Latest news with #RobertSaunders
Toronto Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Ready to buy a home? What experts say many buyers forget to consider first
Published May 27, 2025 • Last updated 4 minutes ago • 4 minute read Robert Saunders, CEO of Ownright, is shown in this handout photo. Photo by handout / THE CANADIAN PRESS A down payment is a big step for homebuyers, but definitely not the only one. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account As a realtor in the Halifax market, Sandra Pike estimates less than half of buyers she sees are actually ready to buy a home. Many have some of the pieces in place, but not the full suite. 'A lot of them say, 'Okay, I've made a decision' and take a look at houses,' said Pike, from The Pike Group at Royal LePage Atlantic. 'And people want to write offers and then go get their financing in place. 'But as a first-time homebuyer, if you write an offer on one of my listings, I am asking for your letter of approval. And if I don't have it, I don't want to look at your offer. I don't want to put my own sellers in conditional purgatory, waiting for you to get your financing together.' In addition to having a down payment, Pike explained, buyers should be working with an experienced mortgage broker who can help them with debt service ratios, and determine what they can actually afford. They should have a pre-approval — not just a pre-qualification — a great credit score, and a budget for everything else: closing costs, inspections, moving, insurance, and furniture. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We had someone the other day who wanted to purchase,' Pike said. 'She had $250,000 in cash — but really bad credit.' This prospective buyer was unable to obtain financing. Before the search for a new home, buyers should have some stability in their careers and the readiness to accept a major new responsibility, said Robert Saunders, CEO of Ownright, a service that helps homebuyers with the legal and logistical side of closing on a property. 'My advice would be to make sure you're looking at the full cost of ownership,' he said, adding that a lot of people aren't focused on things like closing fees and property maintenance costs. 'Home ownership is a big lifestyle shift, for some of those reasons, and also just the responsibility of having to carry a mortgage.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Condo buyers should have a professional legal review of the status certificate, which details financial and legal information about the unit and condo corporation, Saunders pointed out. First-time buyers don't anticipate some of the information in these certificates and what that means for their future costs. 'That can actually show you the historical trend of changes to maintenance fees, any issues in the building that might cause changes to your common expenses, and things like that,' Saunders said. 'We work a lot with that younger demographic buying condos _ that's one of the biggest things we see during the transaction process. People are surprised about these fees that they didn't really fully understand before taking ownership of their property.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Getting ready to buy means a lot of research and online calculators, he added — legal fees, mortgage insurance for buyers who don't have a 20 per cent minimum down payment, and land transfer taxes, from which some first-timers and provinces are exempt. Buyers also need to be prepared for a lifestyle change if they are pursuing cheaper property, Pike said, especially if they are moving from urban to rural. During the pandemic, she saw buyers fleeing Ontario and British Columbia, snapping up less expensive, rural properties in Nova Scotia. It did not go well for everyone, she said. Driving to a store or gym or doctor could take an hour. 'It's not just buying a house and, you know, looking at the ocean,' Pike said. 'Or buying something that's inexpensive. There are a lot of things that come with it, if you're buying rural.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Another thing that surprises buyers: a lot of homes need work. Unless you are fortunate enough to be in the high-end market, it's possible many listings within your price range could need tens of thousands in repairs, Pike said. Many buyers are not prepared for those costs, she added. Lastly, first-time home buyers should plan to stay in place for a minimum of three years, but ideally five or more, Pike said. If having children is in the future, wait to get a home with the extra bedroom; don't assume you can just upgrade in two years. Adding up the equity you've gained and potential price increases, but subtracting the costs of the transaction and realtor commissions — it's still three to five years to come out ahead, Pike said. The pandemic saw major price increases, she noted, but generally, most should plan to build equity over several years before selling and buying again. With everything else in place, buyers are ready if they are willing to ask for help from their team of professionals: broker, realtor, and lawyer. 'You're not afraid to ask questions or say 'I don't understand this,'' Pike said. 'Because this is a big deal.' Ontario Columnists Relationships Sunshine Girls Other Sports
National Post
21-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Ownright Teams up With Royal LePage® as a Preferred Supplier
Article content As a dedicated preferred supplier, Ownright's legal real estate services will be available to Royal LePage sales professionals and clients across Ontario. Article content Article content TORONTO — Ownright, Ontario's trusted law service for real estate transactions, is proud to announce it has been selected as a Royal LePage preferred supplier of choice. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in Ownright's ongoing mission to work with traditional real estate organizations to provide innovative, digital-first legal tools that simplify and enhance the home buying and selling experience for Canadians. Article content 'We're thrilled to partner with Royal LePage to help their sales professionals streamline the legal side of real estate,' said Robert Saunders, CEO of Ownright. 'At Ownright, we're all about removing the hassle of long, complicated legal documents that no one wants to deal with. We want buying a home to be one of the best days of your life, and this partnership takes us one step closer to setting a new standard in Canadian real estate.' As a new member of Royal LePage's preferred supplier program, Ownright is excited to provide its innovative legal platform and expert support team to thousands of sales professionals and their clients across Ontario. By cutting through administrative red tape, eliminating unnecessary paperwork, and offering real-time updates, Ownright empowers clients and agents to stay in control and informed throughout the entire transaction process. Article content Ownright's services are designed to simplify and enhance the legal side of real estate transactions, offering: Article content Property Closings: Streamline the closing process with a clear, step-by-step approach, real-time tracking, and immediate access to legal experts. Flexible communication, exclusive promotions, and a personalized closing day experience ensure homebuyers and sellers enjoy a seamless, stress-free journey to home ownership. Mortgage Refinancing: Simplify the refinancing process with fast processing, transparent pricing, and expert legal guidance. Homeowners can confidently navigate complex terms, ensuring a smooth and efficient transaction from start to finish. Status Certificate Reviews: Get quick, thorough status certificate reviews tailored for condominium buyers. Legal experts provide valuable insights into financial obligations, helping clients make confident, informed purchasing decisions. Article content Ownright now offers exclusive benefits to Royal LePage clients and sales professionals, helping Canadians save on legal fees while receiving industry-leading service. Article content Additionally, Royal LePage sales professionals who register as Ownright Partners also gain access to a suite of tools designed to make real estate closings smoother and more collaborative. Article content These include: Article content 'Royal LePage is committed to working with innovative companies like Ownright to empower our network with forward-thinking tools that enhance the real estate experience for both clients and professionals,' said Sandra Webb, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Royal LePage. 'Ownright's digital-first approach to real estate law will help our sales professionals deliver faster, more transparent transactions, and ultimately provide greater value to Canadian homebuyers and sellers.' Article content With over a thousand successful transactions completed and more than 650 five-star Google reviews, Ownright has established itself as one of Ontario's most trusted providers of legal services for residential real estate. Article content For more information about Ownright, please visit To learn more about Royal LePage's preferred suppliers program, please contact partnerships@ Article content About Ownright Article content Ownright is Ontario's trusted law service for real estate transactions, designed to simplify home transactions through seamless automation, expert legal guidance, and a client-first approach. With thousands of transactions completed and nearly $1 billion in total transaction value, Ownright is the trusted legal partner for homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals across Ontario. Previously Doormat, the company rebranded to Ownright in 2025. Article content Serving Canadians since 1913, Royal LePage is the country's leading provider of services to real estate brokerages, with a network of approximately 20,000 real estate professionals in over 670 locations nationwide. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company to have its own charitable foundation, the Royal LePage ® Shelter Foundation™, which has been dedicated to supporting women's shelters and domestic violence prevention programs for over 25 years. Royal LePage is a Bridgemarq Real Estate Services ® Inc. company, a TSX-listed corporation trading under the symbol TSX:BRE. For more information, please visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Hamilton Spectator
30-04-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Hyyve Canada and Ownright Join Forces to Simplify Real Estate Legal Closings
TORONTO, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyyve , the innovative Canadian real estate marketplace where agents bid for the opportunity to sell a home, has announced a strategic partnership with Ownright (formerly Doormat), a leading digital legal platform for homebuyers and sellers. This collaboration streamlines the final steps of the home-selling process - ensuring a seamless, efficient, and cost-effective closing experience. The Hyyve–Ownright integration is scheduled for the end of Q2 2025, further strengthening Hyyve's end-to-end real estate marketplace. Ownright joins Frank Mortgage, iCommission, AI Home Design, and Bidmii as part of Hyyve's rapidly expanding home services ecosystem - reinforcing the platform's mission to simplify the home-selling journey from listing to legal closing. Hyyve: Reimagining the Residential Real Estate Experience Hyyve is transforming how homes are sold in Canada through a competitive bidding marketplace where qualified real estate agents offer upfront cash and showcase their full value - credentials, regulatory board compliance, client reviews, and tailored marketing plans - to win the listing. This transparent, merit-based approach empowers sellers to choose the right representation while maximizing sale outcomes. By integrating essential home services - including financing, renovations, agent commission advances, virtual staging, and now legal closings - Hyyve is setting a new standard for speed, efficiency, and customer experience in real estate. Hyyve is backed by a distinguished advisory board of industry leaders: Ownright: A Modern Approach to Real Estate Closings Founded in Toronto, Ownright is a digital law service for real estate transactions, designed to simplify home transactions through seamless automation, expert legal guidance, and a client-first approach. With hundreds of five-star reviews, Ownright is trusted for its affordability, transparency, and ease of use - making it an ideal addition to the Hyyve ecosystem. A Major Step Toward a Fully Integrated Real Estate Journey The integration of Ownright marks a pivotal milestone in Hyyve's growth, bridging the final step between offer and ownership. With more partner integrations on the horizon, Hyyve is building Canada's most complete and streamlined real estate marketplace. Robert Saunders, CEO of Ownright, shared his thoughts: 'Hyyve is redefining how real estate transactions happen, and Ownright is proud to be part of this evolution. By integrating our digital legal services with Hyyve's real estate listing bid platform, we're making the closing process smoother, faster, and more accessible for home sellers across Canada.' What's Next? With the Hyyve–Ownright integration going live by the end of Q2 2025, Hyyve continues to expand its network of trusted partners. Sellers and buyers can look forward to a truly seamless and stress-free experience—from listing through closing. For more information, visit To learn more about Ownright, visit
