test Whether it’s your first-time buying property or your third, real estate is an expensive purchase. There are many things to take into consideration and understand. The legalities around selling or purchasing a house are often misconstrued by novice or first-time home buyers. Unfortunately, when it comes to real estate, silence is NOT golden. You WILL want a lawyer on your side to protect your rights and interests and ensure that every detail is covered in the contract. Despite this, many home buyers are unsure WHEN a real estate lawyer would be beneficial to their transactions. In th ..read more

The much-anticipated closing day is upon you. However, there is one major step homebuyers or sellers should complete before we reach the finish line – the final walkthrough. Why is this process so important? How is it different from the home inspection early in the home buying stage? Who participates in this process? What goal do we want to achieve? We’re answering all these questions and more today. What Is a Final Walkthrough? Exactly as it sounds, a final walkthrough is going through the house you’re about to buy. During this time, you and your real estate agent can look over the property r ..read more

The decision to sell a house is not an easy one for any homeowner. After years of spending on improvements and years of making precious memories in a home, it’s not always easy to uproot the family and move. There are also various concepts, steps and procedures that you need to learn to make sure that you are selling your house at the right price. To make this real estate journey a smooth and hassle-free ride for you, we’ve rounded up some of the most asked questions about selling a home. Check them out below. #1 – Do I really need a real estate agent? Though technically it is not required for ..read more

Closing day for a new home is a huge moment for everyone. It’s cause for celebration. It’s the day the property gets transferred from the seller to the buyer. If you are the buyer, it’s the culmination of those weeks or months spent searching for the ideal home. You are now one step closer to home sweet home. However, what does closing day entail? What happens on a closing day in Ontario? Today we will learn what happens on closing day, as well as help you prepare for the said day. With the right preparation, and the right team working with you, you can have a smooth and hassle-free closing da ..read more

Earlier this year, the Financial Post made a shocking headline: “Ontario housing shortage is the worst in the country…” Talk about a great start to the year. Canada may not be the easiest place to buy a home. With a shortage of homes available and an increasing demand, it may be a huge problem for first-time homebuyers. Though finding a home is difficult, it’s not impossible. Even if you may not be lucky enough to be a member of the bank of mom and dad, homeownership is on the horizon for you. Take comfort in this statistic reported by Re/Max: “Over the last 20 years, the home-o ..read more

“I didn’t know I was supposed to do that!” In our combined years as Real Estate Lawyers, the team at Integris Law has witnessed a fair number of clients come in unprepared not knowing what they should and should not do to make the process smooth and hassle-free. The real estate industry can be loud and noisy. We can tell you as much: there’s a lot going on all at once. Yet, for all the information that’s available out there, homebuyers or home sellers still end up in a jumble.   The problems and issues that we’ve witnessed in the practice over the years mostly stem from clients lacki ..read more

When it comes to selling your home, expect a few challenges here and there. One, there’s the emotional attachment pulling you back from letting go. Second, there’s the matter of setting the right asking price. Homeowner, fret not, even the most adept professionals struggle sometimes. If you set your home price too high, you might end up on the market for too long. Potential buyers could pass off on your home with doubts and more questions.  On the other hand, if you set the price too low, you could lose out on the real value of your home. Whether you’ve decided to do FSBO or work with a l ..read more

Selling your home is one of the biggest decisions you can make in your adult life. The past few years may have played a role in the decision-making of your living situation.  Staying at home more frequently, many Canadians found their home to be too small for their growing family. A bigger home, with more space to call your own, a beautiful yard, and extra rooms for every person is one of the strongest factors that influence people to move. Maybe you need to move to a new location. You’ve been wanting a change of pace, or perhaps, work is taking you someplace where it’s economical to sell ..read more

Your home buying journey is unique to you. It’s about you making decisions for yourself and your future. It’s about your dreams and your needs! But while it’s all about you, this journey isn’t solitary. To get from Point A to Point B, you need a whole team of people to bring you home. That includes a Real Estate Lawyer. If you’re thinking of buying a house or condo in Ontario, you’ll need a real estate lawyer to help represent your interests. You need to protect your rights and avoid headaches that could potentially pop up in the future. Having a real estate lawyer helps you stay compliant wit ..read more

So you’ve finally decided to buy your first home. We know how exciting this time can be. It’s not akin to buying a new pair of jeans. On the contrary, it’s one of the most significant financial transactions of your lifetime.  You are jumping from renter to homeowner! In the flurry of excitement, you might put yourself in a less idyllic position. Property newbies are prone to make these common mistakes as they navigate the home-buying journey.  We don’t want you to end up doing this!  Mistake #1: Not Getting Pre-Approved for A Mortgage Ask anyone in the industry – Real Estate Age ..read more