Yes I can help you with that. If you have made improvements on someone’s land and have not been paid for that work, a Builders Lien may be registered against the title to the land (pursuant to the Builder’s Lien Act). Please provide me with the details of the work provided and the legal description of the land.

As a buyer, it is prudent to fully understand all of the available information provided on the title to the land. There may be charges registered on the title that could restrict what you can do with the land or where on the land that you can erect a structure. If your realtor cannot provide you with this information, please feel free to contact me and I could do the research for you.

Please ask your realtor to send a copy of the sales contract to my office. Please also advise if you have a mortgage to be paid off.

Please ask your realtor to send a copy of the purchase contract to my office. If you have a mortgage, please also ask the lender or broker to send the mortgage instructions. It is greatly appreciate if we could receive the purchase contract and mortgage instruction as soon as possible.

Two or more persons may be registered on title at the Land Title Office as either “Joint Tenants” or “Tenants in Common”.

When the owners of the land are registered as Joint Tenants and one of those owners dies, the deceased’s interest in the land automatically passes to the remaining Joint Tenants. This is also known as the right of survivorship.

If the owners of the land are registered as Tenants in Common and one of those owners dies, the deceased’s estate must be probated and the land is distributed in accordance with the wishes of the deceased as set out in the will if there is one. If there is no will, the distribution is governed by the Wills, Estates and Succession Act.

When purchasing a property, it is important that you understand the other costs involved. Other costs may apply:

·       Legal fees

·       Title Search Fee

·       Appraisal Fee  

·       Land Title Registration Fee

·       Property Transfer Tax  

·       Prorated Property tax  

·       Prorated Utility Charges

·       Prorated Rental Payments (if purchasing a rental property)

·       GST (new development)

·       Survey Certificate fee (purchase with mortgage; normally upon lender’s request)  

·       Title Insurance fees (normally upon lender’s request)  

·       The Cost of Certificates and Other Documentation Fee (if purchasing a strata unit)

·       Prorated Maintenance Fee (if purchasing a strata unit)

·       Moving in and out fee (if purchasing a strata unit)

·       Insurance Binder Fee

·       Courier fees

The mortgage must be secured by registering it against the title at the Land Title Office. The lender will not release the funds until we (as Notaries) provide evidence that the charge was registered at the Land Title Office.