HST will box home buyers, builders into bizarre deals

by admin | May 2, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca I learned of a new term in the housing industry last week. “White box” refers to a newly constructed house or condominium unit that is built to the minimum standards necessary to comply with the Ontario Building Code. It may have one...

Builders should be upfront about extra condo charges

by admin | Apr 25, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Last week I had the opportunity to review a condominium builder purchase agreement with a couple of clients. They had been told in the sales office what they thought was the total purchase price and asked me to see if there were any surprises in...

Seek professional advice to keep cottage in the family

by admin | Apr 18, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a mother who promised to give her son two family cottages if he renovated them, but then changed her mind. The story began back in 2000 when Margaret Sheldrake made an agreement with her son...

When it comes to surveys, size matters

by admin | Apr 11, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Christopher and Lindsay Taggart were dismayed to discover that the lot underneath their newly constructed home was 1,000 square feet smaller than it was represented to be. The home is located in a new subdivision in Maple Ridge, B.C. Behind their lot was a parcel of...

Purchase offer should ask that the advertised square footage be warranted

by admin | Apr 4, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca What happens if you buy a house and it turns out to be more than 18 per cent smaller than the advertised size? That’s what happened in the summer of 2003 to Bruce and Karen Meagher after they bought a house in New Westminster, B.C., from...

Thumbs down on offensive Illinois law

by admin | Mar 28, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A new American law set to take effect June 1, 2009 will require anyone selling a residential property in Cook County, Ill. which includes Chicago to provide a thumbprint or fingerprint. Under the cumbersome moniker of the Cook County Residential...