Buying

Right of First Refusal in Ontario Real Estate: Before You Sell, Ask Me First

A GTA broker explains the Ontario Right of First Refusal (ROFR): how it differs from a right of first offer and an option, how it is triggered and matched, and drafting cautions.

The Condo Insurance Gap in Ontario: What the Master Policy Covers, and What You Must Insure Yourself

Ontario condo master policies insure the standard unit only. Your improvements, contents, liability and the s.105 deductible chargeback are yours to insure.

Basement Always Damp? Before You Waterproof, Check Whether Your Yard Slopes the Right Way

A damp basement or seeping foundation may come down to lot grading. The ground should slope away from the house; a common standard is a fall of at least about 6 inches within the first 10 feet near the foundation (roughly a 5% grade), and at least 2% for hard surfaces. Here's why grading matters, how to check for a reverse slope, simple first fixes, and how to read it at a sale.

60, 100, or 200 Amps? An Older Home’s Electrical Capacity Can Stall Your Home Insurance

Should you worry about 60-amp service or an old fuse box when buying an older home? According to the Canadian Electrical Code and insurance industry practice, 60-amp service is often inadequate for modern loads, and some insurers require an upgrade to 100 amps to provide coverage, or surcharge/decline it. Here's the difference between 60/100/200 amps, why it affects insurance, how to identify the panel, and how to handle it before a sale.

That Older Home’s Water Service Line Might Be Lead: How to Check, Test, and How Toronto Helps You Replace It

Buying a pre-1975 home with a possible lead water service line? According to Health Canada, the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for lead in drinking water was tightened from 0.01 to 0.005 mg/L in March 2019; lead pipe was acceptable under the pre-1975 National Plumbing Code, so it's more likely in older homes. Here's the risk, how to identify and test for it, Toronto's replacement program, and how to handle it at a sale.

Don’t Ignore Grey Plastic Water Pipes: Poly-B (Polybutylene) Can Complicate Your Mortgage and Insurance

Should you worry about grey Poly-B (polybutylene) water pipes in a home? According to insurance and inspection industry sources, Poly-B was used widely for residential water supply roughly 1978–1997; it's grey/blue-grey and often stamped PB2110, and grows brittle with age and chlorine exposure, so some insurers surcharge or decline it. Here's how to spot it, the real risk, how to handle it at a sale, and replacement considerations.

That Pebble-Like Attic Insulation May Contain Asbestos: Know Vermiculite (Zonolite) Before You Buy

Should you worry about grey-brown pebble-like vermiculite attic insulation? According to Health Canada / CCOHS, vermiculite from the Libby mine in Montana, sold as Zonolite, may contain amphibole asbestos. Left intact and undisturbed it usually poses no risk; before renovating, have a trained pro sample and lab-test it. Here's what vermiculite is, the real risk, how to check before buying, and how to handle it in your offer.

Hearing UFFI on a Home You Want? It Was Banned in 1980 — Here’s Whether to Worry

Found UFFI (urea-formaldehyde foam insulation) on a home you're buying? According to Health Canada, UFFI was banned in Canada in December 1980 under the Hazardous Products Act; formaldehyde off-gassing declines sharply over time, so decades-old UFFI usually poses no ongoing health risk. Here's what UFFI is, why it was banned, whether to worry, and how to handle it in the SPIS, inspection and offer.