Real Estate Law
Residential and commercial real estate, leasing, financing, and lending explained clearly from the perspective of a lawyer who has closed these transactions.
Real estate transactions involve some of the most significant financial decisions most people and businesses ever make. The legal concepts that govern them title, encumbrances, conditions, financing, zoning are entirely understandable once they're explained clearly. That's what this section is for.
Every clause in the APS has legal significance. Understand what you're signing before you put pen to paper.
Title is your legal right to own property. Encumbrances can limit that right and title insurance protects you when things go wrong.
What is a financing condition? Who is a guarantor and what are they on the hook for?
From requisitions to title transfer here's exactly what your lawyer is doing in the days and hours before you get the keys.
Status certificates, reserve funds, occupancy fees, and condo rules buying a condo has unique legal considerations every buyer must understand.
A recent Tax Court of Canada decision confirmed that the sale of an Airbnb rental property can trigger GST/HST. Here's what that means for short-term rental property owners.
Commercial real estate transactions move faster, involve more money, and carry greater complexity than residential deals. Here's the full process.
Commercial leases are complex, heavily negotiated, and consequential. Here's what every key clause means.
Zoning dictates what you can do with property. Getting it wrong can make a property worthless for your intended purpose. Here's what to check.
A title search is more than checking who owns the property. In commercial transactions, it involves multiple searches across several registries. Here's what they all mean.
Private mortgages are common in commercial real estate and complex residential transactions. Here's the legal framework and what both sides must understand.
Commitment letter, mortgage, assignment of rents, general security agreement here's what each document in a commercial lending transaction does.
Under Ontario's Construction Act, contractors and subcontractors can register liens against property for unpaid work. Here's what that means for owners, lenders, and developers.
More Real Estate Topics Suggested
Articles coming soon on these topics let me know which you'd like to see first:
→ Assignment of Agreements of Purchase and Sale (pre-construction)
→ HST on New Homes and Builder Rebates
→ Powers of Sale and Foreclosure in Ontario
→ Development Agreements and Subdivision Agreements
→ Environmental Due Diligence (Phase I and Phase II ESAs)
→ Real Property Transactions under the OBCA and CBCA
→ Easements, Rights-of-Way and Restrictive Covenants
→ Land Transfer Tax Ontario and Toronto
Articles covering residential and commercial real estate in New York. These are in development — outlines and key resources are available now.
The Contract of Sale, attorney roles, co-op vs. condo, closing costs including mansion tax and NYC transfer tax.
Co-ops are unique to NYC — you buy shares in a corporation, not real property. The board approval process, financing, and risks explained.
NYC commercial lease norms, personal guarantee requirements, holdover tenants, and assignment rights.