Categories for Transaction Risk & Due Diligence

Mortgage Fraud in Ontario Real Estate: How Buyers, Sellers and Property Owners Can Recognize the Risk

Most people entering a real estate transaction do not imagine themselves becoming involved in mortgage fraud. The phrase tends to bring to mind stolen identities, forged documents, artificially inflated property values or organized schemes involving properties and borrowers who may not even know one another. Those situations certainly occur, but ...

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Multiple Offers in Ontario Real Estate: How Buyers and Sellers Can Make Better Decisions in a Competitive Offer Process

Multiple offers can change the atmosphere of a real estate transaction very quickly. A buyer who has spent several days carefully evaluating a property may suddenly learn that four or five other written offers have been submitted, while a seller who expected a relatively straightforward negotiation may unexpectedly find several ...

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From Operational to Strategic Governance: Understanding Transitional and Hybrid Governing Approaches

Organizations rarely move from one governance model to another overnight. A business, brokerage, professional practice or other organization may recognize that its existing approach to governance has become too operational, too dependent on individual decision-makers, or too focused on managing immediate issues. Leadership may want to establish a more strategic ...

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Could Artificial Intelligence Change How Real Estate Tax Compliance Is Enforced in Canada?

Artificial intelligence is changing the way information can be reviewed, compared and understood. In real estate, that development may eventually have implications extending well beyond property searches, valuations and marketing. One of the potentially significant applications is tax compliance. Real estate transactions generate enormous amounts of information. Properties are purchased ...

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Sophisticated Real Estate Negotiations Involve More Than Price Alone

When people think about negotiating a real estate transaction, price is usually the first issue that comes to mind. Buyers naturally want to know how much they will have to pay, sellers want to know how much they will receive, landlords focus on rent and tenants consider occupancy costs. Price ...

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Understanding Real Estate Contracts in Ontario: From Offer to Closing

Real estate transactions involve a surprising number of contracts and related documents. Buyers and sellers naturally tend to focus on the Agreement of Purchase and Sale because that is where the price and many of the most visible terms of the transaction are recorded, but the agreement is usually only ...

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Typical Conditions You May Encounter in an Ontario Real Estate Transaction

An accepted offer does not always mean that every question surrounding the purchase has already been answered. Buyers may still need to confirm financing, investigate the physical condition of the property, review condominium documents or obtain information about another matter that could affect their decision. Sellers can also have circumstances ...

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Buying an Older Home in Ontario: Understanding Repair Costs Before You Commit

Older homes can offer features that are difficult to reproduce in newer construction. Established neighbourhoods, larger lots, mature landscaping, distinctive architecture, solid materials and unique interior details can all make an older property particularly attractive. The challenge for a buyer is not necessarily that an older home requires repairs. Almost ...

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The Risks of Poorly Drafted Clauses in Ontario Real Estate

Real estate transactions involve significant financial commitments, important timelines and expectations that may continue well beyond the day an agreement is signed. Buyers and sellers naturally devote considerable attention to price, financing, inspections, possession dates and the physical property itself. Yet some of the most significant transaction risks can arise ...

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Common Litigation Issues in Agreements of Purchase and Sale

An Agreement of Purchase and Sale is often viewed as the point at which the negotiation ends. The price has been agreed upon, the closing date has been set and the parties have signed. In reality, however, acceptance of the agreement begins a period in which both parties must continue ...

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