Four Surrey presales currently clear the under-$700K bar that matters most to first-time buyers: PURA at $369,900, Queens Condos at $400,000, Galilea Condos at $424,900, and 102+Park from the mid-$300,000s. Between them, they cover a real spread of walkability and transit access, which matters more than the sticker price alone.
How buying presale actually works
You're purchasing a unit that doesn't exist yet, based on floor plans and the builder's track record, typically two to four years before possession. At signing, you'll put down an initial deposit, usually 5% to 10% of the purchase price, held in a trust account. Additional deposits follow at construction milestones: foundation, framing, drywall, occupancy. The appeal for first-time buyers is specific: you lock in today's price while paying over the build timeline, and you get a new-construction home with builder warranties instead of inheriting someone else's renovation choices.
What to actually budget for
On a $400,000 unit like Queens Condos, expect $20,000 to $40,000 down before closing. Add legal fees (roughly $1,500 to $2,500), a home inspection if you want one, and property transfer tax, though first-time buyers qualify for exemptions up to $1,150,000 on newly built homes in BC, which covers every project on this list. Get pre-approved for a mortgage before you sign the purchase agreement, not after.
The four entry-level projects, compared
102+Park, from Marcon Developments, is the lowest entry point at mid-$300,000s, backed by a 90 Walk Score and 87 Transit Score, the strongest transit number of the four. It's currently in "Coming Soon" phase with a Summer 2029 completion, the longest runway on this list.
PURA, from ADERA, sits at $369,900 with a 54 Walk Score and 48 Transit Score, more car-dependent than the others but from a developer known for finish quality.
Queens Condos, from Dawson + Sawyer, opens at $400,000 with an 87 Walk Score, genuinely walkable for the price.
Galilea Condos, from Whitetail Homes, is $424,900 with the strongest combined numbers on this list: a 91 Walk Score and 91 Transit Score.
What to watch for in the purchase agreement
Read the completion date, the price protection clause, and what happens if the builder delays, before you sign anything. Have a real estate lawyer review the agreement. Confirm which finishes are locked in versus what you'd need an upgrade agreement to guarantee, since display suites don't always match base-spec units.
Which one actually fits a first-time buyer
If transit access matters most, Galilea's 91/91 combination is hard to beat at this price. If the lowest entry cost matters most and you can wait until 2029, 102+Park's mid-$300,000s pricing wins. Compare all four against the rest of Surrey's current inventory before deciding which trade-off fits your actual timeline.