Dear Condo Smarts: With all the media coverage recently about presales going badly, we were wondering if you could answer a question for us. We took possession of our presales home in the fall, and everything with the sale went very well. The price was the same, the product was delivered on time and our unit was what we had anticipated.

Our strata does have a very real problem, however, with the parking. The developer intended on most of the presales to provide each person with two parking spaces, but now we discover there is barely enough for one parking space per unit.

Most owners we've spoken to are furious. Many have two cars and are having to either sell one or rent parking in a neighbouring parkade. Do we have any recourse ? Our real estate agent has told us a parking spot in downtown Vancouver downtown can be worth $25,000 or more.

-- JG, Vancouver

Dear JG: Presales have a significant inventory of limitations and exemptions. When anyone buys a presale, they are not buying real estate. They are entering into an agreement with the developer for the right to purchase that real estate when the property is finally complete and the titles are created for conveyance.

The price, what you are buying and any terms or conditions in that contract are all part of the negotiations. Take great care in purchasing a presale agreement, though. As the first purchaser/party to the contract, you have seven days to reconsider your decision and have your deposit returned.

If you want to ensure you have a decent deal and reasonable security in the agreement, you must take your agreement to your lawyer for legal review before the seven days is up. Everything on a presale is negotiated and most, if not all, conditions may be subject to change, alteration, price increases, exemptions, exclusion or outright cancellation of the contract.

So, in many ways, a presale is a speculative investment and, along with that, come all of the risks of speculation.

Subsequent assignments (buyers) should also understand that only the original deposit by the first purchaser is secured, either in trust or by way of deposit insurance.

In simple terms, the first presales buyer can sell their presales agreement to another person. If their original deposit was $50,000 and they sell the agreement to a second person for $100,000 and make $50,000 profit, the only protection for the second purchaser is for the original $50,000. Any increase above the original deposit is not protected and at risk if the project is cancelled.

I did manage to obtain a copy of the presales agreement for JG's building, and there is a limitation for parking. "Subject to availability and cost of construction, up to two parking spaces may be negotiated for a strata lot. Parking may be limited by zoning and construction limitations and will not be confirmed until final sale."

The final sales agreements only included one parking space. It's more than "buyer beware."

Presales buyers must review every document, amendment and the final sales agreement before they proceed. Seek professional guidance and be prepared for the risks.

Tony Gioventu is executive director of the Condominium Home Owners Association. Contact CHOA at 604-584-2462 or toll-free at 1-877-353-2462, or e-mail tony@choa.bc.ca

© The Vancouver Province 2008