Real Estate

Posted December 18, 2025 by Raymond G. Leclair

Although our Canadian banking system is robust it lacks transparency. Payments Canada sets the rules for payments in Canada that all financial institutions must follow. Payments Canada manages two payments systems – ACSS and Lynx. 99% of all amounts you see in your account are via ACSS and revocable, meaning the bank can reverse the… Read More »

Posted November 28, 2025 by Raymond G. Leclair

The Vacant Home Tax (VHT) (Bylaw 97-2022) requires homeowners in Toronto to let the City know if their property is occupied or vacant by making a declaration every year. Did you know that if the purchase happens between January 1 and May each year, there is no notice of vacant home tax that may be… Read More »

Posted September 12, 2025 by LAWPRO

What are lawyers to do when closing a transaction that involves iPro Realty Ltd? The regulator, Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), closed the brokerage, iPro Realty Ltd. (iPro), effective August 19, 2025. iPro had 17 offices and 2,400 agents. There was a regulator approved sale of iPro’s assets to a new brokerage, iCloud Realty… Read More »

Posted September 2, 2025 by Raymond G. Leclair

The client was buying a multi-million-dollar property, located geographically outside of the lawyer’s usual jurisdiction. Fully doable with province-wide Teraview access and today’s technology. The law office prepared the transfer and land transfer affidavit. The box indicating the transaction was subject to other taxes was checked. However, the lawyer practices in a jurisdiction where there… Read More »

Posted May 15, 2025 by Raymond G. Leclair

To maintain Tarion coverage, purchasers of new freehold homes will need to register their agreement of purchase and sale (APS) within 45 days of entering into the APS, or they could lose some deposit coverage. This requirement comes into effect on July 1, 2025. This new registration requirement for purchasers is meant to assist Tarion… Read More »

Posted April 29, 2025 by Safiyya Vankalwala

In this real-world example, both the vendor’s and purchaser’s lawyers were advised by the Land Registry Office (LRO) that the legal description of the property did not meet registration requirements. The LRO warned that if the issue was not fixed, both the transfer and the mortgage would be withdrawn. Despite the clear warning, neither lawyer… Read More »

Posted November 20, 2024 by Safiyya Vankalwala

Hamilton, Windsor, and Sault Ste. Marie have implemented a Vacant Home Tax (VHT), joining Toronto and Ottawa in introducing this levy on vacant residential properties. Lawyers should be familiar with the rules when advising on real estate transactions and are encouraged to review our guidance on this issue.

Posted October 9, 2024 by Raymond G. Leclair

Real estate lawyers’ due diligence requirements have changed since the Ontario ban on filing a notice of security interest (NOSI) on financed or leased consumer goods/fixtures in Ontario. This article provides guidance on avoiding unsatisfied clients and understanding secured party claims against a seller’s goods and fixtures registered under the PPSA.