{"id":22537,"date":"2026-08-04T09:47:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T13:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/?p=22537"},"modified":"2026-08-18T09:15:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T13:15:59","slug":"real-estate-bidding-quebec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/blog\/real-estate-trends-markets\/real-estate-bidding-quebec\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Real Estate Offers Be Made Public in Quebec? The Debate Over Blind Bidding"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<header><strong>Making real estate offers public may seem, at first glance, like the perfect solution to end blind bidding and bidding wars in Quebec.<\/strong> A buyer could see the amount they need to beat, avoid bidding against themselves, and make what appears to be a more rational decision. However, behind this appealing idea lies a much more complex reality: an open bidding system could reduce certain frustrations, but it could also create a new kind of pressure and encourage buyers to bid even higher.The real question is <strong>which system best protects buyers without taking away a seller\u2019s freedom to choose<\/strong>, while avoiding turning the purchase of a home into an emotional competition. \ud83c\udfe0<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<nav style=\"border: 2px solid #2e7d32; background-color: #eef8ef; padding: 18px; margin: 24px 0; border-radius: 8px;\" aria-label=\"Table of contents\">\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0;\"><strong>In this article<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#quick-answer\">The quick answer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#current-system\">How do multiple offers work in Quebec?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#arguments-for\">Why make real estate offers public?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#risks\">The risks of open bidding<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#seller\">Does the seller have to accept the highest offer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#samuel-opinion\">Samuel Jacques\u2019 opinion as a real estate broker<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#buyer-protection\">How can buyers avoid overpaying for a home?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#solution\">What would be a fairer solution?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<section id=\"quick-answer\">\n<h2>Should real estate offers be made public in Quebec?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Possibly, but probably not through an unlimited open bidding system.<\/strong> Making offer amounts visible could reassure buyers and reduce the fear of unnecessarily overbidding. It could also improve confidence in the process. However, allowing repeated increases of $500, $1,000 or $5,000 could prolong negotiations and create a true bidding frenzy.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 2px solid #2e7d32; background-color: #e8f5e9; padding: 18px; margin: 24px 0; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\"><strong>Key takeaway \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><br \/>\nA public offer is not automatically a more reasonable offer. Transparency can prevent buyers from bidding completely in the dark, but it can also tempt them to exceed their limit simply because they do not want to lose the property.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"current-system\">\n<h2>How do multiple offers on a house work in Quebec?<\/h2>\n<p>When a seller receives several promises to purchase, their broker must present the offers received and treat buyers fairly. Buyers or their brokers must be informed of the existence of another promise to purchase, but <strong>the price, conditions and contents of that offer remain confidential<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The buyer therefore knows that they are competing with someone else without knowing how close the competing offer is. They can maintain their offer, improve it or withdraw from the process. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oaciq.com\/en\/general-public\/what-do-to-in-a-situation-of-multiple-promise-to-purchase\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OACIQ explains the obligations that apply in multiple-offer situations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>A promise to purchase is about more than price<\/h3>\n<p>The amount offered is only one part of the seller\u2019s decision:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the proposed purchase price;<\/li>\n<li>proof and strength of financing;<\/li>\n<li>the inspection condition;<\/li>\n<li>deadlines for fulfilling conditions;<\/li>\n<li>the date of signing at the notary;<\/li>\n<li>the occupancy date;<\/li>\n<li>inclusions, exclusions and other specific conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before signing, buyers should always make sure they understand the promise to purchase and the obligations it creates. An aggressive offer is still a legally significant commitment with important financial consequences.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"arguments-for\">\n<h2>Why do some people want to end blind bidding in Quebec real estate?<\/h2>\n<p>Critics of the current system raise a very real concern: buyers sometimes have to determine their best price without knowing how far away they are from the other competing offers. That uncertainty can encourage someone to offer considerably more than necessary out of fear of losing a property they love.<\/p>\n<h3>Reducing financial pressure on buyers<\/h3>\n<p>In a multiple-offer situation, a buyer may think: \u201cIf I add just $10,000, maybe I\u2019ll have a chance.\u201d Then they add $20,000, sometimes $40,000 or more, without knowing whether the second-best offer was actually close. This feeling of bidding against yourself can create significant frustration.<\/p>\n<p>Visible offers would theoretically allow each participant to know the price they need to beat and walk away once the property exceeds their budget. This could be particularly reassuring for first-time homebuyers, who often have less financial flexibility.<\/p>\n<h3>Increasing confidence in the real estate process<\/h3>\n<p>Transparency could also reduce suspicion. Some buyers wonder whether competing offers actually exist or whether they are simply being pressured to increase their price. Although fake offers and misleading practices are prohibited, confidentiality can still create mistrust.<\/p>\n<h3>Allowing buyers to increase their offer more rationally<\/h3>\n<p>Under a transparent model, a buyer might avoid making a huge jump simply to stand out. For example, if they could see that the highest offer was $602,000, they might decide to offer $605,000 rather than $630,000.<\/p>\n<p>This is arguably one of the strongest arguments in favour of making real estate offers public.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"risks\">\n<h2><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-22121 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-4-aout-2026-a-09_44_02-min.jpg\" alt=\"public-real-estate-offers-quebec\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-4-aout-2026-a-09_44_02-min.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-4-aout-2026-a-09_44_02-min-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>Would open real estate bidding actually lower home prices?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Not necessarily.<\/strong> Open bidding could reduce the risk of submitting an offer that is dramatically higher than every other offer right from the start. However, it could create another phenomenon: gradual escalation. Each individual increase can seem relatively small and reasonable on its own.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine two buyers. The first offers $600,000. The second goes to $605,000. The first buyer had promised themselves they would never exceed $600,000, but now thinks they should not lose \u201ctheir house\u201d over only $5,000. They increase their offer to $610,000. The other buyer responds with $615,000.<\/p>\n<p>After weeks or months of searching for homes and attending visits, the desire to win can sometimes take over from a purely financial analysis.<\/p>\n<h3>What is a real estate bidding frenzy?<\/h3>\n<p>A bidding frenzy happens when the buyer\u2019s objective gradually changes. At first, they are trying to purchase a property at a reasonable price. Eventually, they are primarily trying to beat the other buyer.<\/p>\n<p>The amount offered becomes a response to the competition rather than an assessment of the home\u2019s market value.<\/p>\n<p>Behavioural research conducted outside Quebec has suggested that open auctions can encourage some participants to go beyond their preferred budget or valuation. Those findings cannot automatically be applied to Quebec\u2019s real estate market, but they highlight an important point: <strong>more transparency does not necessarily mean lower prices.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Other offers can create a false impression of value<\/h3>\n<p>When buyers see that several other people are willing to pay a high price, they may conclude that the property must be worth that amount.<\/p>\n<p>However, those other buyers may also be acting emotionally, using poor comparable sales or working with completely different financial circumstances and objectives.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 2px solid #2e7d32; background-color: #e8f5e9; padding: 18px; margin: 24px 0; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\"><strong>Be careful \u26a0\ufe0f<\/strong><br \/>\nThe number of interested buyers is never a substitute for a comparative market analysis. Ten people can want the same house without the final price automatically being reasonable for your particular situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>An open bidding process could become endless<\/h3>\n<p>Without specific rules, the process could turn into a series of small increases: another $1,000, then $500, followed by another $500.<\/p>\n<p>A transparent system would need to establish a closing time, a deadline following each new bid, a minimum increase and a way to verify each participant\u2019s financing.<\/p>\n<p>Transparency would therefore require a secure platform, consistent rules and strong protection of buyers\u2019 personal information.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"seller\">\n<h2>Does a seller have to accept the highest offer in Quebec?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>No.<\/strong> A seller is generally free to choose the promise to purchase that best meets their needs, and price is not always the only determining factor.<\/p>\n<p>A slightly lower offer may be more attractive if the financing is stronger, the deadlines better match the seller\u2019s plans or the offer contains fewer conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a simple example:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; width: 100%; border: 2px solid #000;\">\n<thead style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #000; padding: 10px; text-align: left; font-weight: bold;\">Offer A<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #000; padding: 10px; text-align: left; font-weight: bold;\">Offer B<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #000; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">$610,000, less certain financing, several conditions and limited occupancy flexibility<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #000; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">$605,000, strong financing, clear conditions and an ideal occupancy date<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #000; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Higher price, but potentially greater transaction risk<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #000; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Slightly lower price, but potentially a more secure transaction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Choosing Offer B can therefore make perfect sense: the highest price is not always the best promise to purchase.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"samuel-opinion\">\n<h2>My personal opinion \u2014 Samuel Jacques, real estate broker<\/h2>\n<p>In my opinion, there will always be someone who feels disadvantaged, regardless of the system we choose.<\/p>\n<p>The current system is not perfect. I completely understand why buyers find it difficult to improve an offer without knowing the amounts offered by their competitors. But I also do not believe that completely open bidding would solve everything.<\/p>\n<p>I can easily imagine increases becoming almost endless: \u201cI\u2019ll offer another $1,000,\u201d then someone else adds $500, followed by another $500.<\/p>\n<p>Even if prices were visible, some people would still pay more than what could reasonably be justified because they would get caught up in the competition. They might think: \u201cIf everyone else is willing to pay that much, the house must be worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I am not opposed to the idea of greater transparency. For me, what matters most is my client\u2019s satisfaction, whether I am representing a seller or a buyer.<\/p>\n<p>However, I sometimes think the grass always looks greener on the other side. Yes, blind bidding creates certain problems. But fully open bidding would create different ones.<\/p>\n<h3>How I help my buyer clients in multiple-offer situations<\/h3>\n<p>In my practice, I start with a market analysis. Some properties are intentionally listed below their probable market value to attract more buyers.<\/p>\n<p>Together with my client, I compare recent sales and establish what I consider to be a reasonable limit.<\/p>\n<p>I then explain it clearly: \u201cBased on the available data and your situation, we should not go beyond this amount.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The final decision belongs to my client, but I will never encourage a buyer to overpay simply to win a transaction.<\/p>\n<p>My goal has never been to fill my wallet at any cost. I would rather help 200 clients who are genuinely satisfied than 400 clients who later regret their decision.<\/p>\n<p>A successful real estate transaction should also leave the client at peace with their decision.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about preparing for a home purchase, you can also read my <a href=\"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/advices\/real-estate-purchase-quebec\/\">real estate buying advice for Quebec<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"buyer-protection\">\n<h2>How can you avoid overpaying for a house in a multiple-offer situation?<\/h2>\n<p>Whether offers are confidential or public, one rule remains essential: <strong>your limit should be established before emotions take control.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>1. Get a comparative market analysis<\/h3>\n<p>The asking price is not always the property\u2019s market value. The neighbourhood, living area, lot size, renovations and overall condition should be compared with similar recent sales.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Establish three different amounts<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Estimated value:<\/strong> what comparable sales appear to justify.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Comfortable price:<\/strong> what you can afford without putting unnecessary pressure on your finances.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Absolute limit:<\/strong> the amount you will not exceed, even if another offer appears.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. Do not automatically remove every protection<\/h3>\n<p>An offer can become more attractive through reasonable deadlines, strong mortgage pre-approval and clear communication.<\/p>\n<p>Removing an inspection condition or another important protection simply to win the property can expose a buyer to risks that are disproportionate to the potential benefit.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"solution\">\n<h2>How could real estate offers become more transparent without creating an uncontrolled auction?<\/h2>\n<p>In my opinion, the best compromise would probably be neither complete secrecy nor a continuously open auction.<\/p>\n<p>A hybrid system could create greater confidence while limiting the risk of endless price escalation.<\/p>\n<h3>Some realistic solutions<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>officially confirm the number of offers received;<\/li>\n<li>register every promise to purchase on a verifiable platform;<\/li>\n<li>protect the identities and personal information of buyers;<\/li>\n<li>allow one final improvement rather than unlimited increases;<\/li>\n<li>establish a clear closing time;<\/li>\n<li>provide anonymized proof of the process after the transaction;<\/li>\n<li>continue evaluating price, conditions, deadlines and strength of financing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This type of compromise could reduce mistrust without turning every home sale into a bidding marathon.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 2px solid #2e7d32; background-color: #e8f5e9; padding: 18px; margin: 24px 0; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\"><strong>The real issue \u2705<\/strong><br \/>\nBidding wars are largely driven by an imbalance between the number of buyers and the number of desirable properties available. Changing how offers are presented may improve the process, but it does not create more homes for sale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Are real estate brokers responsible for bidding wars?<\/h2>\n<p>Bidding wars are not simply caused by the involvement of a real estate broker. They generally occur when several buyers want the same property.<\/p>\n<p>Inventory levels, location, the quality of the property, the asking price and overall market conditions play a much more direct role.<\/p>\n<p>A broker must respect confidentiality, advise their client and rely on facts and comparable sales \u2014 never pressure a buyer to exceed an unreasonable limit.<\/p>\n<p>You can find more real estate topics and practical advice in <a href=\"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/blog\/\">my other real estate blog articles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions about real estate bidding wars in Quebec<\/h2>\n<h3>Is it legal to offer more than the asking price in Quebec?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. A buyer can offer more than, less than or exactly the asking price. Depending on the circumstances and the seller\u2019s existing commitments, the seller may accept, reject or make a counter-offer.<\/p>\n<h3>Can buyers find out the amount of other offers?<\/h3>\n<p>Under the current system, buyers must be informed of the existence of a competing promise to purchase, but its contents remain confidential. Buyers therefore normally do not know the price or conditions offered by other participants.<\/p>\n<h3>How much should you offer above asking in a bidding war?<\/h3>\n<p>There is no universal amount. The decision should be based on recent comparable sales, the property\u2019s condition, available financing, your budget and your tolerance for risk \u2014 not simply the number of competing offers.<\/p>\n<h3>Does an unconditional offer always win?<\/h3>\n<p>No. It may appear simpler or more attractive to a seller, but the seller evaluates the entire promise to purchase, including price, financing, deadlines, occupancy and other conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Removing an important protection can also create significant risks for the buyer.<\/p>\n<h3>Can a seller choose a lower offer?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. A lower offer may be selected if its conditions, financing or dates are more attractive to the seller.<\/p>\n<p>The highest price is not always the best promise to purchase.<\/p>\n<h3>Would public real estate offers lower home prices?<\/h3>\n<p>There is no guarantee. Public offers could reduce situations where the winning offer is significantly higher than the second-best offer, but they could also lead to repeated increases and emotionally driven competition.<\/p>\n<p>The outcome would depend largely on the exact rules governing the system.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<footer style=\"margin-top: 32px; padding-top: 18px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc;\"><strong>Article written by Samuel Jacques, real estate broker.<\/strong><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Making real estate offers public may seem, at first glance, like the perfect solution to end blind bidding and bidding wars in Quebec. A buyer could see the amount they need to beat, avoid bidding against themselves, and make what appears to be a more rational decision. However, behind this appealing idea lies a much [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":22538,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate-trends-markets"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22537"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22537\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22540,"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22537\/revisions\/22540"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samuelj.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}