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What is the 'completion date' versus the 'possession date' in a BC Contract of Purchase and Sale?

Correct Answer

D) Completion is when title transfers and funds are exchanged; possession is when the buyer takes occupancy, and they may differ

BCFSA explains that on the completion date legal ownership transfers from the seller to the buyer in exchange for the purchase price, and the possession date is the day the buyer can move in or take control of the property. The two dates are not necessarily the same, and possession often follows completion. The contract also sets a separate adjustment date for apportioning costs such as property taxes.

Answer Options
A
They are the same date, because the buyer is always entitled to move in on the day the title transfers
B
The completion date is when the buyer moves in; the possession date is when title transfers into the buyer's name
C
The completion date is set by the court; the possession date is set by the parties in the contract they sign
D
Completion is when title transfers and funds are exchanged; possession is when the buyer takes occupancy, and they may differ

Why This Is the Correct Answer

This answer is correct. Completion is when title transfers and the purchase funds are exchanged; possession is when the buyer may occupy the property; and the contract may set them on different days.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

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Key Terms

completion datepossession dateadjustment dateContract of Purchase and SaleLand Title Office
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