Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 27, 2006 Tough to reconcile Caledonia land dispute In the wake of the recent events at the Douglas Creek Estates subdivision near Caledonia, will any Ontario citizen be able to rely on a government certification of title to their homes? Can Ontario citizens continue to have confidence in our justice system […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 20, 2006 Ministry’s ‘clarification’ a tax grab Significant de facto increase in land transfer tax Did the Ontario government increase the land transfer tax in March, or did it simply clarify the interpretation of the Land Transfer Tax Act so that buyers of new homes will be paying more tax on […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 13, 2006 How new GST will affect homebuyers Rate reduced from 7 to 6 per cent this July 1 Maximum rebate will drop from $8,750 to $7,560 It’s easy to say that the goods and services tax is being reduced from 7 per cent to 6 per cent on Canada Day, […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 6, 2006 Ontario hikes land transfer tax on new houses Buyers will pay on total, not base, price My dictionary defines “grinch” as one who spoils the pleasure of others. The derivation, of course, is the principal character in the Dr. Seuss classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. That definition might […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 29, 2006 Finders not keepers in real estate deals A Quebec judge has written the final chapter in the case of the $100,000 in cash found in a house once owned by a missing member of a biker gang. It all started last June when a couple in Trois-Rivi res, Que., […]

Durham Region Police 2006 Grow-Ops (pdf download)

Toronto Police Service - 2005-6 Scarborough grow houses (pdf download)

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 22, 2006 House title thieves can wreak havoc Fraudulently signed mortgage can be valid, court rules Homeowners can face eviction, huge legal bills When the Ontario Court of Appeal decided last November that a forged power of attorney could be used to create a valid mortgage, it fundamentally changed the law […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 15, 2006 Learn all facets of title insurance One of the main attractions of title insurance for Ontario consumers is that in the event an unexpected title problem crops up after closing, whether or not it arises out of a mistake made by the purchaser’s lawyer, the homeowner does not have […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 8, 2006 Tax records don’t always reflect reality Can’t trust MPAC for location or value of property One buyer paid taxes for years on land he didn’t own Last month’s report by Ontario Ombudsman Andr Marin criticizing the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC) came as no surprise to the many property […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 1, 2006 Ruling may force police to list grow houses Every police force in Ontario may soon be required to release the addresses of current and former marijuana grow operations. This follows a Feb. 17 ruling by Ontario’s Assistant Information and Privacy Commissioner, Brian Beamish. The ruling followed a request by […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 25, 2006 Litigation can prove a costly nightmare Buyer goes to court five times Tried to recover $15,000 deposit When Baskaran Sinnadurai offered to buy a house to be built on Holloway Rd., in Markham, from Laredo Construction Inc., he probably had no idea that he would never get the house […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 18, 2006 Scarborough grow houses listed on-line The Toronto Police Service has begun to publish the exact street addresses of marijuana grow operations at least in Scarborough’s 42 Division. This brave move by police superintendent Gary Ellis makes 42 Division what I believe to be only the third police force in […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 11, 2006 Make sure dimensions of lot are specified Property size rarely mentioned in builder offers Sales office staff should have copies of registered plans In all the excitement of buying a new home, it’s normal for purchasers to concentrate on the details of the house and ignore the one thing […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 4, 2006 Get expert advice for estate planning Transferring property to children is fraught with issues A mother and daughter came into my office last week to talk about ownership of the family home. The mother, who is in her 70s, did not want the children to get stuck with the […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 25, 2006 Closing date extension request denied Edwards-Decoito sued Maple View for damages and return of her deposit An Ontario Court judge in Newmarket has ruled that a builder should have allowed a homebuyer a short extension of the closing date when her financing fell through at the last moment. Back […]

York Region Police 2002 - 2005 Grow-Ops

Indian Claims Commission - Toronto Purchase Inquiry

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 18, 2006 What do you do if you find a bag of cash? Criminal proceeds can be seized Quebec money fate unknown   What would you do if you were renovating your newly purchased home, and found a bag containing $100,000 in $20 bills hidden above a ceiling panel in the […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 11, 2006 Use RRSP funds to pay down mortgage now Usually good advice for young homeowners Get advice from someone not promoting funds   As RRSP season runs into high gear, it’s time for a reminder that the federal government’s Home Buyer’s Plan, or HBP, is not the only way to […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 4, 2006 Time-shares: Don’t buy under pressure Since the Consumer Protection Act 2002 came into force on July 30, 2005, an Ontario consumer can cancel an agreement to purchase a time-share property, for any reason, within 10 days after receiving a written copy of the agreement. This protection does not, however, […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 28, 2006 Assemble your own ‘dream team’ Decision is so crucial you can’t be too preparedExperts can give advice on every aspect of buying For most people, buying a home is the most expensive purchase they will ever make. With the average resale home or condominium in the Toronto area selling […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 28, 2006 Some noisy neighbours should just pipe down Courts intervene to restore peace Property rights can have limits   If you live in the country, your nearest neighbour may be far enough away that he or she can’t be seen or heard. But when you live in the city, your […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 21, 2006 Act brings major changes to real estate industry Major changes will take place in the Ontario real estate industry when the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act 2002 (REBBA 2002) finally comes into force on March 31. Here are some major changes that will impact the public and industry […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 14, 2006  Lawyer disbarred for role in mortgage scheme As part of its ongoing efforts to combat mortgage fraud, the Law Society of Upper Canada has disbarred Edwin Wayne Adler, 65, of Hamilton, for his role in a scheme to obtain mortgage financing based on inflated purchase prices of a dozen […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 7, 2006 In real estate, time truly is of the essence Any delay in deposit may nix agreement If a home purchaser is a little bit late in delivering a deposit cheque, or needs a closing extension of a day or two, will the courts intervene to allow a grace period? […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.). […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 30, 2005 Readers say marijuana growing concern Judging from the flood of emails and faxes I received following my July 9, 2005 Title Page column (“Grow house disclosure is critical,” archived at http://aaron.ca/columns/2005-07-09.htm), it seems that the issue of disclosure of grow house operations on police web sites and in agreements […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 16, 2005 Get advice about down payment gifts Parents should consult lawyer before providing house loanDemand mortgage may not offer adequate future protection When young couples buy a home for the first time, it’s not uncommon for the parents of one partner or the other to provide financial assistance. It may […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 9, 2005 Grow house disclosure is critical People have a right to know before buyingMould, damage may be hidden in these structures Should the Toronto police maintain a public registry of homes that have been used for marijuana grow houses? Is there an obligation on a vendor to disclose that fact […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca July 2, 2005 Be wise: Get a will to avoid problems For most people, buying a home or cottage involves acquiring the most expensive asset and incurring the largest debt they will ever have in their lives. Taking time to get advice on succession planning can save nasty family battles and huge […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca June 25, 2005 Toxic mould in homes becoming a hot issue Is toxic mould the new urea formaldehyde foam insulation? That was the question raised at a Law Society summit for several hundred real estate lawyers in April by Toronto lawyer Rosalind H. Cooper of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. Cooper is an […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca June 18, 2005 New law improves time-share safeguards The first major overhaul of Ontario’s consumer protection legislation in almost 30 years comes into effect July 30, and among many other things, it means major changes in the way the time-share industry will operate in this province. At present, there is no cooling-off […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca June 4, 2005 It’s difficult to detect bogus ID Once upon a time, real estate lawyers could assume with confidence that the clients sitting in their office were actually who they said they were. All that changed in 1996 when an Ontario court ruled that a lawyer was negligent for failing to […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 28, 2005 Buyers told it’s illegal if they occupy home Can a homebuyer be forced to move into a home when an occupancy permit has not been issued and the home fails to meet the Ontario Building Code? Last summer, a couple signed a contract to purchase a new home from […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 21, 2005 Avoid a feud: Treat cottage like a business Joint ownership holds potential for family friction Have rules for use, charge fees, ask for reservations   Just in time for the traditional start of cottage season this Victoria Day weekend, Self-Counsel Press has published a new soft cover book called […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 14, 2005 BANANA has appeal One of the most important functions of a real estate lawyer is to translate sometimes-obscure legal terminology into language that is simple and understandable. Lately, however, I have discovered that there is a large developing field of terms in the real estate field, which do not […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca May 7, 2005 Home completion delays a sign of the times Last week I received an interesting email from a reader who had some questions about delays in closing his new home purchase. "William" explained that he had signed a contract with a builder, with an original closing date set for this […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 30, 2005 New model homes may not be covered by Tarion It came as quite a surprise to me to discover last week that the Tarion new home warranty does not always cover model homes. I always thought that Tarion (previously the Ontario New Home Warranty Program) covered all brand new […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 23, 2005 Can new home GST also apply to renos? Tax charged if 90 per cent of interior redone Calculation is based on the entire house   It s common knowledge that GST applies to the sale of a new home. There is a partial rebate available if the home is […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 16, 2005 Read all warning clauses carefully One client’s contract referred to EMI concerns Research found little evidence of cancer link Virtually all builder offers contain an extensive section warning purchasers of matters that they should be aware of, and which might concern them, after they move in. The warning clauses […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca April 2, 2005 Issues to consider before signing purchase agreement For most people, buying a new home is the single largest transaction they will ever make. Signing a builder purchase agreement involves entering into a contract with 10 to 20 pages of small print, written in a strange language called legalese. Based […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 19, 2005 Tracking down a home’s history One question real estate lawyers are often asked: "How old is my house?" Homebuyers want to know the age of their house for one of two reasons. Either they are genuinely curious about the building’s history, or their insurance company wants the information to […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 5, 2005 Zany, bogus scams don’t fool insurers Fraud coalition releases 2004 list These stories strange but true If you ask the average law-abiding Canadian the total value of the contents of his or her home, you will probably get a fairly good attempt at an honest answer. But if you […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 26, 2005 Disclosing defects to buyers a problem area Asbestos, former pot-growing houses a concern An aware agent must legally make full disclosure I recently received two emails from readers on the subject of disclosing home defects to potential buyers, and purchasing homes with problems or stigmas. One reader is a […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 19, 2005 Co-ownership deals offer special set of challenges Scattered across the Toronto area are dozens, if not hundreds, of multi-unit residential complexes that have been organized as co-ownerships. Unlike condominiums and co-operatives, which are the more accepted forms of shared living in larger buildings, co-ownerships are not well understood by […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 12, 2005 Disputed land sliver cost couple $42,000 The most expensive piece of residential land in Toronto is not the nine-acre parcel owned by Conrad Black on Park Lane Circle, said to be worth more than $10 million, or a paltry $26 a square foot (for the land only). Realtors familiar […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 5, 2005 Illegal basement flat proves costly mistake Is a homebuyer entitled to know in advance whether a basement apartment is legal or not? Does a real estate agent have an obligation to disclose to potential purchasers if a second suite in a single-family home complies fully with zoning bylaws, building […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 29, 2005 Basement suites must meet requirements There are health, fire and building code standards Thousands fail to comply with regulations The recent death of a single mother in a Toronto basement apartment fire is a reminder tragic fires can and do occur in every type of dwelling unit. For landlords […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 22 2005 Dream house nightmare Imagine living in a house, which shifts slightly under a heavy snow load or in a high wind, because of an unstable centre-bearing wall. Whenever it rains, water enters the building through a breach in the building envelope. The flooding in the basement creates a proliferation […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 15 2005 Broker may find a better mortgage deal  One of my clients learned that the best way to finance a residential purchase is not necessarily with one of the big banks. Irene had signed an agreement to purchase her dream downtown Toronto condominium unit. The original buyers had defaulted on […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 8 2005 Desperately seeking peace and quiet Noisy neighbours arouse complaints Poor insulation destroys privacy Judging by the number of emails I’ve received in the past three weeks, I seem to have touched a nerve when I wrote about a client’s "frisky neighbours" on December 18, 2004 ( https://www.aaron.ca/columns/2004-12-18.htm ). Apparently, […]

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 1 2005 A few ideas for the Minister Consumers need more protection Force builders to live up to promises At a recent press conference in Toronto, Ontario Consumer Minister Jim Watson revealed that he is a regular reader of this column. In case he is looking for some items to place […]