What happens if you buy a home, close the deal, and then discover the seller was a non-resident—and the CRA says money is still owed?

In this episode of The Real Estate Podcast, Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott break down clearance certificates, why they matter when a non-resident sells Canadian real estate, and how the issue can affect both sellers and buyers.

They discuss the potential 25% holdback, how clearance certificate delays can interfere with closing, real-world situations involving mortgages and negative equity, and the due diligence buyers, sellers, and real estate agents should be doing before a deal becomes a problem.

They also explain how closing dates and Agreement of Purchase and Sale clauses can potentially be structured to give everyone enough flexibility while still protecting the buyer.

If you're buying or selling Canadian real estate—especially when a non-resident owner is involved—this is something you should understand before closing day.

This podcast is for general informational purposes and should not replace advice from a lawyer, accountant, or other qualified professional.

The discussion specifically covers the potential 25% holdback, the risk to buyers, certificate-processing timelines, closing complications, and protective deal structures.

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Intro

2:26 – What is a clearance certificate?

6:31 – Why a 30-day closing may not be enough

7:20 – How clearance issues can kill a deal

9:11 – Liens, mortgages and negative equity

11:18 – Homeowners leaving Canada while owing more than their home is worth

19:49 – How one failed closing can create a domino effect

22:15 – Realtors making too many assumptions

22:38 – The closing-date mistake agents should avoid

25:06 – Clearance certificate advice for buyers

25:34 – How to identify a non-resident seller

25:52 – How long a clearance certificate can take

27:09 – Protecting buyers with the right clauses

28:52 – Outro/recap

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

Buying or selling a home involves a lot more than signing an Agreement of Purchase and Sale.

In this episode of The Real Estate Podcast, Steve Cecchetto sits down with Ameera Khan, barrister & solicitor and co-owner of ASK Law Firm in Milton, to break down what a real estate lawyer actually does behind the scenes—and what can happen when the legal side of a transaction gets overlooked.

They discuss title searches and liens, what buyers are really signing at closing, first-time buyer mistakes, why ChatGPT and Google shouldn't replace professional legal advice, what happens when a seller doesn't honour part of an agreement, same-day buying and selling, common closing problems, and some of the major differences between residential and commercial real estate law.

Whether you're buying your first home, selling, moving up, or investing in commercial property, this episode offers a look at the legal side of real estate that most people don't see until they're already in the middle of a transaction.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

ASK LAW's website:

http://www.asklawfirm.ca/

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Intro

1:13 – Meet Ameera Khan & ASK Law Firm

7:13 – Why Buyers Wait Too Long to Find a Lawyer

8:22 – What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Actually Do?

9:23 – Liens, Title & What Can Be Attached to a Property

11:45 – What Are You Actually Signing at Closing?

15:24 – Advice for First-Time Homebuyers

17:28 – Knowing When You Need a Professional

19:47 – What Happens When a Seller Breaks the Agreement?

22:51 – What Sellers Need to Know Before Closing

26:10 – Buying & Selling on the Same Day

29:14 – The Biggest Reasons Real Estate Closings Go Wrong

33:57 – Residential vs. Commercial Real Estate Law

36:27 – Outro/recap

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

AI can make life easier—but what happens when companies start using it to replace actual people?

In Episode 405 of The Real Estate Podcast, Jennifer Goncalves and Tiffany Kadak talk about the growing frustration with customer service, from AI chatbots and automated phone systems to impossible-to-reach support departments, self-checkouts, subscription traps, and poorly trained live agents.

They discuss where AI genuinely makes sense, where the human element still matters, how technology is affecting older generations, privacy concerns around AI, and whether our dependence on automation is actually making customer service—and everyday life—more complicated.

If you've ever found yourself yelling “I just want to talk to a real person!” at a chatbot or automated phone system, this episode is for you.

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

3:00 Are companies using AI just to cut costs?

5:24 AI calls, scams and older consumers

7:19 The problem with chatbots and repeating yourself

11:08 Robots vs. poorly trained customer service reps

15:37 Paying more for worse customer service

17:47 Is AI making people lazy?

19:59 Where AI helps—and where humans are still needed

24:22 Why good human interaction still matters

28:31 Subscriptions, hidden charges and feeling ripped off

32:29 Social media and impossible-to-reach customer support

34:10 Missing the old-school way of doing things

36:20 Has our reliance on technology gone too far?

38:13 Outro/recap

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

Cashback real estate agents promise buyers money back after closing—but what could that rebate cost you during the transaction?

Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott discuss whether cashback is worth it when choosing someone to represent you in one of the largest purchases of your life. They examine agent experience, availability, negotiation skills and the difference between simply having a real estate licence and providing professional representation.

The conversation also covers buyer trust, misleading square-footage figures, the importance of a functional floor plan, automated real estate services, AI and where Ariel and Adrian currently see opportunities in the Ontario real estate market.

Whether you are comparing agents or preparing to purchase a home, this episode explains why the value of your representation may matter considerably more than the rebate offered at closing.

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Intro

1:58 – Does a cashback agent have the right experience?

4:01 – Saving money now could cost you later

9:48 – Trust and guidance during the buying process

12:01 – Why the floor plan matters more than the number

15:49 – What a professional buyer consultation should accomplish

17:58 – AI and the future of real estate professionals

20:35 – Outro/recap

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

Home staging is about much more than making a property look attractive. It is a marketing strategy designed to improve listing photos, showcase functionality and help buyers emotionally connect with a home.

In Episode 403 of The Real Estate Podcast, Steve Cecchetto sits down with Rachel Mitchell, owner of Straightened Spaces and one of KT’s go-to home stagers. They discuss the most common mistakes sellers make, the impact of paint, lighting and decluttering, why buyers form opinions within seconds and how staging can influence the perceived value of a property.

Rachel also shares how she transitioned from corporate marketing into home staging, the story of her first 4,000-square-foot project and some of the unexpected challenges that happen behind the scenes.

Visit Rachel's socials here!

Instagram: @straightened_spaces

Website: https://www.straightenedspaces.com/

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro

1:52 - Meet Rachel Mitchell from Straightened Spaces

5:03 - Staging is marketing—not just decorating

7:00 - Why presentation matters in today’s market

11:47 - The most common staging mistake #1: Painting

13:32 - The most common staging mistake #2: Lighting

17:16 - Decluttering and budget-friendly improvements

18:27 - Staging for photos is critical

20:39 - Closets, storage and the small details buyers notice

22:52 - How to prepare for the staging process (sellers and their agents)

27:55 - When do you NOT stage?

31:34 - Should you keep up with the trend when staging?

33:50 - Rachel’s wildest staging story

36:12 - The behind-the-scenes reality of growing a staging business

37:08 - Snowstorms, stuck trucks and refusing to cancel

38:18 - Outro/recap

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

A buyer got turned away from one of our open houses last weekend — for refusing to sign in. Ariel and Adrian break down why sign-in policies exist, what buyers are actually worried about when they refuse, and whether it's time for the industry to make government ID mandatory at every open house — the same way bars scan ID at the door. Safety, liability, fake sign-in data, and professional open house thieves are all on the table this week.> Why realtors ask you to sign in at open houses> The privacy concerns buyers have about giving out personal info> Whether government ID should be mandatory to enter> How professional open house thieves target unprotected homes> What actually happens when a buyer refuses to sign in

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Intro

0:53 – Welcome Matt Fugere, 23-year mortgage broker

2:03 – Matt's family and life on the farm

5:40 – Financing rural properties and hobby farms

9:15 – First-time buyer down payment trends

11:21 – CMHC survey: gifts and inheritance as down payments

13:04 – The paperwork behind a gifted down payment

15:27 – Advice for buyers without financial help

17:21 – House hacking: duplexes and triplexes for first-time buyers

22:14 – Qualifying rental income for house-hack properties

24:10 – Renewal shock: slush funds and extended amortization

30:09 – Top 3 overlooked mortgage features

33:31 – Financing, managing, and investing in Airbnbs

41:16 – Final advice: cut car loans, talk to your broker early

46:44 – Outro

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

Homeowners hitting renewal right now are running into a problem nobody warned them about: their equity has quietly disappeared. Falling appraisals mean people who assumed they had room to refinance, extend their amortization, or pull equity out are finding out they don't — right when they need it most. In this episode, Kristina sits down with Mathieu "Mat" Fugere, a mortgage broker with 23 years in the business and owner of Fugere Mortgage in Milton, Ontario, to unpack what's really happening to buyers and homeowners right now.

Why falling appraisals are wiping out homeowners' equity right at renewal

> The "mortgage slush fund" trick to survive a renewal payment shock

> How first-time buyers are actually saving their down payments

> What the paperwork looks like for a gifted down payment from mom and dad

> House hacking with a duplex or triplex to afford your first home

> Financing a hobby farm, a rural property, or a short-term rental / Airbnb

Looking for mortgage help? Connect with Mat Fugere:

Website: https://www.mandmmortgages.ca

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Intro

0:53 – Welcome Matt Fugere, 23-year mortgage broker

2:03 – Matt's family and life on the farm

5:40 – Financing rural properties and hobby farms

9:15 – First-time buyer down payment trends

11:21 – CMHC survey: gifts and inheritance as down payments

13:04 – The paperwork behind a gifted down payment

15:27 – Advice for buyers without financial help

17:21 – House hacking: duplexes and triplexes for first-time buyers

22:14 – Qualifying rental income for house-hack properties

24:10 – Renewal shock: slush funds and extended amortization

30:09 – Top 3 overlooked mortgage features

33:31 – Financing, managing, and investing in Airbnbs

41:16 – Final advice: cut car loans, talk to your broker early

46:44 – Outro

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

You’ve probably heard the ads: “Your home sold guaranteed, or we’ll buy it.” But what does that actually mean?

In this episode of The Real Estate Podcast, Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott break down how guaranteed home sale programs really work, why the guaranteed price may be much lower than a seller expects, and what conditions may be hidden in the fine print. They discuss why these programs often involve scheduled price reductions, below-market buyout prices, extra fees, and restrictions that may require sellers to buy their next home through the same team. If you’re thinking about selling and a guaranteed sale program sounds appealing, this episode will help you understand what you’re really agreeing to before signing anything.

Have you ever seen or been offered a “home sold guaranteed” program? Let us know in the comments.

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

3:27 What Does the Guarantee Actually Promise?

4:48 Why the Guaranteed Price Is Below Market Value

5:50 Structured Price Reductions Explained

7:05 The $1 Million Home Example

7:26 How Scheduled Price Drops Work

8:25 Extra Fees, Legal Costs, and Conditions

9:14 Being Required to Buy With the Same Team

10:41 Realtor Incentives vs. Real Selling Strategy

11:28 The $850K Guarantee Scenario

12:38 Is This Just a Lead Generation Strategy?

13:29 Advertising, Fine Print, and Disclosures

14:44 Have You Ever Used One of These Programs?

15:22 Outro/recap

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

In this episode of The Real Estate Podcast, Adrian Trott and Chris Behie break down the unwritten rules of showing etiquette from a buyer’s perspective. They discuss what buyers should and shouldn’t do when touring homes, why you should always assume you’re being watched or listened to, how to handle kids, shoes, washrooms, photos, food, timing, and why being respectful inside someone else’s home can matter more than you think.

They also dive into a recent real estate case where an agent was fined $9,000 after entering a property early for a showing — and what buyers and agents can learn from it.

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

2:19 What buyers need to know before showings

3:53 How negative feedback can affect negotiations

5:14 Cameras inside homes and how they change the showing experience

7:03 Can I bring kids to showings?

8:31 Bathroom etiquette during showings

12:26 What buyers should bring to showings

15:36 Tools agents can bring to help buyers

17:16 Why agent tools are not a replacement for a home inspection

18:26 Lighting, flashlights, and seeing the home properly

19:34 Why entering early can become a serious issue ($9000 mistake)

22:29 Why you can’t just walk the property early

25:10 Lockbox safety and key access rules

25:53 Outro/recap

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

What your seller legally has to disclose — and what they don't — could affect your buying decision more than you'd expect. Stigmatized properties cover everything from natural deaths and suicides to grow ops and hauntings, and the rules around disclosure are a lot grayer than most buyers realize. Steve and Kristina from the KT Team break down where the law ends, and personal psychology begins.

> What counts as a stigmatized property

> Disclosure rules: what sellers must reveal vs. what they can stay silent on

> How stigma can impact a home's market value and days on market

> Grow ops, hauntings, deaths — where each falls legally and emotionally

> What buyers should be asking (and researching) on their own

> Real stories from agents who've been in these situations

VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Intro

1:17 – Defining stigmatized properties

2:06 – Would you buy a home where someone died?

3:15 – Kristina's personal ghost story (the shelves, the ultrasound, and 666)

5:45 – Types of stigmas: deaths, grow ops, hauntings, and more

7:16 – Steve's client who bolted from the basement

8:50 – Why some buyers care and others don't

12:30 – Disclosure rules: stigma vs. physical defects

13:49 – The grow op listing: disclosed, remediated, and still hard to sell

18:41 – Does stigma actually impact a home's value?

23:50 – Fire round: natural death, suicide, murder, grow op, haunting

26:22 – Backing onto a cemetery — stigma or personal preference?

27:38 – Key takeaways for buyers and sellers

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21k

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kormendytrott

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/kormendytrott

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/kormendytrott

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/kormendytrott

X:

https://x.com/kormendytrott

LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealty

TikTok:

https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrott

The Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.