Real-estate law questions answered

A Real-estate law attorney oversees the legal health of your transaction. While real estate brokers facilitate negotiations, attorneys analyze contracts, clear title issues, handle financing complexities, and draft the protective clauses necessary to secure your interests. In Quebec, we work in tandem with notary processes to address pre-closing legal hurdles, tax liabilities, and zoning compliance.

A title search reveals the true history of a property's ownership. It identifies outstanding mortgages, property tax liens, construction liens, easements, or municipal encumbrances that could transfer to you upon purchase. Our legal review ensures that you receive a "clear title" free of unexpected legal burdens or financial claims.

Commercial lease agreements are heavily customizable and rarely favor the tenant by default. Crucial factors to analyze include common area maintenance (CAM) charges, subleasing clauses, renewal options, leasehold improvement terms, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Our team ensures your business operations aren't crippled by restrictive operational covenants.

Boundary disputes are resolved by examining historical land registry records, surveyor reports, and easement agreements. We work to find an amicable settlement through formal negotiations or boundary marking adjustments. If negotiations fail, we represent our clients' rights in court to establish clear legal boundaries and secure peace of mind.

Closing costs typically include notary fees, land transfer tax (often referred to as the "welcome tax" in Quebec), title insurance premiums, property tax adjustments, and legal consultation fees. It is wise to budget between 1.5% and 3% of the total purchase price to comfortably cover these essential transaction fees.