Cesia

Down by the bay

Up here in Simcoe County, there is a lot of waterfront property. In Barrie alone there are homes all along Kempenfelt Bay, and there are numerous lakes throughout the County where people own homes with waterfront access. There are particular issues to be aware of when purchasing a home right on the water, such as… Continue reading Down by the bay

Don’t take my land – please

There is a lot of construction going on in the south end of Barrie right now, with one of the major projects being the expansion of Mapleview Drive between Bayview Drive and Huronia Road. There is also talk that Mapleview is going to be expanded straight through to Yonge Street, once the City works out… Continue reading Don’t take my land – please

When do you have to pay HST on a house?

In Ontario, HST always applies to the purchase of land unless there is a specific exemption. For most residential resale transactions, there is an HST exemption in place so that it does not apply. For many new homes, there are significant rebates for HST, as long as you intend to live in the new home… Continue reading When do you have to pay HST on a house?

Wouldn’t it be nice…

Many of us have seen the commercial: happy elderly people paying for renovations, trips and university education for their grandchildren through a reverse mortgage. I came across this excellent post from the Retire Happy blog, which details the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage. There are many advantages to these plans: income is tax-free,… Continue reading Wouldn’t it be nice…

When does a denial of warranty become a guarantee?

A SPIS is a form that some sellers will fill out, which details information about the property, everything from zoning issues to structural issues to environmental concerns. The form specifically states on it that it is not a warranty, and that the purchaser cannot rely on the statements contained on it. However, there have been… Continue reading When does a denial of warranty become a guarantee?