Buying

The Condo Status Certificate: The $100, 10-Day Document That Tells You If the Building Is Financially Healthy

The Ontario condo status certificate: the statutory $100 fee, 10-day rule, what's inside (reserve fund, special assessments, litigation), red flags, and why to go conditional.

Buyer Closing Costs in Ontario: A Complete Breakdown, With a Real $1M Toronto Example

Ontario buyer closing costs: provincial + Toronto land transfer tax, first-time rebates, legal, title insurance, the 8% PST on CMHC premiums, with a worked $1M example.

Ontario + Toronto Land Transfer Tax Explained: How the Brackets Work and What First-Time Buyers Get Back

How Ontario and Toronto land transfer tax brackets work, plus first-time buyer rebates (Ontario up to $4,000, Toronto up to $4,475) and a worked GTA example. Source: ontario.ca / toronto.ca.

The Requisition Period: The Invisible Step That Actually Protects You When Buying in Ontario

Ontario's requisition (title search) period explained: what the OREA Agreement's Requisition Date means, what the buyer's lawyer searches, how a requisition letter clears title defects, and how title insurance protects you before closing.

The Final Walkthrough Before Closing: An Ontario Buyer’s Pre-Closing Visit Guide

A complete guide to the final walkthrough before closing on an Ontario resale home: the OREA clause that gives buyers pre-closing visits, the best timing, a room-by-room checklist (appliances, HVAC, chattels, fixtures), and what to do if you find a problem — holdback or abatement.

The Home-Buying Deposit in Ontario: How It Differs From the Down Payment, the 24-Hour Rule, and Trust Accounts

Your Ontario home-buying deposit isn't your down payment. Learn how they differ, the GTA-typical ~5%, the OREA 'Upon Acceptance' 24-hour delivery rule, accepted forms like certified cheque and bank draft, how the deposit is held in trust, and when it can be forfeited.

Open Building Permits: The Hidden Risk When Buying an Ontario Home

Buying an Ontario home with an open building permit? According to the Ontario Court of Appeal (EPRF Holdings v. Fergus Bloor, 2024 ONCA 707), an unclosed permit affects title and financing — and the liability runs with the property to you.

Legal Non-Conforming Use in Ontario: Can You Buy a Home That No Longer Meets Zoning?

Can you buy an Ontario home that no longer meets zoning? According to the Planning Act s.34(9), a lawful existing use may generally continue. Here is how to tell legal non-conforming from illegal and how to verify it with a zoning compliance letter.