Presale Assignment Condos in BC: How to Buy Someone Else's Deal in 2026

If you spend any time reading real estate threads on Reddit, you've probably seen the advice: "You shouldn't be buying presales right now — you're better off buying the presales bought by other people who are willing to give away their deposits." This is called an assignment sale, and right now it's one of the smartest plays in BC real estate. An assignment happens when someone who bought a presale condo from a developer decides to sell their contract before the building is finished. In 2026, the BC market is flooded with assignment sales — and for savvy buyers, this is a golden opportunity. The Opportunity: Why Assignments Are Trending Let's look at a real-world example from Langley. In 2019, a buyer purchased a 2-bedroom presale condo for $430,000 . Before the building completed, they "assigned" sold the contract to a new buyer for $600,000 . The original buyer walked away with a $170,000 profit . That was the market a few years ago. Today, the script has flipped. 📉 The Tables Have Turned Now, we are seeing the exact opposite. Original buyers are trying to unload their presales because they can't close. Assignment sales in Langley are listed as low as $428,000 . In Surrey, towers have seen recent price cuts of 5% to 10% , meaning the original presale buyers are already underwater. If you are a buyer today, you have leverage. You can negotiate directly with a distressed seller instead of a multi-million dollar developer. How to Execute an Assignment Purchase Buying an assignment is more complex than a standard resale or presale purchase. Here is your step-by-step execution plan: 1. Find the Inventory Assignment listings are often not found on the standard MLS because developers restrict how they can be advertised. You need an agent who actively networks and has access to exclusive assignment databases. 2. Understand the Math You're not just buying the condo — you're buying the contract . This means you have to pay the original buyer their initial deposit back, plus any "lift" profit they negotiated. If they're selling at a loss, you might pay less than their original deposit. 3. Secure Specialized Financing Most banks will only finance the original purchase price of the contract, not the new assignment price. If…

This article is part of the PresaleProperties.com BC real estate guide library. It is intended for buyers comparing presale condos, townhomes, assignments, deposits, completion timelines, neighbourhoods and developer incentives across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

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