Here’s a situation that happens more often than you might think: your lawyer calls to say that your house is closed, you pick up the keys, you go to the house….and the old owners are still there. If you are a first-time buyer, you are most likely staying in your rental for a few days… Continue reading What to do when your new house isn’t empty
Category: Law Day
A weekly column written by real estate lawyer Cesia Green that discusses law relating to real estate transactions.
Breaking up is hard to do
What happens when one joint tenant (or tenant in common) wants out of a property and the other says no? There is a piece of legislation in Ontario called the Partition Act that governs the concept of partition and sale, when a court can order that property be apportioned according to interests and one or… Continue reading Breaking up is hard to do
What you don’t know can, in fact, hurt you
There was a case a while back in British Columbia that involved a house the buyers ended up not really wanting. In Cardwell v. Perthen, the buyers found after purchasing their home that there was shoddy workmanship, leaks, deterioration of structural components and mould. They chose not to get a home inspection at the time… Continue reading What you don’t know can, in fact, hurt you
How to pay less tax
If you are a first-time buyer of real estate in Ontario, you are in luck: the Ontario government has many programs in place to encourage you to buy instead of rent. Today, I am going to blog about the Land Transfer Tax rebate. Land Transfer Tax is imposed by the provincial government on all purchases… Continue reading How to pay less tax
How to take title
When you buy a home with someone else, among all of the other decisions, you will need to decide how you want to own the property: jointly, or in common. Buying as joint tenants means that you both own the entire property. You are each responsible for everything, and each have the rights that go… Continue reading How to take title