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I may be moving across Canada from Ontario to Alberta for work here shortly. I have cash on hand to buy myself a condo outright as I sold my old place. In the past I have always used an agent. I have my eyes on couple places that I can afford out right. Could I go directly to the sales center? and if I like it buy it? or should I use an agent?
if I didn't have an agent, how would the steps vary? I have never not used an agent before.
If you were in the US then you would be talking about buying a condo from the builder. They would be happy to sell to you directly. An inexperienced buyer in the US might not know enough about the process to avoid some of the pitfalls and therefore might benefit from having an agent.
Maybe someone from Canada will have a more informed opinion about how things are done up there.
In the US buying into a partially built condo development has some liabilities.
If you were in the US then you would be talking about buying a condo from the builder. They would be happy to sell to you directly. An inexperienced buyer in the US might not know enough about the process to avoid some of the pitfalls and therefore might benefit from having an agent.
Maybe someone from Canada will have a more informed opinion about how things are done up there.
In the US buying into a partially built condo development has some liabilities.
the condos are finished and some are called quick possessions, what is that exactly?
the condos are finished and some are called quick possessions, what is that exactly?
The sales center or developer can probably tell you that. On the other hand, that's exactly the type of question your realtor can answer for you. I've tried to do one purchase without a realtor in my life and it was a disaster.
The sales center or developer can probably tell you that. On the other hand, that's exactly the type of question your realtor can answer for you. I've tried to do one purchase without a realtor in my life and it was a disaster.
You can, of course, go directly to the Sales Center (assuming there is one in a newer development). You might ask them if they will reduce the price by 2-3% if you go direct and do not use your own Realtor. However, because the seller pays the commission to BOTH Realtors, you will probably only increase the commission of the selling Realtor - by NOT having your own Realtor -- plus makes things more complicated than necessary.
Since you are coming from Canada to a new area, it would seem like a local Realtor would offer you a multitude of important advantages. (They can advise on local markets, values, inspections, appraisals, lenders, legal requirements, negotiation and closing assistance, etc.). Again, the Buyers Realtor is paid as part of the Selling Realtor's commission and is NOT something a Buyer pays separately. - Good luck!
You can, of course, go directly to the Sales Center (assuming there is one in a newer development). You might ask them if they will reduce the price by 2-3% if you go direct and do not use your own Realtor. However, because the seller pays the commission to BOTH Realtors, you will probably only increase the commission of the selling Realtor - by NOT having your own Realtor -- plus makes things more complicated than necessary.
Since you are coming from Canada to a new area, it would seem like a local Realtor would offer you a multitude of important advantages. (They can advise on local markets, values, inspections, appraisals, lenders, legal requirements, negotiation and closing assistance, etc.). Again, the Buyers Realtor is paid as part of the Selling Realtor's commission and is NOT something a Buyer pays separately. - Good luck!
good info, but I am in Canada now and moving to another place in Canada.
It involves a bad condo association in Florida that wouldn't approve the sale of the condo to me, and sellers who had a tangled relationship with us. It would have been good to have a realtor as an intermediary between all the groups. I don't think Condo Boards in Canada even have the approval/disapproval process.
It involves a bad condo association in Florida that wouldn't approve the sale of the condo to me, and sellers who had a tangled relationship with us. It would have been good to have a realtor as an intermediary between all the groups. I don't think Condo Boards in Canada even have the approval/disapproval process.
Ah.. I remember that thread Glad things worked out for you
Ah.. I remember that thread Glad things worked out for you
Actually things only worked out partially. I still was not able to buy the condo I wanted to buy.
And neither the buyer nor the sellers had real estate agents---throw in a nasty condo board -- and it was a triple mess.
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Glad things worked out for you
