Selling a home shortly after purchasing it can have tax consequences that British Columbia property owners should consider before entering into a sale. Since January 1, 2025, the BC home flipping tax has applied to certain profits from residential property sold within 730 days of acquisition. How Does the BC Home Flipping Tax Work? The
Selling a Home Within Two Years? Understanding BC’s Home Flipping Tax Read More »
Home sales in British Columbia usually turn on three key dates: completion, adjustment, and possession. They often sit close together on the calendar, but they do different things. Knowing the difference helps prevent last‑minute stress, extra costs, and disputes. Completion: When Ownership Changes Hands Completion is the legal closing day. Your lawyer or notary files
Completion, Adjustment, and Possession Dates in BC Real Estate: A Plain‑Language Guide Read More »
Title insurance has become a common feature of British Columbia real estate transactions. Many purchasers first encounter it as a single premium collected at completion—easy to overlook until a title or property issue surfaces years later and the question becomes: who pays to fix it? Understanding what title insurance covers (and what it does not),
Buying a home that doesn’t exist yet can be a daunting prospect. A “pre-sale” purchase involves entering into a contract to buy a strata lot—usually a condo or townhouse—before construction is complete. In British Columbia, this process is heavily regulated by the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA) to ensure a fair playing field between
Pre-Sale Condo Purchases in British Columbia: Key Legal Protections for Buyers Read More »
When you buy property in British Columbia with another person—whether it’s a spouse, a business partner, or a family member—you have to make a critical legal decision: how will you hold the title? In BC, co-owners generally take title in one of two ways: as Joint Tenants or as Tenants-in-Common. While these terms sound similar,
Joint Tenancy vs. Tenants-in-Common in BC: What Property Buyers Need to Know Read More »
A title search is the cornerstone of due diligence in any British Columbia real estate transaction. Obtained from the Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA), this document is more than just a confirmation of ownership—it is a comprehensive roadmap of the legal interests that benefit or burden a property. Whether you are purchasing a family
Understanding Title Searches in British Columbia: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Read More »
In the high-stakes world of real estate, issues sometimes arise that cannot be fully resolved by the closing date. Rather than delaying the entire transaction, parties often use a holdback—a portion of the sale proceeds withheld in trust and released only when specific conditions are met. In British Columbia, holdbacks are a vital tool for
Understanding Holdbacks in British Columbia Real Estate Transactions Read More »
The Bank of Canada has reduced their lending rate by 0.25% this morning. Great news for variable rate mortgage holders, as we expect the banks will follow suit in the coming days. While inflation remains a bit stubborn, the economy showed signs of weakness, particularly in the job loss category. It’s widely expected we will
Bank of Canada: Reduction of Lending Rate Read More »
Title insurance has become an essential component of real estate transactions in British Columbia and across Canada. While the Land Title Act (BC) and the Torrens system provide significant protections for registered owners, title insurance offers an additional layer of security for both purchasers and lenders. This article examines the role and importance of title
The Importance of Title Insurance in Real Estate Transactions Read More »
In British Columbia, discovering a material latent defect after the completion of a property purchase can be distressing for buyers. However, the law provides certain protections and remedies, which depend on the nature of the defect, the conduct of the seller, and the terms of the contract. What Is a Material Latent Defect? A latent defect is
Melissa has 8+ years of combined Commercial, Business and Contract Law experience as In-House Counsel in manufacturing, health, real estate development, and broadcast communication industries. She is instrumental in developing strategies to minimize legal risk and ensure regulatory compliance.
She has 6+ years of Human Resources Management experience and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation. Her practice includes Family Law, Civil Litigation, Wills & Estates and Real Estate & Conveyancing.
For fun, she visits ancient sites and ruins and belts out popular Broadway tunes.
Northam Law is a boutique law firm offering advisory services in Real Estate Law and Conveyancing, Business Law, and Human Resources. Our practice areas also include Wills & Estates and Family Law. Notarization services are also available.
