What’s that doing there? Will it stop me building on my property?

by admin | Feb 17, 2024 | 2024 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Huge numbers of Ontario property owners, especially in rural areas, may face issue of Hydro poles on their land ostensibly blocking construction plans. What can a property owner do if his property contains an unauthorized hydro pole which interferes with plans to...

What do you do when you are stuck with a pre-construction home or condo?

by admin | Feb 3, 2024 | 2024 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Petrified buyers facing prospect of being unable to raise cash needed to close, while higher interest rates are making occupancy fees sky-rocket. A common problem today for would-be buyers of pre-construction homes or condominiums is when the property values have...

Who is responsible when buyers lose their deposits on pre-construction houses?

by admin | Jan 20, 2024 | 2024 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Regulators, government, real estate agents involved, even buyers, themselves, could share responsibility for the whopping losses. When 28 buyers lose a combined $5.4 million in deposits on pre-construction houses, it is tempting to wonder who is at fault. Last month,...

Elderly homeowners fall victim to predators hawking services, equipment

by admin | Jan 6, 2024 | 2024 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Homeowners don’t know notice of security interest is registered on their title. In selling their home, they have to pay it out. A group of Ontario real estate and litigation lawyers has written an open letter to Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s minister of Public and Business...

Don’t count on ruling in favour of basketball star to show real estate purchases can be unwound!

by admin | Dec 23, 2023 | 2023 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Ruling that failure to disclose safety risk when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, partner bought mansion was fraudulent misrepresentation is not reliable precedent. With all the publicity surrounding the recent court decision involving an $8.4 million Burlington mansion,...

When home buyers or sellers find out things about the deal too late

by admin | Dec 9, 2023 | 2023 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

When home buyers or sellers find out too late that they aren’t aware of some of the finer details in their agreement. In the excitement of signing an offer to buy or sell a home or condominium, it’s often tempting to blindly sign the agreement presented by the real...