Potential condo buyers camp out — in Abbotsford?
About 20 prospective buyers are lined up for Fraser Valley condos; some have waited close to 2 weeks
Given Metro Vancouver's red-hot housing market, the sight of anxious buyers camped out in front of a condo development isn't considered all that unusual.
But, similar scenes are now starting to play out beyond the Metro area. In Abbotsford, about 20 people have been patiently waiting outside one such development. Some of them have been there for nearly two weeks.
"My grandchildren and my children live here and I work in Toronto," said Ron Bonar who is fifth in line. "So, we wanted a place to come to be with them and eventually move here, and this was a really nice place so we though why not?"
La Galleria at Trethewey Street and Simon Avenue, near Abbotsford City Hall, is a new property from Quadra Homes, the same developer that saw about 100 people line up for weeks outside one of its developments in Langley.
"It was bit chaotic," said Peter Warkentin, CEO of Quadra Homes. "We had to bring tents in. It worked out alright. Everyone got their suites, but there was a little bit of chaos."
To maintain order, Warkentin brought in a set of basic rules for those camping out. They had to show up by 9:30 a.m. each day and stay until 5 p.m and were allowed a 90-minute lunch break in between.
But, failing to arrive on time in the morning or to return on time from a break means the prospective buyers would lose their place in line.
"I'm thinking if I was smart enough I could try to think of a better way, but I can't," said Bonar.
He won't have much longer to wait. Sales at La Galleria begin at 8 a.m. PT, Saturday.