Buying Real Estate
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.
What Does an Axess Law Real Estate Lawyer Do for You?
Allow Axess Law to close the deal on your dream house to make it your own. Our lawyers can review your offer to purchase and advise you on how to buy a house in Ontario without the expensive legal bills or hassles homeownership can bring.
- Axess Law attorneys examine your offer, saving you from financial grief at a later time if you need or want to amend or cancel your offer.
- We answer legal questions for you and close your real estate deal.
- Our real estate attorneys advise you on signing a binding exclusive buyer representation agreement (BRA) with a realtor.
- To prevent misunderstandings or potential conflicts of interest, wWe also explain your legal rights before you sign any document to do with your real estate deal. to prevent misunderstandings or potential conflicts of interest.
- Once a deal is accepted, our real estate lawyers do all the work of closing for you.
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.
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 and check other details that may affect your buying decision.
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.
Buying Real Estate
Most Ontarians have limited experience buying a home. Your real estate agent finds deals that suit your lifestyle and budget, and negotiates with sellers, especially if multiple or counter offers are made. With the legal advice of a lawyer, your realtor can prepare a written contract known as the offer to purchase (agreement of purchase and sale) for you. It includes the terms and conditions you and the seller must meet within very specific timelines.
Steps to Home Ownership
- Making a home buyer’s deposit — Depending on the home’s value, sellers generally expect a deposit of around $5,000 to $10,000 or more towards the purchase price. The deposit is held in trust until the transaction is complete.
- Getting an independent home inspection — Qualified home inspectors can find hidden problems that affect the overall condition and sales price of a house you are seriously considering buying. It’s why we recommend you never leave a home inspection clause out of an agreement of purchase and sale.
What to Look for When Buying
Look for these signs when visiting potential properties to buy:
Neighbouring homes are in good shape
Where services like buses, stores and schools are located
New rental or subdivision activity
Potential airport or traffic noise
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 real estate lawyers can also explain what taxes you owe and if rebates apply. For example, Ontario homebuyers pay property taxes plus a provincial land transfer tax of between 0.5% and 2.5% of their home’s assessed value. Toronto buyers pay an additional municipal land transfer tax (MLTT), but like other eligible first-time homebuyers, may be eligible for tax rebates. Foreign buyers in the Greater Golden Horseshoe of southern Ontario are responsible for a 15% non-resident speculation tax (NRST). We review your tax situation and ensure all taxes are paid in full.
Axess Law can advise on when to take a home seller to court. We inform you of your legal options if you cancel a sale and:
- are held liable for the difference between your offer and the final purchase price the next buyer paid.
- are sued for moving expenses, financing, or other costs the seller incurred.
Independent home inspections are your next step. You won’t regret the small price you pay ($300 to $600 on average).
Qualified home inspectors find hidden problems that affect the overall condition and sales price of a new or previously owned home you are seriously considering buying. They do a visual inspection and tell you if roofs, insulation, heating, plumbing, wiring, doors or windows need repairs or replacement. They assess if a condo’s common areas require major structural repairs that will be added to monthly strata fees.
Newly built condos in Ontario and some new homes give you up to 10 days to call off your purchase within 10 days of discovering a significant or material change in a disclosure statement. Your purchase deposit is held in trust and must be refunded with interest, if payable. We show you where to get information on vendors, developers and new condo project statuses.
The warranty protects your purchase deposit and may compensate you if closing or move-in dates are delayed. An Axess Law Greater Toronto Area real estate attorney can discuss warranties with you.