Concord Pacific left some potential home buyers disappointed Saturday after crowds gathered to take advantage of a real estate deal in Burnaby and were met with a rule change.
Hundreds of people hoped for the chance to be among the first fifty home buyers to qualify for a deal at the Concord Brentwood development. Instead of taking applications based on who showed up first, they learned the “winning” first-time buyers would be selected through a random draw of verified applicants.
The eligibility requirements had stated that applicants must apply in person with supporting documents by 3 p.m. June 19 or “when 60 verified applicants are received, whichever occurs first.” The draw will now be open to all verified applicants.
“The turnout so far has been a little bit overwhelming and we felt the fairest thing to do was to make it a lottery draw,” said Grant Murray, Concord Pacific’s senior vice-president of sales.
Realtor Samuel Lam secured the first place in line by arriving on Friday at 4 p.m. on behalf of his clients.
“It’s been a long night,” he said.
Richmond resident Chris Moniz was waiting in line at 4 a.m. when a sales representative for Concord Pacific told people their place in line would not guarantee them a discount.
“He said ‘Oh, there was a miscommunication,” Moniz told CTV News. “It actually got pretty heated here.”
Murray said the company attempted to clear up the confusion.
“We recognized the line developing very early,” Murray said. “My director of sales came down at four o'clock and said ‘Guys it doesn't matter when you register over the next two days,’ and they went home.”
Moniz said the potential home buyers did “scatter” before returning to line up a short time later.
The benefits were offered as a part of a pilot program to give B.C. residents an advantage when it comes to buying their first home, Murray said.
By Saturday afternoon Concord Pacific said so far only about half the people who had registered qualified for the deal.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Michele Brunoro
