Burnaby, BC, Buyer cash back
Burnaby rebate realtor for presales, towers and Burnaby houses
Burnaby has four tower town centres and more presales than almost anywhere in BC. Buy one with our partner agent and half the commission the developer pays comes back to you.
Get my Burnaby rebate agentWhat buying in Burnaby is really like
Burnaby is where most of the region's new towers go up outside downtown. Four town centres, Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed and Edmonds, are approved for heavy density and are full of presales. The single-family streets between them change slowly, so Burnaby buyers are usually deciding between a new condo near SkyTrain and an older detached house in Capitol Hill, Buckingham or Deer Lake.
Presales at Brentwood and Metrotown are the sweet spot, because the developer pays the buyer's agent and you are buying in the $700,000 to $1,100,000 range. On a $950,000 two-bedroom presale, a typical 3.22% and 1.15% split gives the buyer brokerage about $12,995. Half of that is about $6,498.
Average of Burnaby North ($883,700), South ($974,800) and East ($985,700) composite benchmarks, GVR August 2026.
Presales in Burnaby
Before you sign a presale here, compare it with resale in a five-year-old tower a block away. Resale is often cheaper per square foot, available now, and has a strata history you can read. The rebate works on both.
Burnaby North, South and East
| Area | Benchmark | Buyer-side commission | Your 50% back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnaby North | $883,700 | $12,233 | $6,116 |
| Burnaby South | $974,800 | $13,280 | $6,640 |
| Burnaby East | $985,700 | $13,406 | $6,703 |
GVR composite benchmarks, August 2026.
Burnaby or New Westminster?
Burnaby
$948,000benchmark
$6,486your rebate at that price
New Westminster
$722,300benchmark
$5,188your rebate at that price
New Westminster's benchmark is about $226,000 lower because its stock is older and more condo-heavy. Burnaby buys you newer towers and the bigger town centres; New West buys you a lower entry price and SkyTrain access at the same time. The rebate is a little larger in Burnaby simply because the prices are higher.
Check these before you buy in Burnaby
Presale completion risk
Burnaby has more units under construction than almost any city in BC. If you are buying a presale, check the developer's track record, the deposit protection and the outside completion date in the disclosure statement.
Assignment rules
Many Burnaby projects restrict or charge for assignments. If you might need to sell before completion, read the assignment clause before you sign.
UniverCity leasehold
Homes on Burnaby Mountain at UniverCity are on prepaid long-term leases from SFU Community Trust, not freehold. Prices reflect that, and so does resale.
Older detached on slopes
Capitol Hill and Burnaby Heights have steep lots with water views. Ask about retaining walls, drainage and the age of the perimeter drain tile.
Worked example, Brentwood two-bedroom presale
A first-time buyer signs on a two-bedroom at Brentwood for $950,000 with completion two years out. The developer pays the buyer brokerage about $12,995. After completion, the buyer receives about $6,498, which in practice covers move-in costs and appliances the developer did not include.
Your Burnaby rebate at other prices
| Price | Typical buyer-side commission | Your cash back (50%) | Typical listing-side commission | Seller saving (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $575,000 | $8,683 | $4,341 | $10,193 | $5,096 |
| $750,000 | $10,695 | $5,348 | $12,555 | $6,278 |
| $950,000 | $12,995 | $6,498 | $15,255 | $7,628 |
| $1,175,000 | $15,583 | $7,791 | $18,293 | $9,146 |
| $1,525,000 | $19,608 | $9,804 | $23,018 | $11,509 |
Common BC split to the buyer brokerage: 3.22% on the first $100,000 and 1.15% on the rest, before GST. Your agent confirms the actual figure before each offer.
Work out your number
Estimated cash back: —
Selling first? Sell in Burnaby with half the listing commission.
Closing costs in Burnaby, and where the rebate lands
A $950,000 Brentwood presale two-bedroom bought by a first-time buyer. New construction may qualify for the newly built home exemption instead.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Property transfer tax (standard) | $17,000 |
| Lawyer or notary, title insurance (estimate) | $1,500 to $2,500 |
| Home inspection (estimate) | $500 to $900 |
| Your rebate after completion | +$6,498 |
BC property transfer tax: 1% on the first $200,000, 2% to $2 million, 3% above that, plus 2% on residential value over $3 million. First-time buyers can be exempt on the first $500,000 for homes up to $835,000, phasing out by $860,000. Newly built homes can be fully exempt up to $1,100,000, phasing out by $1,150,000. Eligibility rules apply; your lawyer or notary confirms.