Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

Why would an investor buy a house sight unseen?

An investor buys sight unseen when the numbers work from photos, video, an inspection report and comparable sales alone, and moving fast on a deal that meets the target return matters more than personally walking the property. It is a calculated bet, not a shortcut.

The Saskatchewan REALTORS Association's sales data lets an experienced investor price a property against recent comparables without a showing, provided the listing photos and a third-party inspection confirm the condition matches what the comps assume. A skipped in-person walkthrough is a risk the investor is choosing to accept, not one they failed to notice.

This approach only works with real safeguards in place: a licensed inspector on site, a lawyer reviewing title through Information Services Corporation, a home inspection in the $400 to $600 range, and a firm number on what repairs would cost if the photos hide something. Without those, sight unseen is closer to gambling than investing.

Most owner-occupier buyers should not skip the walkthrough, since an investor's tolerance for surprise repairs is not the same as a family's. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

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