Why is the completion date so important?

It is vital that the completion date on the Contract of Purchase and Sale is adhered to, at all costs by the Buyer. Should the Buyer be at fault and the transaction does not complete as scheduled, the Seller has the option of voiding the contract. In addition, the Seller is legally allowed to keep the full amount of the deposit. There have been several attempts to have the Buyer’s deposit returned to the Buyer. Read the Deposits are Serious blog post for a full understanding.

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Why is the Statement of Adjustments important?

The Statement of Adjustments on a real estate transaction is a financial statement showing various debits and credits for both the Buyer and the Seller. Basically, it shows the final calculation of the monies the Buyer owes to the Seller in order to complete the sale.

In British Columbia, the Statement of Adjustments is prepared by the Buyer’s lawyer. There is one statement prepared for the Buyer called the Buyer Statement of Adjustments. In addition, the Buyer’s lawyer prepares a separate statement for the Seller called the Seller Statement of Adjustments.

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What is the Home Buyer Rescission Period?

The Home Buyer Rescission Period was developed by the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). The BCFSA is the governing body for BC real estate agents. The HBRP was implemented in response to the multiple offer situations in 2020-2022. During that frenzy, buyers were writing overpriced offers with no subjects, and then upon acceptance of their offer, regret set in as there was no “easy” way out of the transaction. The HBRP is also known as a non-negotiable, “cooling off period”.

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Is re-financing an option for non-residents?

When a non-resident decides to buy a property in Whistler, it is important to make a decision about financing when writing the offer. If a non-resident Buyer says that it would be simpler to pay cash for the property and then refinance, that is not an option with Canadian Banks.

The reason is that the Canadian bank does not know the source of the original funds used to buy the property. Despite, you the Buyer, offering the Bank every document on the purchase of the property, no Canadian Bank can refinance your property. To do so would be in contravention of FINTRAC.

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What is the purpose of the Depreciation Report?

2024 Update: Under B.C.’s Strata Property Act and regulations, all strata corporations with five or more strata lots must obtain depreciation reports. Strata corporations may no longer defer getting a depreciation report by holding an annual 3/4 vote. Strata Corporations must renew this report every 5 years. This is now a legal requirement.

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