Foote Law provides legal services for residential real estate transactions, which include, but are not limited to, purchases, sales, refinancing, title transfers, condominium reviews, leases, and independent legal advice.
We guide clients through each stage of the transaction, from agreement review to closing. We review agreements, address title and registration issues, coordinate with lenders and other parties, and complete closing through Ontario's electronic registration system.
Whether you are buying your first home, selling a property, refinancing, changing ownership on a title, or going through any property-related issue, early legal review helps identify issues before they affect closing. At Foote Law, we resolve concerns in advance in the most efficient way.
Our services cover residential transactions and title matters across Ontario. If your situation does not fall neatly into one category, we can still review it and advise on the next steps.
We explain ownership structures
If there is an existing mortgage, we:
Delays in one transaction can affect the other; that is why we coordinate:
Refinancing requires proper legal and registration work, keeping in mind our team will:
Our advice on title transfers and ownership changes, which includes:
To identify financial or legal risks before closing, we review the following:
We provide independent legal advice including:
On closing, a real estate lawyer:
✔ Confirms key dates
✔ Conducts title searches
✔ Resolves outstanding issues
✔ Satisfies lender requirements
✔ Registers the transfer and mortgage
✔ Reports to the client after closing
Foote Law focuses on practical advice.
Yes. In Ontario, real estate transactions—including purchases, sales, refinancing, and title transfers—must be completed through a lawyer's office. These transactions involve title searches, lender documentation, legal compliance, and electronic registration.
Only licensed lawyers can make the required compliance-with-law statements and register documents in Ontario's electronic land registration system.
In addition to the purchase price, buyers should budget for:
Eligible first-time homebuyers may qualify for a land transfer tax rebate, which can significantly reduce overall closing costs.
Title insurance is not mandatory in Ontario, but it is commonly used in residential real estate transactions. It may provide protection against risks such as:
Many lenders require title insurance as part of the mortgage process. While it can be helpful, it does not replace proper legal advice.
A status certificate is a key document in a resale condominium purchase. It contains important information about both the unit and the condominium corporation, including:
In Ontario, the condominium corporation must provide the certificate within 10 days of request and payment. The fee is capped at $100 (including taxes). It should always be reviewed before closing.
Both are forms of property co-ownership, but they differ in how ownership is structured:
The appropriate structure depends on your specific circumstances, so it is important to obtain legal advice before setting up a title.
Yes. Title can sometimes be transferred without a traditional sale, such as when:
Even in these situations, there may still be land transfer tax implications, lender consent requirements, ownership structure considerations, and registration steps. Legal review is recommended before proceeding.
