In this blog post, we lay out everything you need to know about flipping condos in Toronto – zeroing down on pre-construction condos. By the end of it, we hope you learn something about the opportunities & dangers involved in condo flipping and use that knowledge to ultimately make the best decision for yourself.
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All is fair in love and war, but what about investing in the Canadian real estate market? Buying a pre-construction condo as an investment has incredible value. However, there are speculators who buy and sell condos as a means of business but under the guise of an investor. If you get marked as a business speculator it can have serious financial consequences.
If you play by the rules – which is what we are here to teach you to do – you too can become a condo flipper – without any serious financial consequences! Before we get into the thick of it, let’s define the act of flipping a house.
Investopedia defines house-flipping as a real estate investment strategy. Also referred to as wholesale real estate investing, most people who purchase homes with the intention to flip have no desire to stay there and claim it as their own residence. Instead, they intend to make back their money (and then some) by selling it for a profit typically after holding the home for a period of time or by renovating it, essentially flipping the house interior.
Why You Shouldn’t Sell Pre-Construction Condos On Assignment
Flipping condos in Toronto has the potential to earn speculators fast cash, but there are a lot of risks involved. When it comes to taxes, short-term investments gain much more scrutiny and risk being flagged by the CRA. And as we mentioned above, they’ve got their eye on this industry.
Another point worth mentioning was covered in a recent article by The Toronto Star. It highlights what they believe to be a growing issue in the trend of flipping pre-construction condos on assignment and that is what if these buyers are forced to close? Whether by possible government policy updates or by a change in the market. Most buyers are speculating based on Toronto’s steady market growth, but what if it stops climbing? Many buyers flipping condos may be unable to sell on assignment and essentially be forced to close. However, most don’t have the funds to do so.
According to the new “anti-flipping law” in effect from Jan 1st, 2023, – irrespective of whether it’s your primary residence or not – anybody who sells a property that they have owned for less than a year must consider the sale amount as business income while computing one’s income tax for the year. In the past, the flip amount was treated as capital gains income – which meant that only 50% of your profit was taxed. As a result of this new law, if you are considered a ‘flipper’, you essentially pay double the taxes.
The Basics Of Flipping Condos In Toronto
What Really Is Condo Flipping?
Condo Flipping or an assignment sale is where the buyer of a pre-construction condo sells their contract with the builder to a new buyer before officially taking possession. This practice can be beneficial for those who may not have the current funding to complete the sale; if it’s cheaper to assign the original contract over to a new purchaser, then they’re getting out of a potential money-loss situation.
Can You Sell Pre-Construction Condos Before Closing?
Yes, you can. Condo flipping is a real estate investment strategy that involves flipping condo units before construction has taken place. This type of sale is often referred to as an assignment sale. It takes place when a buyer purchases a condo on contract with the builder in the pre-construction phase – typically 4 years prior to the building’s completion.
This article by the Globe and Mail in April 2022 illustrates exactly why investors sometimes go the route of selling their pre-construction condo within the first few years of purchasing it. It goes on to give examples of people with dozens of units intent on flipping condos in Toronto.
Making Money Flipping Condos In Toronto
Can You Make Money Flipping Condos in Toronto?
Well, it highly depends on your approach. I like to personally play it safe & invest for the long term. How I handle my own investments is exactly how I would guide my clients and in my opinion, a condo investment should always be held and rented out for at least 1 year, I personally prefer to do so for 2+ years. You should never purchase a condo with the objective of selling it on assignment – you rarely get favourable terms.
The equity earned from the pre-construction condo investment begins the moment they sign their contract with the builder and, in a real estate market like Toronto, the gains to be earned in just a short time can be fairly significant.
For instance, in December 2018 the condo market was leading the industry with an 11.4% increase year-over-year in Toronto. So an investor who bought a pre-construction condo in 2017 for $500,000 could, in theory, have earned $57,000 on their investment in just one year.
Similarly, we updated our article Why $1400 is Toronto’s new price per square foot average this year but when we originally published it in 2019 the average was nearing $1000PSF. If an investor was holding for this three-year period they could essentially flip their condo on assignment and pocket the $400 per square foot (minus expenses).
The other reason why flipping pre-construction condos is appealing is that many flippers that are choosing to sell their pre-construction condos do so under the guise of an investor in order to evade paying the proper taxes.
What Is The Best Approach To Condo Flipping In Toronto?
As always, investing with the intention of holding your pre-construction condo investment long-term will always garner great returns and avoid any suspicion from the CRA. Here’s our guiding policy for investors buying pre-construction condos in Toronto:
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Always purchase a pre-construction condo with the intention of holding it long-term. Set the minimum length at one to two years from the date of possession.
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Make sure to lease out the condo and take advantage of Toronto’s high rental prices, keeping in mind that rent control no longer applies to new condo developments.
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Understand your benefits. Investors who have a one-year lease in place are eligible for an HST Rebate up to $24,000.
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Benefit from the long-term gains you can achieve by holding your investment and use our leveraging strategy to make your money work for you and build a real estate portfolio.
By following these general guidelines when investing in pre-construction condos, you are seen as an investor. When the time comes to sell, not only are you able to deduct your operating expenses from your total profit but you can walk away guilt-free knowing you’ll only be taxed 50% capital gains.
Rules You Need To Know To Flip Condos In Toronto
How Does The Government Regulate Condo Flipping In Toronto?
As it stands right now in Ontario, transactions with pre-construction condo developers are private. Meaning, the government doesn’t have an official record of the nature of a transaction when a purchaser of a pre-construction condo sells their contract on assignment.
As an effort to crack down on individuals who are buying and selling pre-construction condos as a “business” but not paying the taxes as such, the government in B.C. has implemented a private registry that requires condo developers to “collect and report ‘comprehensive information’ to the province about buyers who flip presale condo contracts.”
If there’s one thing we’re used to here in Ontario, it’s that whatever B.C. does in real estate we are usually quick to follow. The Ontario government is already working with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) to come up with a more regulated system that will ensure proper taxes are paid on profits earned from flipping pre-construction condos in Toronto.
It’s also worth mentioning that it’s an election year and with that comes newly proposed policies. The Federal Budget includes a provision to remove the HST exemption for pre-construction assignment flippers who could prove their intent to live in the purchased units eventually.
What Is Canada’s New “Anti-Flipping” Law All About?
Starting Jan 1st, 2023, Canada’s Revenue Agency (CRA), will no longer consider primary residence exemptions or capital gains tax (50% of profits taxed) on ‘flipped property’. Instead, according to the new law, anybody who sells their property within 12 months can be deemed a ‘flipper’ with all profit now considered as business income – in effect doubling the tax!
The law makes certain exemptions for special circumstances such as:
- Unforeseen life events
- Death
- Divorce
- Birth of children etc.
Tax On Flipping Condos In Toronto [Pre-Construction]
How Much Are You Taxed When Flipping Condos In Toronto: Investor Vs Trader
As a real estate investor myself, I know firsthand the type of wealth you can build for yourself by investing in pre-construction Toronto condos. I always encourage my clients to think long-term about their investments. If you can make $57,000 in one year, imagine what you could make if you held that condo investment for five or more years. See for yourself with these returns I’ve been able to earn for my clients in Toronto.
If you’re considering flipping condos in Toronto, you run the risk of being taxed as a trader rather than an investor. So, what is the difference?
As an investor, any profits you earn on your investments when you go to sell are considered capital gains, which means you only have to pay tax on 50% of your net profits.
As a trader, you’ll be taxed on 100% of your profits because they are considered business income.
We spoke with a Taxation Lawyer to get the nitty-gritty on the risks of flipping condos. If an individual is claiming the sale of their pre-construction condo as an “investment” in order to avoid being taxed on 100% of their profits, the CRA may flag the real estate transaction. Here are a few use cases to keep this at top of your mind and on your radar:
- ownership of the condo, especially a pre-construction condo, is less than one year
- the expertise and profession of the individual and their associates are relevant to real estate, taxation, or other similar industry
- if the individual has a history of similar transactions
- or if improvements to the condo were made close to the sale date
If any of the above reasons warrant the CRA to flag the transaction, they’ll then take a closer look at the individual’s financing at the time of purchase. When buying a pre-construction condo, the buyer declares their reason for purchase to the builder: investment or primary residence.
Proof Of Reasonable Purchase: Investment
If the buyer had declared their reason for purchase as an investment, what have they done to back up this claim? This is what they refer to as the “Feasibility of Intention to Rent.” The following questions are used to analyze this notion and provide proof of reasonable purchase:
- have they rented out other properties in the past?
- could they have weathered periods without a tenant?
- could the rent have met mortgage payments and maintenance?
- did they have a business plan?
- have they advertised the property for lease?
- did they successfully lease the property?
- did they make any renovations to attract tenants?
Similarly, the CRA will look at the type of mortgage acquired for the pre-construction condo:
- Did financing allow for early repayment?
- Was the mortgage fixed or variable?
These can all be indicative of the buyer’s intention on the purchase date.
Proof Of Reasonable Purchase: Primary Residence
A condo that was declared as a principal residence is tax-exempt. So every profit earned from the sale of that property is 100% tax-free. Obviously, when the time comes, the CRA is going to want to see proof. Qualified proof includes:
- Mail with name and address on it
- Recorded address for Service Ontario
- Utility usage at the property
- Pictures of the individual in the furnished property
Exception To The Rule: How Traders Can Prove They Are Investors
There’s an exception to every rule and when it comes to flipping condos in Toronto (pre-construction), even the government understands that a person’s situation can change.
If you’ve purchased a pre-construction condo in Toronto with the intention of living there or renting it out as an investment but are forced to sell, there will be leniency if you are able to prove that you:
- Ran into financial difficulties
- Obtained a new job that requires you to relocate
- Your relationship ended which forced the sale
Play It Safe, Invest For The Long-Term
Investing in Toronto pre-construction condos is a great way to invest in your future and save for retirement. If you’ve been thinking about investing, there are some incredible pre-construction investment opportunities on the horizon for 2023 and beyond. Shop pre-construction projects here or book a call with me to discuss how we can help you to build your financial future.
*Disclaimer
This article provides information of a general nature only. It does not provide legal advice nor can it or should it be relied upon. All tax situations are specific to their facts and will differ from the situations in this article. If you have specific legal questions you should consult a lawyer.
