Darrel Hotz, Barrister & Solicitor

For many, COVID has amped up plans to slow down, retire, or pivot. This couple moved from East York to Belleville earlier this month, and are ready for a new adventure. If you are planning on selling your home and moving to a smaller community, there are several considerations.... 1. You will need a great real estate agent - or perhaps 2 - familiar with the community you are selling your property in - and familiar with the community you are buying your next property in. 2. You need a great real estate lawyer - someone you can trust. 3. Given that there may be a surplus - or "nest egg" - it may be time to consider updating your will, and powers of attorney for personal care and property. Plans, values, and relationships change. Over 50% of Canadians don't have a will. Many others have documents that are outdated and don't reflect their current wishes. You need a lawyer with experience in this field - as you may want to set up a trust for a grandchild, or you may have other plans. Our firm can help.

The average price for a detached home in Toronto in now over $1.5 Million, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board. Wow!!! I cannot imagine how a young couple feels when they look at this statement, as this dream continues to be just that - a dream - for many young couples.... 1. Renting - for now - or perhaps long term, freeing up capital for other investments 2. House - sharing, with the proper legal documents in place - with close friends, with siblings, with parents 3. Reconsidering what your dream home is. Could you manage in a smaller, older home, even though it's not perfect? 4. Would you consider a house in one of the GTA's growing communities, such as Durham Region? When speaking with clients, our firm recommends that each party draw up a wish list, and isolate the five key factors that are truly important to them. It may be a centre hall floor plan, it may be access to the subway or a park, it may be 4 bedrooms. Homeownership will continue to be a goal for many Canadians. Working together on how to make this dream become a reality in a hot housing market will continue to be the challenge. Whether you are buying, selling, refinancing or investing, our firm can help.

When you've been helping clients for over 35 years ......... You deserve a great website, that showcases your experience in several types of law! General Counsel, Corporate, Commercial, Criminal, Real Estate, Family, Mental Health, Wills & Estates.... We can help. Thank you Barbara Jasper for your stellar web design services!

3 tiny words ........... GET A LAWYER!!!!