Fees & Disbursements

Residential Real Estate Services Fees and Disbursements

A. FEES—Disbursements (as discussed below) and GST to be added to all fees and all fees and disbursements are subject to change without notice:

Purchase of single family residential property
no mortgage	$595.00
with one mortgage*	$695.00
with two mortgages*	$770.00
each additional mortgage/line of credit/bridge financing	$75.00
(Assumes all registrations completed on the same date. * A line of credit secured against real property counts as a mortgage. * Our assistance with bridge financing counts as a mortgage. Sometimes, a mortgage lender will require us to pay-out certain unsecured debts from the mortgage advance as a condition to closing, and any such additional payouts will be billed at the rate of $25.00 per payout. Additional charges will apply if ancillary documents must be prepared for registration - such as for the registration of a power of attorney.)
(*Sometimes, independent legal advice ("ILA") may be required for one of the parties to a transaction by a mortgage lender, as a condition to mortgage financing, or due to circumstances where the parties do not have an equal interest in the transaction, and additional fees will apply, in an amount equal to the charge for an additional mortgage, for our services in arranging for such ILA. The party receiving the ILA will also have to pay the fee of the independent solicitor who provides the ILA.)
All amounts indicated are accurate as of the date of initial publication and are subject to change without notice.

Sale - single family residential property
no mortgage to discharge*	$525.00
with one mortgage to discharge*	$595.00
two mortgages to discharge*	$655.00
each additional mortgage to discharge*	$50.00
(*A line of credit secured against real property counts as a mortgage. Sometimes we will be required to payout other types of encumbrances - such as but not limited to legal aid liens, executions, court judgments, registered equipment liens - and generally the additional charge for each such pay-out will be $50.00, but this fee could increase in complex circumstances. Sometimes, a mortgage or line of credit will have been paid out by the owner, but the mortgage lender did not supply or register an actual discharge and in these instances we must become involved in their discharge and the usual fees will apply. Additional charges will apply if ancillary documents must be prepared for registration - such as for the registration of a power of attorney or change of name application.)
(*Sometimes, independent legal advice ("ILA") may be required for one of the parties to a transaction, for example, where there is a sale coincidental with a marital breakup or in circumstances where the parties do not have an equal interest in the transaction, and additional fees will apply, in an amount equal to the charge for an additional mortgage, for our services in arranging for such ILA. The party receiving the ILA will also have to pay the fee of the independent solicitor who provides the ILA.)
All amounts indicated are accurate as of the date of initial publication and are subject to change without notice.

Re-Finance of Single Family Residential Property
no mortgage to discharge*	$425.00
with one mortgage to discharge*	$475.00
two mortgages to discharge*	$525.00
each additional mortgage to discharge*	$50.00
(*A line of credit secured against real property counts as a mortgage. Sometimes we will be required to payout other types of encumbrances - such as but not limited to legal aid liens, executions, court judgments, registered equipment liens - and generally the additional charge for each such pay-out will be $50.00, but this fee could increase in complex circumstances. Sometimes, a mortgage or line of credit will have been paid out by the owner, but the mortgage lender did not supply or register an actual discharge and in these instances we must become involved in their discharge and the usual fees will apply. Sometimes, a mortgage lender will require us to pay-out certain unsecured debts from the mortgage advance as a condition to closing, and any such additional payouts will be billed at the rate of $25.00 per payout. Additional charges will apply if ancillary documents must be prepared for registration - such as for the registration of a power of attorney or change of name application.)
(*Sometimes, independent legal advice ("ILA") may be required for one of the parties to a transaction by a mortgage lender, as a condition to mortgage financing, or due to circumstances where the parties do not have an equal interest in the transaction, and additional fees will apply, in an amount equal to the charge for an additional mortgage, for our services in arranging for such ILA. The party receiving the ILA will also have to pay the fee of the independent solicitor who provides the ILA.)
All amounts indicated are accurate as of the date of initial publication and are subject to change without notice. Other Residential Real Estate Fees and Disbursements - please contact us for a quotation for legal fees and disbursements for other residential real estate transactions and services not listed above. Back to top

B. DISBURSEMENTS - Goods and Services Tax to be added, where applicable, and subject to change, without notice:

Disbursements are charges for: the various searches (government fees) that we must perform; title insurance costs; government registration costs; and charges for postage, long distance facsimile transmissions, courier, report binding, electronic registration and search access, photocopying, and as may otherwise be applicable in a particular transaction. We do NOT add any surcharge to the search, title insurance and registration disbursements - you are charged exactly what we are required to pay for these items. Disbursements in residential real estate transactions will generally vary from property to property. Typically, disbursements are in the following ranges**, but can be lesser or greater:
Sale - one mortgage to discharge	$150.00 - $250.00
Purchase - one mortgage	$550.00 - $750.00
Mortgage Refinance - one mortgage to discharge	$300.00 - $450.00
1. The Law Society of Upper Canada has instituted a "transaction surcharge" for real estate transactions (among other types of transactions) which results in an additional charge of $50.00 for sale transactions and purchase or mortgage transactions where title insurance is not purchased, billed as a disbursement and in addition to the amounts indicated above. We urge our clients to purchase title insurance which, for most purchase and mortgage transactions, does not increase the disbursements (due to other cost savings) while giving real benefits. 2. Land Transfer Tax**: Land transfer tax is calculated in accordance with a formula which for most purchases under $250,000.00 is: one percent of the purchase price minus $275.00. Land transfer tax is not included in the disbursement figures above. For an accurate calculation of Land Transfer Tax, please follow this link to ARTICLES AND INFORMATION: Land Transfer Tax and Provincial Sales Tax. 3. Government registration costs are $70.70 per document in the electronic registration system and the above amounts do not include the registration of ancillary documents such as change of name applications or powers of attorney.
(*Sometimes, independent legal advice ("ILA") may be required for one of the parties to a transaction by a mortgage lender, as a condition to mortgage financing, or due to circumstances where the parties do not have an equal interest in the transaction, and additional fees will apply, in an amount equal to the charge for an additional mortgage, for our services in arranging for such ILA. The party receiving the ILA will also have to pay the fee of the independent solicitor who provides the ILA.)
All amounts indicated are accurate as of the date of initial publication and are subject to change without notice.

Commercial Real Estate Services Fees and Disbursements

Fees and disbursements for commercial real estate transactions can vary greatly from transaction to transaction depending on the nature of the transaction. Please call for a quote for fees and disbursements for your particular commercial real estate transaction.

Independent Legal Advice Fees

The usual fee for the provision of independent legal advice for an individual where the documentation to which the advice relates is prepared by another solicitor is $225.00*, plus GST and any applicable law society levy, but this fee can vary from transaction to transaction depending on the nature and volume of the documentation involved. (*Accurate as of the date of initial publication and subject to change without notice.)

Life Changes Fees and Disbursements

Fees and disbursements for "life change" real estate transactions can vary greatly from transaction to transaction depending on the nature of the transaction and number of parties involved. Please call for a quote for fees and disbursements for your particular "life change" real estate transaction.

Post-Purchase Title Insurance Fees and Disbursements

Fees and disbursements for arranging "post purchase" title insurance can vary from transaction to transaction depending on the nature of the property. Please call for a quote for fees and disbursements for "post-purchase" title insurance for your particular property.

Wills and Powers of Attorney Fees and Disbursements

The following is our fee structure for simple wills and powers of attorney which we prepare as an adjunct to our real estate practice:

Simple will for an individual, no powers of attorney	$425.00*
Simple will for an individual, with powers of attorney	$550.00*
Mirrored simple spousal wills for a couple, no powers of attorney	$695.00*
Mirrored simple spousal wills for a couple, with powers of attorney	$795.00*
Powers of Attorney for an individual, no will	$195.00*
Mirrored Powers of Attorney for a couple, no wills	$295.00*

* All fees are plus disbursements (usually between $25.00 and $75.00) and GST.

All amounts indicated are accurate as of the date of initial publication and are subject to change without notice.

Limited Incorporation Services Fees and Disbursements

Fees and disbursements for the limited incorporation services which we offer as an adjunct to our real estate practice will vary from transaction to transaction based on the complexity of the incorporation. For a quotation for fees and disbursements for our limited services in the incorporation of Ontario business corporations, please contact us.