Kerry Fox's (kfox1) Blog

Condo buyers should read disclosure package Condo buyers are always concerned about common expenses, and anything that might happen that could raise them above normal levels. If you're thinking about buying a brand new condominium, you'll be encouraged to hear about a recent court case. This case...

Will province reduce land transfer tax to offset the HST? Many people who work in the real estate industry are worried about the effect of the HST when July 1st rolls around.  There are rebates if you're buying brand new construction, and the HST doesn't apply to resale homes. That the HST won't ...

Condo case suggests smoking a looming problem in condos   In a recent B.C. case, an elderly couple with various health difficulties, including respiratory problems, pursued a human rights case against their condo corporation. Another condo resident, a smoker, moved in beneath the couple's unit. S...

New condominium website for condo buyers If I were a condo buyer, I'd love to be able to go online to find comprehensive information about brand new condominium projects. If you're living in Toronto, you're in luck! Check out the new Toronto-based website LiveHigh.com. They call themselves ‘your ...

New mortgage rules for homebuyers to come into effect April 19, 2010 Many new homebuyers require CMHC-insured mortgages. If you can't afford to put down a 20% downpayment on a property, lenders require that a homebuyer purchase insurance through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. This i...

What's the deal with the SPIS form? I would always recommend that homebuyers review a Seller Property Information Statement (SPIS) form before their conditions are waived. Any representations made on the SPIS need to be truthful. These days, most people get home inspections. But a home inspector ...

Why do homebuyers need title insurance in Barrhaven, Nepean, Ontario? Most purchases today are going to close with title insurance. Title insurance has been around for about a decade, and it gives a homebuyer coverage for a bundle of issues like:  tax arrears water arrears outstanding work orders...

What is interim occupancy in a condo in Barrhaven, Nepean, Ontario?   As a condo buyer, if you're buying brand new construction, the closing is always a two-step process. As soon as the condo unit can be occupied, the builder usually requires a condo buyer to assume interim possession.  The final...

GST issues for condo investors in Barrhaven, Nepean, Ontario In the last few years, there are more ‘average' people buying condos as investments because the stock market has been performing so poorly.   Like all brand new construction, there's GST payable on a new condo. Normally, a buyer would q...

Noisy neighbours- tips for condo buyers in Barrhaven, Nepean Ontario Noise complaints are a common problem that condo buyers have to deal with. Sometimes, issues with noise are directly related to how many units at the building are being rented out to tenants. One of the pieces of information tha...