Credit union seeks compensation due to ‘Oklahoma’ fraud

by admin | Dec 24, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca What could be one of the largest real estate frauds in Ontario history is now playing itself out in a complex court case started by the liquidators of the Croatian (Toronto) Credit Union Limited. The lawsuit seeks recovery of $6.5 million in...

Court of appeal ruling ‘absolutely correct’

by admin | Dec 11, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca The Ontario Court of Appeal has reversed a lower court decision that ruled that all of the unit owners of a new condominium project did not have to purchase the resident manager’s unit from the developer. The case involved the Lexington on the...

Videos help people with their legal needs

by admin | Nov 27, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca People typically do more research when they buy a colour TV than when they buy a home. That statement, by Toronto real estate lawyer Joel Kadish, comes from a new six-minute video recently launched by the Law Society of Upper Canada as part of a...

Disclosure form is a danger to buyers and sellers

by admin | Nov 13, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Over the years, I have repeatedly criticized the Seller Property Information Statement (SPIS), a form published by the Ontario Real Estate Association. Use of the form is a controversial issue in the real estate community. Some listing agents...

Two plots and one man’s case of mistaken identity

by admin | Oct 30, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

One of my all-time favourite court cases deals with the Edmonton family who were well into building their dream home when they discovered that they didn t own the lot where their new house was under construction. The story began back in 1981, when Tom Broumas told his...

OREA forms continue to confuse lawyers and consumers

by admin | Oct 16, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca When does a real estate deal close when the deed is registered, when the keys and money change hands or when the seller moves out of the house? This question was raised by London, Ont., lawyer Lorne Campbell in response to my Oct. 2 column...