Purchase of Property

In some cases, we offer remote signing options. However, some documents may require original signatures or identity verification under BC Land Title requirements. Please let us know right away if you have special circumstances that require accommodation.

*If you are purchasing on leasehold land, it is good to keep in mind that not all insurance providers offer coverage for leasehold properties. Make sure you let your insurance broker know in time, if you are purchasing leasehold property, so they can prepare accordingly.*

Your lender will require proof of home insurance effective on the completion date before mortgage funds can be advanced. Do not leave getting your home insurance until it is too late. Your lender may also have specific requirements, such as flood or earthquake coverage, or guaranteed replacement cost coverage, so you must confirm your insurance policy meets the needs of your lender.

If you have an attached, strata unit such as a condo or rowhome, it is likely that the strata’s insurance policy provides the proper fire coverage, but you must confirm this with your insurance broker.

The government issued ID must show the clients’ home address on it. Examples would be a provincial Services Card, or a Driver’s Licence. Please refrain from renewing your ID before your closing date. If the expiration date is approaching, ensure that you renew your ID many weeks in advance of your closing date. Otherwise, wait until after your closing date to renew your ID, as the renewal slip is not accepted as identification, by the Land Title Office.

You will need a secondary piece of ID as well, preferably government issued as well. Bank cards, credit cards, Costco membership cards are no longer accepted as valid ID by most banks and lenders.

BC Land Title rules require valid government-issued photo identification so we can verify your identity before completing your transaction.

Common delays include late mortgage instructions, missing funds, incomplete documentation, or last-minute contract changes. Providing documents and funds early helps ensure a smooth closing.

Yes. We coordinate with your realtor, mortgage broker, and lender to ensure everything is completed on time.

Yes, we can. Leasehold purchases come with extra considerations and paperwork, and we have experience handling them. We’ll explain how leasehold ownership works and guide you through the process so you know exactly what you’re getting into. There are a variety of leasehold properties out there, including leasehold properties on First Nations Land which are the most common type of leasehold transaction in Chilliwack.

After closing, we register your ownership at the Land Title Office and provide you with a final reporting package confirming the transaction details.

We do not facilitate GST rebates. Most of the time, the developer will require that you pay the GST/HST up front, and then fill out the rebate form to be provided to the CRA for you to claim your GST/HST money back.

No, that is a financial product, you would need to ask your banker or financial advisor for advice on that product.

Yes, we can help! We have an in-house business lawyer who is available to help with any company legal matters that may need to be prepared in order to purchase under your company name. There are a few extra steps when you are doing a corporate purchase:

• Your company must be in good standing

• We may need to access your corporate records

• If there are multiple shareholders, all may need to be present to sign documents, depending on the signing authority

• Directors and Shareholders may also need Independent Legal Advice, if guaranteeing a company debt

• Any down payment, deposit, sale proceeds, payout, may need to come from or go into your business bank account. We will clarify this once we review the documents.

Purchasing a home in British Columbia without a real estate agent is legally permitted, but it places full responsibility for the transaction on the buyer. You must independently research market values, locate properties, arrange showings, draft and negotiate offers, manage inspections, review strata and title documents, and coordinate financing and closing.

In a typical BC transaction, a realtor gathers key documents such as title searches, strata bylaws, survey plans, and disclosure statements, and prepares the Contract of Purchase and Sale.

Without one, you must conduct your own due diligence—reviewing property history, zoning, bylaws, and financial obligations—while ensuring all contractual deadlines and subject conditions are properly handled. Real estate contracts in BC are legally binding, and mistakes involving contingencies, disclosures, or timelines can result in loss of deposit or legal disputes.

You will also be negotiating directly with the seller’s agent, who is legally required to act in the seller’s best interests, potentially placing you at a disadvantage on price and terms. Although some believe buying without a realtor saves money, in most BC transactions the seller pays the commission. As a result, buyers typically do not achieve meaningful savings by foregoing representation.

If proceeding without a realtor, a lawyer must draft a private Contract of Purchase and Sale and review property documents. These services are not included in standard conveyancing fees and require additional retainers and document review charges. Even with legal assistance, the buyer remains responsible for negotiation strategy and market analysis.

In summary, while buying without a real estate agent is possible under BC law, it significantly increases the buyer’s workload, legal exposure, and financial risk—often without reducing overall costs.