A major Vancouver-based real estate developer is offering would-be homeowners a chance to test out condominium living before committing to a purchase — a first-of-its-kind program in the city’s housing market.
Wesgroup Properties has introduced a “Try Before You Buy” initiative at its newly-completed ACE development on Commercial Drive, allowing selected prospective buyers to spend a weekend living in one of the units before deciding whether to buy.
ACE is located at 1650 East 12th Ave., situated at the southwest corner of the intersection of Commercial Drive and East 12th Avenue — only a three-minute walk south from SkyTrain’s Commercial-Broadway Station.
This six-storey, wood-frame, mixed-use building reached completion early this year, providing 61 strata market ownership condominium homes — in studio and one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations — and ground-level retail/restaurant space.
Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a work hub, multimedia lounge, and a courtyard with outdoor dining space.
The program is aimed at giving buyers a sense of day-to-day life in the building and surrounding neighbourhood. Ciccozi Architecture is the building’s design firm.
Location of ACE at 1650 East 12th Ave., Vancouver. (Wesgroup Properties)
Fall 2025 construction progress on ACE at 1650 East 12th Ave., Vancouver. (Wesgroup Properties)
ACE’s starting prices are listed from $647,500. Participants in the program must meet eligibility requirements, including mortgage pre-approval, and will be selected through an application process. Due to limited availability, not all applicants will be invited to take part.
Those who are selected will receive a curated welcome package with recommendations and gift cards for local businesses, encouraging them to explore the surrounding Commercial Drive area.
“We want to give people a taste of what it would be like to live at ACE — the thoughtfully designed homes, the convenient amenities and the vibrancy of Commercial Drive right at your doorstep,” said Joey Coupland, senior vice president of sales for Wesgroup Properties, in a statement.
“We look forward to welcoming prospective buyers to ACE and showing them the amazing quality of life that this development and this neighbourhood have to offer.”
Fall 2025 construction progress on ACE at 1650 East 12th Ave., Vancouver. (Wesgroup Properties)
Fall 2025 construction progress on ACE at 1650 East 12th Ave., Vancouver. (Wesgroup Properties)
The launch of the program reflects the challenges facing Vancouver’s housing market, where persistently slow sales and cautious buyers have forced developers to get more creative. With higher borrowing costs and economic uncertainty dampening demand, many prospective purchasers are taking longer to commit — or stepping back entirely. Offering a “try before you buy” experience can be seen as an effort to reduce hesitation and stand out in a crowded market, giving buyers added confidence at a time when fewer transactions are going through.
In June 2025, Wesgroup Properties leadership announced that due to challenging economic conditions, driven by poor presales, they were moving forward with laying off 12 per cent of their workforce.
According to a recent market bulletin by MLA Canada, the Lower Mainland’s presale home launches in February 2026 represented just six per cent of a normal month — a sign of extremely poor developer confidence in the current market conditions. January 2026 launches were similarly low, far below historical trends.
As well, Greater Vancouver Realtors’ report for March 2026’s overall market performance indicates sustained sluggish activity, with prospective buyers and sellers adopting a wait-and-see approach.