Your best choice for purchase, sale and mortgage transactions. Combining the value of low fees with efficiency and personal service to make the process easier for you.

We also place Title Insurance policies for existing homeowners.

MAIN OFFICE: Suite 200, 223 Brock St. N., Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4H6, 905-430-8880

Toronto Office by appointment only: Suite 704, 4711 Yonge Street (at Yonge and Sheppard Subway)

FAX 905-430-0772, Ajax: 905-428-8000, Toronto: 416-492-0989, Peterborough: 705-755-7363

Real Estate Legal Services - QUALITY SERVICE, GOOD ADVICE, REAL COST FAIR PRICES WITH NO HIDDEN FEES, FINE PRINT OR EXCEPTIONS. WE WILL CHARGE YOU LESS THAN THE SO CALLED "ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICE" LAWYERS IN OUR AREA.  IF YOU SEARCH HARD ENOUGH YOU MAY FIND A LAW FIRM THAT WILL CHARGE YOU A LITTLE LESS BUT WE COMBINE OUR LOW FEES WITH PERSONALIZED SERVICE.

MARKET UPDATE FOR AUGUST 2008:    THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS ACTIVE THIS SUMMER BUT NOT NEAR LAST YEAR'S RECORD LEVELS.  APRIL, MAY AND JUNE SALES WERE NOT AS HIGH AS THE RECORD SET A YEAR BEFORE.  LOWER INTEREST RATES ARE ENCOURAGING TO THE MARKET THIS REAL ESTATE SEASON. THE CANADIAN INTEREST RATE WAS REDUCED HALF A PERCENT AS EXPECTED APRIL 22 BUT A FURTHER CUT WHICH WAS EXPECTED ON JUNE 10 DID NOT HAPPEN DUE TO CONCERN OVER INFLATION. WE NOW APPEAR TO BE LOOKING AT UNCERTAIN LONG TERM MORTGAGE RATES AND AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN ONTARIO DUE TO HIGH ENERGY PRICES AND THEIR SEVERE CURRENT IMPACT ON ALL OF US.  THE FEAR OF A SOURING ECONOMY IS KEEPING POTENTIAL BUYERS OUT OF THE MARKET.

 THERE WAS SPILL OVER TO ONTARIO OF BAD ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE PAST WINTER.  STATISTICS FOR JANUARY SHOWED THE CANADIAN ECONOMY GROWING A LITTLE AND NOT IN A RECESSION WHILE THE UNITED STATES APPEARED HEADED THAT WAY. THE ONTARIO BUDGET OF MARCH 25, 2008 IS A MODERATE BALANCED ONE THAT CONTAINS MEASURES TO HELP ONTARIO COPE IN TOUGHER TIMES, BUT IT ALSO PROJECTS SOME CONTINUED GROWTH. IN THE U.S.A. DESPITE BIG DEFICITS CAUSED BY EARLIER TAX CUTS AND THE COSTLY IRAQ WAR, PLANS WENT AHEAD TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, HELP HOMEOWNERS COPE AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF A RECESSION. ON JANUARY 22ND AMERICAN INTEREST RATES WERE REDUCED BY .75% JUST AS WORLD MARKETS HAD DROPPED OUT OF FEAR OF A UNITED STATES RECESSION AND FINANCIAL CRISIS.  A CANADIAN DROP OF .25% SENT A POSITIVE SIGNAL WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY FOLLOWED ON MARCH 4 WITH A HALF PERCENT CUT AND THE FURTHER DROP ON APRIL 22.  ANAMERICAN CUT OF .5% WAS MADE ON JANUARY 29TH WITH ANOTHER ONE OF .25% ON MARCH 16TH AND A FURTHER DROP OF .75% ON MARCH 18TH AND MOST RECENTLY A .25% CUT ON APRIL 30. CANADIAN RATES REMAIN HIGHER THAN AMERICAN RATES EVEN AFTER THE .5% REDUCTION APRIL 22.  THE UNITED STATES IS NOW SEEING SOME POSITIVE RESULTS FROM FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO THE HOUSING MARKET WITH A LARGE GROWTH IN HOUSING STARTS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.  THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN APRIL FADED WITH HIGHER GAS PRICES WHICH AFFECT THE ECONOMY AT EVERY LEVEL. CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT INTEREST RATES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA WILL BE STABLE FOR THE SHORT RUN  BUT MAY GO HIGHER DUE TO INFLATION FROM HIGHER FUEL PRICES. AN IMPORTANT DECISION NOT TO CHANGE U.S. RATES WAS MADE ON AUGUST 5 AND THAT PROBABLY MEANS INTEREST RATE STABILITY UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THE McGUINTY GOVERNMENT IN ONTARIO EXTENDED THE $2000 LAND TRANSFER TAX EXEMPTION FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TO INCLUDE RESALE HOMES AND NOT JUST NEW HOUSING PURCHASES.  THIS IS IN PLACE NOW SO THAT FIRST TIME BUYERS WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY THE TAX AND WAIT FOR A REBATE TO FOLLOW.

BUYERS ARE IN A GOOD POSITION WITH WORRIED VENDORS, MORE SUPPLY THAN DEMAND,  INTEREST RATES LOW AND PRICES LOOKING STABLE.  RIGHT NOW THE OSHAWA MARKET IS A BUYERS MARKET WITH CONTINUING WORRIES AND LAYOFFS AT GENERAL MOTORS FOLLOWING THE TRUCK PLANT CLOSURE ANNOUNCED IN EARLY JUNE. THIS MAY BE OFFSET IN TIME WITH NEW JOBS AND HOMEBUYERS IN THE EASTERN GTA WHO WILL COME WITH EXPANSION OF THE DARLINGTON NUCLEAR FACILITY. ANOTHER BUYERS' MARKET NOW IS FOR COTTAGES AND OTHER RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES WHERE MANY PEOPLE PANICKED BY HIGH GAS PRICES ARE SELLING OR RELUCTANT TO BUY VACATION HOMES REQUIRING A LONG DRIVE.   IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO TAKE SOME RISK A VARIABLE RATE IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO RESULT IN LOWER RATES IN THE SHORT TERM (YOU CAN LOCK IN YOUR RATE WHEN THE TREND CHANGES) AND LESS INTEREST BEING PAID OVER THE TERM OF A MORTGAGE.  THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE AS THE LONG TERM FIXED RATES OF THE BANKS HAVE NOT BEEN DROPPING.  SOME BANK CUSTOMERS ARE BEING OFFERED VERY FAVOURABLE LONG TERM MORTGAGE RATES AND THOSE LOOK ATTRACTIVE IN THE UNCERTAIN TIMES WE NOW FACE. 

  NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION STARTS CONTINUE TO BE DOWN IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO EXCEPT FOR CONDOMINIUMS.  NEW HOME SALES WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE FURTHER REDUCTION IN GST TO 5%.  THIS SAVES MONEY FOR ALL NEW HOME BUYERS. WITH LOCATION AND CONVENIENCES INCLUDING PUBLIC TRANSIT AS THE KEY TO REAL ESTATE VALUE, CONDOMINIUMS WHICH OFFER CONVENIENCE IN LIFESTYLE ARE USUALLY BUILT IN PRIME LOCATIONS WHERE IT IS NO LONGER PRACTICAL TO BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.  RECORD GROWTH IN NEW CONDOMINIUM SALES HAS SUSTAINED THE NEW HOUSING MARKET. ONLY CONDOMINIUM PRICES HAVE RISEN ON AVERAGE FOR 2007. STATISTICS FOR 2007 SHOW INCREASES IN CONDOMINIUM PRICES PARTICULARLY WHERE WELL LOCATED BY NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH TORONTO SUBWAY ACCESS NEARBY. THE QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER OR NOT THE MANY CURRENT NEW CONDOMINIUMS ARE TOO PLENTIFUL FOR DEMAND. THAT MARKET MAY SOON BECOME A BUYERS MARKET AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.  CONDOMINIUM TRANSACTIONS ARE COMPLICATED AND YOU SHOULD GET ADVICE BEFORE COMMITTING. NEW CONDOMINIUM PURCHASES ARE USUALLY SUBJECT TO BIG DELAYS UNLESS YOU BUY WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY. CONDOMINIUM SALES HAVE GONE WAY UP SIGNALLING A TREND DUE IN PART TO THE GENERAL SHIFT FROM RENTING TO OWNING AND THE HIGH PRICE AND LIMITED SUPPLY OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IN CENTRAL CITY AREAS. NEW HOME STARTS IN CANADA WERE UP BASED ENTIRELY ON CONDOMINIUM CONSTRUCTION. IN THE GTA CONDOMINIUM SALES EXCEEDED REGULAR HOME SALES IN THE MONTH OF JUNE 2006 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND THE TREND IS CONTINUING. THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO BUY CONDOMINIUMS AS THERE IS A LARGE SUPPLY ENTERING THE MARKET AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT WAS CONSIDERED A SENIORS LIFESTYLE HAS BECOME VERY ATTRACTIVE TO YOUNG INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DO NOT YET HAVE CHILDREN.  VERY FEW BABY BOOMERS HAVE YET MOVED TO THE CONDOMINIUM LIFESTYLE BUT THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN AS THEY AGE AND THEIR CHILDREN LEAVE HOME. THIS BOOM SHOULD CONTINUE LONG TERM PARTICULARLY AS HIGHER ENERGY PRICES MAKE OWNING A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE TOO COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. CONDOMINIUMS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN MARKET SHARE AS MORE PEOPLE SEEK OUT CONVENIENCE, ENERGY AND OTHER EFFICIENCIES, SHORTER COMMUTES AND PRIME LOCATIONS FOR LIVING.

IN TORONTO WE SAW MORE TRANSACTIONS CLOSING AHEAD OF THE CITY'S NEW LAND TRANSFER TAX COMING INTO EFFECT BUT THAT TAX HURT THE SPRING MARKET TO A DEGREE.  FOR INFORMATION ON THE NEW TAX SEE OUR FEES PAGE.

 WE REMAIN FULLY EQUIPPED (WITH THE HELP OF ON-LINE REGISTRATION AND TITLE SEARCHING PLUS TITLE INSURANCE) TO HANDLE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS ANYWHERE IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO.  CALL MURRAY MISKIN'S OFFICE AHEAD OF LISTING, OR SIGNING ANY PURCHASE AGREEMENT.  PLEASE CALL US AS SOON AS YOU CAN TO DISCUSS ANY INTENDED TRANSACTION.   FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE CALL ARLENE AT EXTENSION 119 OR SEND EMAIL TO:  realestate@adrworks.com

COMPARE OUR REAL COST PRICING TO OTHER LAWYERS   WE HAVE LOWER FEES THAN MOST LAWYERS INCLUDING THOSE WHO ADVERTISE A FIXED PRICE (USUALLY SUBJECT TO EXCEPTIONS AND FINE PRINT EXTRAS).  THE FEE WE QUOTE IS OUR FEE AND IT WILL NOT GO UP AFTER YOU RETAIN US FOR YOUR TRANSACTION.  OTHER LAWYERS QUOTING LOW PRICES SAY "PRICE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE". IF A LAWYER ADVERTISES A MUCH LOWER FEE FOR  PURCHASE THEY WILL PROBABLY CHARGE EXTRA FOR HANDLING THE MORTGAGE SO THAT THEIR FEE WILL ACTUALLY BE HIGHER THAN OURS. WE TRY TO KEEP OUR PRICES LOWER THAN MOST LAWYERS BUT OUR PRIORITY IS TO GIVE YOU BETTER SERVICE. WE BEAT THE FIXED PRICE DEALS OTHER LAWYERS IN OUR AREA OFFER BY OVER $50 PER TRANSACTION.  IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THIS JUST ASK US TO GIVE YOU THE FIXED PRICE DEAL OFFERED BY THE OTHER LAWYER BUT TAKE $50 OFF THE PRICE OF THE OTHER LAWYER AND WE WILL READILY AGREE.  WITH OUR USUAL "REAL COST" PRICING YOU WILL LIKELY SAVE MORE.  THE CHOICE IS YOURS; EITHER WAY YOU SAVE. 

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY OUR PRICING IS BETTER: WHEN YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE AND DISCHARGE THE MORTGAGE, MOST BANKS NOW REGISTER THE DISCHARGE (COST $70.50) AND INCLUDE THAT COST IN THE MORTGAGE PAYOUT.  A FIXED PRICE LAWYER ON THE SALE WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MORTGAGE DISCHARGE REGISTRATION COST IS INCLUDED IN THEIR FEE, BUT YOU MAY PAY IT TWICE BY PAYING YOUR BANK ON THE DISCHARGE AND ALSO PAYING THE LAWYER FOR A FEE THAT INCLUDES THE SAME MORTGAGE DISCHARGE REGISTRATION.

SOME LAWYERS PERSONALLY BENEFIT FROM USING THE LOW COST OF TITLE INSURANCE THROUGH STEWART TITLE. THERE IS A  $100 DISCOUNT TO LAWYERS ON TITLE INSURANCE FROM STEWART AND WE PASS THE DISCOUNT ON TO OUR CLIENTS. IF YOU GET TITLE INSURANCE THROUGH STEWART TITLE ON YOUR PURCHASE THE DISCOUNT CAN BE CALLED A $100 "ADMINISTRATION FEE" STEWART LETS LAWYERS KEEP FOR THEIR WORK IN PLACING THE COVERAGE. THAT SAVINGS IS WORKED INTO THE COST OF THE FIXED PRICE LAWYERS. OTHER LAWYERS NOT USING THE FIXED PRICE SCHEME MAY JUST CHARGE YOU THE FULL TITLE INSURANCE COST OF STEWART AND KEEP THE $100. WE BELIEVE IT IS WRONG TO KEEP THAT MONEY AND WHEN STEWART TITLE IS USED WE PASS THE SAVINGS ON TO CLIENTS BY A $100 REDUCTION IN THEIR COST OF TITLE INSURANCE. WE ALSO PLACE COVERAGE WITH TITLE PLUS AND FIRST CANADIAN TITLE.

FOR DETAILED FEE AND OTHER COST INFORMATION CLICK HERE