Real Estate Lawyer

Buying your first home is a truly exciting time, but it can also be a financially stressful time. Every dollar counts and suddenly, there are new taxes and financial obligations in place that you didn’t have before. When buying a home, the land transfer tax can make up a significant percentage of your final closing costs. But what exactly is this tax, how much is it, and do first time home buyers pay land transfer tax in Ontario? To help you make sense of the situation and potentially save some money, we’ve put together this handy resource. What Is Land Transfer [...]

As a landowner, you may think you have the right to do whatever you want with your property. But, the fact is, you are limited in what you can do due to zoning by-laws and other ordinances like building codes.  It is, however, entirely possible that you may be exempt from the legal limitations imposed by these laws under something colloquially known as the grandfather clause.  What exactly are the grandfathered property rights in Ontario, how do they apply, and what does it mean for you as an owner or individual looking to purchase a property? To help you make sense [...]

In the province of Ontario, there have long been two systems of property registration: the Registry System and The Land Titles System. However, for decades now, the province has been working towards merging these two into a single system of land registration called the land titles systems.  Land registration is intended to provide a uniform system under which documents (or instruments) can be registered that establish or transfer interests in a particular portion of land. And as these two registration systems start to merge, they will have effects on property owners.  What do these land registration systems mean for you, your [...]