Home sales, purchases go ahead with unprecedented virtual tools during the pandemic

by admin | Apr 11, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca There is good news and bad news for those of us in the real estate field during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some good news came from Jeffrey Lem, Ontario’s director of titles, in a Law Society webinar late in March. Speaking electronically to several...

Why using a DIY building manual made a homeowner liable for negligent construction

by admin | Mar 26, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A homeowner who used a “Reader’s Digest” manual to build a house that he later sold was found liable for negligent construction by the Ontario Superior Court earlier this month. Back in 1989, Noel Geneau built a house for himself and his wife in...

Ontario court rules this condo deal was the real deal

by admin | Mar 12, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca An Ontario court judge has ruled that buyers of a pre-construction condo unit could close their purchase transaction despite the builder terminating the deal. Instead of moving in, the Lucases allowed a friend, Renato Duarte, to move in...

Home buyers not helped by Tarion Warranty Corp.’s purchase rider, says Court of Appeal

by admin | Feb 29, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Ontario’s highest court has levelled an unusually harsh blast at the Tarion Warranty Corporation, saying its compulsory addendum form which must be attached to every builder agreement is complex, difficult to follow and does not protect...

Should you invest in an RRSP or pay down your mortgate?

by admin | Feb 15, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February is RRSP season, and there is no shortage of advice available to Canadians on tax-free investing before the deadline of March 2. One question which often arises at this time of year is whether homeowners should place available cash in an...

How two different foot measures caused property chaos in the U.S.

by admin | Feb 1, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca When it comes to real estate, most Canadians speak in terms of Imperial measurement. The majority of home offers I see show frontage and depth measurements in feet, even though we officially switched to the metric system during the time of the...