Banks & Starkman Lawyers

08/23/2018

An interesting turn of events for the Toronto real estate market. Do you think more data in the hands of buyers is empowering or overwhelming?

The Supreme Court of Canada announced on Thursday morning it would not allow an appeal from the Toronto Real Estate Board that would keep its members from publishing home sales data on their password-protected sites.

07/03/2018

While things have definitely quieted down here in Toronto, the same cannot be said for Vancouver.

Housing affordability in Canada's most expensive market — Vancouver — is at "crisis levels," according to a new study, which says the re-acceleration of home prices, along with higher interest rates, are "slamming" ownership costs again.

04/19/2018

One big bill for backing out of a deal.

In a case a judge called a warning to prospective buyers in the GTA’s erratic housing market, a couple caught up in a bidding war will have to pay $470,000 after reneging on a multimillion-dollar deal

04/04/2018

Some interesting numbers for those of you in the Toronto Real Estate Market.

March sales down 40% from a year ago, the lowest since 2009

02/08/2018

A blog about legal topics relevant to real estate as well as wills and estates clients in the Etobicoke area.

02/16/2017

Do you agree with the 'greater fool' theory?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/real-estate-canada-greater-fool-1.3983797

If you are certain house prices will keep rising, paying more than you can afford seems completely justified. But the strategy changes when house prices turn flat.

11/22/2016

Big changes to Land Transfer Tax come the new year. Bigger rebates for first time buyers, and bigger taxes for more expensive homes.

http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/ontario-land-transfer-tax-rebate-doubled-to-4000-for-first-time-homebuyers

But people who buy homes over $2 million will make up the difference with a half-percentage point hike to the same tax

11/22/2016

http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/ontario-land-transfer-tax-rebate-doubled-to-4000-for-first-time-homebuyers

11/15/2016

Exciting news for first time home buyers in Ontario!

https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/11/14/first-time-home-buyers-to-get-4000-land-transfer-rebate.html

Finance minister Charles Sousa is giving first-time home buyers a $4,000 land transfer tax rebate.

11/03/2016

It always important to be your own best advocate in a real estate deal!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/real-estate-agents-caught-breaking-the-rules-on-marketplace-s-hidden-camera-1.3825841

In a hidden camera investigation carried out in the Greater Toronto Area, Marketplace found some real estate agents promised to use confidential information in an effort to double their commission on home sales.

10/20/2016

Interesting, even if not so scientific, look at the market 50 years from now!

http://torontolife.com/real-estate/torontos-real-estate-market-will-like-50-years/

The future of Toronto’s housing market will be rentals, towers and outrageous land prices

10/17/2016

Interest rates and the housing market are forever intertwined:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mortgage-bank-of-canada-interest-rates-1.3804915

New mortgage stress test rules, just before Stephen Poloz monetary policy report, offer the governor another reason not to raise rates. But that could make consumer goods more expensive.