UPDATE: the filing deadline for 2023 VHT is February 29, 2024. The declaration portal is up and running. By now every homeowner of a residential property in Toronto should have received a letter notification from the City of Toronto about filling out the questionnaire regarding the status of their property for the purpose of the Vacant Home Tax reporting. If you have not received the notice, you will still need to file the declaration or face fines. The filing is mandatory for every... [read more]

In our previous blog we have discussed the details of deposit protection for preconstruction condominiums. In this blog we will talk about the deposit protection for preconstruction freehold properties, and how it differs from the deposit protection for condominiums. To recap the condominium deposits are protected by: Tarion up to $20,000. Developer is required to keep the deposits in trust but can use the funds if the funds are insured by Excess Condominium Deposit... [read more]

As the market has turned in the spring of 2022 unfortunately there were many breached contracts, and as we discussed with a well known and respected real estate litigation lawyer, the number of current cases is unprecedented. These unfortunate cases already have or will go to trial within the next couple of years, here we are listing 15 examples of the cases from the past to illustrate what happens when the buyer breaches the agreement of purchase and sale. Different cases: resale,... [read more]

The topic of co-op units come up when someone sees a very inexpensive unit on the market and asks why so cheap, what’s the catch or is it too good to be true. To understand the issue, we will explain what co-op is, how it differs from the typical unit in a condominium and challenges related to buying, selling and owning a co-op. Legal structure. In a co-operative structure the corporation owns the land and each unit in the building, owner of a co-op doesn’t own the unit but... [read more]

What is POTL. The term is associated with certain types of properties, in this short blog we will explain what it means as well as how it affects some properties. POTL is short for A Parcel of Tied Land. The most common forms of ownership of properties are freehold (detached or semi-detached homes, freehold townhomes) and Standard Condominium Corporation (your typical condo apartment, condo townhomes). POTL in the context of GTA residential real estate ownership refers to a... [read more]