If you are looking for a first-time home buyer lawyer in Toronto, you are probably about to make the largest purchase of your life, and you want to know what could go wrong before it does. This 2026 legal checklist walks you through each stage of the purchase, from the day you start looking to the day you get your keys, and shows you where a real estate lawyer protects you along the way.
What does a first-time home buyer lawyer in Toronto do?
Your real estate lawyer reviews your Agreement of Purchase and Sale, searches the title to confirm the seller can give you clear ownership, reviews the status certificate if you are buying a condo, works with your lender to register your mortgage, calculates and pays your land transfer tax (and claims your first-time buyer rebates), and registers the property in your name on closing day. In Ontario, the transfer of title is registered electronically by a lawyer, so you will need one to close.
At Sarkaria Sethi LLP, you deal directly with your lawyer from the first call to closing day, in English, Hindi, or Punjabi.
Your 2026 First-Time Buyer Legal Checklist
1. Before you make an offer
- Get a mortgage pre-approval in writing. First-time buyers can now qualify for 30-year amortizations on insured mortgages, which lowers monthly payments but increases total interest. Ask your broker to show you both.
- Confirm how you will fund your down payment. If you plan to use a First Home Savings Account (FHSA) or the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan, check the withdrawal timelines early so the money is available for your deposit and closing.
- Budget for closing costs. Plan for roughly 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price on top of your down payment. Our guide to closing costs in Ontario breaks down every line item, and our guide on how to calculate closing costs shows you how to estimate yours.
- Choose your lawyer now, not after the offer. A lawyer who knows your file can review an offer the same day, which matters when a seller sets a deadline.
2. When you make an offer
- Include the conditions that protect you. Financing, home inspection, and (for condos) status certificate review are the three most common. A solicitor’s review condition gives your lawyer time to fix drafting problems before the deal is firm.
- Understand your deposit. The deposit is usually due within 24 hours of acceptance. If you back out of a firm deal, you can lose it and may owe more. Read our article on the Agreement of Purchase and Sale before you sign.
- Check what is included. Appliances, light fixtures, window coverings, and rental items such as a hot water tank should be listed in writing.
3. During the conditional period
- Buying a condo? Have the status certificate reviewed. This document shows whether the building’s reserve fund is healthy and whether a special assessment or lawsuit is on the way. See the five red flags in a condo status certificate.
- Complete your inspection and finalize financing. Send your lawyer’s contact details to your lender so mortgage instructions arrive on time.
- Waive or fulfil conditions in writing, before the deadline. A missed deadline can end the deal or remove your protection.
4. Between a firm deal and closing
- Title search and title insurance. We search for liens, unpaid taxes, easements, and work orders, and arrange title insurance. Learn the difference in title insurance vs. a survey.
- Decide how you will hold title. If you are buying with a partner or a parent, the choice between joint tenancy and tenants in common affects what happens to the home later.
- Arrange home insurance. Your lender will not release funds without proof of coverage.
- Claim your land transfer tax rebates. Eligible first-time buyers can receive up to $4,000 back on Ontario land transfer tax and up to $4,475 on Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax, for a combined maximum of $8,475. Eligibility rules are strict, particularly if you or your spouse have ever owned a home anywhere in the world. Our land transfer tax Toronto guide explains the terms.
5. Closing day
- Sign your documents and deliver your closing funds a few days before closing, as your lawyer directs.
- Review your Statement of Adjustments. It shows what you owe the seller for prepaid property taxes, condo fees, and utilities.
- Get your keys. Once the transfer and mortgage are registered, the keys are released. Here is what your lawyer does on closing day.
Three Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make
Waiving the status certificate review
Doing this to win a condo can backfire. A surprise special assessment can cost far more than the unit you lost.
Assuming the rebate applies
If your spouse has owned a home before, your rebate may be reduced or lost. Tell your lawyer early.
Calling a lawyer after the deal is firm
By then, the terms are locked in. A review before you sign costs far less than fixing a problem afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a first-time buyer hire a real estate lawyer?
Before you make an offer. Your lawyer can review the agreement and conditions while you still have room to negotiate.
Do I pay land transfer tax twice in Toronto?
Yes. Buyers inside the City of Toronto pay both Ontario land transfer tax and Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax. Buyers elsewhere in the GTA, such as Vaughan, Mississauga, or Brampton, pay only the Ontario tax.
Can my lawyer help if I am buying pre-construction?
Yes. Ontario gives you a 10-day cooling-off period on a new condo purchase. We review the builder’s agreement in that window. See our pre-construction condo service.
