The house he agreed to buy burned down before closing. Here’s why the court sided with the seller when things got ugly

by admin | Sep 22, 2025 | 2025 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

What happens if the home you agreed to buy goes up in flames before closing? That was the question before the Ontario Superior Court earlier this year. Here’s what happened: In May last year, Grant McDonald agreed to buy a century home on a two-acre lot in Tillsonburg...

iPro Realty scandal shines a light on real estate watchdog RECO — its CEO and entire board must go

by admin | Sep 8, 2025 | 2025 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

The iPro crisis that has consumed the real estate industry in Ontario recently sets a bad example for future discipline cases against agents who may be charged with misappropriation or misuse of deposit funds. The precedent-setting decision of the Real Estate Council...

Don Mills condo corporation’s use of falsified document against owner was a ‘shocking abuse of trust’

by admin | Aug 25, 2025 | 2025 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

A decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice last November sends a strong warning to condominium corporations that it will not tolerate any abuse of power or oppressive conduct over its members. The case involves Leigh and Harvin Gonzales who were looking for a...

Crackdown on unauthorized use of real estate lockboxes better late than never

by admin | Aug 11, 2025 | 2025 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

The unauthorized use of real estate lockboxes for unsupervised access to listed properties continues to be a matter of concern to the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB). But the two groups have been slow off the...

Be careful when signing over your house to children. Things can go horribly wrong.

by admin | Jul 28, 2025 | 2025 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

While there may be many good reasons for seniors to register a home jointly with their children, writes Bob Aaron, it’s not always foolproof — and can backfire badly. Hardly a week goes by when I am not asked by a client with grown children whether they can save...

A cosy, fixer-upper has retro charm and great potential! Bring your imagination!

by admin | Jun 30, 2025 | 2025 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Navigating a real estate agent’s creative bag of euphemisms, writes Bob Aaron, is key to cracking the code when searching for a home — like this handyman special with its low maintenance yard! Real estate has always had its own special language — with plenty of...