Real Estate Law Blog
Title Insurance Ontario: A Complete Guide
Title insurance on an Ontario purchase: owner vs lender, what the policy covers, what it does not, and why your lawyer orders it at closing.
Title Transfers in Ontario: A Complete Guide
Adding or removing a name on title in Ontario: spouse, parent or child, a third party, and why a transfer without a sale is a different job than a closing.
Condo Maintenance Fees: A Full Breakdown
Ontario condo maintenance fees are common expenses: a monthly share of the building, set by the declaration, plus the reserve. Low fees can mean a thin reserve.
When to Hire a Real Estate Lawyer
In Ontario you need a real estate lawyer to register a transfer or mortgage — hire one before you sign the agreement, not on closing morning.
Interim Occupancy Closings in Ontario: What Buyers Need to Know
Interim occupancy on an Ontario pre-construction condo: you get the keys before title, you pay occupancy fees that are not a deposit, and final closing is when you actually own it.
Real Estate Legal Fees: A Full Breakdown
Ontario real estate legal fees start at $2,299 to buy and $1,999 to sell, all-inclusive. How the legal bill differs from closing costs, and how to compare two quotes.
Closing Costs When Buying a Home in Ontario
Ontario buyers budget closing costs beyond the down payment: land transfer tax, legal fees from $2,299 + HST, title insurance, and registration at $85 per document.
What Does A Real Estate Lawyer Do In Ontario?
An Ontario real estate lawyer searches title, holds the money in trust, and registers the transfer or mortgage on Teraview. A realtor cannot complete that closing.
What Does a Property Deed Look Like in Ontario?
What an Ontario property deed looks like, how joint tenants and tenants in common appear on the Transfer, and how deeds are registered.
How to Sell a House Privately in Ontario: FSBO Guide for Homeowners
You can sell a house privately in Ontario without an agent, but you still need a real estate lawyer to register the transfer and close the deal.
Property Law Basics Ontario
Ontario property law sets how ownership, leases, easements, and covenants work on title — and why a title search and lawyer-led closing still matter on a residential deal.
Private Mortgage Lawyer: Lending, Borrowing, Refinancing
A private mortgage in Ontario is a charge on title from someone other than a bank. You usually need two lawyers, the borrower often pays both, and the commitment is the deal.
Land Severance in Ontario: The Complete Guide
How land severance works in Ontario: creating a new lot, the municipal consent process, appeals, and typical costs.
The Condo Status Certificate: A Complete Guide
A condo status certificate in Ontario is the corporation's snapshot of the unit and the building: fees, reserve, lawsuits, rules. Section 76 binds the corporation. The APS condition is the walk-away.
First Dealings Exemption Ontario: Eligibility Guidelines
How Ontario's First Dealings Exemption can skip Estate Administration Tax on a first sale after Land Titles conversion, and how to check the parcel register.
Joint Tenants vs Tenants in Common
In Ontario, joint tenants take by survivorship and the will does not get a vote. Tenants in common each own a share that goes through the estate. If the transfer is silent, the default is tenants in common.
Buying a House Privately in Ontario: A Complete Guide
Buying privately in Ontario means no realtor on the deal — you still need a lawyer to register title, and the APS, deposit, and due diligence are on you.
How Do I Perform a Property Title Search in Ontario?
How to run an Ontario property title search on OnLand: map, PIN, address, or instrument, and what a parcel register actually shows.
Canada Foreign Buyers Ban: Amendments and Exceptions
Canada's foreign buyers ban is still in force until January 1, 2027. Ontario's 25% NRST is a second gate, and Toronto adds 10%. An exception to the ban does not wipe the tax.
Land Transfer Tax in Ontario
Ontario land transfer tax is paid by the buyer on closing and remitted at registration. In Toronto a second municipal tax applies on top.
The Agreement of Purchase and Sale (Ontario)
The Ontario Agreement of Purchase and Sale: OREA Form 100 and 101, deposit, irrevocable date, closing date, chattels vs fixtures, and Schedule A conditions.
Virtual Real Estate Closing: Signing Remotely in 2026
A virtual closing in Ontario is the client-side work on video: ID, signing, commissioning. Teraview registration was already electronic. Same legal result as sitting in the office.