Real Estate lawyers in Toronto

Ontario land transfer tax is 0.5% on the first $55,000 of the price, 1% from $55,000 to $250,000, 1.5% from $250,000 to $400,000, 2% from $400,000 to $2 million, and 2.5% above $2 million (on homes with one or two single-family residences). Because the home is in Toronto, the city's municipal land transfer tax is charged as well, at the same rates up to $3 million and higher rates above that.

Yes. First-time buyers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, are at least 18 and move in within nine months can get a refund of up to $4,000 of Ontario land transfer tax, which covers the tax on the first $368,000 of the price. You must never have owned a home anywhere in the world. Toronto has its own rebate of up to $4,475 on its municipal tax.

In practice, yes. A lawyer checks the title, deals with your lender, registers the transfer and mortgage, pays the land transfer tax and handles the money on closing. Ask for the fee and the expected disbursements (such as title insurance and registration fees) in writing.

Most residential tenancy disputes go to the Landlord and Tenant Board, not the courts. Commercial lease disputes and disputes over ownership or boundaries go to the Superior Court of Justice.

To practise law in Ontario a lawyer must be licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, which also licenses paralegals. You can look up anyone in the Law Society's public Lawyer and Paralegal Directory, which shows their status and any discipline history. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.