Presales, analyzed like a developer would

A presale is the purchase of a home before construction is complete, directly from the developer. In BC, presales are governed by the Real Estate Development Marketing Act, which requires developers to provide a disclosure statement and gives buyers a seven day rescission period after signing. You pay a deposit, typically in staged installments, and complete the purchase when the home is finished, which can be one to four years later.

It costs you nothing: the developer pays buyer agent compensation, and pricing is the same either way. The difference is representation. The sales centre team works for the developer. An independent agent reviews the disclosure statement, deposit structure, and unit pricing on your behalf, and can compare the project against every other option on the North Shore rather than selling one building.

Deposit structures vary by project, typically ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent of the purchase price, paid in installments over the construction period. Some North Shore projects have recently offered reduced deposit programs to attract buyers. The structure is set by the developer and outlined in the disclosure statement: we review it with you before you commit.

Yes. New homes in BC are subject to 5 percent GST on the purchase price. A partial GST rebate may be available depending on the purchase price and whether the home will be your primary residence. GST treatment should be confirmed with your accountant or lawyer, as the rules and thresholds can change.

This is called an assignment, and it depends on your contract. Most developer agreements require written consent and charge an assignment fee, commonly 1 to 3 percent of the original purchase price. Some restrict assignments until the project is substantially sold. Assignment profits also carry specific tax treatment in BC. If assignment flexibility matters to you, it is a term we examine before you sign, not after.

Disclosure statements include estimated completion dates and outside dates by which the developer must complete. If a project is cancelled, deposits held in trust are returned to buyers. Delays within the permitted window are common and do not entitle a buyer to walk away. Understanding the completion window in your specific contract is part of our review.

They can be. The staged deposit gives first time buyers time to continue saving while the home is built, and new homes carry the 2-5-10 year warranty. The trade offs are completion risk, the wait, and the need to qualify for a mortgage at completion rather than today. Whether a presale or a resale home fits better depends on your timeline, savings, and risk tolerance, which is exactly the conversation to have before registering at any sales centre.

Lower Lonsdale and Moodyville lead the City of North Vancouver, with Central Lonsdale adding concrete tower and boutique woodframe supply along the corridor. In the District, development concentrates in the designated town centres: Lions Gate Village, Lynn Valley, Lynn Creek, and Maplewood, plus boutique infill in Edgemont Village. Each pocket attracts a different buyer profile and price point.

Register with our team once and you receive priority updates across every active and upcoming North Shore project: preview invitations, floorplan releases, pricing, and incentive announcements. We track projects from the rezoning application stage, so our registrants typically hear about new opportunities months before public marketing begins.