helped guide us toward a place we love. On top of that, he connected us with a great broker and lawyer, making the whole process feel seamless. We're so happy in our new home and couldn't have done it without him. Highly recommend Craig to anyone buying a home!" Rohit & Georgie First-Time Buyers · July 2026 · Google Review [Read all 34+ reviews on Google →](https://www.google.com/search?q=Craig+Johnston+REALTOR+Coquitlam+reviews) The Framework ## Four questions that tell you if a Coquitlam realtor actually runs move-ups — or just lists houses. Ask these in any first interview. The right answers come back in seconds. Vague answers *are* the answer. ### "Show me your last three simultaneous-close transactions and tell me the gap between sell-close and buy-close." If they can't name the gap in **days**, they're not running parallel motion. They're running two separate transactions and hoping the dates line up. ### "What's your plan if my sale closes and my purchase is still 30 days out?" If the answer is "we'll figure it out" or "talk to your mortgage broker," they don't have a **bridge strategy**. They've never priced bridge financing, never staged a 30-day overlap, never written a possession-deferral clause that actually held. ### "Which SD43 catchment produces the highest resale premium and which one produces the lowest?" This is a local-knowledge test. An agent who can't answer this **off the cuff** is not specialised in your market. Hyper-local catchment math is what separates pricing strategy from pricing guesswork. ### "What do you do in week 4 after we close?" If the answer is "we don't — the deal's done," they don't run **Soft Landing**. Your post-close referrals will go to someone else, because the agent who follows up at 30 days, 90 days, and one year is the one your friends will hear about. Those four questions are how I was trained to be evaluated. Every one of them traces back to a specific step in [the Coquitlam Move-Up Protocol](/coquitlam-move-up-protocol/) — the five-step process every move-up family I work with runs through, identically, every time. Move-up specialist vs. listing agent ## The difference shows up in the file, not the marketing. Most Coquitlam agents are competent listing agents. Fewer can run a dependent transaction — the kind where a single misstep in financing, timing, or communication breaks both deals at once. Here's where the practices actually diverge. | What you should expect | General listing agent | Move-up specialist (Craig) | | --- | --- | --- | | Pricing method | Three or four closest comps; sometimes a CMA from MLS auto-suggested. | Catchment-specific comp set, layout-class match, last 60–90 days, drive-by re-confirmed against current active inventory. Three-tier range: high case, mid case, low case. | | Sell-and-buy coordination | "Sell first, then we'll start touring." Two separate engagements. | Equity Map first, then a written sequence decision (sell first / buy first) with bridge plan priced before the listing goes live. | | Closing-date strategy | Match dates "if possible." Often a 30+ day mismatch. | Subjects, possession, and adjustment dates negotiated to compress the gap to under 7 days, ideally same-week. Bridge financing pre-modeled if needed. | | Pre-listing prep | "Declutter and we'll bring in the photographer." | Pre-listing inspection, three-to-five item repair list, staging brief, photography style guide, MLS copy review, launch-week showing schedule. | | Communication cadence | Reactive — calls when an offer comes in. | Pre-listing weekly check-in, daily during launch week, scheduled post-close 30/90/365 follow-up. | | Submarket coverage | Strong in one neighbourhood; weaker elsewhere. | Burke Mountain · Westwood Plateau · Heritage Mountain · Eagle Ridge · Burquitlam · Coquitlam Centre · Anmore · Belcarra. One agent across the move arc. | | Property-type transitions | Detached-only, or condo-only. The other side gets handed off. | Detached, townhome, condo, half-duplex, acreage — coordinated in one file when the move involves a class change. | | Fee model | Single commission — cheque cashed, file closed. | Move-up clients often run two commissions (sell + buy) on a coordinated rate; the second transaction is built into the original engagement, not negotiated mid-move. | In the first interview ## How to read the room in 20 minutes. You don't need to be a real estate expert to interview one. You need to know what good answers feel like and what bad answers sound like. ### Good signs to look for - They explain pricing with real logic — comps, catchment, current active inventory. - They name your specific neighbourhood and the buyer profile likely to come through. - They talk about preparation, presentation, and pre-listing inspection without you bringing it up. - They have a written negotiation plan, not just "we'll see what comes in." - They ask about your *full move* — your next purchase, your timing, your downpayment math. - Communication feels organized and steady. Calls return same-day. Notes get sent after meetings. ### Warning signs to walk away from - They promise a price without showing comparable sales or a written range. - They lean on generic marketing language ("maximum exposure," "full service," "white-glove"). - They can't explain how they create urgency or competition in a launch. - They feel reactive — only answer when you push, no follow-up between meetings. - They don't ask about your next purchase, your bridge plan, or your sequence decision. - They talk about the *listing*, not the *outcome*. The listing is their product. The outcome is yours. For a deeper dive into the specific traps that quietly cost sellers money — pricing too high, listing in the wrong week, weak photography, no offer-deadline strategy — read [the seller mistakes guide](/mistakes-sellers-make/). Most of the real damage in a Coquitlam sale happens before the listing goes live. ![Craig Johnston — Coquitlam REALTOR® reviewing strategy at the kitchen table](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DSC1195-scaled.jpg) Strategy first · Then process ### The strategy call before the listing photos. Every move-up sequence I run starts with a 45-minute conversation at your kitchen table — not a listing presentation. We map your timeline, your real budget after closing costs, your school-and-commute constraints, and the bridge-financing fallback. The listing photos come later, after the plan is set. The Move-Up Protocol ## Five steps. Same order. Every move. Every dependent transaction I run goes through this sequence. The advantage of a repeatable process isn't that it's clever — it's that nothing slips. The bridge plan exists before the listing is photographed. The Soft Landing call is on the calendar before the keys change hands. Step 01 #### Equity Map Net sale value, true available equity, real next-home ceiling. The numbers that actually drive every following decision. Step 02 #### Sequence Decision Sell first or buy first — written, dated, with bridge financing pre-modeled if relevant. Step 03 #### Pre-Listing Prep Inspection, repairs short-list, staging brief, photography, MLS copy review. Everything before the launch week. Step 04 #### Parallel Search While the listing is live, the buy-side hunt is already running. Subjects-friendly offers ready when the right home appears. Step 05 #### Soft Landing Possession, key handover, utility transfers, contractor coordination. 30-day, 90-day, and one-year follow-up. [Read the full Move-Up Protocol  →](/coquitlam-move-up-protocol/) Live numbers ## Coquitlam market snapshot — June 2026 Coquitlam runs multiple markets inside one municipal boundary. Here's the combined picture — knowing these numbers is table stakes for any agent you interview. Detached HPI benchmark $1.64M GVR MLS® Home Price Index, Coquitlam-wide. Townhome median sold $1.02M Coquitlam-wide. Burke Mountain tracks higher at ~$1.09M. Condo median sold $653,900 Coquitlam-wide. Burquitlam discounts on TOD supply pressure. Avg days on market 43 days Coquitlam-wide. Homes that actually sold moved in ~22 days. Percentage of original price 98.9% Sellers pricing close to where buyers will actually pay. Active listings ~599 June 2026 total Coquitlam detached inventory. Source: [Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) MLS® HPI & monthly statistics](/real-estate-market-update/), Coquitlam filter, **June 2026 release**. Last refreshed **July 3, 2026**. The Difference ## Why families across Coquitlam hire Craig. 01 ### Pan-submarket experience Coquitlam is not one market — it's Burquitlam, Westwood Plateau, Burke Mountain, Central Coquitlam, Coquitlam Centre, Eagle Ridge, Westwood, and Maillardville. Each has its own price band, buyer pool, and demand driver. I work all of them and can tell you not just *"what's your home worth"* but *"which submarket is your next home really in."* 02 ### Property-type transitions handled in-house Downsizing detached → townhome → condo, or upsizing the other direction, is where most commissions get split across two agents. I coordinate both sides — timing, financing bridges, concurrent subjects — with one file, one communication line, one set of dates. 03 ### I live here and I stay current I live in Coquitlam. I walk these streets. I know which buildings just got new roofs, which strata just voted on a special assessment, which schools are catchment-changing next September. That current-state knowledge is what separates negotiating from stalling. [![Burke Mountain — newer-build family detached corridor](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Burke-Mountian.jpeg) Burke Mountain](/burke-mountain-homes/) [![Westwood Plateau and Lafarge Lake — aerial view](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/lafarge-lake-westwood-plateau-drone.jpg) Westwood Plateau](/westwood-plateau-real-estate/) [![Craig Johnston on the Rocky Point pier, Port Moody — Heritage Mountain area](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DSC0715.jpg) Heritage Mountain](/heritage-mountain-homes/) Meet Craig ## Sixty seconds with the person you’d be *interviewing*. Intro · 60 sec ![Craig Johnston, REALTOR® — 60-second introduction video thumbnail](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hVbqvBg_1kM/hqdefault.jpg) ![Craig Johnston, REALTOR® serving Coquitlam, Burke Mountain and the Tri-Cities](https://soldbycraig.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DSC1119-1-scaled.jpg) About the realtor behind the Move-Up Protocol ## Craig Johnston, REALTOR® Craig has lived on Burke Mountain for nine years and has been a licensed REALTOR® with The MACNABS at Royal LePage Elite West, focused almost exclusively on the Tri-Cities. Every move-up file he takes runs through the same five-step Move-Up Protocol — Equity Map, sequence decision, pre-listing prep, parallel search, Soft Landing — because the dependent sell-and-buy transactions are where most agents quietly fall apart, and a documented process is the only way to keep them aligned end-to-end. His positioning is deliberate: not the agent with the most signs on the road, but the one most families call when their move involves a class change (detached ↔ townhome ↔ condo), a school-catchment constraint, or a bridge-financing window that can’t slip. If your move is outside his fit, he’ll tell you that on the first call and connect you with the right agent. - Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® - Medallion Club Team Member (since 2021) - President’s Club Team Member - Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide - 9+ year Burke Mountain resident - BCFSA Licence V99960 [Read Craig’s full bio →](/coquitlam-realtor-craig-johnston/) Or call direct: [604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) Frequently asked questions ## FAQ: Choosing a Coquitlam realtor. Who is the best realtor in Coquitlam? There is no single "best" realtor in Coquitlam — top agents win on different dimensions: total volume, single-neighbourhood depth, luxury specialty, team resources, or hyper-local catchment expertise. My positioning: I work Coquitlam as **one connected market** — Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, Anmore/Belcarra, and the condo/townhome submarkets. If your transaction spans submarkets or property types (most move-up files do), you get one agent for the whole arc instead of a handoff between specialists. Always interview two or three before signing. What should I look for in a Coquitlam realtor? Six things: hyper-local market knowledge (different pricing logic for Burke Mountain vs Westwood Plateau vs Heritage Mountain), a strategic pricing process built on real comps not algorithm estimates, presentation and marketing depth, communication you can actually rely on, negotiation that protects your equity, and — critically for move-up buyers — a written plan that connects your sale to your next purchase. Is it better to work with a realtor who knows Burke Mountain or Westwood Plateau specifically? Yes. Hyper-local knowledge changes pricing strategy, buyer targeting, and how the home is positioned. Small differences in school catchment, street, lot orientation, layout class, and resale-history pattern materially shift demand. A Coquitlam-wide agent will understand the broad strokes; a hyper-local one will know which buyers are touring this weekend and what they're actually willing to pay. Read more: [Burke Mountain Homes](/burke-mountain-homes/) · [Westwood Plateau Real Estate](/westwood-plateau-real-estate/) · [Heritage Mountain Homes](/heritage-mountain-homes/). Can Craig Johnston help if I need to sell and buy at the same time? Yes — move-up transactions are my primary specialty. Every move-up file runs through the same five-step [Move-Up Protocol](/coquitlam-move-up-protocol/): Equity Map, sequence decision (sell first or buy first), pre-listing prep, parallel search, and Soft Landing the first 30 days after close. If you're not sure whether to sell first or buy first, that decision deserves its own conversation: [Sell First or Buy First in Coquitlam →](/sell-first-or-buy-first-in-coquitlam/) What is the average home price in Coquitlam right now? As of **June 2026**, Coquitlam-wide: Detached HPI benchmark: **$1.64M**. Townhome median: **$1.02M**. Condo median: **$653,900**. Avg days on market: **43 days**. Percentage of original price: **98.9%**. Prices vary significantly by submarket — Burke Mountain detached medians track around $1.74M, while older Central Coquitlam inventory can be $1.3M for a similar footprint. Source: Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) MLS® HPI and monthly stats package, June 2026 release. Coquitlam vs Port Moody vs Port Coquitlam — which is better? **Coquitlam:** widest selection, three SkyTrain stations, largest inventory across all price bands. **Port Moody:** smaller, arts-and-brewery identity, higher price-per-square-foot, better core walkability, shorter commute to downtown via the Inlet. **Port Coquitlam:** roughly $100–200K cheaper on equivalent property, more detached home for the money, fewer transit options, more suburban feel. The decision is selection vs lifestyle vs value. None is "better" universally — it depends on which trade-off matters most to your move. How much income do I need to afford a home in Coquitlam? At current rates (~5.3% insured 5-year fixed as of June 2026): **$1M home** with 20% down = approximately $180K household income required. **$1.5M home** = ~$260K. **$2M home** = ~$340K plus a meaningful down payment. Carrying cost on a $1.5M detached in Coquitlam runs $6,800–$7,400/month including property tax, strata (where applicable), and insurance. Stress-test your number with the [Coquitlam affordability calculator](/coquitlam-home-affordability-calculator/). Is it better to buy a condo, townhome, or detached in Coquitlam? Depends on financial position and life stage, not lifestyle preference. **Condo:** low entry (~$653,900), low maintenance, highest liquidity. **Townhome:** middle (~$1.02M), good family fit, balance of space and cost. **Detached:** highest entry (~$1.64M Coquitlam HPI benchmark; Burke Mountain trends higher), lowest strata friction, best historical appreciation. Align with your 5-year plan. If your job or family situation might change in two years, the liquidity of a condo matters more than the appreciation of a detached. If you're settling for 10+ years with kids, the math typically favours detached. Is Coquitlam a good place to buy in 2026? Strong 5–7 year positioning. Two SkyTrain stations operational, aggressive Transit-Oriented Development rezoning, SD43 schools in BC's top tier, prices 15–25% below Vancouver West comparables. Risks to monitor: condo oversupply in Burquitlam through 2026–2028, and softening at the upper-luxury tier. For move-up families upsizing into detached, the timing is generally constructive. Deeper read: [Is now a good time to buy in Coquitlam? →](/is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-in-coquitlam/) Keep exploring ## Neighbourhood guides, strategy pages, and the next steps in your move. Topical depth on the moves and submarkets that matter most. Open them in tabs as you go. [Process #### The Coquitlam Move-Up Protocol The five-step process every move-up family runs through. Read end-to-end before you list.](/coquitlam-move-up-protocol/) [Strategy #### Sell First or Buy First? The single biggest sequencing decision in a move-up. Compared properly with bridge math.](/sell-first-or-buy-first-in-coquitlam/) [Strategy #### Coquitlam Upsizing Guide The bigger move-up plan so your sale and next purchase work together properly.](/coquitlam-upsizing-guide/) [Neighbourhoods #### Where to Buy in Coquitlam The neighbourhoods families look at most when planning their next Coquitlam move.](/where-to-buy-in-coquitlam/) [Neighbourhood #### Burke Mountain Homes Newer single-family, estate builds, SD43 catchment demand — and where I live.](/burke-mountain-homes/) [Neighbourhood #### Westwood Plateau Real Estate Executive family homes, golf-course frontages, Gleneagle/Pinetree catchment strength.](/westwood-plateau-real-estate/) [Neighbourhood #### Heritage Mountain Homes Quiet Port Moody hillside, mature landscaping, strong resale stability.](/heritage-mountain-homes/) [About #### About Craig Johnston Bio, credentials, methodology, and how the practice is built. The E-E-A-T deep-dive.](/coquitlam-realtor-craig-johnston/) [Tool #### Free Home Evaluation Same-day Equity Map: net sale value, true equity, real next-home ceiling. Step 1 of every move-up.](/home-evaluation/) Ready when you are ## Two ways to start. Both are honest about whether I'm the right fit. A 20-minute strategy call gets you a clear read on your options and an honest answer on whether your move suits my practice. The home evaluation gets you the numbers. Either one is free, and neither commits you to anything. [Book a 20-Min Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Get a Free Home Evaluation](/home-evaluation/) **5.0** across 34+ Google reviews **Top 1% Team** — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® 47+ years in the Tri-Cities Or call direct: [604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) Continue reading ## The Tri-Cities Move-Up Specialist — the master page. The cornerstone Move-Up Specialist page covers what a move-up move is, the protocol, named case studies, the math, and the FAQ — all in one place. [Read the Move-Up Specialist page →](/tri-cities-move-up-specialist/) Tri-Cities monthly ## Get the honest Tri-Cities market read, monthly. June 2026 Coquitlam detached HPI is $1,649,000, −5.7% YoY. What that actually means for your next move — without the salesy fluff. One email per month. No spam, no listings flood. Genuine monthly update from a 47+ year Tri-Cities resident. Choose your local specialist ## Best REALTOR® for your specific city [Best REALTOR® in Port Moody](/best-realtor-in-port-moody/) [Best REALTOR® in Port Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-port-coquitlam/) [Best REALTOR® in Anmore](/best-realtor-in-anmore/) [Best REALTOR® in Belcarra](/best-realtor-in-belcarra/) Best REALTOR® by area ## A specialist for your specific Tri-Cities city or neighbourhood. [Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/) [Burke Mountain](/best-realtor-in-burke-mountain/) [Westwood Plateau](/best-realtor-in-westwood-plateau/) [Heritage Mountain](/best-realtor-in-heritage-mountain/) [Port Moody](/best-realtor-in-port-moody/) [Port Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-port-coquitlam/) [Anmore](/best-realtor-in-anmore/) [Belcarra](/best-realtor-in-belcarra/) [Or compare all Tri-Cities specialists →](/best-local-realtor-tri-cities/) ![Coquitlam Adopt-A-Street sign reading: this street proudly maintained by Craig Johnston, REALTOR](/assets/craig-johnston-adopt-a-street-coquitlam.webp?v=20260703) Community involvement — Craig maintains a Coquitlam street through the City’s Adopt-A-Street program.