Mark Chandler, a real estate developer, and his company, 0981478 Ltd., have been hit with the maximum penalties allowed under B.C.’s real estate marketing law after regulators found that he resold presale condo units that other buyers had already purchased.
In a press release, the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) said Chandler’s actions caused “tremendous financial hardship and distress” for buyers who were deceived in the scheme tied to Murrayville House, a 92-unit condominium development in Langley, B.C.
Between May 2014 and Spring 2017, Chandler and his company entered into presale contracts for units that had already been sold to other buyers, and required that purchaser funds flow directly to him rather than be held in trust as required by law. Over $10 million in buyer deposits were improperly handled, with much of the money used for purposes outside the development, including Chandler’s own personal use.
Chandler was ordered to pay a $25,000 individual penalty, while his company received a $50,000 penalty — the maximums allowed under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA) at the time the misconduct occurred. Both must also jointly pay $66,498.86 in investigative expenses.
The case faced significant delays. After an urgent cease-marketing order was issued in September 2017, Chandler was extradited to the United States in 2019, where he served a six-year prison sentence on unrelated criminal charges. He was deported back to Canada on February 14, 2025, and a hearing was held in September 2025, which he did not attend.
The press release noted that Chandler’s misconduct prompted the B.C. government to amend REDMA in 2018, increasing maximum penalties from $25,000 to $250,000 for individuals and from $50,000 to $500,000 for corporations.
Two licensed real estate agents, Gurpreet Singh Chhina and Rashpal Singh Kambo, also faced consequences for their roles in the scheme. Both had their licences suspended for one year until October 2026 and were each fined $10,000 for knowingly helping resell nine already-sold Murrayville units to new buyers at a discount. They collected over $2 million in deposits from those buyers, and each received $113,500 in referral fees.
According to the press release, accountant Vasant Patel and his associate Chattar Flora were separately penalized in March 2025 for facilitating the scheme while offering unlicensed real estate services, facing a combined $40,000 in penalties and a $70,000 penalty, respectively.
