Buying A Home in Alberta or BC When You’re Out of Province
You’ve been thinking of moving to the mountains or buying an investment property out west and have found a great place in Alberta or BC — but you’re not currently residing in the province.
Can you still make an offer?
Of course! Here’s what you need to know if you’re looking to buy a house in Alberta or BC when you’re out of province…
1. Use a real estate lawyer who is based in the purchase province
Laws differ from province to province and real estate lawyers are licensed to practice at the provincial level. You’ll need to make sure you use a local real estate lawyer in the province that you’re purchasing in. Your regular lawyer would not be able to do the conveyancing transaction for you if they’re not licensed in the province you’re buying in.
If you’re selling a home in one province and buying a home in another, you will likely need to use a different real estate lawyer for the sale and for the purchase.
Multi-province real estate lawyers
One80 Law is licensed to practice real estate law for properties located in Alberta and British Columbia. Not only are we able to operate in both provinces, we are a fully remote law firm and are able to fully service our clients who are located across the country and around the world.
2. Use a lawyer who provides remote legal real estate services
Remote legal services mean that you don’t need to visit a specific office location for meetings, saving you time, money and stress. Meeting remotely via video call can be arranged at a time that suits you and your family, and your time zone. Working with a lawyer who is virtual-first ensures that they are fully equipped to handle every stage of your home purchase remotely.
One80 Law prides itself on its remote legal service and gets rave reviews from our clients about how modern and flexible this approach is. While it may seem a bit unconventional at first, we think you’ll love the flexibility and customer service.
“I used Catherine’s services for two home purchases now and have had great experiences. Catherine is very knowledgeable and easy to work with. Each transaction has been seamless and convenient.” – Penelope via Google reviews.
3. Allow sufficient time
Signing documents in person used to delay transactions. In many ways, virtual signing has allowed the entire process of closing on your home to be much faster than it used to be.
However, even though virtual signing options can make things easier and faster for all parties, you don’t want to leave it to the last minute. Ensure you allow sufficient time for the transaction to go through and allow that, as with any transaction, you may have a few unforeseen obstacles that need to be addressed before closing.
Moving out of province
You will also want to take into account your future plans and the timing of your move. Moving from one province to another will require other types of paperwork (health care updates, re-licensing your car, insurance changes, etc.) that take time. The total amount of time it may take you to move and get settled should be considered when making your moving plans.
4. Understand your legal fees
Checking with your lawyer about the potential fees involved in the purchase of your new home will help you get a clear picture of the costs involved. At One80 Law, we provide Affordable Real Estate Transaction Fees so you can close with confidence when in comes time to buy or sell your home.
If you have any other questions you’d like answered about buying property in Alberta or BC while living elsewhere, please contact our real estate law team for a free initial consultation.