TRI-CITY Law Firm, at your service in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and regions beyond.
Our office is able to assist people in the tri-city area as well as from anywhere else throughout Ontario including helping clients from Toronto, Milton, Mississauga, Brampton, Guelph, Oakville, London, Barrie among others.
We are here to support you with your legal needs.
How much does a Real Estate lawyer charge?
Real estate legal fees can be confusing, which is why we have simplified the estimate for your real estate purchase, sale and refinance transactions. We believe in providing an upfront, fixed-quote to avoid surprises and allow for real estate clients to budget accordingly.
To find out information about costs and taxes related to purchase (also applicable to sale or refinance) of real estate, please call our office at 519 224 3082 or send us an email at info@vrslaw.ca
WHY US?
- Over 11 years in real estate, thousands of closings completed
- Hundreds of Google reviews averaging 4.9 STARS
- Available, for realtors, brokers and clients
- Focused, Friendly, Unpretentious Service
- Remote / Digital Services for Transactions throughout Ontario
- Fixed and Upfront pricing
Why can I expect from a real estate lawyer in Cambridge?
In a way, a real estate lawyer ‘quarterbacks’ your transaction with assistance from other key parties including your real estate agent, your mortgage broker, your insurance representative and, the star of the show, yourself!
Typical duties include (but not limited to) reviewing your agreement of purchase and sale, communicating with the lawyer for the other party in the transaction, completing search of title, ordering title insurance, preparing or reviewing statement of adjustments, corresponding with all parties including the lender, helping you order insurance policy and closing the transaction.
Commonly, buyers and sellers of real estate property typically connect with a real estate lawyer in Cambridge at the time they have entered into an agreement of purchase and sale. The purpose of this contact is to ask questions related to the lawyer’s involvement and to inquire about the pricing and the process involved.
Long gone are the days when the legal fees on a real estate file were based on an hourly rate. We pride ourselves in offering up-front quotes so that you may budget accordingly. Buying a property is an expensive venture and we like our clients to know their costs right from the get-go. Not only this, you will want to know about land transfer tax (if you are buying) and other taxes such as the non-resident speculation tax that may be applicable to your transaction as soon as possible.
What is the closing process with a Real Estate
Lawyer in Cambridge?
If you decide to hire our office to help with the purchase of your real estate property,
here is what you can expect:
1. First, you will receive an introductory email from our law clerk outlining the process involved, steps to take and consider when proceeding with the closing. This is a short summary of some things you need to know in order to complete your closing and will equip you to be prepared. We will also request information from you including identification as per requirements by the Law Society.
2. Second, once we have the mortgage documentation from your lender, we will have a better idea about the numbers, including how much money you will need. It is best that these mortgage documents arrive from the bank’s head office early enough to avoid last-minute rush closings. This will give you peace of mind and ensure a smooth process.
3. Third, a meeting date will be scheduled and arrangements are made for our office to receive your funds prior to closing. Note that we offer remote signing process and most meetings can be completed from the comfort of your home through video conferencing!
4. Once the closing is completed, you will receive your lockbox code (if the seller’s real estate agent has left a lockbox) or the key! Congratulations on buying your home in Cambridge!
Things To Consider When Dealing With A Real Estate Lawyer And Buying A Property In Cambridge, Ontario
There are a number of considerations that you’ll have when purchasing a property in Cambridge depending on your scenario. Here are some of them:
1. What conditions should you put on the offer when you are buying a home? As with many things in law, the short answer is, it depends. In addition to a conversation with your realtor, it is typical to make it conditional on:
- (i) Financing /appraisal: allows you to be certain that you will have the funding for the specific home that you’ve chosen. Remember, you may have been pre-approved for a mortgage but do not assume that your lender will agree with the price you’ve paid for the property. It is best to get this confirmed by the bank or broker involved in the process prior to waiving this condition.
- (ii) Home Inspection: this will avoid a qualified home inspector to conduct a physical inspection of the property to avoid any surprises later on.
2. How should I take title to my home?
If you are an individual owner, title will be you as a sole owner. However, if you are buying a property with someone else, then there are some important considerations.
You can either take title as a joint tenant or as a tenant in common.
Joint tenancy comes with a right of survivorship and tenancy in common does not. A right of survivorship means that if one of the joint owners were to pass away, that owner’s share of the property would pass to the surviving owner. Typically, this keeps the property out of probate (however, there are exceptions and you should speak to a lawyer). The best example of joint tenants are married spouses with an intention that the other spouse receives the entire home in the event that one of the spouses were to pass away.
Tenancy in common would be most suitable if you were buying an investment property with a business partner. In the event of a death, you may not want your property to pass over to your investment partner but instead, to become a part of your estate which gives entitlement to your family. This is what would happen if you were to own a property as tenants in common. A Real Estate Lawyer in Cambridge can help you make these decisions based on your situation. Feel free to call us anytime.
3. I have never purchased a property before, do I qualify for a land transfer tax rebate?
Yes! You are and you should take advantage of a rebate which, at the date of this article, sits at up to $ 4,000.00. The good news is that you do not have to apply for it after the fact. There are some criteria but generally, you would have to occupy the property, never have owned a home or an interest in a home anywhere in the world, and be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident in order to meet some of the major qualification criteria.
Here is a link to the government website:
Land Transfer Tax Refunds for First-Time Homebuyers | Land Transfer Tax | ontario.ca
It is important to know what you are paying in land transfer tax. Here is a link to a website that offers a quick calculation:
Land Transfer Tax | Ratehub.ca
If you do qualify, you should select that you’re a first time home buyer in order to allow you to calculate the tax. If you’re looking to speak to a real estate lawyer in Cambridge regarding land transfer tax or anything else, please feel free to call us at 519 224 3082 or email us at info@vrslaw.ca
4. I have had a bad experience with law firms before where I couldn’t get a hold of the individuals assisting me with my legal matter. How can I avoid this?
Our goal has always been to provide great service. In order to do so, our communication with you has to be prompt and effective – which is our goal. Check out our google reviews for both of our locations for clients that we’ve worked with for hundreds of testimonials!
5. I am a first-time buyer and have lots of questions about the process. Will you be able to help me?
Absolutely! We understand that buying a real estate property in Cambridge can be a challenging task. We understand the struggles of first-time home buyers and the plethora of information that you have to go through. Give us a call at 519 224 3082 and we can try to make this process as smooth as possible. Remember, if you’ve found and secured the home you wish to purchase, you’ve already completed the most difficult (and rewarding) part. Let us take you to the finish line.
Contact Us
We want to hear from you
Whether you have a question about the legal process of a matter or want to inquire about the pricing for a service, give us a ring. We’ll be happy to hear from you