Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca August 21, 2004 Ruling will spur credit agencies to fix errors quickly An Ontario court has given a strong incentive for banks and credit reporting agencies to act faster and more efficiently when a consumer brings attention to an error in his credit report. In January 1994, Robert Neil Clark applied for […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca August 14, 2004 Even amateur builders can be liable Ontario’s highest court has ruled that anyone who builds a home that is dangerous or unsafe whether that person is a professional or amateur builder is liable to subsequent owners of the house, whether or not they had a contract with the builder. […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca August 7, 2004 Paperwork may be lacking in cottage sales Buyers sometimes take unusual risks I was reminded again last week that buying cottage country real estate is completely different from buying city property, and that purchasers and their legal advisers may have to accept risks they would be unwilling […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 31, 2004 Tall tales for insurance adjusters No trouble spotting these bogus claims It never fails to amaze me how decent, law-abiding citizens become tempted to submit bogus damage claims when they believe an insurance company is going to pay the tab. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, insurance […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 24, 2004 Buyers back out after plan altered Builder changed construction agreement Cathedral ceiling replaced with flat version Two homebuyers are cancelling their purchase after the builder made a fundamental change to their construction agreement and they have the weight of Ontario’s highest court behind them. Emery and Margaret […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 17, 2004 Religious freedom trumps condo rules In a landmark decision upholding religious freedom, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that sincere personal religious beliefs override the terms of a condominium declaration that restrict the use of its common elements. In a 5-4 decision at the end of last month, […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 10, 2004 Winds of change at warranty board Consumer minister to appoint four OHBA no longer has complete control of board A sign hangs in the constituency office of Ontario’s new consumer minister Jim Watson. It reads, "How many people have we helped today?" That seems to be his motto. "I […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 3, 2004 When full disclosure could mean no sales King City neighbourhood has no sewers Septic tanks work fine, but don’t meet standards Last month, I wrote in this space about a North York resident who unknowingly purchased a house with a buried swimming pool in the backyard. When it […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca June 26, 2004 Lawsuits could mean mortgage refunds Banks allegedly overcharged on early payouts Anyone charged a penalty since 1997 could be affected Homeowners who paid off their mortgages early within the last seven years and got zapped with a prepayment penalty, could be in line for a refund if a […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca June 19, 2004 No clear winners in this builder-owner wrangle It’s time to play You Be The Judge. Here’s a case that highlights the contrasting expectations of buyers who want their homes to be flawless, and builders who believe they are delivering the best homes they can. You’re buying your dream home […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca June 12, 2004 Marijuana grow-ops slash value of real estate Former grow houses nearly impossible to sell Standard clause needed to protect unwary buyers A decision by the British Columbia Court of Appeal released last month is a reminder of the effect a marijuana grow operation (grow-op) can have on real estate […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca June 5, 2004 No simple answer to disclosure of defects Purchaser not told about buried pool It’s often a case of buyer beware Recently I had the pleasure of appearing on the "Inside Real Estate" television program which is broadcast Thursday evenings on the Rogers Cable network. The format is a phone-in […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 29, 2004 New product protects houses from title fraud Of all the questions I receive from Star readers, the most common one over the last few years has been: How can I protect my house from title fraud? Until now, the answer has always been that there was no way […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 22, 2004 New type of ownership better than some Fractional ownership beats timeshare and land-lease Buy land, Will Rogers once said, since they ain’t making any more of the stuff. That statement may have been true when the famous American humourist said it around 1930, but it’s not true […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 15, 2004 Warranty will cover some mould damage Home’s contents, improvements are not covered Ensure adequate ventilation to offset moisture Is mould or mould damage covered under the Tarion new home warranty program? That question arises out of my May 1 column about Karen Somerville. She and her husband purchased […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 3, 2004 New type of property fraud is shocking Sophisticated scam almost worked Hydro clerk and lawyer foil crooks Lawyers attending a recent real estate law seminar at the Law Society of Upper Canada heard for the first time about a new type of property fraud. I have frequently […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 8, 2004 Include floor plan in offer to avoid surprises It never ceases to amaze me that would-be homebuyers will enter into an agreement to purchase a new home probably the largest single financial transaction in their lives without attaching a copy of the house designs and floor plans to the […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 1, 2004 Reserve studies are due Tuesday Report must plan for future repairs If deadline missed, board risks liability Tuesday, May 4, is an important deadline for every Ontario condominium building that has been registered for more than three years. It’s the final deadline for completion of a reserve fund study, […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 1, 2004 Warranty program needs more scope Mandate should protect buyers Couple sue builder over mould woes Ottawa homeowner Karen Somerville says she became so sick living in her hew home that she had to move out last October and leave everything behind. Her health is much improved now, but she […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 17, 2004 Seller’s bills can haunt new owner Sometimes lawyer to lawyer letters can solve problem Small claims courts can be another option Cleaning up a mess left by the previous owners of your home is one thing, but cleaning up their financial mess is an entirely different matter. I […]