Residential Real Estate
MMA Law is your residential real estate specialist just one phone call away. We guarantee the closing of your real estate transaction affordably, efficiently, and professionally. You pay just flat fee of $750.00 to sell a property in Ontario or flat fee of $850.00 if you are a real estate buyer, which includes all the office disbursements.
We offer transparent flat fees all while providing the same great services you get at more expensive law firms, including residential property purchase service, residential property sale, mortgage refinancing and so much more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely yes. Prior to the launch of the special (now web based) software that digitized the Ontario Land Registry in 1995, closing a real estate transaction in Ontario would involve lawyers for purchasers attending in person at a Land Registry Office (LRO) to complete title searches. On the day of closing of the transaction, the lawyers for purchaser and vendor would meet in person at the LRO to exchange closing documents and keys and register the transfer/deed. Today, with electronic registration, the entire process is completed online utilizing special software. Only lawyers and law firms are allowed access to this software. The requirement that only a lawyer must sign the transfer/deed remains intact.
Since timing is essential in a hot housing market, you will need to retain a residential real estate lawyer who can give your situation prompt attention. The earlier in the process you retain a good real estate lawyer, the better they will be able to represent you. For more information, please see the following article:
Ontarians Eager to Buy Homes but Lack Understanding of Legal Risks
Referrals from family and friends or google searches are there to help you (don’t forget to take a look at the reviews, if available).
After narrowing down your search to a few candidates, have a phone call or in person meeting with each one of them to finalize your opinion about their experience, expertise, and personal match. The process of scheduling the same can be a helpful tool on its own as it usually gives the client a good idea of the line of communication received from the lawyer’s office and eagerness to get in touch and assist in answering all the questions.
When talking to the lawyer, make sure that they indeed specialize in real estate and other residential property purchase services, as real estate is an area of law where the quality of service that you receive makes a dramatic difference. Closing real estate transactions is a stressful process and having a specialized lawyer handling it can save you a lot of headaches, time, and money.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions that will help you to determine whether you can rely on your lawyer completely while enjoying the overall experience. Your goal is to find a lawyer who is the right fit for you. You probably will want to ask how long the lawyer has been practising real estate law and how many real estate transactions they have handled.
Also, ensure whether they will keep you informed every step on the way. For example, is the lawyer willing to answer all your questions and in what format (e.g., phone, email, etc.)? Is the legal work being done by the lawyer, staff, or outsourced all together?
Lawyers have their own set of legal fees, which is usually either a flat fee or the fee that varies from file to file. However, in addition to the fees, there is a complicated structure of disbursements (lawyers-out-of-pocket expenses) that is also associated with each file which can be broken down into two different components: governmental charges, such as registration fees, and law firm specific expenses, such as office expenses. While some lawyers are able to minimize their office expenses in order to provide their clients with better deals, the governmental charges will apply to every transaction and are usually calculated separately.
In order to understand better what your final expense chart will look like, ask your lawyer which part of their fees is actually their fees for the billable work the lawyer undertakes in association with the transaction, which part is office expenses, and which part would include items such as government fees to register the transfer (deed) and charge (mortgage), search costs, land transfer tax, and other permitted disbursements (if your lawyer offers flat fees).
It might be a good idea to ask for a written estimate of fees and disbursements, and discuss potential contingencies, all while keeping in mind that unpredictable issues may arise which may increase the total time a lawyer spends on the file even if a flat fee was originally offered.
If you discuss a fee with the lawyer on the phone or in person, it may also be useful to ask specifically about office expenses. If you are unsure about something, seek clarification, as it is your lawyer’s job to assist you every step on the way.
Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects residential or commercial property titleholders and their mortgages against losses associated with the title or ownership of the property.
Title insurance premiums are only paid once, when you obtain the policy, but the protection lasts as long as you hold the title. It may usually provide protection against losses arising out of unknown title defects, existing liens against the property, title fraud, errors in surveys and public records, and other title-related issues that can affect the value of the property and title.
A title policy is not mandatory but rather one of the options to consider, however, it is not common for lenders to advance funds without having their interest secured under a title policy. The lender would alternatively be able to accept the lawyer’s title opinion instead, however, to provide a diligent opinion letter, your lawyer would have to undertake an enormous amount of off-title searches which will likely cost you much more in terms of fees and disbursements.
For more information on title policies and what is covered and what is not covered, please see link below:
The Ins And Outs Of Title Insurance: What’s Covered And What’s Not
Residential Property Purchase
Standard FEE OF $895.00
Our Legal Fees Include:
- All standard office disbursements such as telephone, faxes, courier charges, et cetera;
- Reviewing of the agreement of purchase & sale;
- Reviewing of the title search and ancillary documents;
- Reviewing of status certificate, if applicable;
- Obtaining and reviewing of off title searches as per discussions with the client and title insurance;
- Reviewing of one set of mortgage instructions;
- Communication with the title insurance company on your behalf;
- Preparation of all legal purchase closing documentation and registration of e-reg™ documentation;
- Preparation of all legal mortgage documentation and registration of e-reg™ documentation; and
- Full access to your lawyer via telephone and/or email.
*Does not include HST or the following permitted disbursements: Land Transfer Tax or Municipal Land Transfer Tax (City of Toronto only), government document registration fees, fees charged by government (fees paid to government, municipalities, or other similar authorities for due diligence investigations), Teranet fees, the cost of a condominium status certificate, payment for letters from creditors’ lawyers regarding similar name executions and any title insurance premium.
Residential Property Sale
Standard FEE OF $795.00
Our Legal Fees Include:
All standard office disbursements such as telephone, faxes, courier charges, et cetera;
- Discharge of one mortgage/registered line of credit;
- Communication with realtor’s office re: commission payments and payment of same;
- Preparation of all legal sale closing documentation and registration of ereg™ documentation; and
- Full access to your lawyer via telephone and/or email
*Does not include HST or the following permitted disbursements: government document registration fees, fees charged by government (fees paid to government, municipalities, or other similar authorities for due diligence investigations), Teranet fees, the cost of a condominium status certificate, payment for letters from creditors’ lawyers regarding similar name executions and any title insurance premium.
Mortgage Refinance
Starting at $650.00
Our Legal Fees Include:
- All standard office disbursements such as telephone, faxes, courier charges, et cetera;
- Reviewing the status certificate, if applicable;
- Reviewing of mortgage instructions;
- Communication with the title insurance company on the lender’s behalf;
- Preparation of all legal mortgage documentation and registration of e-reg™ documentation; and
- Full access to your lawyer via telephone and/or email
*Does not include HST or the following permitted disbursements: government document registration fees, fees charged by government (fees paid to government, municipalities, or other similar authorities for due diligence investigations), Teranet fees, the cost of a condominium status certificate, payment for letters from creditors’ lawyers regarding similar name executions and any title insurance premium.
Survivorship Application
Starting at $349.99
Our Legal Fees Include:
- All standard office disbursements such as telephone, faxes, courier charges, et cetera;
- Preparation of all legal documentation and registration of e-reg™ documentation; and
- Full access to your lawyer via telephone and/or email
*Does not include HST.
TRANSFER OF TITLE
Starting at $349.99
Our Legal Fees Include:
- All standard office disbursements such as telephone, faxes, courier charges, et cetera;
- Reviewing of the title search and ancillary documents;
- Preparation of all legal transfer documentation and registration of e-reg™documentation; and
- Full access to your lawyer via telephone and/or email
*Does not include HST.
INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE
Starting at $249.99
*Does not include HST.
CONVENIENT VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS
Email us at maria@mmalaw.ca, use our online booking form, or call us at 647-725-3353 to schedule either an in-person or virtual meeting to discuss your situation and the best ways to address your needs.