Offer To Purchase
Understand what an Offer to Purchase is in Canadian real estate, how it works, and why it’s a critical step in securing a property.
May 22, 2025
What is an Offer To Purchase?
An Offer to Purchase is a formal, written agreement submitted by a buyer to a seller, stating the buyer’s intent to purchase a property under specific terms and conditions.
Why Offers To Purchase Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate, the Offer to Purchase — also called an Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) in many provinces — is a legally binding document once accepted. It outlines all the essential details of a transaction, including:- Purchase price
- Closing date
- Deposit amount
- Conditions (e.g., financing, home inspection)
- Inclusions and exclusions (e.g., appliances, fixtures)
Submitting a strong, well-structured offer is crucial in competitive markets, especially where bidding wars are common. Legal and real estate professionals typically help draft, review, and negotiate Offers to Purchase to ensure clarity and enforceability.
Understanding the offer process helps buyers avoid legal pitfalls, negotiate strategically, and secure their desired property with confidence.
Example of an Offer To Purchase
A buyer submits an Offer to Purchase on a townhouse in Ottawa with a purchase price of $620,000 and conditions for financing and a home inspection.
Key Takeaways
- A formal document that initiates a property transaction.
- Becomes legally binding once accepted.
- Can include conditions, price, and closing terms.
- Essential in all real estate transactions.
- Must be reviewed carefully to avoid legal risk.
Related Terms
- Agreement of Purchase and Sale
- Conditional Offer
- Firm Offer
- Deposit
- Closing Date

Canada residential unit sales by month, actual, 2019 and 2024-2026. Data through June 2026. Source:
Canada residential sales-to-new-listings ratio, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source:
Canada residential months of inventory, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source: Source:
Year-over-year change in residential average sale price for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2022 to June 2026. Average price is shown here as a regional mix measure, not a substitute for HPI or local comparable sales. Source:
Year-over-year change in residential unit sales for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2024 to June 2026. Source: 







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Renderings of the tower proposed for 15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)

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Renderings of Mayfair West. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)