Buying a Condo
Close your real estate transaction with confidence. Available for virtual and in-person closing, we bring legal expertise to you in the most convenient and affordable way.
Is Condo Living For You?
Investing in Ontario’s condo market can be great. Axess Law’s licensed real estate attorneys can look over your agreement of purchase and sale or close a condo sale for far less than you would pay for conventional legal services.
Condo living is a different lifestyle. If you’re used to living in a single family home or renting, be prepared to pay your fair share of common expenses like maintenance and landscaping and be responsible for the whole building, not just your unit.
Factors to consider when buying a condo:
- Does living “small” suit your lifestyle?
- Do you want a yard or freedom to change your unit without strata council permission?
- Is the condo reserve fund adequate to fix problems like wear and tear?
- Do owners have major, outstanding strata assessments — special charges for repairs or purchases like the lobby carpet?
- Is it in a desirable neighborhood? What are crime rates like? Is the area established or upwardly mobile?
How It Works
01
Request Quote
Click on ‘Get Started’ button to receive a quote from us. If you decide to proceed, our customer care team will reach out to you within minutes to discuss the next steps.
02
Upload Files
You will receive a secure intake link in your inbox to submit your closing documents. After receiving your documents, we will work with the lender to prepare for closing while keeping you informed at all times.
03
Sign Agreement
Once your closing documents are ready, we will book an appointment to review and sign the documents with you. Depending upon your convenience and location, you can meet your lawyer in person or virtually.
Documents We Need
Axess Law is there for you through every step of your real estate transaction. Speed up the process by keeping these documents handy.
Axess Law advises you on clauses to include or point out deadlines you must meet and obligations your legal contract creates for you.
Give Axess Law your mortgage lender’s contact information. Our lawyers liaise with your lender to discharge existing mortgages and confirm new mortgage financing.
Fire insurance is mandatory in Ontario when you have a mortgage. Your proposed insurer will give you a one-page fire insurance binder and our lawyers in turn confirm whether the certificate is valid and forward it to your mortgage lender.
Condominium corporations carry fire insurance for the whole building, including common parts of your unit, such as balconies. The details are contained in the condo status certificate you provide to us. We’ll touch on that next.
When you buy a condo unit, request a status certificate from the seller’s realtor or the condominium corporation’s property management firm. Our lawyers review this information to ensure fire insurance for common elements is in place.
Prior to closing, Axess Law will ask you for two pieces of ID. Proving your identity is obligatory to prevent mortgage and title fraud. You may use either two pieces of primary ID (Ontario driver’s licence, passport, Ontario photo card, Canadian citizenship card with photo or Canadian permanent resident card with photo) or one primary and one secondary ID (Birth certificate, social insurance card or major credit card with your name on it).
As the closing day draws near, your Axess Law lawyer will contact you to finalize the amount you need to bring to our office to conclude your home purchase.
What To Do Before You Sign
Before you sign an agreement of purchase and sale, ask your realtor:
- Is the strata council well run? Check the operating budget, end-of-year financial statements and two years of council minutes for clues.
- What is included — blinds, appliances, parking, a storage locker?
- How much are the monthly strata fees and what do they include (gas, power, hot water or recycling)?
- Do you get pool or gym access that would otherwise cost you extra?
- Is the new home warranty still in effect?
- Is the condominium corporation in court over owner or building disputes?
- Are you protected by the wording of your home inspection clause?
Condos to Buy
Pre-construction — Pre-construction purchase contracts let you pick finishes, layouts, or the unit you want. Be aware you may have to wait a long time to move in. It can be years before your pre-construction condo is registered and ready to be occupied.
Condo assignments — If you change your mind about buying, talk to the developer or a realtor about assigning your unit. Selling the purchase contract before your unit is legally registered transfers your liabilities to the new buyer, along with the new home warranty and HST due on closing.
New build or conversions — Buying a new build or rental converted to a condo can allow you to cancel your purchase within the first 10 days. An unsatisfactory status certificate, legal advice, or finding a unit you like better all qualify as excuses.
Resale — For a gently used home with an experienced condominium corporation, buy a resale. Since the building has been operating for some time, budgeting is predictable, and issues like owning pets or rentals have already been worked out.
Common Elements in Condominiums
Condo owners pay a share of operating and repair or replacement expenses for common elements in their building. You may be responsible for:
Landscaping and grounds maintenance
Your designated parking spot, if it's a common element
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning costs
Amenities like exercise or party rooms or guest suites
What Our Customers Say About Us
My wife and I had an amazing experience with Axess Law regarding our very first home purchase. They were very responsive to our questions, calling the same day (multiple times) and returning any missed call. They were diligent, fair, and transparent. I would use their services again.
★★★★★ 5/5
The team at Axcess Law was extremely easy to work with. They were quick to respond, answered all my questions and made the entire process of closing really easy.
★★★★★ 5/5
They set up a team dedicated to my sale of real estate, and dealt with my queries outside the scope of work, out of my inexperience and being detached from legal issues, diligently and with utmost patience. As a result, I not only achieved a smooth transaction with clear documentation, but also gained invaluable experience and a lawyer’s team that I would consult and retain for my future needs.
★★★★★ 5/5
My wife and I had an amazing experience with Axess Law regarding our very first home purchase. They were very responsive to our questions, calling the same day (multiple times) and returning any missed call. They were diligent, fair, and transparent. I would use their services again.
★★★★★ 5/5
"As this was our first time purchasing a home, my wife and I believe that Axess Law genuinely ensured that all the basics were covered by educating us. We felt comfortable moving forward with this transaction. Thank you to Axess and law the staff assigned to us for their due diligence and flexibility"
★★★★★ 5/5
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We are rated 4.8/5 based on 1,475 reviews.
Convenient Appointments
Make an appointment by calling +1.877.402.4207 or fill out our online booking form. Axess Law gives you the choice of booking an online or in-person appointment. Our lawyers are available 7 days a week, at times convenient for you. We can meet in person, by phone, email, or via a remote video call. In addition to these, there are 5 Axess Law offices located across the Greater Toronto Area – all with onsite parking or easily accessible by public transit.
Some FAQs
Axess Law’s licensed Ontario lawyers can review your agreement of purchase and sale and point out changes you may want to make. We go over status certificates, the condo corporation’s declaration of its audited financial statements and reserve funds for repairs, and check pre-construction purchase contracts or assignments for sale for legal issues.
Yes! Axess Law can arrange for remote meetings by video conference anywhere in Ontario, 7 days a week, with convenient day or evening appointments that suit your schedule.