Make real estate sales contracts work for you when you hire an Axess Law real estate lawyer in St.Thomas, Ontario. Our remote real estate lawyer in St. Thomas lets you meet real estate transaction completion deadlines, without the expense and inconvenience of leaving home or office for legal appointments. Axess Law’s virtual St.Thomas real estate lawyer gives you the same great service as traditional law offices, for less than you would usually pay.
Don’t let titles to property you buy get caught up in construction liens, or annoying legal claims against the current owner. Axess Law’s St.Thomas real estate lawyer searches title to Ontario homes or land to inform you of obstacles to completing your purchase on time. Our qualified St. Thomas real estate lawyer negotiates with sellers’ lawyers to clear financial liabilities, and liaise with lenders to include them as parties to your title.
Sell property secure in the knowledge your Axess Law virtual real estate lawyer in St. Thomas has the legal angles covered. Bring your draft or signed agreement of purchase and sale to Axess Law’s St.Thomas real estate lawyer to review. We look over the terms and conditions to advise you how the offer to purchase affects the buyer’s right to cancel, or your right to keep the deposit if financing falls through.
Get access to cash in your home by refinancing mortgages when they expire. Increase your mortgage to cover renovations that could increase your home’s resale value. Working with a new lender or mortgage broker could free up equity for a new kitchen, spa bath, or energy efficient upgrades.
Axess Law’s St.Thomas real estate lawyer liaises with your lender for their directions on finalizing mortgage refinancing agreements.
Get StartedLiving in Railway City, St. Thomas, Ontario, is the best of both worlds. St. Thomas is known for the massive sculpture commemorating showman P.T. Barnum’s prize exhibit, African bush elephant Jumbo, killed by a locomotive. But there’s much more to the city than trains. Not quite rural, it’s a quick commute from plentiful jobs in London, and minutes away from the colourful cottages that parade along Port Stanley’s impressive beach. The 90-acre Pinafore Park gets rave reviews for its splendid gardens, walkable pathways, amazing waterfall, and wildlife sanctuary. If the plentiful parks don’t entice you to get outdoors, music concerts and free movie events make for one sweet summer.
Your Axess Law St. Thomas real estate lawyer video conferences with you 7 days a week, at your convenience. Our online video calls and remote signing services take the work out of solving legal problems. Timely legal advice and low flat rate legal services — make your appointment by dialing 647-479-4118, toll free to 1-877-552-9377, or use our online booking form to find an Axess Law real estate lawyer in St. Thomas. Debit, cash, VISA or Mastercard accepted. Axess Law makes hiring a virtual real estate lawyer in St.Thomas easy.
New build home contractors are licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA). Your contractor is required to be technically competent, and act with honesty and integrity. Ontario courts can levy substantial fines, up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for businesses or prison terms, for building without a licence or violating Ontario’s New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017 or regulations.
Complaining to the HCRA about a builder or vendor will result in an impartial assessment. HCRA will acknowledge your complaint in three to five business days, and review it and any supporting documents you provide. Your allegations and documents may be provided to the builder or vendor to allow them to respond.
HCRA will advise you of their decision, and any action taken against the builder or vendor. Click here to file a complaint.
Real property, homes or land located in Ontario, goes to the province if the deceased has no surviving beneficiaries. So while an estate home can be sold, the proceeds after real estate commissions, legal fees, property taxes, and debts are paid, are government property.
Estate trustees are required by Ontario law to make a satisfactory effort to find beneficiaries. That can include placing ads, reviewing personal and public records or social media, asking others, or hiring a private investigator. As a last resort, estate trustees can apply to Ontario Superior Court of Justice to have beneficiaries declared missing.
Who’s a Beneficiary
Beneficiaries, in order of priority for distribution of assets, include:
Exceptions
Common law partners are excluded from inheriting a family home shared with a spouse unless they are a joint tenant on title to the home, or it was left to them in the Will. Dependants left out of a Will can make a claim to an Ontario court for financial relief.
Lower housing prices, and small town lifestyles can be the perfect match. Is it a good investment? It could be, if you build up a rental portfolio in a community with high rental demand and low inventory, or do your ROI (return on investment) homework. Local real estate agents, or the town business development department, can run the numbers for you.
Students, short-term contract workers, and singles or couples who can’t afford to own or prefer to rent are a steady source of investment income in small towns. Competition for investment properties can also be less intense, especially if you get a reputation as a trustworthy landlord.
Flipping fixer uppers can be financially rewarding, when interest rates are favourable and prices rising. average home prices in St. Marys, population 7,386 in 2021, have skyrocketed by 66.7% since 2020, and in Strathroy-Caradoc (pop. 23,574) by 50% to 80%. Cobourg’s 19,440 residents saw home prices rise 27.1% in a year. While home inventories are low, Bancroft (pop. 4,140) prices are on an escalator, up 40.6% since 2021.
The “but” in the equation is that local residents are digging in. Resale homes are at an all-time low, and you may have to build new construction to turn a profit. On the upside, demand for new build homes is going way up. Just like you, more and more Ontarians are moving to small towns.
Presumably, your work keeps you in or near St. Thomas. Rio estimates it costs $3 to $5 per trip to drive the 28 minutes from St. Thomas to London. With no inter-city bus service, that goes up to $64 tops to take a cab to White Oaks Mall and hop on the nearest bus. Next to gas, car insurance and maintenance are the biggest costs for St. Thomas drivers.
Commuting from Markham to Toronto would take as long and cost as much for a car trip, or $143 a month by bus. The real difference is in housing costs. Average home prices in London-St. Thomas in February 2022 were $474,322 for condos and $680,358 for townhouses.
That compared to $725,000 (excluding studios) and $918,000 in Markham.
