how come there are no listings for units for re-sale like with other buildings?
Here in Ontario, nobody can sell until after they have legally taken possession, i.e., you can't sell what you don't yet own...
Before the condo is completed, you cannot sell it...
But even after the building is substantially complete, you still cannot right away...
There is a 2-part process here...first step is called "interim occupancy", where you close, you pay the balance, and you get the keys, and can live in the unit... but you still don't legally own it ("title") - and therefore cannot sell something you don't yet own. This "interim occupancy" can last for several weeks, or for several months.
the 2nd step is when the condo building is "registered" - at that point, you become the bonafide legal owner of the unit, afterwhich you can sell it (now that you actually own it)...
This multi-step process was brought in around 1990, I think, to prevent purchasers from flipping their sale, before the condo was actually complete...it's actually probably a good thing to temper the Toronto market, although there are ways around it...
Once any building is finally "registered", there is usually a flurry of listings.