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2005 Toronto Star Columns

Proposed bill concerns boards

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca ©Aaron & Aaron. All Rights Reserved. Website developed & hosted by Running Tide Inc. December 31, 2005 Proposed bill concerns boards New City of Toronto Act could mean municipal land transfer tax The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) and the Greater Toronto Home Builders’ Association (GTHBA) are sounding the alarm over new […]

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Seller on hook for damage between deal signing, closing

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca December 24, 2005 Seller on hook for damage between deal signing, closing What happens to a house purchase transaction when the building suffers  substantial damage between the time the offer is signed and closing? A year ago, the parties to a relatively straightforward sale found out  the hard way that damage to […]

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Mortgage fraud persists with cash-back schemes

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca December 10, 2005 Mortgage fraud persists with cash-back schemes Despite the concerted efforts of every stakeholder in the real estate industry, the message that real estate fraud doesn’t pay is apparently not getting through to everyone in the field. As a result of his participation in a number of “cash-back” or inflated […]

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Truly innocent people may lose homes to fraud

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca December 3, 2005 Truly innocent people may lose homes to fraud The Ontario Court of Appeal recently wrote what may be the final chapter in the case of two mortgages, signed using a forged power of attorney. Unless it is appealed and overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada, the law in […]

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Check to see if home is under warranty

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca November 26, 2005 Check to see if home is under warranty New construction must be covered Yet some builders try to sneak by The first question for a prospective homebuyer to ask at the builder’s sales office should always be: “Are you registered with Tarion Warranty Corporation?” Consider the fact that Tarion’s […]

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Survey can thwart real estate fraud

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca November 19, 2005 Survey can thwart real estate fraud I’ve often said a land survey is the most important document in a real estate transaction. Without one, the buyer of a new or resale home cannot accurately determine the exact dimensions and location of the house. As well, reviewing a survey before […]

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Check sealed areas during home inspection

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca November 12, 2005 Check sealed areas during home inspection When conducting an inspection, is a home inspector required to gain access to sealed areas like an attic or crawl space to conduct a complete inspection? If those areas aren’t viewed, can the inspector be held responsible for repairing defects which would have […]

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Reviewing survey a must in any transaction

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca November 5, 2005 Reviewing survey a must in any transaction There’s a general misconception in the real estate field that a land survey for a house is not necessary as long as a purchaser gets a title insurance policy. The truth is that a survey is the most important document in any […]

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Check condo deed’s suite number with plans

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca October 29, 2005 Check condo deed’s suite number with plans 124 units were wrongly labelled Floor plans can save you grief I’ve always thought that the most important documents in a condominium purchase transaction are the massive floor plans prepared by the building’s surveyor. Among other things, the floor plans show the […]

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Caring broker may get you broader coverage

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca October 22, 2005 Caring broker may get you broader coverage Earlier this month, I wrote in this column about friends of mine I called Gail and Don, and their unfortunate experiences in the aftermath of the storm that hit north of Toronto on Aug. 19. Within a few hours that day, the […]

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Zoning bylaw clashes with Charter rights

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca October 15, 2005 Zoning bylaw clashes with Charter rights Which law should take priority? Cottages used for religious purposes A judge of the Quebec Superior Court has ordered a congregation of orthodox Jews in the Laurentian village of Val-Morin to stop using two summer cottages as a communal house of prayer and […]

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Storm warning: You may not be covered for losses

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca October 1, 2005 Storm warning: You may not be covered for losses Couple finds policy only pays for damage from sewer backup Buying flood insurance is virtually impossible: Industry spokesman After a traumatic experience with the after-effects of the storm which hit north of Toronto on Aug. 19, Gail has learned more […]

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Know the facts about extension provisions

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca September 24, 2005 Know the facts about extension provisions I recently received this interesting question from Star reader Laura C. Cicchelli: I understand that if the builder of a new home extends the closing date by more than 120 days, either through a single notice or by repeated notices, the purchaser may […]

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Get it all in writing if building a home

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca September 17, 2005 Get it all in writing if building a home When a contract to build a custom-built home says that it can only be amended in writing and not verbally, will the courts enforce a handshake deal for thousands of dollars worth of extras? That was the question in a […]

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Be careful using RRSP to buy home

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca September 10, 2005 Be careful using RRSP to buy home Many rules apply to tax-free withdrawalsOwnership status, closing dates can decide eligibility My client was very excited about her new condominium when she came to see me, to review the builder’s agreement of purchase and sale. She went over the points I […]

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Should sex offender registries be accessible?

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca September 3, 2005 Should sex offender registries be accessible? Before you buy a house or a condominium, should you be entitled to know whether there is a convicted sex offender living in the area? Should Canada’s national sex offender registry be accessible by the public? The recent media furor over convicted killer […]

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Hollywood star’s court win a victory for homeowners

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca August 27, 2005 Hollywood star’s court win a victory for homeowners Case helps bolster consumer rights Texas enacts home warranty program Anyone who wants to build a custom home might learn something from the recent experience of Sandra Bullock, star of Miss Congeniality, who successfully sued her builder for $7 million (U.S.). […]

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‘Poorly built house’ case ends after lengthy fight

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca August 20, 2005 ‘Poorly built house’ case ends after lengthy fight Both sides are claiming victory in a bitterly contested case involving defects in a new luxury home in Ottawa’s Central Park subdivision, which was purchased for $443,500 in August 2000. For the next four years, the parties were engaged in what […]

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