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 – as long as the house has been used primarily for personal use there will be no HST. For many new… Continue reading When do you have to pay HST on a house?
Tag: real estate law
Buying the farm
It’s a dream that many people have: work hard all week, spend weekends (or weeks) at the cottage (or farm, or chalet, or hunt camp…). There are very specific considerations to be aware of, however, when you are thinking of purchasing a recreational property. Homes outside of urban centres generally are on septic systems and… Continue reading Buying the farm
The consequences of saying “no”
Every now and then, I have a client ask me (usually mere days before closing) what will happen if they refuse to close. Generally, it is not a good idea to refuse to close once your deal is firm. A firm offer is a binding contract, and the consequences of breaking the contract have the… Continue reading The consequences of saying “no”
What exactly are disbursements?
I have written before about adjustments, which are an added cost on closing when you buy a house. Today, I wanted to talk about a line item on your lawyer’s bill: disbursements. Disbursements are items that your lawyer had to pay for on your behalf – things like a statement from the tax office that… Continue reading What exactly are disbursements?
Property damage on closing
Unfortunately, I occasionally have a client call me after a purchase has closed to let me know that there was damage in the house – a broken railing, a damaged pool filter, or even that the vendor took all of the light fixtures and curtain rods. If you arrive at your new home and something… Continue reading Property damage on closing