Real Estate Services
Protect Your Assets
From the heart of Toronto to the Niagara Region, Guthrie Law provides sophisticated real estate legal services with a personal touch. Real estate transactions are more than just paperwork—they are your biggest investments. Our team ensures your interests are protected at every stage.
Trust our experience to guide you through the process in purchasing your new home, selling a property or making a change to a property title.
Buying a House or Condo
Purchasing a home or commercial property is likely the largest financial commitment you will ever make. While your real estate agent finds the perfect space, our role is to ensure that what you see on paper is exactly what you get on closing day.
Strategic Offer Review: We can review your Agreement of Purchase and Sale before you sign, ensuring essential conditions—like financing, home inspection, and status certificate reviews—are drafted to protect you, not just the seller.
Deep-Dive Title Searches: We go back through historical records to ensure there are no hidden liens, work orders, or boundary disputes that could haunt you years later.
“Closing” Matters: From calculating Land Transfer Tax and managing the flow of mortgage funds to the final exchange of keys, we coordinate every moving part so you can focus on your move.
Title Insurance & Security: We secure comprehensive title insurance to protect you against fraud, forgery, and municipal non-compliance issues.
Don’t leave your closing to chance. Let us handle the details while you plan your future.
Close Your Purchase the Right Way
Sell your property with certainty
Close Your Property Sale
Selling a property is about more than just handing over the keys; it’s about ensuring every financial and legal obligation is satisfied so you can move forward with confidence. From Toronto condos to Niagara estates, Guthrie Law manages the complex “back-end” of your sale to ensure a smooth, on-time closing.
Title Clearance & Requisitions: We respond to the buyer’s lawyer on all “Title Requisitions,” resolving issues like old liens, undischarged mortgages, or property line disputes before they can stall your closing.
Mortgage Payout Management: We coordinate directly with your lender to obtain accurate payout statements and ensure your mortgage is officially discharged from the title immediately following the sale.
The Statement of Adjustments: We calculate the exact “Balance Due on Closing,” ensuring you are fairly reimbursed for any prepaid property taxes, condo fees, or utilities.
Commission & Debt Settlement: We handle the disbursement of funds to pay out real estate commissions and any other outstanding debts related to the property, ensuring you receive the maximum net proceeds.
Secure Fund Transfer: We facilitate the secure receipt of closing funds and offer direct deposit or wire transfer so your money is in your account without the wait.
Your equity is our priority. Let us handle the closing so you can focus on your next chapter.
Comprehensive Real Estate Legal services & support
Title Transfers
Your life changes, and your property ownership should reflect that. Whether you are adding a spouse to your home, transferring a property to an adult child, or managing assets after a separation, a title transfer is a significant legal move. At Guthrie Law, we ensure these transitions are handled with the care and legal precision they require across Toronto and the Niagara Region.
Family & Spousal Transfers: We guide you through the process of adding or removing a partner, ensuring you take advantage of any available Land Transfer Tax exemptions between spouses.
Estate Planning & Survivorship: If a joint owner has passed away, we handle “Survivorship Applications” to update the title efficiently, helping you avoid unnecessary probate delays.
Intergenerational Transfers: Planning to gift a property or transfer it to a family member? We coordinate with your tax advisors to ensure the transfer is documented correctly to avoid future “Capital Gains” surprises.
Separation & Divorce: We work alongside family law agreements to ensure property is divided or transferred according to your court order or separation agreement, providing a clean break for all parties.
Your home is your legacy. We help you transition it safely to the next phase.
Seamless Property Title Transfers
Maximize your asset's potential
Commercial Legal Services
In the world of commercial real estate—whether in the density of Toronto or the developing landscapes of Niagara—your property is more than an address; it’s a strategic asset. At Guthrie Law, we provide the sophisticated legal infrastructure required for complex acquisitions, dispositions, and portfolio management. We bridge the gap between “the deal” and a successful closing.
Full-Spectrum Acquisitions & Sales: From industrial hubs and retail plazas to multi-unit residential developments, we manage every facet of the transaction, including the negotiation of custom Agreements of Purchase and Sale.
Rigorous Commercial Due Diligence: We look beyond the title. Our team coordinates off-title searches, including zoning compliance, environmental site assessment (Phase I/II) reviews, and fire/building code work order verifications.
Corporate Ownership Structuring: We advise on the most tax-efficient and liability-protected ways to hold title, including the use of holding companies, joint ventures, and co-ownership agreements.
Sophisticated Financing & Mortgages: We represent both borrowers and institutional lenders in secured lending transactions, ensuring that loan commitments, general security agreements, and collateral charges are executed with precision.
We don’t just identify risks—we provide the solutions to overcome them.
FAQ
Do I really need a 20% down payment to buy in Ontario?
No. For homes under $500,000, you can put down as little as 5%. For homes between $500k and $1M, it’s 5% on the first $500k and 10% on the rest. Only homes over $1 million require a flat 20% down payment.
What is the "30-year amortization" rule I keep hearing about?
As of late 2024, the federal government allows all first-time buyers (and anyone buying a new build) to stretch their mortgage over 30 years instead of 25. This lowers your monthly payment and helps you qualify for a higher loan amount.
What is a "Status Certificate" and why do I need one for a condo?
If you’re buying a condo, this document tells us if the building is financially healthy, if there are pending lawsuits, or if a “Special Assessment” (a surprise fee) is coming. We make every condo offer conditional on our lawyer’s review of this document.
What are the mandatory costs of selling a home?
Sellers are responsible for real estate commissions (for both the listing and buying agents), legal fees, and mortgage discharge fees if you are breaking your term early.
