Advantages to Buying Presale Homes

Why purchasing a presale condominium or townhome is becoming more and more popular for many buyers in Vancouver.

  • It’s Brand New – You are the first person to live in the home and everything is new.
  • Competition - In today’s very competitive real estate market place, buyers are often running up against heavy competition on desirable listings resulting many times in a multiple offer situation. This is not the case on the presale or new home side as the developer’s asking price is what you’ll be paying for the home and you won’t be competing against others offers.
  • Property Transfer Tax Exemption - Unlike the resale market where an exemption is only applicable to first time home buyers purchasing under the $475,000 threshold, there’s a whole new set of rules for buyers on the presale/new home construction side. If you plan on occupying the property as your primary residence and purchase a home under the $750,000 benchmark you will be exempt from paying PTT (savings of up to $13,000). Partial exemptions do apply up to $800,000 and what needs to be emphasized as this applies to all Canadian Citizens or permanent residents and not just First-time home buyers!
  • Warranties - Licensed Residential Builders are required to offer a 3rd party New Home warranty program to purchasers which is more commonly known as the 2-5-10 new home warranty program. It protects buyers for 2 years on labour and materials, 5 years on the building envelope and 10 years on structure of building. It’s also a nice selling feature to have should you decide to resell before your warranty is up as it carries over to the new buyer.
  • 7 (Seven) Day Rescission Period - Also known as the cooling off period. This is mandatory under the Real Estate Marketing Act and it allows for buyers once they have an accepted offer in place to have a week to perform their due diligence and insure they’ve made the best decision and more importantly don’t have any buyer’s remorse! This allows the buyer to read the development’s disclosure statement, re-evaluate market values and comparables with their agent, and most importantly feel confident in their purchase decision.
  • Down Payment structure - Typically, developers offer buyers a staggered deposit schedule that allow you to save up for their down payment over a longer period of time. You lock in the purchase price at the time you write the offer but have in most cases years to save up towards your down payment. 
  • Customizations In most cases you’re purchasing directly off a floorplan, marketing materials and a building model so this allows purchasers to make customizations to your home including colour schemes, and upgrade options like a wine fridge or engineered hardwood flooring.

Why Working with Wendy is the Right Choice when Considering the Purchase of a Presale Condominium or Townhome.

1. The sales agents working at these developments represent the developer and their interests. Why not have someone with experience representing your best interests in mind?
  • New Home construction/ Presale developments are second nature to me. Since 2006, I have been immersed in project presales, representing a number of Western Canada's most prominent property developer's, managing the sales and marketing of thousands of homes. I know the inner workings and behind the scene scenarios. I can provide you with the best information and advice regarding every important aspect when considering a new home such as the developer’s reputation, top floor plans, the unit’s resale potential, developing neighbourhoods, and most importantly market values. Knowledge is power when it comes to real estate.
2. It costs you absolutely nothing. Real estate fees are paid by the developer.

3. Most presale developments don’t list their available inventory on the Multiple Listing Service or when they do it’s only a handful of listings. This makes it very difficult to identify the best values and opportunities unless your agent is actively watching the new home market like myself.

Interested in upcoming Presale opportunities? Please fill out the form below and I will be in touch with you soon.

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Wendy Pirie

Oakwyn Realty Ltd.

101-3151 Woodbine Drive  North Vancouver,  BC  V7R 2S4 

Mobile: 604.290.2626

wendy@wendypirie.com