I’ve blogged about this before, but it bears repeating because it seems that people are still not being properly advised: when you get a secured credit line, it is legally a mortgage. It will be registered on title to your house. It will have to be paid in full when...

If you own a property with another person, there are two ways of sharing ownership: joint tenancy, or tenancy in common. Joint tenants have a common undivided interest in the entire property; that is, everyone owns the whole thing in common with everyone else. This...

With prices going up and down, and mortgage rules getting increasingly tight, it can be difficult to know when it is the right time to buy, especially if you’re buying for the first time. Here are some signs that it’s time for you to jump into the market: You have a...

If you have applied for a mortgage, you usually want to go ahead with it. This is especially true if you are using a mortgage to finance a purchase of a new home. Sometimes, things about the mortgage will change between application and closing – if you get a variable...

If you need to be away when your house is for sale, or if you become incapacitated or physically unable to sign paperwork, it is possible to sign by way of a power of attorney. If you have an existing Continuing Power of Attorney for Property, this can be used to sell...

Be aware. If you’re selling, and you have a credit line that you borrowed against your house, this must be paid off. Factor it in to your bottom line so that you’re not shocked when the closing date comes around. And if you’re buying, be prepared to see it get...

In a recent real estate post, I discussed the need for a survey and why, often, it’s not as critical as it once was. The main reason for this is because of title insurance. Title insurance, in a nice syllogism, insures your title. Basically, it protects you against...

The answer is, sometimes. If you can get a survey, they’re very useful. They can tell you all sorts of things – the legal limits of your property, whether there are any hydro or sewer lines, if there are any easements, even the proper location of a fence or your...

You’ve completed your offer and any signbacks over email, by signing it electronically. Then you get to the lawyer’s office and see a stack of paper. What’s up with that? In Ontario, lawyers must have original documents signed on paper.  While it might be nice to sign...