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 EARLY JANUARY 2009:    WE ARE DEFINITELY STARTING THE YEAR IN A GLOBAL RECESSION NOW INCLUDING CANADA, AND OUR REAL ESTATE MARKET IS VERY AFFECTED. SEPTEMBER 15 SAW THE BEGINNING OF A SERIOUS ECONOMIC CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT MANY ACCURATELY PREDICTED WILL BE THE MOST SEVERE IN MODERN TIMES.  IT COULD NOT HELP BUT SPILL OVER INTO CANADA AND MOST OF THE WORLD.  THE GOVERNMENT NOW ADMITS IT HAS AFFECTED OUR ECONOMY AND WILL LIKELY RUN  A DEFICIT BUDGET.  A COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF AMERICAN FINANCIAL MARKETS WAS PREVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT BAILOUT OF AIG WITH AN $85 BILLION LOAN FOLLOWED BY AN INJECTION OF CASH INTO WORLD MARKETS BY GOVERNMENTS.  THE MARKETS APPEARED TO BE STABILIZING BRIEFLY BUT ARE NOT RECOVERING AND IT IS CLEAR THERE IS MUCH INSTABILITY WITH BOTH AN AMERICAN AND CANADIAN ECONOMIC CRISIS. MOST CANADIANS HAVE LOST OVER 40% ON THEIR INVESTMENTS AND RETIREMENT FUNDS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ON OCTOBER 3RD AGREED UPON A PLAN TO RESCUE BANKS AND OTHER LENDERS AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $700 BILLION. THE MARKETS HAVE NOT RECOVERED. THE UNITED STATES, EUROPEAN AND CANADIAN INTEREST RATES WERE DROPPED HALF A PERCENT ON OCTOBER 8 IN A CO-ORDINATED ATTEMPT TO HELP THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.  THE CRISIS HAS SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD AND CO-ORDINATED STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN IN MOST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMY. IN CANADA, GOVERNMENT RESPONSE HAS BEEN MINIMAL TO FALLING MARKETS (TSX BELOW 8,000) AND THE DOLLAR HAS DROPPED BELOW 80 CENTS AMERICAN.  THERE WAS A FURTHER 1/4 % CUT IN CANADIAN INTEREST RATES ON OCTOBER 21.. A MAJOR FURTHER CUT IN INTEREST RATES OF .75% WAS MADE ON DECEMBER 9TH FOLLOWED BY AN AMERICAN CUT OF THEIR RATE ON DECEMBER 16 TO ALMOST ZERO. A FINANCIAL STATEMENT BY JIM FLAHERTY ON NOVEMBER 27 HAD TRIGGERED AN OPPOSITION REBELLION IN PARLIAMENT.  A COALITION OF THE LIBERALS AND NDP HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL BRING IN A $30 BILLION FINANCIAL STIMULUS PLAN IF THEY DEFEATED THE GOVERNMENT IN A DECEMBER NO CONFIDENCE VOTE.  THEY WILL NOT BE GIVEN A CHANCE AS THE HARPER GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN PARLIAMENT UNTIL JANUARY 26TH RATHER THAN FACE DEFEAT.  IF THE HARPER GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO STAY IN POWER WITH A NEW BUDGET IT WILL BRING IN FINANCIAL STIMULUS AS WELL IN RESPONSE TO THE OPPOSITION CHALLENGE. IT IS LOOKING LESS LIKELY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE DEFEATED BUT IF THEY ARE THIS MAY LEAD TO ANOTHER ELECTION AS A MORE LIKELY OUTCOME THAN THE PROPOSED COALITION FROM THE OPPOSITION PARTIES. WITH MICHAEL IGNATIEFF HAVING REPLACED STEPHANE DION THE LIBERALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO AT SOME POINT TRIGGER AN ELECTION THAN GOVERN AS PART OF A COALITION OF OPPOSITION PARTIES.  THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS WHETHER THERE WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL AUTO INDUSTRY BAIL OUT IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES THAT WILL BE ENOUGH TO SAVE THE INDUSTRY WHICH IS VITAL TO SO MANY JOBS.

IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER HOUSING PRICES ON SALES DROPPED DRASTICALLY WITH NO CHANCE FOR RECOVERY IN PRICES UNTIL SPRING. WITH PANICKED SELLERS IN A WINTER MARKET IT IS CERTAINLY A BUYERS MARKET NOW.  JOBS ARE IN JEOPARDY FOR MANY AND FEAR AND INSECURITY IS STOPPING PEOPLE FROM BUYING CARS, HOMES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.  THE RECENT DROP IN OIL PRICES HAS NOT HELPED THE AUTO INDUSTRY DUE TO THE ECONOMIC CRISIS.  LOWER FUEL PRICES MAY SEVERELY HURT THE CANADIAN ECONOMY AS CANADA IS AN ENERGY PRODUCER WITH MOST OF THE COUNTRY'S CURRENT WEALTH COMING FROM OIL, GAS AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES.  IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THE CURRENT CRISIS WILL COME TO AN END AT SOME POINT AND THAT ENERGY PRICES WILL THEN COME BACK UP AGAIN.  THE RECENT CONFLICT IN GAZA MAY BE A TRIGGER FOR HIGHER ENERGY PRICES IF IT ESCALATES.  DO NOT COUNT ON LOW FUEL PRICES BEYOND THE SHORT TERM.  FOR NOW IT IS HARDER TO GET CREDIT EVEN THOUGH INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER THAN EVER.  FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO DO IT THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO BUY. THE HEIGHT OF PANIC, IS IN MY OPINION A GOOD TIME TO ENTER THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.

 EARLIER IN 2008 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 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 FLOODED BUYERS MARKET WITH CONTINUING WORRIES AND LAYOFFS AT GENERAL MOTORS FOLLOWING THE TRUCK PLANT CLOSURE ANNOUNCED IN EARLY JUNE. THAT PLANT CLOSURE DATE HAS BEEN MOVED UP AND GM RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A LAY OFF ON THE THIRD PRODUCTION LINE OF THE OSHAWA CAR PLANT. 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 (AND NOW UNSTABLE) GAS PRICES, ARE SELLING OR RELUCTANT TO BUY VACATION HOMES REQUIRING A LONG DRIVE.  WITH WINTER HERE COTTAGE SELLERS ARE EVEN MORE MOTIVATED ON PRICE. WE MAY SEE AMERICAN COTTAGE BUYERS BACK IN THE MARKET BY SPRING WITH THE BIG DROP IN THE CANADIAN DOLLAR. IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO TAKE SOME RISK A VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO RESULT IN LOW 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.  SOME BANK CUSTOMERS ARE BEING OFFERED VERY FAVOURABLE LONG TERM MORTGAGE RATES AND THOSE LOOK ATTRACTIVE IN THE UNCERTAIN TIMES WE NOW FACE. A FIVE YEAR MORTGAGE AT FIVE PERCENT OR LESS IS NOT A BAD IDEA.

  NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION STARTS CONTINUE TO BE DOWN IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO EVEN FOR CONDOMINIUMS.  CONDOS HAVE BECOME THE TREND LATELY AND THEIR SALES ARE STILL STEADY. NEW HOME SALES WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE FURTHER REDUCTION IN GST TO 5%.  THIS SAVES A LITTLE 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. SALES ARE HOLDING BUT 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 FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS 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 TO CONDOS 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 LONG TERM 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 AND SUMMER MARKET TO A DEGREE. CITY REVENUES ARE FAR BELOW EXPECTED FOR THE NEW TAX AND BIG PROPERTY TAX INCREASES IN TORONTO ARE NOW EXPECTED TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. THE TAX IS PARTLY BLAMED FOR A DROP IN TORONTO HOUSING PRICES OVER THE PAST YEAR.  FOR INFORMATION ON CALCULATION OF 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