Category Archives: Realtors

Saving Your Client Money in a Real Estate Transaction

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This weeks blog post is definitely not legal advice, however growing up in the Real Estate industry for the past 34 years, there are definitely a few ways I have discovered that both Realtors and Lawyers can add value to their clients transaction:

Negotiate from a position of strength – in short, ensure that your client has done everything they can do to help a deal move forward. This includes obvious things like obtaining a pre-approval and limiting subject conditions only to “bare essential items” (like title review, strata docs, home inspection, financing). However, taking this to the next level means having this discussion with your client:

    1. What is the BEST outcome if the deal does NOT go through? And
    2. What is the WORST outcome if the deal does NOT go through?
These two questions very quickly get to the heart of your client’s motivation.

Setting good dates – everyone wants to close at the end of the month, this means that you client is just one of many people needing services from lawyers, movers, strata companies. The best advice here is to remove subject conditions at least 30 days prior to closing, and have closing occur on the “off-weeks” during a month (ie; those weeks that do not contain the 15th or 30th).

    Knowing the Local Area – there are many areas in the Central Okanagan where housing costs will be dramatically different for a number of reasons that are not immediately apparent from the listing, for example:

      1. Are you too far from a fire hydrant/ protection area to obtain cost effective fire insurance (Some parts of the Upper Mission)?
      2. Does the area you are in have such poor water quality which will necessitate you bringing in outside sources (ie; Glenmore – Ellison Irrigation District)?
      3. Does the smaller municipality mean that you property taxes are going to be markedly higher (ie; Lake Country, Peachland)

    Search out Hidden Costs

      1. Get a good home inspection, but then get a follow-up expert inspection if anything substantive arises (ie; roof, foundation, building envelope/ water, electrical, plumbing).
      2. Get to know your strata council – everyone reads strata docs, this is standard. However don’t be afraid to take the extra step of calling the Strata Council President, you’d be surprised what doesn’t make it into the minutes.

    Higher Standards for Property Disclosure Statements

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    In BC, Sellers have a choice with Property Disclosure Statements (“PDS”), they could either:
    a) simply cross them out and do not complete the questionaire and mark “as-is”; thus the principal of “buyer beware” would apply (Smith, 2005 BCSC 635); or
    b) they would have to fill out the PDS “to the best of their knowledge” (Curtin v. Blewett, 28 RPR 3d 115).

    Now, a recent Ontario Court of Appeal case, Krawchuk v. Scherbak 2011 ONCA 352, seems to impose a markedly higher standard on sellers who chose to fill out the PDS. The ONCA stated that Sellers, once they have chosen to complete a PDS have an obligation to “provide to the extent possible, accurate and complete information” and the Court went onto say that the Vendor was liable despite the fact that they “tried to be honest”.

    Although not technically the “law” in British Columbia, this case will be compelling for BC Courts. Realtors should always advise Sellers that they have an obligation to “look further” if there are “issues” with a property of which they are aware. 

    Of note also in this case, the Realtor, who has a dual agent, was liable to both the Buyer and Seller and had judgement against them for over $100,000 for failure to a) emphasize the importance of a home inspection to the Buyer and b) emphasize the importance of making full and complete disclosure to the Seller.

    Addendum:
    For those looking for the full text of the case it can be found here:
    http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/doc/2011/2011onca352/2011onca352.html

    The BC Real Estate Association in its July 2011 Issue of “Legally Speaking” discussed this case and came to the conclusion that “the outcome of the case would have been different had the case been decided in BC”. With respect this ignores the fact that the Court on Ontario has changed the law in Ontario and this case now gives more traction to a BC Court wishing to similarly change the law in BC.

    But… stay tuned… this case has submitted for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada…

    Execution of Real Estate Contracts

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    A. Contracts Must be In Writing

    Real Estate Contracts, as contracts for the sale of land, are unique in British Columbia law as s.59 of the Law and Equity Act states that “A contract respecting land or a disposition of land is not enforceable unless there is, in a writing signed by the party to be charged or by that party’s agent, both an indication that it has been made and a reasonable indication of the subject matter”

    In the historical case of McKenzie v. Walsh, the Supreme Court of Canada made it clear that no particular form of contract for the sale of land was required, simply a contract “in writing” (email would likely qualify in 2009), which specifies all fundamental terms including: Parties, Property, and Price.


    B. Real Estate Agents are Held to a Higher Standard

    But, as the fictitious contract case of Wu points out, a suspension case brought by the Real Estate Council of British Columbia, a Real Estate Agent has a an obligation to ensure that the contracts they are presenting on behalf of their clients are legitimate and well intentioned. Therefore, real estate agents (and lawyers) are held to the standard of an expert vis a vis their clients when drafting and presenting contracts.


    C. Witness of Documents is Important for Contracts, Essential for Land Title Documents

    Having a real estate contract properly witnessed is a cornerstone of a good contract because it validates the contract with the written evidence of an independent third party who may refute later claims of identity, mistake, duress or undue influence during an action for breach.

    On the Closing Date, when a transfer or mortgage is to be registered in the Land Title Office, the Land Title Act applies an higher standard stating there shall be no registration or charge registered in the land title registry unless that charge is witnessed properly by an “officer” (which includes lawyers in the Province of British Columbia). This is a key reason why lawyers are an integral part of every real estate transfer in British Columbia.


    D. Special Consideration for Corporate Purchasers

    Generally the law in British Columbia states that a corporation that does not exist (ie; because it has yet to be incorporated or it has been dissolved), cannot enter into a valid contract, unless that contract is specifically adopted by the corporation after incorporation. Therefore, if you are dealing with a corporate purchaser it is prudent to ensure (by calling your client’s lawyer) that that corporation is in good standing with the Corporate Registry.


    E. Special Consideration for Execution by Power of Attorney

    Often, elderly or non-resident clients wish another person (other than their agent) to function as their attorney for the execution of documents. Real Estate Agents should ensure that they have a copy of the valid power of attorney and this power of attorney should be registered in the land title office to ensure its validity on the Closing Date.

    Real Estate Agents: Dual Agency

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    A “dual agent” is an agent who acts for both the buyer and the seller in a single real estate transaction. Often this occurs on “sign calls” where a prospective buyers drives by (or “surfs by”) a home they like and calls the agent associated with the property.

    Dual Agency places the Real Estate Agent between both clients, and the Agent owes a duty to act in the bests interest of both parties, which naturally conflict. Therefore, dual agency is only allowed in very limited circumstances. As a Dual Agent, realtors must secure the consent of both parties, disclose all material facts to both parties, but must keep secret the buyers or sellers motivation or their own thoughts on pricing or negotiation strategy.

    Strata Property: Special Levies

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    Where there is an outstanding or, contemplated special levy (as found in the minutes), Buyers and Sellers need to clearly state WHO is responsible for paying the levy. Ideally, a sharp realtor has considered the issue and stuck in a clause in the contract but, in the event it is forgotten:
    1) ensure you get a copy of the resolution authorizing the special levy to see if it contains an acceleration clause; and,
    2) look to s.109 of the Strata Property Act: the SELLER owes if the special levy is payable prior to the CLOSING DATE, whereas the BUYER owes if the special levy is payable on or after the CLOSING DATE.

    Affordable Housing Covenants

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    Affordable Housing Covenants are generally registered on your land title as s.905 LGA notices and s.219 LTA Covenants. These covenants limit a) WHO can live in the property and b) HOW MUCH the property can be sold for.

    The OWNER (meaning all persons on title) must:
    a) RESIDE in the Property;
    b)Be part of a HOUSEHOLD whose gross annual income does not exceed the Affordable Ownership Income level. This includes everyone over 15 years old living in the residence;
    c)Total Household income cannot exceed: $63,737 ( in 2009, City of Kelowna)
    d)File a statutory declaration (evidence under oath) that the Owner continues to meet the criteria while remaining an owner (1-4 times each year).

    A Seller of an affordable housing unit is responsible for vetting Buyer to ensure they meet the above criteria.

    Freehold vs. Leasehold

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    At common law, in British Columbia, land tenures can be generally divided into two large catagories, fee simple land and leasehold lands.

    Fee simple lands (also called freehold lands) are lands where the owner owns all the property rights associated with thoses lands, except the rights which are reserved for the Crown (for example oil and gas rights). The restrictions on use on freehold land are imposed by the Province and the local municipality.

    Leasehold lands are lands where the rights of the owner are limited by the another party, usually a landlord. Long term leases (49 – 99 ys) are commonly found in the Province of British Columbia when land is sold on Native Reserves as the inalienability of native lands, under the Canada Constitution, prohibits Native Reserve being “sold” to anyone except to the Crown. Additional restrictions on the use of leasehold land are found in a LEASE or HEADLEASE document which creates contractual obligations between the Landlord and Tenant.