New Developments Coming to White Rock in 2026

Where the building is happening

White Rock Town Centre. The City's official community plan concentrates height along Johnston Road, North Bluff Road, Thrift Avenue and Russell Avenue. This is where the new condo towers and mid-rises go, within walking distance of the shops uptown and a longer walk down the hill to the beach. Projects such as Soul White Rock and Fantom are examples of the type: smaller buildings, larger suites, aimed at downsizers who want to stay in White Rock.

King George corridor, South Surrey. Between 24 Avenue and the highway, this strip has become South Surrey's apartment and townhome zone. Polygon's Halo is one of several low-rise communities here. You get newer construction and quick highway access, with the trade-off of a busier road.

Grandview Heights. Still the biggest source of new townhomes on the Peninsula. Several builders have active phases, Mosaic's Boroughs among them. New schools, Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre and the shops at Morgan Crossing make it the default for young families buying new.

Pacific Douglas. Tucked between 8 Avenue and the border, this is a quieter pocket where mixed-use projects such as Douglas Green add condos over retail and townhomes behind them. Good value, and a longer drive to everything.

What a presale really costs

The advertised price is the start. Add 5 percent GST, which applies to every new home in BC. First-time buyers and people buying a new home as a principal residence should check the current federal and provincial rebates with their lawyer, because the rules have changed more than once. Add property transfer tax unless you qualify for the newly built home exemption, which has its own price ceiling. Then budget for the things developers do not put on the price sheet: parking and storage lockers sold separately, upgrade packages, and a strata fee estimate that tends to rise after the first year.

The deposit structure matters too. Presales commonly want 10 to 20 percent in stages over the first year or two. That money sits in trust for a long time, and you need to be certain you will qualify for the mortgage at completion, not just today.

Your protections, and their limits

• Seven-day rescission. Under BC's Real Estate Development Marketing Act you can cancel a presale contract within seven days of signing or receiving the disclosure statement, whichever is later. Use that week to have a lawyer read the disclosure statement. All of it.
• Completion dates move. Disclosure statements give the developer a window, often a year or more, and the right to extend. If your lease ends in June and the building is "estimated" for May, plan for September.
• Assignments. Selling your contract before completion is restricted by most developers and taxed differently than a resale. Do not buy a presale assuming you can flip it.
• Specification changes. Developers reserve the right to substitute finishes and alter layouts. Know what is guaranteed and what is "artist's rendering".

New versus resale on the Peninsula

In a market with plenty of resale inventory, which is what White Rock and South Surrey have had lately, a new home has to earn its premium. You are paying for the warranty, the efficiency, the lack of surprises, and the layout you chose. You are giving up the ability to negotiate hard, to inspect the actual home, and to move in on a date you control. For some of my clients, especially downsizers who want one move and no renovations, new is right. For buyers stretching to get into the area, a well-kept 2000s townhome usually puts them in a better position.

The short version

• New construction clusters in White Rock's Town Centre, along King George, in Grandview Heights and in Pacific Douglas.
• Budget GST, transfer tax, parking, upgrades and a strata fee that will rise.
• Use the seven-day rescission period to have a lawyer read the disclosure statement.
• Assume completion will be later than the estimate.
• With lots of resale inventory, make the new home justify its premium.

If you are looking at a specific project, send me the name. I will tell you what I know about the builder, how earlier phases have resold, and whether the price makes sense against what is already standing.