Virtual law firm serving clients across Ontario
Toronto Real Estate Lawyer
Amer Ali Law handles residential and commercial real estate closings throughout Toronto, including Downtown, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York and York.
Our virtual-first process lets you exchange documents securely, review and sign by video, and receive clear updates without travelling across the city. We manage Toronto-specific tax, transfer, title, lender and municipal requirements from agreement to registration.
Toronto Closing Essentials
Toronto buyers and sellers encounter city-specific taxes, declarations and closing adjustments. Use the tabs to review the issue most relevant to your transaction.
A purchase inside the City of Toronto is generally subject to both Ontario Land Transfer Tax (LTT) and Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT). Both are normally payable when the transfer is registered.
Land transfer tax is separate from your legal fees and disbursements. We calculate the amount before closing so it can be included in the funds you arrange to deliver, together with your remaining down payment.
An eligible buyer may receive up to $4,000 from Ontario and up to $4,475 from Toronto, for a combined maximum of $8,475.
The rules consider any ownership interest in a home anywhere in the world and may also consider a spouse’s prior ownership. Age, status in Canada and occupancy requirements also apply.
Toronto residential owners must file an annual occupancy declaration, even when the home is occupied or an exemption applies. A missed declaration can cause the property to be deemed vacant and the tax can become a lien on title.
Sellers should file outstanding declarations and provide confirmation. Buyers should ensure the agreement addresses responsibility for the relevant taxation year.
Certain foreign buyers may face Toronto’s Municipal Non-Resident Speculation Tax in addition to Ontario land transfer and non-resident taxes. Higher Toronto MLTT tiers may also apply to high-value residential properties.
Tax status, available exemptions and cash required to close should be confirmed before conditions are waived or a firm agreement is signed.
Moving Checklist
Choose whether you are buying, selling or preparing either side of a Toronto move. The page will show the most relevant municipal and utility contacts.
The City calculates tax using assessed value and applicable tax rates. New owners may need to wait for City ownership records to update.
Use the City utility lookup once ownership and customer information are available. Confirm how water charges were adjusted on closing. For water-meter readings or high-bill inquiries, call 311 within Toronto or 416-392-2489 outside Toronto, then select Option 1.
Arrange for electricity service to begin on the closing date. Toronto Hydro directs customers opening an account to choose option 3 by phone.
If the property uses natural gas, arrange your move using the closing date.
Confirm the address-specific schedule and current rules for garbage, organics, yard waste and recycling.
Review the assessed value and property details used for municipal tax calculations.
Request a final meter reading and provide the property address, utility account number, closing date and forwarding address. For water-meter readings or high-bill inquiries, call 311 within Toronto or 416-392-2489 outside Toronto, then select Option 1.
Keep the latest tax bill and payment confirmation available so the correct amount can be adjusted between the parties.
File outstanding declarations and provide confirmation to the buyer. The agreement should address responsibility for the relevant year.
Arrange for electricity service to end on the closing date and retain confirmation of the request.
If applicable, submit the closing date and forwarding information for your natural-gas account.
Coordinate keys, fobs, parking remotes and alarm information with your realtor before closing day.
Contact 311 for City information involving tax, water, waste and municipal services.
Submit move requests early and use the closing date as the service start or stop date.
Arrange the service change in advance when the property uses natural gas.
MPAC determines the assessed value used by the City when calculating property tax.
Use the property address to confirm collection dates and current disposal rules.
Questions about closing adjustments, title, lender requirements or the documents you will sign?
Toronto
A Toronto Closing Without the Commute
You do not need to cross the city for a routine signing appointment. Move through the closing journey to see how our virtual-first process works.
Common Questions
An eligible buyer may receive up to $4,000 under the Ontario refund and up to $4,475 under the Toronto rebate, for a combined maximum of $8,475. Eligibility considers prior ownership anywhere in the world, and may consider a spouse’s ownership.
The answer depends on when the transfer occurs and which taxation year is being declared. Sellers should file outstanding declarations and provide confirmation to the buyer.
No. Ontario title searches, document preparation and registration are completed electronically, while signing can usually be handled by video. We manage Toronto-specific requirements from anywhere in the province.
For a resale condominium purchase we review the status certificate, financial statements, budget, insurance, rules, reserve-fund information and any disclosed litigation or special assessment.
The Statement of Adjustments credits or charges each party for the portion of the tax period they own the property. The City’s calculator provides estimates, and the final figures are confirmed before closing.
Your Toronto Transaction
