BUYING YOUR HOME

What we do

We handle the paperwork that transfers the property title to your name, we deal with your mortgage financing, and we pay the seller the purchase price. This is called the Conveyancing of the Property to you. For a detailed explanation of what is included in our service, click here.

Read about why you need a Real Estate Lawyer here.

4 Easy Steps

STEP 1 – Hire Us

Start By Completing our BUYER INTAKE FORM or you can call or email us. Once we receive this information, we will open your file and get started on the paperwork that transfers your new home to you.

STEP 2 – Give our Contact Information to your Realtor & Mortgage Agent

Your Mortgage Broker or Representative will provide us with the information for your new mortgage or loan being used to finance the purchase. These are called the “Mortgage Instructions”

Your Realtor will provide us with the “Conveyancing Instructions”. These include a copy of the Purchase & Sale Contract. If you do not have a Realtor, you will need to email us the following:

Copy of the Purchase & Sale Agreement.
Seller’s Contact Information.
Name of Seller’s Real Estate Lawyer
Proof of any Deposit paid directly to the Seller or Seller’s Real Estate Lawyer.

STEP 3 – Meet with Us – Lawyer Signing Meeting

About 1 to 2 weeks before your Possession Date, we will meet in person to sign the property transfer and mortgage documents. We will contact you to schedule the Lawyer Signing Meeting.

Knowing what to expect and being prepared at the Lawyer Signing Meeting can help eliminate stress. Here is are some of the items that you may need ready for the meeting.

Valid Canadian government issued photo ID like a Drivers License or Passport as well as a secondary piece of ID.
Cash Shortfall/Your Down Payment. A bank draft payable to “Giardino Law, In Trust” for the Down Payment amount. This amount represents your Purchase Price less the Mortgage Proceeds plus the Legal Fees and plus or minus any adjustments for things like property taxes and condo fees. If the source of your down payment is from investments or your RRSP, please be sure you have arranged for the funds to be available to you on time. We will provide you with a Breakdown of the Funds Due on Closing prior to the Lawyer Signing Meeting.
Proof of insurance of insurance on the property.

All persons who will own the property and are obtaining the mortgage must be present to sign the closing documents.

STEP 4 – Receive your Keys from your Realtor

On the Possession Day (also referred to as the Closing Day and Completion Day), we will receive your mortgage funds from your mortgage lender and we will pay the Seller’s Lawyer the Closing Funds.

When the Seller’s Lawyer receives the Closing Funds from our office, they will contact the Seller or the Seller’s Realtor and authorize them to release the keys to you. Key release generally happens after NOON on the possession date. We will contact you to confirm that we have paid the seller. Your real estate agent will make arrangements with you to give you the keys.

Buyer Intake Form

I’m a first time home buyer and I have no idea what I am supposed to do now that I have signed the purchase agreement. Help.

Once you have finalised the real estate purchase agreement with your realtor and the mortgage with your lender, there really isn’t much for you to do from the lawyer side of things. Generally, here is what you need to do for the lawyer side of things: Give my contact info to your realtor and your mortgage lender. The real estate office will send me the final purchase contract (Conveyancing Instructions) and the mortgage lender will send me the mortgage information (Mortgage Instructions). Arrange for insurance on the property. I will give you the information you need to provide to your insurance agent. Make sure that you have access to the down payment funds about one week prior to the Possession Date. For example, transfer funds from investments to your chequing account. About 1 week before your possession/closing/key release date, we will meet in person to sign all of the documents for the purchase. At this meeting you will need to bring your down payment bank draft, your photo ID, and any other documents required for the closing. The meeting will last about 45 minutes. Then on the closing day, we will receive the mortgage funds from your mortgage lender and along with the down payment received by you, we will pay the purchase price to the seller’s lawyer. Once the seller’s lawyer receives the purchase price from us, they will contact your realtor to release the keys to you. This usually happens around noon. And that is really it!

When is the Lawyer Signing Meeting?

We will meet one week to one day prior to the Possession Date to sign the documents.

When do I get the keys?

Usually, you get the keys around lunch time on the Possession Date. On the Possession Date, I will send the Cash to Close (the purchase price) to the Seller’s Lawyer around 12 noon. Once the Seller’s Lawyer receives the Cash to Close, the Seller’s Lawyer will contact the Seller’s Real Estate Agent who will then contact your Real Estate Agent to arrange for keys to be released to you. Do not expect to receive the keys prior to 1pm on the Possession Date.

Who do I get the keys from?

Your real estate agent will arrange for you to receive the keys. We will contact you on the Possession Date you to let you know that we have paid the seller’s the funds and to expect a call from your realtor.

Can my Possession be Delayed?

There are a number of factors that may prevent your deal from not closing on time. For example, your mortgage lender may not provide the mortgage funds to me on time or the Seller is not able to provide information or documents necessary to complete the deal prior to the Possession Date. I will let you know immediately if I am aware that there may be a delay. If the deal is unable to close on the Possession Date, you may still be able to move in under a tenancy arrangement . This option will be discussed with you if necessary.

When do I get a copy of the title to my new home?

Two to Three months after your Possession Date, I will mail you a package of documents for your records which will include a copy of the title to your home. If you have any questions or concerns when you receive the package, do not hesitate to contact me.

What is the legal fee?

We offer Flat Rate Pricing for the Conveyancing for your Home Purchase. Our Flat Rate Pricing includes the Legal Fee, Disbursements, and G.S.T. This make it easier to budget your costs. In addition to the Flat Legal Fee, you should also budget for the following which may be payable at the time of Closing: - Any Lender Fees. - Any closing adjustments between you and the Seller such as municipal property tax, condo fee, and homeowner association fee adjustments. - Title Insurance premium.