menu

Why do you need a real estate lawyer when you buy a home?

Date Posted
05 March 2015

[caption id="attachment_921" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Photo credit: Alan Cleaver/Creative Commons)[/caption] Real estate lawyers are an important part of the home buying process, but as a homebuyer you may not be sure why you need a lawyer involved in the transaction. Legal fees are a costly portion of your closing costs since hiring a real estate lawyer can cost a new homeowner about $700 to $2,500 on top of their sales price. These fees may also be subject to applicable HST or GST and you may also be responsible to cover related expenses and disbursements for the legal work. A lawyer is responsible for ensuring all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed and all of the paperwork is filed in a real estate transaction. Real estate lawyers are typically consulted when it comes to signing an offer to purchase since they can clarify any of the terms on the legal contract. Once ownership is transferred to the buyer on closing day, the lawyer will also help handle the mortgage transaction, title registration and ensure that buyers pay the downpayment and other closing costs. Your lawyer is the person who hands you the title deed and the keys for your new property. Their insight can be especially valuable when it comes to buying a pre-construction building. These purchase agreements can be filled with complex legalese and a real estate lawyer can advise homebuyers about the details of the transaction and how it may affect them. For example, sales incentives may not be what the buyer expected and only the fine print can shed light on the matter. Also, a builder may add additional structural changes to a property, which buyers may be on the hook for these extra costs. During your house hunt, you should also do some legwork into finding a good real estate lawyer. Ask around for some referrals and these questions will help you narrow down who you'll want to hire:

  • How long have you been practicing? If you're a first-time homebuyer, having a lawyer who's familiar with real estate deals and any possible issues that might crop up could give you some much needed peace of mind.
  • How many real estate cases have you handled on this topic? Not all real estate transactions are the same and while a lawyer won't tell you their client's name without their consent, this can help you determine the lawyer's experience. The lawyer's job will also differ on the type of property you buy, whether it' s a house or a condo, and it's an added bonus if they're knowledgeable about the neighbourhood you're planning to live in.
  • What steps need to be taken in my situation? This is a good way to test the lawyer's knowledge of the real estate industry by positing a scenario. If the lawyer responds in a vague manner, this could be worrisome for your situation.
  • How will billing work? Some lawyers will charge by the hour or with a flat fee. Keep in mind that lawyers may tack on additional costs, such as title registration or title insurance, depending on your transaction. Be aware of the potential costs ahead of time, along with what these costs cover ahead of time so you can budget accordingly.
  • Who else will be working on the case? Depending on the amount of work needed on your case, lawyers may pass on some of the work to junior attorneys or paralegals to assist them. Don't be afraid to inquire about this associate's background and check with the provincial law society's to ensure that they aren't facing any issues of professional conduct. All this info will help you decide which lawyer to hire.
Whether you decide to buy the property as an investment or if you decide to live in it, Rebate4U can help you put some money back into your pocket by filing an HST housing rebate claim with the CRA. We strives to provide our clients with the most professional and quality service in obtaining rebates for their new and extensively renovated homes. We are proud to offer our clients the most personal and attentive service, and we make sure that all of our clients are 100% satisfied.

Contact Us

Please Answer 7+9=

Rebate Calculator

Please enter the total value of your renovation including tax.

Total construction cost
(including taxes)
$
Search Our Blogs

More of our Blogs

29 September 2023

Benefits of Renting Your Newly Purchased Home

Get Money Back with the HST Rental Rebate   The leading opportunity of buying or building a new residential property in Ontario is the HST Rebate. With any purchase you make on goods and services in Ontario, you’re charged Harmonized Sales Tax or HST, which is a 13% tax. With large purchases like a home or condo, the 13% harmonized sales tax can add up to a significant...

View Full Post
20 September 2023

Experts Tips for Navigating the HST Rebate on Newly Built Homes

Here are expert tips on navigating the HST Rebate for new homes.   Retain All Your Records When you’re building a home from the ground up or renovating your existing property, it’s imperative that you keep a copy of all your records. The rebate is designed to give homeowners back a portion of the amount they spent on HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) during construction....

View Full Post
21 August 2023

Tips for Planning Your New Home Rebuild HST Rebate

Learn About the HST Rebate & Eligibility The New Home HST Rebate is a rewarding program for residential property owners throughout Ontario looking to recover some of the costs they invest in building their perfect home. Designed to put money back into your pocket, there are strict requirements that applicants must meet. Before you begin accounting for the HST Rebate in Ontario while...

View Full Post
31 July 2023

Identifying HST Rebate Eligible Elements in Your Construction Journey

Plans & Design Because a renovation must be substantial, accounting for approximately 90% of the property to qualify for the HST Rebate on home renovation, you'll need a plan before you start working on your renovation, demolishing walls and removing flooring. You'll most likely need to source architects and renovation contractors to visualize your rebuild and ensure that all aspects are in...

View Full Post
24 July 2023

Why Rebuild Damaged Homes with HST Rebate in Ontario

What is the HST Rebate on Newly Built Homes? In Ontario, a 13% harmonized sales tax, a combination of GST and PST, is applied to all purchases, including purchasing property or building materials and renovation services. In an effort to enable affordability, the government offers an HST Rebate program which gives qualifying property owners buying a brand new property or building a new home from...

View Full Post
25 May 2023

Guide to HST Rebates & Renovations this Summer

Understanding HST Rebate Programs in Ontario Harmonized Sales Tax or HST is a combination of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST) that is applied to all purchases, amounting to 13% throughout Ontario, including homes, building materials, and renovation services. To increase affordability, the new home HST Rebate in Ontario gives residential property owners a portion of...

View Full Post
01 May 2023

How to Cash in on Your Major Home Addition

What is the HST Rebate on New Homes? The New Home HST Rebate is a program offered by the government that provides those purchasing, building, or significantly renovating a new residential property a refund on a portion of their HST spend. HST, or Harmonized Sales Tax, is charged on every purchase of sales and goods in Ontario, amounting to 13%. On a large project like a major home addition, HST...

View Full Post
31 March 2023

Benefits of Renting Your New Home

What is the New Residential Rental Rebate Program? Offered through Canada Revenue Agency, the New Residential Rental Property Rebate is an HST rebate that gives residential property owners a portion of their HST spend back on a newly built condo or rental property. Depending on the property, your eligibility, and the amount spent on HST, this rebate can add up to tens of thousands of dollars back...

View Full Post
20 March 2023

Guide to Applying for the HST Rebate in Ontario for Newly Renovated Homes

Determine Eligibility First, you need to determine if you are eligible for the HST rebate. The rebate is available to those who have completed a substantial renovation or constructed a new home. A substantial renovation is defined as a renovation that involves removing or replacing most of the interior of a home or at least 90% of the home's interior. If you've bought a new home directly from the...

View Full Post
01 March 2023

How to Save Money When You Build Your Own Home

What is the Ontario HST Rebate? The Ontario HST Rebate on New Homes is offered by the Canada Revenue Agency. The program enables individuals constructing a new home from scratch or undertaking a significant renovation of an existing residential property in Ontario to qualify for a rebate on a portion of the 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which is charged on all goods and services throughout the...

View Full Post
Homeowners, obtain an HST rebate of up to $30,000 today!
get started

Why Choose Rebate4U?

Experienced Specialists

For over 10 years, the Rebate4U team has the knowledge and expertise to help residential property owners throughout Ontario successfully apply for regional HST Rebate programs.

Millions Awarded

We are able to expertly navigate rebate opportunities, staying up-to-date on the most recent rebate developments and changes in the HST Rebate program to maximize returns. To date, we’ve successfully acquired millions of dollars for clients in total.

Free Consultations

Our specialists offer complimentary consultations where we review your eligibility to determine whether you qualify for an Ontario HST Rebate so you can proceed with your application confidently.

Customer Commitment

The Rebate4U team is dedicated to delivering the highest level of customer service, we are here to answer your questions and help you navigate the intracises of your application easily and efficiently.

Cashing-In on the HST Rebate is as Easy as 1-2-3
Contact REBATE4U

Set up a quick, free consultation with the Rebate4U team to explore your HST Rebate options.

COLLECT DOCUMENTS

Submit your required documents to Rebate4U, and we'll handle your application.

GET YOUR Money BACK

Apply for the rebate and receive thousands in rebates in just weeks with Rebate4U.

FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY

We are proud to be working with top Canadian companies

Recent Posts view all posts

Tips for Planning Your New Home Rebuild HST Rebate

Rebuilding your home from the ground up can be a daunting undertaking but incredibly rewarding with the right approach and programs like the HST Rebate in Ontario. The New Home HST Rebate allows qualifying residential property owners to recover a portion of their rebuilding co...

Read More

Identifying HST Rebate Eligible Elements in Your Construction Journey

The HST Rebate in Ontario is an excellent opportunity for property owners looking to undergo major construction. Whether you've recently purchased a plot of land to build a brand new property or are planning to tear down an existing home to its studs and renovate it, the HST R...

Read More
We Are Based

Rebate4U
101-3185 Bathurst St
Toronto ON
M6A 2B2

1-800-610-4510
info@rebate4u.ca

Connect With Us
Error...

Please, enter a valid value

We are sorry...

But the values you entered are invalid

Rebate

In celebration of our 3 year anniversary at Rebate4u Inc, we have decided to reduce our fee structure for all new home and renovation rebates including the New housing rental rebate.  

Don't waste your time looking for anyone else to take care of this because we will not be under sold.
Please fill out the form below or call us at 1-800-610-4510

Please, enter a valid value