An assignment sale happens when the original purchaser of a pre-construction home sells their Agreement of Purchase and Sale to a new buyer before the building is registered and the original buyer ever takes possession. In practice, the new buyer effectively steps into the original purchaser's position — inheriting the same purchase price and closing terms with the builder, and taking over from that point forward.
Assignments are common in pre-construction for a simple reason: the gap between signing an agreement and the building's completion can be several years, and life doesn't always cooperate with that timeline. A job relocation, a change in financing circumstances, or simply a change of plans can mean the original buyer needs an exit before closing.
Not every project allows assignments, and where they are allowed, builders often attach specific conditions — consent requirements, assignment fees, or restrictions on when in the construction timeline an assignment can happen. This is exactly the kind of detail that should be reviewed in the purchase agreement before you sign, not discovered later when your circumstances change.
For buyers considering pre-construction as an investment rather than a long-term home, a project's assignment policy is often just as important as its price point or location — it directly affects your flexibility if your plans shift before closing.
We specifically highlight which of our featured communities have favourable assignment terms, and can walk you through what to look for in any agreement before you commit.